Posting Tips & Tricks

[WestViking]

West Viking:

While you're at it, could you explain for a forum newbie like me what these features do for messaging:

[code]
[list]
[list=]
Close Tags


And please explain under what circumstances one would want to disable HTML, BBCode or Smilies "in this post". It may be obvious to all but me. :oops:

Rather than post a long reply, there are excellent primers on BBCode on the Internet. One that is not too long or invoved is this <a href=http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/faq.php?mode=bbcode>BBCode Guide</a>

If you post contains figures and lists, including 8) for example, the 8) will appears as a smilie unless smilies are disabled.

I have found no reason to turn off HTML or BBCode except when I want to show someone how the code works.

[WestViking]

Thanks knowledgable one. If we screw up and I will can you help fix it.

"knowledgable one" lives less than an hour away - why not invite him over to your place for a cup of coffee the next time he comes to the big city?

I'm sure that a 1/2 hour of someone sitting beside your computer showing you what to do is more valuable than 10 hours of reading tips,...

You make a good point. The invitation is open WV

Thank you kind lady. I will PM when I plan to visit the big city.

[ICONOCLAST]

Thanks West Viking, but I still don't understand "code" per BBCode explanation per"

Outputting code or fixed width data
If you want to output a piece of code or in fact anything that requires a fixed width with a Courier-type font, you should enclose the text in

Code: Select all

tags, eg.

Code: Select all

echo "This is some code";

All formatting used within

Code: Select all

tags is retained when you later view it.

Your help for a techno-peasant would be appreciated. Love those html dynamic tags ... am surprised I may be the first to use them.

Opps!! Can't seem to disable html within the "quote" window .... oh well you know it's in the BBCode help site.

[WestViking]

Use of the BBCode tags {code} {/code} is specialized and not of great use to our members.

You can use

Code: Select all

<a href=http://www.freedominion.ca/phpBB2/posting.php?mode=reply&t=23771>See topic</a>

to allow someone to see HTML coding for example but the embedded font is tiny and hard to read unless you highlight it.

It is indended to allow compacting text, but the resuts are not useful IMV:

Lost in the glare of Liberal attack ads quoting Stephen Harper are some Liberal quotes that are interesting. "I think people are very confused because they see a Liberal party that has spread its arms to the Conservatives and separatists and turned its back on Liberals," says the still quotable Sheila Copps.

becomes:

Code: Select all

Lost in the glare of Liberal attack ads quoting Stephen Harper are some Liberal quotes that are interesting. "I think people are very confused because they see a Liberal party that has spread its arms to the Conservatives and separatists and turned its back on Liberals," says the still quotable Sheila Copps.

I do not recommend using this feature.

[ICONOCLAST]

Thanks again WV .... Hate to keep pestering you, but can you tell me if an entire post to an existing thread can be fully deleted, other than edit all the text within a half hour? Is there a forum Delete function that I have not spotted? Thanks again.

Btw -- What would be involved for the website design to extend "Edit" time from 30 minutes to perhaps 2 or 3 hours? It sure would help. Regards.

[WestViking]

Thanks again WV .... Hate to keep pestering you, but can you tell me if an entire post to an existing thread can be fully deleted, other than edit all the text within a half hour? Is there a forum Delete function that I have not spotted? Thanks again.

Btw -- What would be involved for the website design to extend "Edit" time from 30 minutes to perhaps 2 or 3 hours? It sure would help. Regards.

Origianlly, the Edit function was only live for three minutes and we extended that to 30 minutes. I strongly doubt that it will be extended again.

There is no provision for poster to delete posts. Administrators and moderators delete duplicates as we run across them or when someone has edited a post to remove all content, or if we are asked to. Don't ask us to delete original posts as unless the House Rules have been broken, we will not do so.

We do not allow members to delete posts or edit after a half hour as it becomes all too easy to go back and change a post if you are losing an argument or delete a post that is intemperate. If you are going to get in a huff, and post some nasty comments, stand ready to live by your words and suffer the consequences.

[pirapoi]

I realize that hotlinking images is widespread on these boards, and I hate to play skunk at the picnic BUT, it should be remembered that hotlinking is not only considered very bad netiquette, it is theft.

When you post an image from another site on these boards, that site is the one stuck paying for the bandwidth used.

Apart from the stealing aspect, there are a couple of other points worth considering.

Chances are that the Conservative site isn't going to be too concerned about a Steven Harper picture being hotlinked here, although they'd probably prefer you used your own dime.

Other sites might not be so forgiving.

Something else to remember is that site admins can track bandwidth, and some of them have a nasty sense of humor. A quick image swap and all of sudden that nice picture of Mr. X, turns into -
well, you get the idea.

If you want to post images without unauthorized hotlinking there are some <i>fairly simple</i> workarounds.

There are 5 pages of free image hosts listed <a href="http://www.free-webhosts.com/free-image-hosting.php"target="new"> HERE</a>

I tried the first one, <a href="http://www.filedeposit.com/web-hosting.cfm?CFID=25978&CFTOKEN=38381450"target="new"> FileDeposit </a>, and this is the result'

<img src="http://www.filedeposit.com/uploads/14052004/stophotlinking.jpg">

I didn't even have to register.

So if you want to post a picture without unauthorized hotlinking -

First you have to download the picture you want.
Right click the image and you get a menu.
Click Save Picture as, and hit save in the next pop up menu.
Usually the picture is saved in My Documents, with the current file name of the picture.
(You can rename the image and change to a different folder if you want.)
Next go to the FileDeposit site, and hit the Browser button.
By default, it goes to My Documents, so if that's where your picture is, highlight it and click OPEN.
Then click the Upload File button, and when the image is uploaded it will give you the URL for the image.
Note: You do not need to supply an email address
Copy and Paste that URL between the quotes in the previously mention img src tags and you are done.

Okay, maybe <i>fairly simple</i> was a bit of a stretch, but at least this way you don't have to worry about some admin pulling the old switcharoo trick on you.

[Muddy]

You guys speak a foreign language as far as I am concerned . I am just going to stay ignorant and yell HELP to the admins when things bugger up.

[reallyjustlurking]

Sorry , I'm just practicing

Ignore me.

[David Ward]

too dumb i guess

[David Ward]

[WestViking]

Hello posters -

<center>Your mouse is not a gas pedal.

Clicking on "submit" will not make the system run faster,
or your post appear sooner.

It will cause mulitple posts and distress for others trying to follow threads.

System response is very slow at times.

Large posts and edits are particularly slow.

Please have patience.</center>

Thank you
WV

[styky]

Thanks for cleaning up the mess. I guess things have been running a little slow lately and people have become impatient trying to submit. Point taken

[dbreadner13]

Here's how to put a hypertext link into a new window (with an image)

<a href="http://www.frankklees.com/meetfrank.php" target="_blank">
[img]http://www.frankklees.com/pics/whoisfrank2.jpg[/img]</a>

An enter was put in between "_blank"> and [img] to make it fit on this screen

(with text)

<a href="http://www.frankklees.com/meetfrank.php" target="_blank">MEET FRANK</a>

[styky]

Here's how to put a hypertext link into a new window (with an image)

<a href="http ://www.frankklees.com/meetfrank.php"
target="_blank">[img]http%20://www.frankklees.com/pics/whoisfrank2.jpg[/img]</a>

(with text)

<a href="http ://www.frankklees.com/meetfrank.php"
target="_blank">MEET FRANK</a>

OK I'll bite. If it was necessary for me to use this what in heaven's name would I be doing.

Signed ...one who spent 6 months looking for the any key.