TIPs on using the forum.

[Chrissaf]

These TIPs are written based upon using Firefox Browser on a Windows 10 PC platform. Most of these TIPs should work on other browsers too. However, there may be significant differences when using a Mobile or Tablet platform rather than a Windows based PC.

Definitions:

Discussion Starter Post = the initial post that creates a new thread.

Post = a reply that a user adds to an existing thread.

Thread = a number of sequential posts that are listed under the same topic title.

1)   Making a Post – Auto Paragraph Gaps.

This new forum automatically inserts ‘Paragraph Gaps’ every time it detects a ‘Carriage Return’. The forum software will insert a visual gap in the posted text. Thus it is not necessary to layout your ‘post creation box’ or ‘reply text box’ content in a WISIWIG [What I See Is What I Get] configuration.

The following screen shots show firstly what the post looks like when in the post ‘creation / reply’ text box. The second screenshot shows how the post is actually displayed with the ‘paragraph gaps’ automatically added by the forum. If you try to create your post using WISIWIG, then the layout of the final post can look very odd and elongated. Please avoid adding these unnecessary visual ‘paragraph gaps’ when creating your posts and/or replies.

This example of the post creation / reply box content shows what the text box should look like as it is being written:

When the above is saved to the forum, it produces this displayed posted result:

Notice how the different ‘paragraph’ elements of the posted text have now been given automatically inserted ‘paragraph gaps’ and looks balanced and correct in its presentation.

2)   Making a Post – Inserting Numbered Lists.

Numbered lists can be entered directly from the keyboard. The content of the image below gives instructions:

Once saved, the post displays as per the image below with ‘paragraph gaps’ showing and the numbers displayed in ‘red’ text.

3)   Making a Post – Inserting a clickable Hyperlink

This is my method for posting this example ‘YouTube’ link [or indeed any web page link] into the new forum.

Step 1 - Navigate to your YT video [or whatever ‘Webpage’] you want to link to in the forum post, so that it is loaded on a Browser TAB [see upper blue box highlight].

In my case I have created a folder on my Bookmarks tool bar to facilitate this process [see lower blue box highlight above].

Step 2 - Drag the ‘Webpage’ TAB into the Bookmark folder, as indicated in image below.

Step 3 - Now that the ‘Webpage’ Bookmark is temporarily in the folder, right click it and choose 'Copy' to copy the ‘Webpage’ Bookmark to the Windows clipboard.

Step 4 - Now go to the post where you want to insert the clickable link. Place the mouse cursor where you want to insert the clickable link and paste the YT or Webpage bookmark from the clipboard into the post. And it will display as in the style shown below:

Now delete the temporary bookmark from the Browser folder. Note, whilst still in the post creation / edit window. If you left click the pasted link, then you get the opportunity to edit it further if required.

4)   Making a Post – Inserting an Image.

ALL inserted images will be held back and queued in the forum for ‘Moderator’ approval.

This also includes ‘images’ that are already published in a post where a member has used the ‘Quote Reply’ tool. This is one reason why use of the ‘Quote’ tool should be avoided.

When you submit an image post for approval, a message does appear on screen to tell you that it has been sent for approval. Unfortunately this message does not appear in an obvious pop-up message box. It appears at the top of the displayed page. Thus you have to scroll up to the top of the page to see it.

The insertion of an image has been greatly enhanced on this new forum. The following file formats are valid. .JPG .JPEG .PNG .GIF

To insert an image use one of the following methods:

Place the cursor in the ‘post creation’ text box where you want the image to be placed.

Use the ‘Image Upload Tool’ in the post creation tool box [highlighted below in blue].

This new forum now also supports ‘Copy and Paste’ of a suitable image as well as ‘Drag and Drop’.

Image posting is more reliable if the images have small [less than 3MB] file sizes. Larger file sizes are supported, but issues have been seen when trying to post multiple large file size images in the same post. The larger files also take longer to refresh on the forum pages, thus the smaller file size should be used wherever possible.

5)   Replying to a Post.

To reply to a post, scroll down to the bottom of the page and use the ‘Reply to ………” text box.

The ‘Blue Box with White Arrow’ icon IS NOT a ‘Reply to this post’ button and should be avoided unless it is imperative that a previous post is quoted. See the section below titled “Quoted Reply Tool” for more info.

6)   Tools - that are available to users.

To see the posting tools that are available to you, click the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of your post. The dialogue box shown below will open on posts that you yourself have posted. On posts that you yourself have not posted the ‘Edit’ and ‘Delete’ tools are not shown.

Reply tool:

This tool simply scrolls down to the bottom of the page to show the ‘Reply Text Box’ where a ‘Reply’ to the thread can be added.

Quoted Reply tool:

This is the same as the ‘Blue Box with White Arrow’ tool that is currently embedded in each post. ‘Quoted Replies’ should be used sparingly, there is no real need to use it when your reply is going to be located directly below the post you are replying to. And when you do use it, it is desirable to edit the quoted post to remove any erroneous unneeded text.

The tool should not be used when the post you are quoting contains an image. To do so will result in your reply being held back and queued for image approval.

Report tool:

Using the ‘Report’ tool brings the post being reported to the attention of the moderators. On the ‘old forum’ a reported post was brought to the attention of Hornby administration staff. This does not now happen on this new forum.

When making a report please add comment about why you are reporting a post, else the report will be ignored.

Edit tool [only shows on your own posts]:

On the old forum, a post had a 10 minute window of opportunity where the original poster could edit the post. The new forum ‘Edit’ tool does not time out. The new ‘Edit’ tool also allows you to edit the topic title of the threads you own as well. If nothing appears to happen when clicking the edit tool, then ‘refresh’ your browser page to ‘reload’ the page and you should then find that the tool will function at a second attempt.

Delete tool [only shows on your own posts]:

A completely new tool that is available for users on this new forum. This tool allows you to self-delete your own posts and threads. Note that if trying to self-delete a thread you have started, the delete function will be automatically disabled if someone else has added a reply to your started thread.

7) email functions on this forum.

This forum does not inform you by email when a reply is left to your posted question. The forum requires you to manually come back and check for replies as and when convenient. Subject to the question asked, replies may very well be published within 45 minutes or less of posting the question.

There are also no 'Private Messaging' features or functionality available on this forum, thus it is not possible to make 'private contact' with other members. Private emails, telephone numbers and postal addresses are removed on sight as to publish them in a post is in breach of the documented forum guidelines?

8) Forum Rules

Please read the forum rules which are linked to from every forum page. New users sign up to these rules when you register to become a forum member but it is worth reviewing them occasionally as rules may be subject to change.