Tips & Tricks for using this site!

[Moke]

If you've used VBulletin before, you know pretty much how it goes. However we are using the latest release in software for VB, so you may see some features enabled here that you don't see at other sites.

Following are some tips and tricks for VBulletin newbies and a refresher course for oldies. Please add to this list if you find a handy trick that works for you! The staff will direct new members to this thread upon registration.

[Moke]

Search: We have a great search feature It will even search all boards, not just one.. Search by username or keywords. If you're looking for something specific, try the search function.



Subscribing : When you subscribe to a forum or a specific thread, updates to the forum or thread are loaded into your *USERCP (http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/usercp.php)*. It works like a mini home page, loading private messages and threads or forums you want to read that have new messages all onto one page. You can also unsubscribe on your USERCP page.



You can change how the board notifies you of updates to threads you're 'watching' in your USERCP/Edit Options menu. You'll also see a tiny blue check mark next to threads you've posted in.



PM's: To get a popup window when you have a new PM waiting, go to USERCP, then click on Edit Options. You'll find it there! To send one, either click on the username of the person you want to pm and scroll down to 'send private message to user' and click, or go to your USERCP, click on 'Send New Message' and type away! It sends a message to that person and signals them that there's a message waiting for them.



Viewing Signatures :You can turn a lot of things on and off in UserCP, such as signatures and avatars.



To Edit or Delete your post, use the edit button BELOW your post.. in there is also an option to DELETE your post. If you created the original thread, and delete it, the entire thread is deleted.



Time Clock: If your time is off, try adjusting the time zone in USERCP/Edit Options.

Also, please check our FAQ (http://www.phenomsonline.com/board/faq.php) or post in the Suggestions forum to answer any questions not answered here!

[Moke]

Reputation Points are like 'kudos!' or a 'good job!' that another user might give you in reference to a post. To give rep, click on the scale on the upper right hand corner of the user's post. Enter in positive (or negative, but use wisely!) reputation and your comments, if any.

To check your rep points, go to your User Control Panel and scroll past any thread subscriptions you have. You can also view your points by clicking on the scale in your own post.

Users can give up to 50 rep points per day, and must rep 10 people before giving rep to the same person. The more rep you give, the more powerful your rep becomes. Admin rep holds the most power, so it is more coveted and less frequently given.

Please be sure to spread your rep points around to new members and those who contribute alot to our forum. We love our members!

[Moke]

:: bump in case it is helpful! ::

[Moke]

HOW TO POST PICS

First of all, please make sure your pictures are an acceptable size. If you need to reduce them you can use the Paint program that comes with your PC, or Microsoft Picture Manager that comes with XP, or if you want to get really into it, download a small program called irfanview (http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm). This program will allow you to resize images easily and save them as jpgs or gifs for posting.

Next, your pictures need to be hosted on a site where the url can be copied and pasted into your post. There are a number of free hosting sites that are relatively easy to use such as

webshots.com
photobucket.com
fotki.com


For ease of explanation, I'll explain from a Photobucket standpoint, since that is the hosting site I use. Open a free account at photobucket, and in the album provided, upload your pics by pressing the browse button and locating your pic saved on your hard drive. You may submit multiple pics at a time by pressing the 'submit multiple pics' button.

After your pics have been uploaded photobucket will show them in a gallery with 3 lines of code under each pic:

Url
Tag
Img

(photobucket has updated this process but it's generally the same directions)

For ease of use, I choose the img code because it already has the IMG tag you will need to post on the BB. Copy this line of code in its entirety. Come back to the board, open your post, and PASTE the code in its entirety into your reply box.

You can just as easily use the url code, but when you come back to the board, press the [IMG] button, paste your code, and press return. I advise you to choose 'Preview Reply' before posting. This way if it is too big, you can resize it and reload it, or if you don't like how it looks you can change it before it posts. Also, if you just get a link like this:http://www.lowcarbfriends.com instead of a picture, you're missing IMG tags.


Hope this helps!