Beginner's Guide

[Irish]

Welcome to the Wood Carving Illustrated Message Board!

To help make your visit easy and fun we have created a few images that will help guide you around the forum.

This series of images are all taken from the main entry page of the message board.

It is suggested that you print a copy of the images for easy reference as you learn your way around the message board.

"Thread" refers to a conversation or discussion on this board. One member will post a comment to start that thread and create a title for the thread. Then anyone who wishes to add their comments to that discussion do so by "Posting to the Thread". Many threads (discussions) can be happening on the board at any given time and you can post your comments or ideas to each of those conversations.

"Post or posting" - Posting is when you add your comments to a thread.

FYI - At the bottom of many postings you will see small images just as you do in this posting. You can click on any of these images to open a new window and view a large version of that image. When you are finished looking at the large image click the small "x" in the upper right corner of the window to return to the thread window.



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I have made images of the message board windows that you will see as you travel around the site. I have cropped or cut those images down so that only the actual window appears on this thread. The images you will see in this thread are the part inside the red box.


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Register - Hopefully you have already signed up. If not please take a moment and join the message board. Once you are registered you will have the opportunity to reply to threads by adding your own posts, start your own threads and to view the numberous images on the site.

Log In - When you visit the message board you will want to log in. The log in area is in the upper right, above the main thread section.

Today's Posts - Click here to see what new posts have been added in the last twenty-four hours.

Search - Find threads and postings by subject, keywords or by poster's names.

Welcome Members - Please take a moment and Say Hi! to all of us so we can welcome you to the message board.



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As you move down the main page of the message board you will come to the selection of categories that highlight different topics and carving styles.

Carving Categories - The message board is divided into smaller categories for easy access to your favorite topics. Click on any of these categories to take you to the page listing the threads in that category.

Current Thread - When someone posts to a thread that thread moves to the top of the list. This section of the main page shows you what thread is currently active. You can click on that thread to go to that thread's page.

Number of Threads - This listing shows you how many active and archived threads are in each category.

Who's Posting - Directly below the active thread is the name of the member that last posted to this thread. You can click of that member's name to see their profile or to send them a Private Message, also called a PM.



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Scrolling to the bottom of the main page you will find an area that let's you know who the other members of the message board are.

Ask the Moderators - Titled FAQ this is where you start a new thread if you have questions concerning how the message board works, if you are having problems using the message board or any other concern you believe needs to be brought to the moderator's attention.

Who's On Line - When you sign in your name is added to this area. You can see who else is logged in and you can click on any name to see that member's profile.

Who's Our Newest Member - This area shows who has recently joined the message board.

Birthdays - Listed below New Members is the birthday listing.

Posting Icons and Icons - On the left side of each category listing is an icon that notes if there are any new posts, no new posts or if the current thread has been closed to posting. At the bottom of the main page you will see the icon that will appear for each posting status.

[Irish]

When you click on any of the categories on the main page you will be taken to the page specifically for that category with the listing of threads for that section.


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Left side of image

Category - This is the name of the section that you are viewing.

New Thread - Click the blue button to open a new window where you can start your own thread.

WCI - This is where Wood Carving Illustrated, the host of this message board, posts any announcements and notices. Please read "WCI Message Board Bill of Rights" as this lists the very few restrictions and guidelines for members.

Stickies - This is a list of the very best threads in that categories postings. These threads always stay at the top of the page.

Threads - This list shows what is being discussed on the board. The numbers in the brackets beside the name of the threads show how many pages that thread has.


Right side of image

Pages - This shows how many pages of threads are in this category. On an individual thread this shows how many pages are in that thread. You can click on any page number to go to that page.

Number of Replies - This shows how many replies have been made to that thread.

Icons - A series of icons are used to show if that thread has an attachment (a paper clip), thumb tacks show that a thread has been stickied, members can rate a thread by using stars and the trash can shows that a post has been deleted.

Who Posted Last - Here you will find who posted the last reply to the thread plus the date and time.

Number of Views - This shows how many times a thread has been opened by the members of the board. Even though just a few people are posting many may be reading.

[Irish]

When you click on a thread on either the main page or the category page you will be taken directly to that thread.

How you have set your User CP (Control Panel) will determine whether your window opens on the first posting in that thread or the last. You can change your settings by clicking on the User CP link just above the category bar. The User CP is discussed later in this thread.


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Category - This reminds you what category you are viewing so that you can easily relocate that thread at a later date.

Post Reply - If you want to post a comment click on the blue button that says "Post Reply".

Who's Posting - The user name is listed for each person that posts. You can click on that name to see the user's profile. The button to the right tells you whether that member is currently signed onto the message board. A green light means they are currently on board a dull blue-black light means that they are not.

Thread Title - The title of the thread appears at the top of each and every post.

Images - You can view large sized images by clicking on that image. A new window will open.

Links - In this area you will see either a signature line of the posting member or a link to their website or their carving gallery. You can add a signature line and link to your name by accessing your User CP.

Pages - The numbers of the pages to this particular thread are shown. You can click on any page and go directly to that page.

Profile - A little bit on information about that member is shown on the right side of their User Name.

Edit & Quote - Once you have added a post you will be returned to the pages of the thread. By using the Edit button you can correct spelling or change your posting. The Quote option let's you quote another member's posting in your reply.

[Irish]

At the bottom of each thread page you will see an area where you can add a quick, few lines reply.


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Post Reply - This takes you to the advanced posting window where you can write long postings and add images.

Next Thread - This shows you what threads were posted before and after this one. You can click on these links to view those threads.

Quick Post - This is the Quick Post window. The menu bar on it's top edge lets you change the font to bold, italics, underlined or change the font color. You can add a link, image or spell check your message if you have installed a spell checker through your User CP. The Quick Post box is excellent when your comment is made up of only a few sentences.

Go Advanced - You may find that you have more to share than a few lines. To go to the larger advanced window click this button.

[Irish]

By now you are ready to start posting to the message board by clicking on either the Post Reply button at the top of the thread or by using the Quick Post at the bottom of the thread page.

The image shown here is the Advanced Posting page which you get when you click on either the Post Reply at the top or the Go Advanced under the Quick Post.


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Menu Bar - This area lets you change your font characters, add links and add attachments.

Smileys - There is a large selection of smiley icons that you can use to add emotions to your postings. Click on the smiley bar to open the selection menu.

Quick Smileys - Just below the text posting box are the quick smileys that you can add or you can chose to add no smileys. This options is important because the message board automatically adds smileys for certain words.

Submit the Post - Below the text posting box are three buttons that let you submit the post, have the post open in a new window so that you can see what it will look like when submitted and spell check your posting if you have added this option.



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Below the text posting window is a series of options available to you.

Options - You can show your signature line, disable smileys and have links show up as page title names instead of http://

Add Images - This option called Manage Attachments is the button you want to click to add images to your posts. A new window will open.

Email - You can chose whether or not you want to be notified by email if someone posts a reply to this thread.

Previous Posts - Below the options you can see a text version of what was just posted to this thread. This makes responding to another member easy.




Adding images is fairly easy. New members may have their first few images monitored by the message board moderators. If your first images do not show up when you are returned to the thread please be patient. One of the moderators will check the image or images and then add them for you.

After you have made several posts your images will automatically be added.

When you click on the Manage Attachments button on the Advanced Posting page a new window will open.


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Find images - Click the browse button. A menu will drop down. In that menu find the drive and name of the image on your computer that you want to add. I personnally like to save my images on my Desktop. This makes them very easy to find when uploading to the message board. You can add five images per posting.

Upload - When you have found all of your images click the Upload button to the right to upload them to the message board. You will see a list of your image names area below this area.

Uploaded Images - Images may also by uploaded from web urls.

Image Sizes - There are restrictions on the size of the images that you can upload. That listing shows you the kb (kilobit) size, maximum pixel width and maximum pixel height by image format. If you image is larger than these restrictions it can not be uploaded.

Finished - When you have successfully added all of your images click the text in the upper right hand bar that says "Close This Window".

You will return to the Advanced Posting page where you can click the Submit Reply button. You will return to the thread where you can see your post and images.

Hope this helps and we will be looking forward to your postings on our message board.

Click here to visit the Welcome Members - Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board forum and make a post introducing yourself.

Susan

[Irish]

The User CP of the message board is where you can change how the message board works for you.


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Once you have logged onto the message board by entering your user name and password the top bar of the message board window will change. You will see in the top green menu bar on the far left the term "User CP". This stands for User Control Panel.

Click on this area - "User CP" and a new window will open.



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That window shows you the threads upon which you have posted a comment. You can click on those threads to visit them and read what new postings have been made.

To the left is a navigation bar that lists the different options and choices you can make in setting up how you use this message board.

From top to bottom:

Edit Signature - you can add a link to your website or to your Carver's Gallery hosted by Wood Carving Illustrated. You can also include a sentence or two from your favorite quotation or even a smiley icon.

Edit Email & Password - If you have changed your email account you will want to add your new email address in this option area.

Edit Profile - This is the option where you tell us just a little about yourself as where you live, what your hobbies are, how long you have been carving.

Edit Options - This area is where you set the parameters of how the messabe board works for you.

Edit Avatar - An Avatar is the little image that appears next to your user name when you post. You can use one of the avatars provided by this message board or you can use an image of your own. This options is very important as we, the other members, look for those little images to see who is posting - we get to know who you are by your avatar image.

Edit Profile Image - You can add images to your profile area.

[Irish]

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I have clicked on the "Edit Options" on the left navigation menu which has opened a new window.

The first area at the top allows you the choice of whether we know that you are currently online or not. This option is called "Invisible Mode". If you want us to know you are visiting leave this button unchecked. If you wish to visit the message board but don't want your name to appear on the main page of the message board check this option.



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As you scroll down this Options page the next area deals with email options.

Admin Emails - Checking this button lets Wood Carving Illustrated notify you by email of any important happenings of the message board. Occassionally the message board is off line as new features and upgrades are added. This option lets WCI tell when these actions will occur.

Email Notice - If you want to know that someone has replied to a thread where you have posted you will want to check this option box. The message board will send you an email to tell you what the new post says.

Private Messages - There is an area on the message board where you can chat by PM with other members. These Private Messages do not appear on the message board, instead they act just as a private email would. This is a great option as you will quickly find yourself making many new friends here on the board.

[Irish]

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Scroll down again to the third area of your Options Panel and you will find the area that determines how each page appears of the message board.

Image - Do you want other members to see you Avatar or do you want to view the images posted by members? This is where you chose how the images displayed on the message board appear.

Order of Posts - You have the option of chosing whether the oldest (first) post to the thread shows when you click on that thread or if you start your reading at the latest (newest) posting.

There is a small drop down menu box on the right side of this option that gives you your choices. As a new member you may wish to check "oldest posts" so that you can easily read the entire thread. After you have been on the message board for a while and have read many of the threads you may wish to change this option to "latest or newest posts" so that you go to what has recently been added.

Number of Posts - You can control how many posts appear on each window page.

Time Limit - You can chose a time period to limit the number of threads or posts that show.



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Where are you? - The last area of this window let's you set the message board clock to your specific time zone and date.

Interface - You can change how you see your postings. You can chose to write your messages using html or htmlx interface just as web master would use. For a beginner I would suggest the WYSIWYG option.

This long set of initials stands for "What You See Is What You Get" and works just as any other page that you view on the web.

Save! - Click the "Save Changes" button when you have finished setting up your User CP.


Please remember that you can return to the User CP area at any time and make changes. Once the changes are saved you can return to the main page of the message board by clicking on "Wood Carving Message Board" at the top of any page.



Hope this helps, Susan

[Irish]

Now that you have read through this please post any questions that you have here so that we can help make your time on the board as enjoyable as possible.

And if you are ready to get your feet wet please post a little about yourself on the "Welcome New Members" thread !!!!

Clcik here to go to Welcome Members - Woodcarving Illustrated Message Board

Susan

[Irish]

Private Messages are a great way to keep in touch with your new friends on the message board. This is an internal email system where you can chat with another member behind the scenes.



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PM's - When you log in to the message board your user name will appear in the upper right hand corner of the window. Underneath your user name is the Private Message notations. It shows if you have any new (unread) messages waiting for you. It also shows how many messages you have stored in your mail box.

To go to view your PM's or to send a new PM click on the link that says "Private Messages".


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PM a Member - To send a PM to a member place your cursor over the member's user name next to their avatar. A small drop down menu will appear. Click on the "Send a private message" and a new window will open.

In this drop down menu you can also chose to view the member's profile, find all of the posts that this member has added to the message board or add this member to your Buddy List.


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Private Message window - Private Messages are created exactly as any other posting on the message board. Notice that this window and the Reply to Post window are the same.

When you click on the Private Message option the member's User name appears in the top menu box. You can add up to five member to recieve your PM.


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Options - After you have written your PM you will want to check the Options listed below the text box. These options include request a receipt so that you know they have gotten your PM, save a copy to your Sent Folder, show your signature, create links and smileys.

Send - The submit Message button is directly below the text window. Click this to send your PM.


As a reminder, don't forget to clean out your PM folders occassionally. You can only store 50 messages which includes both sent and received emails. Once your folder is full you can not PM until you reduce the number of messages in these two folders.

Susan