This thread is meant to introduce some of the new features on the forums. It's not a discussion of each feature. If you'd like to discuss each feature, please start a new thread.

You can show your own picture in your profile -- or your favorite cartoon character. To post your picture, you'll need to have it uploaded to the internet somewhere and then type the complete URL of the image. The complete URL includes the "http://" and the rest.

Try to keep your image small - perhaps 100 pixels in the longest dimension.

Again to add your picture, go to "my profile", then click on "View/Update My Profile". About half way down you'll see the "Add my picture" choice.

You can view my profile and picture by clicking on "Member Rated" next to this post.

Please no nudity.

You can preview your posting

Wondering if that picture link or fancy HTML text is going to look right in your post? When adding a post or replying, you now have two buttons at the bottom of the edit window.

One of these is "Preview Post". Click on this one to preview. If you're happy, then close the preview window and click on "Add Reply" or "Add Post"

You can get UBB code help while entering your message

When you click on Post a Reply, below the "Add Reply" and "Preview Post" buttons, you'll find a section of "Instant UBB Code" buttons.

If you want to include your email address in a post, click on the "EMAIL" button and a pop up window appears. Type your email address, then click on OK and the email address you typed will appear in your message.

You can also click on one of the "Instant Graemlins" for a 'smiley' that best fits your mood or message. :p

Man John, just when I was getting the knack of the other one!!! No, really I think this is very impressive. Great job.

Sheryl

You can change the name that is displayed with your posts

You can't change your username, but you can select another name to display in place of your username with your posts.

Once again, start by clicking on "my profile", then on "Edit/Update My Profile".

The newest registered member of the forums is named on the first contents page in the upper right.

By clicking on their user name you will see their profile.

You don't have to wait for a new member to post their own first post in the "Www.elcome..." Forum. Anyone can start the greeting.

You now 'log in' which means you don't need to enter your username and password each time you want to post. It also allows tracking to show who has been on recently and who has visited various forums recently.

If you don't want this tracking information to be displayed, you can turn it off under -- you guessed it -- "my profile".

Recent members visiting the forums are shown on the CF home page Currently this is set to 120 minutes -- two hours. In some places, recent visitors to particular forums are also shown.

If you don't want this information displayed for you, you can turn it off under "my profile".

You can now delete your own post This was a feature of the earlier version we were using, but it was turned off.

The literature says that you can delete your own posts, but you can't delete the posts of others. I'll have to test that to see if the first person in a thread deletes their posts whether or not that deletes all the messages in the thread.

We have the ability to take polls in the Collector Forums This feature is being tested in the play room:

http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/cgi-bin/forumscgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f= 9;t=000458

If you have ideas for polling questions, please email me. webmaster@harbourlights.com

Saint John...thanks so much for the great new Forums there is so much to do and so easy to do them. "you da man John"
Ruthie

Wow! This is sure different!

The instant UBB codes are nice!

This is great, JC! This is the same software I use on my Association's bulletin board. The polling software works well on that one.

Bob

VERY INTERESTING!

I like the new look. Question though, on the old forums after the first time I posted, I never had to login to add any new posts. When I clicked the Post a Reply my name and password were already populated.

MelJB

Wow, this new look really woke me up this morning. All the new features seem to outway the immediate complaints. :rolleyes:
The deleting your own message concerns me. While it is helpful for a right now delete, or duplicate , I'm concerned about deleting old posts which will change the historical aspect of these forums.

Refreshing, say the main page, doesn't seem to work. Is this a 5 minute thing too?

I miss the ability to "View today's posts" with just one click!!

UPDATE: I just found the right place and button on the main page!!!! LOL, eyesight is the 2nd thing to go when you get older!!!

Mombo - I'm trying to figure that out too.

I thought you might have to log off and back on again to see the updated links. But I don't think that worked.

If you have a continuous connection to the Internet - as with broadband - then you remain logged in unless you turn OFF your computer.

I guess if you have a dial up connection, then you probably have to log in each time you dial up. Is that correct?

I've figured out how to get the new posts. You either have to completely close down your browser and open up a new browser or go to your profile and click on the update new post indicators link.

Yes, if you log out and back in again, the indicator lights will be updated. Bryan's suggestion is probably faster.

I never log in or out and the View new posts are always present. I also use a dialup phone connection.

I would imagine that these two things - logging in and seeing what forums have new posts - are not directly related. Logging in lets the system know that you are there and will show others you are there. If you allow cookies to be set, they update what threads you have viewed. I would bet that even an unregistered visitor who allows the cookies will see the appropriate forums notated.

I would also venture a guess that yes, you can post even if you are not logged in, by providing your user name and password.

There are others far more knwledgeable than I concerning the operations of computers and these forums, but I would bet I am on the right track.

Dave

I've been on 3 times today and didn't need to log in after the first time-the new posts are always present, also.

Bud,

As we mentioned somewhere in all the discussions, if you do not log out, you are logged in by default. This would be why you were able to post without logging in again.

I did try logging out and posting a reply. Would not allow me to post without logging in.

Dave

Not trying to be facetious, but We can't even edit the post in THE(NEW or OLD) MarketPlace

Not to be smart, George... But the idea of the Marketplace Forum(s) is/was that you get to post your items once with no replies.

If you want to add or subtract something from your listings, you are expected to post a new message.

I know this inability to edit your Marketplace Forums is upsetting to you. However, Paul and I have expended all the time possible to debug the situation and it simply seems that a fix will have to wait for the next upgrade. With my expenditure of $228 to upgrade the software comes free upgrades for one year.

John

au contraire mon pharologist, experimentation suggests one can indeed edit messages in the NEW Marketplace.

T

No more "Edited by.." messages I've turned off this 'feature' globally. So those who learned the trick to hide these messages no longer need to perform the trick.

Thanks to Tim -- er the Shrew, Marmot, whatever... for pointing out this ability.

You can have your ICQ ID and/or AIM ID show in your profile.

AIM - or AOL Instant Messenger - allows other collectors to put you on their 'Buddy List' and to send you instant messages (IM) when you both are online.

Simply choose "my profile" and then choose "View/Update Profile".

If you have an AOL account, you automatically have an AIM "name" -- your account name such as "Biri97" for Bob M. If you don't have AOL, you can still participate in AIM by downloading the Free AIM software from this link:

http://aim.aol.com/aimnew/newreg/register2.adp?promo=248594

Push F5 to update or "refresh" webpage in I.E.

Suzanne