Forum Guide

There are a few things that it is important to know while using and navigating the forums. This page is for those who have never used a forum before, or can't quite figure out what they should be doing in the forum.

Key Terms

• Forum - a group of threads on a similar topic, i.e. "Readers Wanted: Books"
• Thread - A specific topic where discussion occurs. Follow this link to see an example.
• Post - The comment of an individual in a thread. A thread starts with the first post, and each post made afterwards follows.
• PM - Private Message. This option is available to all users. Go to a user's profile page and there will be a link that allows you to PM them, or look at the bottom of one of their posts.

Navigating the Project Threads

Each work in progress has its own thread. Visit the Readers Wanted: Books or Readers Wanted: Short Works to view all of our collaborative projects in progress.

If you have chosen to participate in one of the collaborative books it is important to read the first post of the thread for the book you have chosen. This can be done when you are browsing one of the sections mentioned above by clicking on the title of the book, which is a link to its thread. The first post that you see will have all the vital information specific to that project. Make sure to read through ALL of the first post.

How to Respond

Let's say you're reading the thread about knitting (again, found here). You have decided you would like to weigh in on the current discussion. In order to reply in the thread you're viewing you need to click on "Post Reply" at the top or bottom of the page.

If you were to click "New Topic" on the left, it would create a new thread that is separate from the one you are currently viewing.

Note: Do not use the subject line if you are only replying to a thread. This is more a courtesy to others browsing the forum than anything. The text of the subject when you look at an individual post is way too small, and nobody pays any attention to it. If you feel it necessary to insert a subject, make sure that it doesn't contain information necessary for your post.

The image below is an example of what a post looks like with a subject.

Tips and Tricks

To be notified when someone posts on a particular thread, make sure to click on "Subscribe Topic" at the top left of the page. If you do this, you will receive an e-mail every time someone responds to that particular thread. Make sure that you do this for each project that you participate in although if you post a reply you will be automatically subscribed.

To put a URL link into your signature, 1. go to User Control Panel that is at the top of all Forum pages 2. click on "Profile" then choose "Signature" 3. Paste in the URL you want to put into your signature, 4. highlight it then click on the URL button. 5. Be certain the "Disable BBCode" box is NOT checked

now preview and see that it looks like a hyperlink and that's it!

To make it prettier, use this format [url=http://blahblahblah.htm]Catalog Link[/url] where you insert your URL into the right place and then can type your message where it now says Catalog Link. This will just show your message as a link without that messy looking URL.

I Still Don't Understand

Click the link below to create a new post and ask your question to other volunteers. This time it is important to add a subject to your post.

Ask your question in the Get Help forum