The basics

[Diane]

To create a new thread, just go to the forum where you want to post and click on "new thread."

To reply to a post, just click on reply.

When you're writing a new post, scroll over those little boxes at the top to see what they allow you to do. You can put your text in bold, italic, underline or glowing text. You can change the color or size of the text. You can insert a live link, an image or a quote.

Once you click on the button, place the text you want changed in between the opening and closting tags. For example, if you click on quote, you'll see an opening tag that has brackets around the word quote and a closing tag that has brackets around /quote. Put your quote in the middle between the closing bracket of the opening tag and the opening bracket of the closing tag.

To add an image or link, do the same - just put the url in the middle between the opening and closing tags. You will, however, have to download any images to an image hosting site before you can post them here. More on that later.

You can add a smiley to your post by just clicking on the smiley you want from the ones shown just above the message box.

[jhberkley]

Help! I got a password that lets me into the "public" part of this forum. (If it's public, why do I need a password? How do I get a password to get to the nitty gritty?
Joanna

[Diane]

I just emailed you the NG password.

You need both because only one forum allows non-members to read AND post, and that's the public Help! I have an ADD partner forum. You need to be a member to post in all of the other forums.

Non-members can't see or post in Nitty Gritty. The extra password is to give that forum a level of protection not available in the othr forums. Non-members can see the informational forums at the bottom with links and books, but they can't post.

Also, we have a private message system on this board. If you don't log in and someone has sent you a PM, you won't know it's there.

Look at the very top of the page. If it says you have new messages, just click on the link there and it will take you to your private message inbox.

[kathryn]

regarding passwords - I use a program I love called Roboform. It can store all your passwords as well as your mailing and shipping addresses, work addresses, even credit cards. I buy stuff on line and it so convenient to click fill forms at checkout and not have to retype all the same data over and over.

Don't worry, you can set a master password to protect Roboform data so no one else can get into it!! I feel safer using roboform than I used to writing down my passwords on paper so I wouldn't forget them.

Here's the link if anyone is interested:

www.roboform.com

[jhberkley]

Questions:

1. How can I keep track of which posts I have read and which ones I have yet to read? I can see a blue "New" sign on topics that have postings I have yet to read, but then don't know where to start when I get to the list.

2. How do I get the post I want to respond to showing up in a little box at the top of my reply? I like how that looks when others do it but don't know how to.

3. I can go everywhere except Nitty Gritty with one password and need two passwords to get the NG; right? Does entering my password to get into the "public" part of the site change anything for me? Can I just read and post there while being a "Guest"?

Joanna

[Diane]

1. See the messages in the "new messages" thread in this forum. If you go to the main page and look at the list of forum names, there will be a blue dot to the left of any forums where there are new posts.

If you've been on the board for a while and want to see if anything has been posted since you arrived, just hit the refresh button on your browser.

Also, in the box at the bottom of the main page, there's a link that will show you the 10 newest posts as well as a link to the one newest post.

2. Since all the text of all the posts in a thread are right there, you really don't have to include part of the prior post in your reply unless you think it just won't be clear what you're replying to. However, if you want to do that, just click on the "insert quote" button (see the little gray boxes above the smileys in the reply page? Insert quote is second from the right on the bottom row.) Just copy what you want to include in your quote and paste it between the brackets of the opening and closing tags that appear in your reply text box. This is explained in the top post in this thread.

3. You really need both passwords. For one thing, you won't be able to get into NG unless you log in first and then use the second password.

Without logging in, the only forum you'll be able to fully use is the Help! forum.

Also, someone may be sending you a private message and you won't see it unless you're logged in.

The board won't be able to tell you what posts are new since your last visit since it won't know who you are.

[change13vt]

QUESTION:
What do the files that look like they're on fire mean? On the left side of the posts, there are files. Some are just regular looking files, there are a few that are moving. What does that mean?
Amy

[Diane]

I think that's a "hot topic" icon after a thread has a certain number of replies - perhaps 15 since I see in Nitty Gritty a thread with 13 replies doesn't have one but a thread with 16 replies does.

[SharonM]

Diane wrote:
To reply to a post, just click on reply.
<SNIP>

I find it easier to click on the "quote" icon to the right of the message I'm replying to. That brings up the Reply box.

Sharon

[SharonM]

Sadie wrote:
>......I get how to click on the quote button, but how do you delete the part of the quote you dont' want, and then reduce the font size.
<SNIP>

Hold the mouse down and drag it across the text to highlight the stuff you want to delete. Then hit your delete button.
I don't know how to reduce the font size.

Sharon

[Diane]

When you're in a reply or post box, look at the gray boxes at the top. The second one from the right on the top row is for changing font size.

If you haven't, you all may want to just scroll your cursers over those buttons. After you hold the curser there for a second, a little text explaining what that button is for will pop up.

If you want to change the font color, just select a color from the little menu to the right of the gray boxes and type your text in the center.

[greenie]

Hello Diane
I too would like to access the Nitty Gritty forum. I've tried both my assigne password and my chosen one. Neither work.
Do you need specific information from me?
(I do appreciate the need to protect the privacy of this forum and really do commend you on the set-up)
Colleen

[Diane]

Colleen, you need two passwords. First is the main password sent to you by Proboards when you registered. The second is only for access to the two private forums.

Information on how to get the second password can be found in the How to Join forum. Essentially, we need you to send a little info on yourself to the email address listed there (so that it goes to both moderators.) We do this so we can ensure that only spouses of those with ADD get access to the private posts.

[cutter90]

Hi Diane, I don't know how to start a general thread. I have watched the help video but I still don't get it. Could you help me please? I would like to post in the private chats.

[Beth W]

Go to the folder where you want to start your new topic and click on "new thread" at the top right (small print so look carefully) and give it a title and start your posting. Only the admins can start a new heading; you have to be on the "second" level in one of the headings already created.