Tips on using this forum

[kurt]

Post your user tips here.

1. Read the rules - http://www.sowal.com/bb/announcement...eral-info.html
2. read the board FAQ - http://www.sowal.com/bb/faq.php.
3. read other threads in this forum.
4. ask questions.



Tip - whenever writing a post of more than a few words, get in the habit of ALWAYS clicking CtrlA > CtrlC to copy your message to your clipboard. If you lose your connection or hit the wrong button you can hit CtrlV to paste the saved text where you want it. Or write in a text editor or word processor program then cut and paste where you want it.

General image TIP - If you'd like to resize your photos on your computer, here is a link to the world's easiest picture resizer by Microsoft. Click on it, then select run, and it will install. Once installed, all you have to do is right click on any pic file on your computer, select "Resize Pictures" and it will give you several size options - it's that easy!
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe

Tip to save private messages - if you want to make sure you keep important PMs that you can download private messages in 3 formats. The text format is probably the simplest. In your PM box click on one of the links at the bottom of the page to download.

Let's hear your tips.

[Minnie]

Adding photos to your Profile Page.

These photos have to be your in Profile page album, which is different from your previous SoWal Member Photo Gallery.

To get photos to your Profile Page Album.
Go to User CP, then Control Panel, Networking:Pictures & Albums
Add Albums, upload any photos you want in this album from your computer.
You can have more than one album, choose a photo for the cover shot and give each album a name.

Once you have photos in your Profile Page album, you can upload them to any Social Groups you have joined such as the SEC group or Red Bar group.

If you have photos in your SoWal Member gallery and would like to have them in your Profile Page Album you will have to put them back on your personal computer and then upload them to your Profile album.

Any photos in your Profile album can also be used to customize your Profile page.

[kurt]

Thanks Minnie! You can also set albums to public or private.

Public albums can be viewed by anyone.
Private albums can only be viewed by your Friends and Contacts.
Profile albums are viewable only by you. However, you can use the images to customize your public profile.

All members who have access to your album images can comment on them, in a similar way to Visitor Messages (more info). You can delete any image comments from your albums.

When you have uploaded a picture, you can place it in your posts by using the BB Code text that is displayed below the image when you view it at full size.

[Minnie]

Profile albums are viewable only by you

Ok, I understand now. That way you can put photos and clipart in this area and only use it to customize your profile page. Cool, that way you don't have to have them in your other albums.

[kurt]

Which album is this? The album I have on my profile page that says Minnie's photos is viewable to everyone.

This part has me confused.

When you add an album you have a choice of private, public, or profile. Profile album Pictures are used to customize your profile page (to be used for background images).

[Minnie]

When you add an album you have a choice of private, public, or profile. Profile album Pictures are used to customize your profile page (to be used for background images).

Thanks, I found it after I posted my question. I need to move my profile art to that album, so I don't have to have it the public one.

Thanks for the tip.

[SWGB]

Type faster by learning how to use smiley's while typing.

i.e. blah blah blah omb blah blah : funn :

Just take out the spaces. The "codes" are shown if you hit the more button in the smiley frame. I love this feature.

[Miss Kitty]

Type faster by learning how to use smiley's while typing.

i.e. blah blah blah omb blah blah : funn :

Just take out the spaces. The "codes" are shown if you hit the more button in the smiley frame. I love this feature.

This could be useful, but I'd have to learn the codes like the checkout people at the grocery store and the produce codes!

I did it! Great tip swgb!

[Rita]

Type faster by learning how to use smiley's while typing.

i.e. blah blah blah omb blah blah : funn :

Just take out the spaces. The "codes" are shown if you hit the more button in the smiley frame. I love this feature.

On the profile pages and new special forums:
I discovered that if you just edit your post the smiley's actually appear and you can click on them. For me this is simpler.

.

[Miss Kitty]

On the profile pages and new special forums:
I discovered that if you just edit your post the smiley's actually appear and you can click on them. For me this is simpler.

.

...I tried it and it works! Thanks! I have been passing out rep this morning. OL reminded me to place your pointer thingie on the green bars for some funny feedback!

[Minnie]

...I tried it and it works! Thanks! I have been passing out rep this morning. OL reminded me to place your pointer thingie on the green bars for some funny feedback!

yes you have moved from being a "glorious beacon of light" to "a name known by all."

I am still waiting to be famous, and it sure is slow.

[Mermaid]

This is my tip: visit everyone. There are some incredibly cool profiles out there! I bow down to all this SoWal creativity.

******************************************

Kurt, you're a clever cookie. Always one step ahead of the game.

[H.C. Ford]

I have not posted many threads - but do view everyday - is it possible to change my posted name? when I first set up my profile I used my name H.C. Ford but would rather have Fourdoor - IF THAT IS POSSIBLE - then i would feel better on reply?

[kurt]

I have not posted many threads - but do view everyday - is it possible to change my posted name? when I first set up my profile I used my name H.C. Ford but would rather have Fourdoor - IF THAT IS POSSIBLE - then i would feel better on reply?

You may log out and register a new name. You'll lose any post history, profile entries, etc. from your old account but with just a few posts it probably doesn't matter to you.

[Minnie]

Just noticed that you can load background photos to your Profile Page by simply clicking on the image icon and they come straight out of your albums, that is really cool and much faster and easier to use.

Thanks Kurt.

[Beach Runner]

How do I start a new thread with a poll? I want the poll to have checkboxes (so that multiple choices can be made) rather than radio buttons (for which a unique response must be given)?

I'm scared to try because I don't want to suffer the embarrassment of starting a new thread that's wrong and that I can't delete.

[kurt]

How do I start a new thread with a poll? I want the poll to have checkboxes (so that multiple choices can be made) rather than radio buttons (for which a unique response must be given)?

I'm scared to try because I don't want to suffer the embarrassment of starting a new thread that's wrong and that I can't delete.

Just try it out and we'll delete if needed. There is an option underneath the new thread message box after you click new thread. Multiple choices not available but you can word it so that you should not need them. Multiple choices are usually better left for a regular thread where you ask folks to list their choices.

[miznotebook]

yes you have moved from being a "glorious beacon of light" to "a name known by all."

I am still waiting to be famous, and it sure is slow.

I'm not enough up to speed to give tips, but thanks for the info, Kurt.

Also I was really touched when I became "a glorious beacon of light." To me that is nicer than being a name known to all or even "hip." Probably sounds like sour grapes, but I swear I'm being truthful!

Something I've been wanting to ask is who decides and how it is decided whether a member is a beach crab, a beach lover, a beach legend, etc. No comment intended, just something I've been curious about, and I didn't see it in the FAQs.

[Douglas the Intrepid]

I'm not enough up to speed to give tips, but thanks for the info, Kurt.

Also I was really touched when I became "a glorious beacon of light." To me that is nicer than being a name known to all or even "hip." Probably sounds like sour grapes, but I swear I'm being truthful!

Something I've been wanting to ask is who decides and how it is decided whether a member is a beach crab, a beach lover, a beach legend, etc. No comment intended, just something I've been curious about, and I didn't see it in the FAQs.

Its based on your reputation and its automatic. The more people thank you or give you good rep, the higher it goes! Click on USER CP to see your latest rep in detail.

[miznotebook]

Its based on your reputation and its automatic. The more people thank you or give you good rep, the higher it goes! Click on USER CP to see your latest rep in detail.

I had checked out rep before in the USER CP, but I didn't realize that affected the "beach crab/beach lover/beach legend" part as well as the green part on the right. Thank you!

[SWGB]

I had checked out rep before in the USER CP, but I didn't realize that affected the "beach crab/beach lover/beach legend" part as well as the green part on the right. Thank you!

The title under your name is determined by how many posts you have.

There's a list of how it breaks down around here somewhere.

[kurt]

I'm not enough up to speed to give tips, but thanks for the info, Kurt.

Also I was really touched when I became "a glorious beacon of light." To me that is nicer than being a name known to all or even "hip." Probably sounds like sour grapes, but I swear I'm being truthful!

Something I've been wanting to ask is who decides and how it is decided whether a member is a beach crab, a beach lover, a beach legend, etc. No comment intended, just something I've been curious about, and I didn't see it in the FAQs.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/announcement...eral-info.html