  | ||
|
|
| » User Options |
| » Forum Functions Usage |
| » Reading and Writing Messages |
| Why should I register? [Click here to register] |
Some functions of the forums are restricted to unregistered members. Here are some of those functions:
Registration is free, however, you must agree to certain rules before registering. During the registration process, you will also need to choose a username and enter a valid email address. According to the forums settings, you will either have to choose a password or a randomly generated password will be sent to you by email. We will not send advertisement or SPAM to your email address and it will not be distributed to any third parties. You can choose whether or not you want to allow other members to send you emails in your user cp. |
| How can I search the forums? [Search] |
| You can search for a username or for keywords, in the whole posts or just in the subjects, by date and within specific forums. To use this function, click on the "Search" button on top of every page. You can only search forums to which you have access rights - you cannot search private forums unless the Administrator has given you the required authorisation. |
| Can I email other members? |
Yes! To email another member, you can search for the member
in the Members List,
or click the  button in any of the member's posts.This will usually bring you to a page with a form where you can enter your message. Having finished your message press the "Send" button to send your email. If you can't find the "email" link or button in the member's post or in the Members List, the member has chosen not to receive emails from others. |
| What are Private Messages? |
|
If the administrator allowed private messages registered users can send private messages to each other. How to send a private message Private messages are similar to e-mails but can only be sent to the forum's members. EasyHTML-codes, smilies and pictures are allowed. Send a private message by clicking the 'New PM' button in your private message user CP or click the pm-button  in a certain user's post.Private Messages Inbox The inbox stores your private messages and shows you its author and the date it was sent to you. There you have the opportunity to select messages to redirect or delete them. Delete your messages regularly because your inbox can only store 5 private messages. New private messages will be saved but can only be shown if you delete some of your old private messages. You always have the opportunity to answer your private messages if they are shown up. Private Message History In your inbox is a link 'PM - History' which leads you to your private message archive. This is your in- and outbox. The archive can save up to 30Kb. This is usually equivalent from 60 up to 100 private messages. |
| How can I use the member list? |
| The Members List contains a list of all registered members. |
| Are there any codes I can use to format my posts? |
|
Depending on the settings of this forum, you can use either HTML or
EasyHTML to format your messages. However, Administrators usually deactivate the use of HTML and decide to use EasyHTML only. EasyHTML has the advantage of being easy to use, and of being immune to JavaScript and layout interruptions. Every time you are composing a new message, it will be indicated whether or not HTML and/or EasyHTML are allowed. If HTML is allowed, please pay attention to the correct syntax or the Moderators will have to edit your post. EasyHTML is a lot like HTML, but only certain functions are allowed: hyperlinks, images, bold, italic and some other text formatting functions. |
| What are smilies? |
|
Smilies are small graphics you can use to express feelings, e.g. a joke or embarrassment.
For example, if you have posted a sarcastic comment, instead of writing 'I was joking' you can use the 'wink' smilie. If you have used emails or chats in the past, then you probably already are familiar with this concept. Some standard codes or strings are automatically converted into smilies. For example, the code :) is turned into a smiling face. To understand smilies just turn your head sideways and use your imagination: You can see that :) represents two eyes and a smiling mouth. Sometimes you don't want the smilie code in your post to be transformed into images. In this case, when you are posting your message, you must check the 'Deactivate smilies in this post.' box in the options. |
| Quick EasyHTML-Code buttons and clickable smilies |
|
These buttons add EasyHTML for you quickly and easily to your messages.
You simply need to click the button you want to use and then enter the text
you want to format. There are two different editing modes: Normal and Enhanced Mode. If you are using the Normal mode, pressing a button will open a popup asking you to enter the text you want to format. The EasyHTML will be inserted at the last position of your cursor in the text area. If you are using the Enhanced mode, pressing a button will insert the opening tag for this EasyHTML at the end of your message. Once you are done typing the text and want to close the tag, press the close current tag button (alt+c). In enhanced mode, you can also insert another tag into the current tag, and then press the close all tags button (alt+x) to close all the open tags. Note: the 'close tag' buttons only close tags inserted using the code buttons. To use the clickable smilies, you simply need to click the one you wish to insert in your message, or press the more button to view the complete list of smilies. |
| How can I start polls? |
|
You can create a poll for your thread. This is how it can be done: Creating a Poll Adding a poll is done by clicking "Start poll". This function allows you to ask a question and indicate a few possible answers. The other members can vote for the answer they prefer and the results will be shown in the thread. Participating in a Poll To participate in a poll, select the answer for which you would like to vote and press the "Vote" button. Participating in a poll is optional. You can vote for any answer available, or not vote at all. |
| What are post icons? |
| You can use posticons in new threads and posts. Posticons are small graphics you can use to express the emotion or content of your message. |
| How can I edit my posts? |
To edit or delete one of your post, you simply need to click the  image.After editing your post a note under your post will show up telling this post was edited by you. Administrators and Moderators can also edit your post. |
| What are moderators? |
| Moderators supervise certain areas. They use their administrative powers to delete or edit unwanted messages. Moderators for a certain area were usually normal users who were especially useful and experienced in the subject of that area. |
| What is "Add thread to favorites"? |
|
In a thread, you can choose to be notified by email if someone
else posts a message in this thread. If you wish to receive notifications, you simply need to add the thread to your favorites by clicking the link on top of the thread.. If don't want to receive any notifications about a thread anymore, you can either deactivate the option by clicking the link in the thread another time. To checkout your favorites, go to your user CP an click "favorites". |
| What do the different abbreviations mean? |
The most important abbreviations are listed here.
Of course, they are not only used in forums, they are also used everywhere on the Internet:
|