Technical FAQ - Help With Forum Operations

Questions About The Forum

Often, the best way to find out how to do something is to have a look at what someone else has done. If you find a post that has an example of what you want to achieve in it, simply click on ’Quote’ button in the corner of it, and you’ll be able to see the code that has been used.

Anyway, here is a list of frequently asked questions. Please feel free to browse through them.

Why do I have to register to see the forums?

This measure is in place to restrict the amount of spidering by search bots, which can seriously slow the forum down or, in extreme cases, crash it completely. It also cuts down on the amount of spam posts we receive, because in registering you have to enter a visual confirmation code which bots are unable to do. By giving access to registered users only, we can ensure that the place stays up to speed and as free from rubbish as possible, which is better for everyone!

And don't worry, we won't be using your email address or giving it out to anyone, anywhere, ever. It's treated in strict confidentiality.

Why do some of the threads say 'Announcement' and 'Sticky'? And can I do that?

Announcement threads are used by the Moderators to, well, make announcements. They will always stay at the top of the page, and thus be visible to everyone. Sticky threads are the same as the ordinary ones, except that they will also stay at the top of the list, so they can be seen easily.

You won't be able to make these types of threads yourself, but if you do have something important that you think everyone should see, let us know and we'll make it all sticky for you.

How big can my avatar and signature be?

Your avatar must be no larger than 200 x 200 pixels, with a maximum file size of 117kb.

If you’re having a signature, it should again be a maximum file size of 117kb, and no bigger than this box:

I'd like to add a picture/link/quote to my post. How do I do this?

When you click on 'Post Reply' in a thread, you will be presented with a text box. Above this, you will see various buttons that you can use to personalise your post, such as bold, underlined or italic text, size and colour of text, 'Quote', 'Img' and 'URL'. By hovering your cursor over these boxes, you will see the code required to make them work displayed just above the main text box.

Alternatively, you can click on these buttons and add your text between the tags. You can also quote another person directly by clicking on the 'Quote' button in the top right-hand corner of their post.

I'd like to add an avatar. How do I do it?

Firstly, you'll need to have an image-hosting account with a company such as Photobucket (you can get a free account from them at www.photobucket.com). Once you've uploaded your picture by clicking on 'Browse', finding your file and then hitting 'Upload', you just need to copy the 'URL' underneath it and paste it into the avatar section in your Profile. Please bear in mind that avatars must be no more than 200 x 200 pixels, and a maximum of 117kb in size.

If you are going to link your avatar from a site other than an image-hosting one, or one you own yourself, please make sure that it’s reputable before you do it.

I want to add a signature. How do I do that?

You can change your signature by clicking on your Profile and editing it directly. If you'd like to add a picture, you can do so in the same way as adding an avatar, but you will need to copy the 'IMG' tag underneath the picture instead. Signatures must be no bigger than 400 x 75 pixels and have a file-size no larger than 117k. If you are unsure, please use the template below:

If you want to have a picture and text, please ensure to keep the entire signature within these dimensions as well.

Can I post thumbnails to link to bigger images? And if so, how do I do it?

We always encourage you to post any large pictures you have as thumbnail links where you can, as it makes the forum easier to load for those folks who have slower internet connections. This is the best way, and it involves using Photobucket.

1. Go to http://photobucket.com.
2. Log-in.
2a. Upload your photos. Large as you like. Photobucket will create thumbnails automatically if you stick to the following steps.
3. Surf to the page/album you require (click 'View all' if the images that you want to thumbnail span more than one Photobucket page).
4. Click the checkboxes that are beneath each picture that you would like to thumbnail.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'Generate HTML and IMG code'
6. The third box down 'IMG clickable thumbnails for message boards - recommended ' is the box that you require, select that box and it should automatically copy them onto your clipboard for you, but if not, CTRL+A (Select All) followed by CTRL+C (Copy).
7. (CTRL+V) Paste into the forum of your choice, job's a good 'un.

Mike says - (look at the image below) See the [/URL] at the end of the line? Get your cursor there (so it's flashing merrily away) then (on the keyboard) hit DELETE (not backspace) and SPACEBAR. This brings the next thumbnail onto the same line as the one before it.

I'd like to put a link to another website in my signature. Can I do this?

Yes, you can. You can add a URL to your signature in the same way that you would add it to a post. Please make sure that the content of the website you are linking to is not inappropriate.

If you want to add the link but put your own text in to describe it, you can do so by entering the URL in this form:

Example:
[URL =http://www.yourspace.com/user]Click here to visit my page![/ URL]

(you won’t need the spaces in the code, they’re just for clarity)

I would like to have a clickable signature. Is this possible?

Yup, it is. You can do this by inserting an IMG tag in between the URL tags of your link.

Example: [URL =http://www.yourspace.com/user][IMG]http://www.photobucket.com/picture][/ IMG][/ URL]

(Again, you won't need the spaces in the code, they're just for clarity)

Can I change my forum name, or have a special rank?

Yes, although you won’t be able to do it yourself. If you want to change your forum name, please send a message to one of the moderators. Likewise, if you would like a special rank, you can do the same, but bear in mind you will lose your hamsters!

If you have any questions that haven't been addressed here, please contact a moderator. We're here to help.

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