Intro to Forum 101 | Forum Instructions & Problems | the chipur forum

Post edited 5:56 pm – July 23, 2011 by Bill

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I want to make sure everyone's comfortable with how to use the forum. If at any time you're having problems and can't come up with answers, please let me know. You can either click on "CONTACT" at the very top of the page or use my personal email – bill@chipur.com.

The forum is valuable to everyone, and it'll flop if it's difficult to use. That's on me, so please help me help you!

Thank You…

Bill

 

Registering and Logging-In

Okay, you're on the chipur forum as a guest (you haven't registered – or if you did so previously, you aren't logged in). You're able to read everything, but because of spam issues you can't reply to posts or add a new topic.

Want to?

If you haven't registered, you're going to have to. So find the "Register" icon in the top blue bar, click, and enter your chosen user name, email address, and do the math. Click "Register" and a password will be emailed to you immediately.

So whether you just now registered or already did, you hit the "Login" icon in the same top blue bar and enter your username and password. If you're comfortable with clicking "Remember me," do so.

And you're all good to go.

 

Add a New Topic

So you're on a forum (say, "What's on Your Mind"). You have something to say and you want to start your own topic of conversation. Great!

To the right of the thick grey bar just below "What's on Your Mind," you'll see the icon "Add a New Topic." Click it. There before you is the form you'll use to speak your peace. Use whatever "Topic Name" you'd like. And off you go, writing 'til the cows come home. And you can use bold, italics, different text colors, add a link, spell check, and even add a smiley of your choice.

As you progress downward, you'll see a space for "Tags." You don't have to use any! But what are they? Say your piece had something to do with using meds in the treatment of depression. You might add meds,depression,depression treatment. They're key words, if you will, to help others find topics and posts that may fit their needs. Need some tags suggestions? Experiment with the little boxes just below the tags line – Local tags, Yahoo, Tag the Net (not really necessary, though).

So now you're down to "Options." The highlights – want notification of replies to your topic? Click the "X" next to "Subscribe to this topic" and it should become a green arrow. Want to "watch" the topic? Same drill, and your topic will be highlighted so you can track it more easily.

Ready to post? Click "Post New Topic."

And you're famous!

 

Reply to Post

Say you read this topic and you wanted to reply, letting me know I should have been a professor (or I have the teaching skills of a rock).

Easy!

Click "Reply to Post" just below it to the right. And up comes the box in which you speak your peace – much the same as the one you used to post a new topic. The big difference is you can't enter a topic name because you're replying to mine, not starting one of your own.

Do the "Options," if you'd like. And click on "Post New Reply."

Bammo!

If only I were smart enough to have come up with such a test – and clever enough to implement it. Will look in to it in the a.m. Sorry for the hassle…

Bill