Anytime you join a new community you are likely to feel a little lost at first. Perhaps you are not sure how the things are working here. May be you just want to make a simple to ask your question but you're not sure, as a new member, how to do that. In order to address a general "How the forum is set-up" question and how can you make use of the features this thread is started.
On the other hand, if you know how things work on an online Forum but are not sure where to post your particular question - please post ask that in the thread named: Are You Lost? Ask a Moderator!
The first post of this thread (that means this very post) will have details about the features and usually used terminologies on this board. The second post will have a list of information we intend to cover in this thread.
We take utmost care in proving all this information, however, as the features keep on changing and there is something which is not covered here if there is a something you want to clarify, you can ask that as the reply of this thread and someone will be around to clarify that.
How the forum is set-up.
- Categories:
- A “Category” is a collection of forums under a parent forum. You can't post under a parent forum. For example, have a look at the below picture named: "Category and Forums":
In above image, "LANGUAGES" is a category while "IBM COBOL, OpenCOBOL, OOCobol", "TSO, ISPF & REXX (Do you still do CLIST?!)" etc. are Forums. Category "LANGUAGES" is also a link which can accessed by clicking on it but users can't post inside it.
- A “Category” is a collection of forums under a parent forum. You can't post under a parent forum. For example, have a look at the below picture named: "Category and Forums":
- Forum:
- Consider the above picture named, "Category and Forums", again. In that, "IBM COBOL, OpenCOBOL, OOCobol", "TSO, ISPF & REXX (Do you still do CLIST?!)" are Forums. Apparently, In a forum users can post their topics.
3. Private Message
phpBB 3.0 allows its users to communicate privately by using Private Messages. To visit the Private Messages section, you either can click on the [X new messages] link on the left hand side below the forum header, or you can directly access it through the User Control Panel..
Depending on the communication methods allowed by the board administrator, there can be 3 ways of being notified of a new Private Message's arrival:
By receiving an e-mail or Jabber message
While browsing the forum a notification window will pop up
The [X new messages] link will show the number of currently unread messages
You can set the options to your liking in the Preferences section. Note, that for the popup window notification to work, your will have to add the forum you are visiting to your browser’s popup blocker white list.
You can choose to not receive Private Messages by other users in your Preferences. Note, that moderators and administrators will still be able send you Private Messages, even if you have disabled them.
4. OP - TS - TA
Whoever starts the thread is called "Thread Starter" on the Forum. The short for "Thread Starter" is TS, which is commonly used here. Some prefer to call TS as OP (Original Poster) or TA (Topic Author).
5. Quote
It's a type of BBcode that shows the quoted text from somewhere or by a user.
6. Code Tags:
BBCodes are a special way of formatting posts, similar to HTML. On this board when you use them, they mae look your code as on maifnrames with Black background and green text.
7. BBCode Tags - Bulletin Board code tags
BBCode is a type of formatting that can be applied to your post content, much like HTML. Unlike HTML, however, BBCode uses square brackets [ and ] instead of angled brackets < and >. Depending on the permissions the board administrator has set, you may be able to use only certain BBCodes or even none at all.
For detailed instructions on the usage of BBCode, you can click the BBCODE link to the righthand of the Post Content text box. Please note that the administrator has the option to add new and custom BBCodes, so others may be availible to you which are not on this list.
Basic BBCodes and their outputs are as follows:
Boldface text: Boldface text
Italicised text: Italicised text
Underlined text: Underlined text
:Quoted text
:Name to quote wrote:Quoted text
http://www.zmainframes.com/: http://www.google.com
Linked text: Linked text
User Control Panel:
The User Control Panel (UCP) allows you to alter personal preferences, manage posts you are watching, send and receive private messages, and change the way information about you appears to other users. To view the UCP, click the 'User Control Panel' link that appears after logging in.
The UCP is separated into six tabs: Overview, Private Messages, Profile, Preferences, Friends and Foes, and Groups. Within each tab are several sub pages, accessed by clicking the desired link on the left side of the UCP interface. Some of these areas may not be available depending on the permissions set for you by the administrator.
Every page of the UCP displays your Friends List on the left side. To send a private message to a friend, click their user name.
Private Messaging is discussed more in depth in Section 5.5, “Communicate with Private Messages”.
Overview:
The Overview displays a snapshot of information about your posting habits such as the date you joined the forum, your most active topic, and how many total posts you have submitted. Overview sub pages include Subscriptions, Bookmarks, and Drafts.
11. List
12. Contact Us
13. Moderators
14. Global Moderators
15. Founder
16. Administrators
17. New member
18. Registered member
19. Forum Moderator,
20. Job-Opening Moderator
21. Former Team Member,
22. Bots
23. Smile icons (Smilies)
24. Topic icon
25. Subject
26. Sticky Post
27. Legends of different post types.
28. WHO IS ONLINE
29. WHO WAS HERE?
30. BIRTHDAYS
31. STATISTICS
- Edits:
- Added initial post.
- Started adding explnations.
- Consider the above picture named, "Category and Forums", again. In that, "IBM COBOL, OpenCOBOL, OOCobol", "TSO, ISPF & REXX (Do you still do CLIST?!)" are Forums. Apparently, In a forum users can post their topics.