Navigating Around the NAWCC Message Board

 The NAWCC message board has been designed to be as simple to navigate as possible. For the most basic usage of the forums, there are only a few things you need to remember, they are Forums, Threads and Post. We have included many of the features here so that when you become more comfortable with the message board you can take advantage of all of them.

 

Forums

The board is split up into several "forums". Each forum has it's own theme, or subject - in each forum, you discuss a different thing. The first page you see when you load the board is the "main board page".

On the main board page, you can see different headings. Each heading is a forum, and each one has a short description of what should be discussed in that forum underneath it. Once you've found a forum you're interested in viewing or participating in, simply click the forum's name to enter it. You're not restricted to one forum - you can always come back and view a different forum later.

Threads

Once you're viewing a forum, you will see a list of "threads". In most cases, each thread has been started by a user just like yourself. Each thread discusses a different aspect of the forum's topic, or gives a different view. Once you see a thread you're interested in reading, simply click the thread's name.

If you don't find a thread you're looking for, you can start your own thread by clicking the "New Topic" button. Other users may then view your thread, and reply to it.

Posts

Once you're viewing a thread, you will see one or more "posts". Each post was made by a user just like yourself. The first post in the thread (the one at the top) gives an opinion, asks for advice, or generally sets the topic of that thread. Other posts in the thread, which are displayed below the first post, are known as "replies", and are other user's views or responses to the first post in the thread.

If you wish to give your opinion or advice on the thread's subject, click the "Reply" button. Make sure that your reply sticks to the topic of the thread! If you post something irrelevant to the thread's topic, that's known as posting "off topic", and is annoying to some people.

Back up

That's it! Once you've viewed a thread, you can go back to view the forum, or right back to the beginning and view the main board page again.

If you want to get more advanced with your forum usage, click the "User Area" button at the top of the page. There, you can edit your profile, add signatures (pieces of text which are added automatically to the end of each of your posts), etc.

Is my password kept securely?

The NAWCC message board software stores all passwords in an encrypted format. This means that it's impossible for someone who manages to crack in to the server to be able to see your password.

To keep your account details secure, never give your password out to anyone, and especially not in PM, email or in a thread on the board.

Address Book

On this page, you can add and remove users from your Address Book. This helps you to keep a list of your favorite users, with easy links to their profiles.

To add a user to your Address Book:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Address Book button.

·        Under the section Add a user to your address book:, type in the username you wish to add, and click Add.

Alternatively, you can add a user to your Address Book by viewing their profile and clicking Add to Address Book.

Calendar

The Calendar page allows you to view and add events for other users to see, and to view user birthdays. Note that your Admin might have disabled any of these features, including the ability to add events.

To add an event to the Calendar:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Calendar button.

·        Click on Add Events.

·        Fill in the short form with the event details and date. The event may then need to be reviewed by an Admin before it is shown on the Calendar

Change Name

This page allows you to change your username. Please note that your Admin may have disabled this option.

To change your username:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Change Name button.

·        Enter the new username you would like in the box, and confirm it in the second box. When you're happy with it, click Change Username at the bottom.

·        The Administrators will either accept or reject your name change. As soon as it has been accepted, you will show on the Who's Online with the new username, and all of your old posts will show it.

You will still have the same settings, profile and preferences - only your displayed name will change.

·        When you have found one that you like, click on the Use This Set link to the right of it. You should then see the whole board in that design.

Edit Avatar

This page allows you to edit your Avatar, or Post Picture, which is displayed in your posts, under your username.

To edit your Avatar:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Edit Avatar button.

·        You can either upload a new Avatar, or link to the URL of a specific Avatar on a web server.

·        When you're happy, click the Add button. Your existing Avatar will then be replaced by the new one.

Edit Profile

This page allows you to edit your Profile and Settings. This includes the ability to change your email address, password and the information which is displayed to other users in your User Profile.

To edit your profile/settings:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Edit Profile button.

·        Make any changed you wish to. If you want to change your password, make sure to enter your current password in the first box, and your new password in the below two boxes. If you don't want to change your password, leave all three boxes empty.

·        When you're happy with the changes, click Save at the bottom of the page.

Edit Sigs

This page allows you to edit your Signatures, that can be displayed at the bottom of your posts. bbv2 allows you to have more than one sig, letting you choose which you'd like to be added when you make the post, or even to allow bbv2 to choose a random one for you.

To add a new sig:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Edit Sigs button.

·        In the Add New Sig section, choose which format you would like the sig to use (HTML, bbCode or plain text - not all of these options may be available to you). Plain text is recommended if you are just entering your name or a short quotation - bbCode is recommended if you're inserting an image or a link to your website.

·        Enter the content for your new sig in the main text box. When you're happy with it, you can check the Preview? box to preview what the sig will look like in a post, and click Add Sig.

FillText

This page allows you to create a menu of pre-defined canned posts, which you can insert into new threads, replies, or PMs. FillTexts save a lot of fingerwork for frequently-typed posts/paragraphs.

For example, if you find yourself frequently typing the same sentence or paragraph, you could just add it as a FillText. When you want to use that sentence, just choose it from the FillText menu, and it's added!

To create a new FillText:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the FillText button.

·        Under the Add a new FillText section, choose a title for your FillText. This will be the title that you see in the FillText menu when making a post.

·        Enter the actual content for the FillText in the main text box. You can use plain text, HTML or bbCode - whatever format you make your posts in, the FillText will be parsed by.

ClickAdd FillText when you're happy.

Folding

This page allows you to disable or re-enable various foldable features around the board.

To re-enable a foldable feature (like Instant Reply, or IMs) that you have previously disabled:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Folding button.

·        Uncheck any feature boxes as needed.

·        Click the Save Changes button when you're happy.

Forum Subs

This page allows you to create and delete your subscriptions to various forums on the board.

You can choose to receive notifications of new threads and replies by email, PM or MSN Messenger. To subscribe to a forum:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Forum Subs button.

·        Put a check in the box of the forum you wish to subscribe to.

·        Choose which method of subscription you would like - email, PM or MSN Messenger.

·        At the bottom, click Subscribe. You will then receive notifications of new posts and replies in that forum.

Ignore List

This page allows you to ignore other users, and manage ignored threads. To ignore a user means that you won't see any of their posts, or any of the threads started by them. You're essentially making them invisible to you.

To ignore a user:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Ignore List button.

·        Under the Ignore User section, enter the username of the person you would like to ignore.

·        When you're happy, click the Ignore User button.

You can remove ignores of users and threads in the top section of this page.

Memos

This page allows you to create simple memos - notes or reminders which only you can see, there on the Memos page.

To create a Memo:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Memos button.

·        Enter the content for your Memo in the main text box, and click Add.

My Threads

This page takes you to a listing of the posts you have made on the board. A snippet from each post is shown, along with a link to view each thread and post in full

Nicknames

This page allows you to create 'Nicknames' for your favourite users. Assign a user a Nickname, and their posts will all show up to you with that Nickname instead of their regular username, and you will see them on the who's online with the given Nickname, too.

To give a user a Nickname:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Nicknames button.

·        Enter the person's Username in the first box, and the Nickname you are choosing for them in the second box.

·        Click Save when you're happy. The user will then show up to you as the nickname you assigned.

PM Inbox

This page allows you to view and send Private Messages. A Private Message is like a thread, except it can only be seen by a couple of users. You can send a PM to up to four recipients at once.

To send a PM:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the PM Inbox button.

·        Scroll to the bottom, and fill in the Send PM form. This includes a short subject for the PM, the recipients and the actual message.

·        Click Send PM.

Poll Watches

This page allows you to view any polls you have watched. You can watch a poll by clicking the Watch Poll link while viewing it. It will then appear on this page, so you can keep track of it.

Post Wrap

This page allows you to specify a Post Wrap. This means that you can have a regular header and footer for your posts, which is included automatically. For example, if you prefer your posts to be in a different font colour, you can insert the bbCode for that in your Post Wrap, instead of typing it manually every time.

To edit your Post Wrap:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the Post Wrap button.

·        Edit the content in the Header and Footer boxes. The Header will be placed before your post, and the Footer after it.

·        Click Save Changes when you're happy.

Thread Subs

This page allows you to view your existing Thread Subscriptions, and to remove them. You can subscribe to a thread by viewing the thread itself and clicking the small envelope, or Thread Subscriptions image towards the top right.

UID Marking

This page allows you to specify some favorite users. When you view a forum, threads which these users have posted in are shown with a slightly different icon - so you can tell where they have posted.

You could also just add yourself as a favorite user, and the threads which you have posted in will be the ones with the special icon.

To add a favorite user to mark:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the UID Marking button.

·        Enter the username in the text box, and click Add.

User Files

This page allows you to upload private or public images, which can then be used in your sig, avatar, etc. Please note that your admin may have disabled this feature.

To add a User File:

·        Enter your User Area.

·        Click the User Files button.

·        Click the Browse button to select the file you wish to upload.

·        Enter a short description in the Blurb text box.

·        If you want other users to be able to use your image, and view it in the gallery, check the Public file? box.

·        Click the Upload File button to upload. When you are taken back to the main screen, you can click the View Your Private Files link just to see your own private uploads.

Whisper

 Whisper allows you to leave a private message on the message board that only the member that you are leaving it for can see. Example; If someone ask your mailing address and you don't want it seen by everyone then you would select the "Interact" button in the upper right hand corner of that person's post. A drop down box will appear, select "Whisper", you will be taken to a text box on a new screen. Enter you message to the person where you see " Enter private whisper here". A box will appear in the thread but there will be no text there, at least that the public can see. Your whisper can  not be seen by other members on the message board.  For safety and security reason the administrator and moderators of the message board will also be able to see your whispered message.