Tips - how to get along with the new software.

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/49316-instant-inline-notifications-keeping-up-with-the-forum/
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/46829-basic-use-of-the-new-forum-software/


I've read some great little snippets in other threads so maybe we could share our finds and tips in one place, to help others along? Often there are a couple of ways of achieving the same goal.


Please add, no matter how simple it may seem to you, your shortcut might be the one someone's struggling to find.



Here are a few of mine.


Check out your username at the top right-hand side of the page... click this and you will find a few shortcuts which will come in handy with more familiarisation.

The small window on the box also is an opener for VMs, or profile feeds as they are now called. If you want to share something, but not to anyone in particular, that's the way to start. Others may reply if they wish to.

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If you're overwhelmed with the info on the Forums page and would like something simpler to gaze upon, move your cursor over the green header bars. When you do, you should see a circle with a - appear on the bar on the right hand side. Click this and the whole sub forum will collapse down. This is particularly handy for me for Other Stuff which includes Barracks. Out of sight, out of mind.
Want to bring it back up again, simply click the + sign.

On the far right of Forums page is a list of
Recent topics
...
Birthdays
etc

These also collapse down, a little x appears when the cursor moves over the header bar and ... are shown if you want to reverse the effect.

If you want to get rid of all that extra info
look at the top header bar - on the far right next to View New Content is a little symbol.... then move the cursor to the header Recent Topics. A dark green square should appear with an X. Click this and the forum headers will shift over to the right . To reverse find the button in the same area again, this time marked <<

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The old Quick links 'Mark forums as Read' button was handy; this software has it at the bottom of the page - find the Mark Community Read button, click and chose Mark all as read.

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On the main header
Click Forums and then View New Content - for new and updated threads
Click Blogs and then View New Content - for new blogs
Etc

Once you've clicked View New Content don't forget to check out the filter buttons on the left hand margin. These the forums options but also let you narrow down by time period or by what you are 'following' (subscribed to)

 

The old software allowed for Advanced reply option, for eg attachments. This software terms it More Reply Options.

This button is handy for a couple of minor glitches

- Sometimes a post won't submit. It hangs. Click the More Reply options button and then Add Reply.

- Sometimes after posting copied and pasted text, the text loses all the paragraph breaks and includes coding.
Don't change anything, try this first -
Click edit, and then More Reply Options and try to submit again. This does seem to work for me.

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Again on this (advanced reply) More Reply Options window, there is a little switch icon above the B for bold - on the left hand side.
This switches the text format over for those who prefer to see the quotes, bold and italics.

It's also helpful if you've quoted something and the cursor doesn't seem to let you make a new paragraph after the quote.
If this does happen to you, click the switch button and it'll let you move to the line below, outside the quoted text box.


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Be very careful when using quotes or editing them - make sure you have BOTH the start and end quote brackets in place.
The software seems to completely reject a post containing a single start [ quote] (space added on purpose), without the end [/quote].

 

When starting a thread, it pays to add a few tags. You can keep track of your own contributions using this shortcut, as well as making them easier to find by other members. For example every time I upload a map I add the tag maps.

The advanced search page, accessed by the 'cog' icon next to the search box at the top right hand side, allows you to search for tags.

 

If you hit 'My media' in the posting tools, there should be an option to browse individual gallery images there.
Select the image and click 'finished', and it ought to insert the image.

[sharedmedia=gallery:images:3164]

Not entirely sure if it works in blogs though.
(Moved this query to the 'Tips' thread.)

 

Diversion from the tips. But I was thinking the other day we haven't had nearly enough round here on radios and signal equipment generally...


And as I ought to do a tip too; I notice you can quote people mid-post as many times as you like by hitting 'quote' on their posts while composing your own:
Drops it straight into the composition 'live':

 

When wishing to view bigger images in the gallery, eg in order to read text -
Select the black rectangular Options button on right-hand side.
Select View all Sizes, and then click whichever option you prefer.

This drop down menu under Options also features Share links - so that any image in the Gallery can be linked to. ("My Media" button in reply box allows a member to select their own images only.)

Page Link
http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/image/14001-recruitment-poster-spliced-with-cartoon-from-punch/

Image Link - select image icon in reply box and paste url.


My media - select image which you have uploaded.
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:14001]

 

Hmm. Should be.
I'll have a look at that later.

 

Dug in - checked the IPB forums - doesn't appear to be an option for it I'm afraid.
The powers that IPB say: Mods & Admin only.