AF tech tips....got any?

I'm sure that a lot of AF users don't use the assorted links/vB code availableto them simply because the features are not fully explained to them....

how about we put together a thread of useful info for people to browse at their leisure?

we could also do the same with a FAQ thread covering avatars, PM's, mods etc for the benefit of new members...


I know the information is already out there,but a lot of members don't go looking for it.They tend to start threads asking how things work....it would be good to have a quick link that we can use to direct them to the info.

sounds like an extremely good idea, as not all users are fully computer geek:)

Originally posted by tazdev
sounds like an extremely good idea, as not all users are fully computer geek:)

I will be the first to raise my hand.. I am not a computer geek, and generally clueless as to a lot of the stuff you guys know how to do. I can fix the damn things, install new drives, chips, cards, OS, and trouble shoot all the above, but when it comes to the other stuff, I am LOST!!

So I hack at it till either I break it, or figure it out, so any little tips you guys want to leave would be appreciated!!

O .K...............here's the first simple tip! If you look at the main index board,(click on Automotive Forums .com at the top of this page)and scroll down ,you will find,

1/A list of everybody online at the moment(moderators names appear
as bold entries)

2/The total number of members and visitors currently at AF.

3/The members having a birthday today(if their date of birth is in their profile)





If you already knew this,don't post to say so,post another basic tip for new users to enjoy!

Ok, since I have seen questions about pics and avatars..........

PICTURES:

To insert pics into your posts...make sure the pic is on webspace or a site. Here are 2 ways to do it.

First, copy the URL to the pic. Right click on the pic and go to properties and a URL for it will appear in a window that also contains other info. On the vB code above the reply box hit the IMG button. A pop up window will appear saying "Enter the text to be formatted." Paste the URL into it. Make sure the "http://"; doesn't appear twice. Hit ok.

Another way is to manually do it. Copy the URL of the picture. Type {IMG}, except replace {} with [ ] then paste the URL immediately after it. At the very end of the URL type {/IMG}, remember to replace {} with [ ] again. Make sure there are no spaces between any characters.

For signature pics, go to your Profile (link is toward top of page) and go to Edit Profile. Go down to the signature option, there's a decent sized box for sig info. Copy and paste a URL for your sig pic using the manual code listed above.

AVATARS:

First you must get 100 posts, unless this has changed and I don't know it. Avatars should be no larger than 100 x 100 pixels. Too determine a picture's size, right click on the pic and go to the Properties...the info in the window should also contain the size of the pic. In your Profile go to Edit Options, then down to Change Avatar, at the very bottom. Momentarily you will get a message saying "Thank you for updating your profile" or something like that. Give it a second. If you are using a pic hosted on webspace, cut n paste the URL into the area where it says "You can enter a URL of your avatar." OR If you are using a pic stored on your own computer, go the area below the URL entry and hit the Browse button. Go to where your pic is stored and select it. Then hit Open (Windows) or Select (I think Macs use this one). When you see the information appear in the text field, then hit the Submit Modifications button. Make sure the URL field above it is empty before hitting the submit button.


Hope this is easy to understand. If not I'll re-edit to make it easier. Also if someone needs some screen shots of properties windows I will be happy to put some up.

Thanks Katwoman!!

Through a few foul words, I finally figured out how to do my Avitar!!

Your guidlines were right on the money. Thank you for the assistance :D

Ahhh Thankx Kat ... wasent sure how to post pix up, but now i do WHOO HOO ;) :) :)

:D :D :sun: :flash:

Originally posted by kbslacker
When you're on a page that's a list of threads, the far left column is a bunch of envelopes:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/newfolder.gif Yellow open envelopes are threads with new posts since the last time you viewed them.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/newhotfolder.gif Red open envelopes are threads with new posts since the last time you viewed them that have over 15(?) replies.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/folder.gif Blue closed envelopes are threads you've read since the last post was made.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/hotfolder.gif Blue closed envelopes with little lines at the top are threads that have over 15 replies and that you've read since the last post was made.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/dot_newhotfolder.gif http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/dot_newfolder.gif http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/dot_hotfolder.gif http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/images/dot_folder.gif Any envelope with a little black dot on it is for a thread where you have made at least one post.

Borrowed this for the thread...Thanks KBS....

:) (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/misc.php?s=&action=faq)

Click on the smiley that Judge posted to get to faq...
Anyway i'd like to share one thing : usage of the quote button , because i have noticed that some users just copy and paste some others posts , to make a quote , and there's a quote button , that takes you to a reply with someones post already typed in , in bold , with information whose post that is etc. It's simple , quick and useful.
The button is located under each post , on the bottom right , and there are two buttons , one edit/delete - with this you can edit your post , but in other members posts only moderators and administrators can do such things , and next to it , on the right there is quote button , which means reply with quote.



It looks like that
{QUOTE}{i}Originally posted by Someone {/i}
{B}Here goes the post text{/B}{/QUOTE}


Then I'll use Kat's method , this is just for show , in real posts you have to change the { } into [ ]