Post by Site Admin on Feb 20, 2005 2:18:30 GMT -5
Just wanted to pass on a few pointers about using this site.
You'll notice that all threads and sections can be viewed by any visitor, but you can't post until you register. (Don't worry, registration is free, and I don't ask for your life history).
Once you login, the header at the top of the page will tell you if you have any new messages. If you do, just click the notice to view your mailbox. While you can't link to this mailbox like an email address, you can use it to send messages to any other registered member.
Speaking of email, you have the option in your profile of whether or not to publish your email address. "Publish" is perhaps not a good term to use, as it makes it sound like I'm sending a list of all your email addresses all over the net for spammers to use. I don't share your email addresses with anybody. The option regarding whether or not to "publish" your email pertains only to this site. If you "publish" it, then other registered users can just click on a link to send you email. If you don't "publish" it, they will have to send you a PM (Private Message). You could always ask for a user's email address in your PM.
If you login using the "quick login" area at the upper right of the page, just below the header and banner ads, it will log you in using the default settings. The default settings are to automatically log you out after 360seconds, if you don't leave the site before then.
Alternatively, if you click the word "login" from the toolbar, you can select a checkbox that says "Always stay logged in" if you prefer.
In your posts, you can add effects to your text by clicking the appropriate button as you're typing the post.
Here's some examples of what you can do:
This is bold text.
This is Italics.
You can underline,strikethrough, [shadow=red,left,300]shadow,[/shadow] or [glow=red,2,300]glow[/glow] your text also.
You can type in colour, and in different fonts.
Teletype: this is teletype.
Marquee:
Superscript: this is superscript.
And Subscript: this is subscript.
Inserting a link to a website, an FTP site, a picture or an email address is easy too.
For a link, click on the "globe" icon to insert a hyperlink. Then place your cursor in between the "{url}" and "{/url}" tags and type or paste your link. (they actually show with square brackets, not the curved ones). When someone clicks on your link, it will open up in a new window.
For FTP, use the icon just to the right of the "globe" icon. It's a globe with a folder on it. As with the link icon, simply type or paste the FTP address inbetween the tags.
For pictures, use the icon that has a picture on it!
The Email link icon looks similar to the old Outlook Express icon, for anybody who's ever used Windows 98 on the internet. Outlook Express is still the default Windows email program, but they changed their icon.
With all of those icons / features, just put the data in between the tags, and you're all set.
You can even quote all or part of a user's post with the Quote button.
Your reply to the quote can go below.
You can even create a bullet list:
And of course, there's the smileys:
;D 
Anyway, you get the idea. If you have any questions about these or any other features, post them here!
You'll notice that all threads and sections can be viewed by any visitor, but you can't post until you register. (Don't worry, registration is free, and I don't ask for your life history).
Once you login, the header at the top of the page will tell you if you have any new messages. If you do, just click the notice to view your mailbox. While you can't link to this mailbox like an email address, you can use it to send messages to any other registered member.
Speaking of email, you have the option in your profile of whether or not to publish your email address. "Publish" is perhaps not a good term to use, as it makes it sound like I'm sending a list of all your email addresses all over the net for spammers to use. I don't share your email addresses with anybody. The option regarding whether or not to "publish" your email pertains only to this site. If you "publish" it, then other registered users can just click on a link to send you email. If you don't "publish" it, they will have to send you a PM (Private Message). You could always ask for a user's email address in your PM.
If you login using the "quick login" area at the upper right of the page, just below the header and banner ads, it will log you in using the default settings. The default settings are to automatically log you out after 360seconds, if you don't leave the site before then.
Alternatively, if you click the word "login" from the toolbar, you can select a checkbox that says "Always stay logged in" if you prefer.
In your posts, you can add effects to your text by clicking the appropriate button as you're typing the post.
Here's some examples of what you can do:
This is bold text.
This is Italics.
You can underline,
You can type in colour, and in different fonts.
Teletype: this is teletype.
Marquee:
Superscript: this is superscript.
And Subscript: this is subscript.
Inserting a link to a website, an FTP site, a picture or an email address is easy too.
For a link, click on the "globe" icon to insert a hyperlink. Then place your cursor in between the "{url}" and "{/url}" tags and type or paste your link. (they actually show with square brackets, not the curved ones). When someone clicks on your link, it will open up in a new window.
For FTP, use the icon just to the right of the "globe" icon. It's a globe with a folder on it. As with the link icon, simply type or paste the FTP address inbetween the tags.
For pictures, use the icon that has a picture on it!
The Email link icon looks similar to the old Outlook Express icon, for anybody who's ever used Windows 98 on the internet. Outlook Express is still the default Windows email program, but they changed their icon.
With all of those icons / features, just put the data in between the tags, and you're all set.
You can even quote all or part of a user's post with the Quote button.
This is where the quoted text is.
Your reply to the quote can go below.
You can even create a bullet list:
- I love Amateur Radio.
- This is the best discussion site for Ham Radio in Ontario.
- Isn't this a useless list?
And of course, there's the smileys:
;D 
Anyway, you get the idea. If you have any questions about these or any other features, post them here!
House: If you entered the web address of your own personal web page, any of us could go to that page by simply clicking the house under your username. You can add that in your profile in the WEBSITE TITLE and WEBSITE URL areas. You must put in a website title for the URL to work.
The letter "Y!": If you use Yahoo! Instant Messenger, and put your Instant Messenger Nickname into your profile, another HAMS ONLINE user who also has Yahoo! Instant Messenger can contact you by just clicking there.
A yellow stickman: Same as "Y!", but for AOL Instant Messenger.
A closed envelope: This is a link that any user can use to send email to the address you have in your profile. This only shows if you do NOT have a checkmark in the "HIDE EMAIL FROM PUBLIC" box in your profile. Also, this link will not work if your computer is set up to send mail through Yahoo! Mail or any of the "free" email sites on the internet. It does work if you use Outlook Express or Outlook to send your mail, or any other program similar to those two.