Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- forum_community_guide [2023/02/18 16:15] – melon
+++ forum_community_guide [2023/06/24 01:03] (current) – melon
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Forums have four levels of organization:
-  * **Categories**: These are the overall themes that group the boards together. For example, the category "World Wide Web" contains boards related websites and life online!
+  * **Categories**: These are the overall themes that group the boards together. For example, the category "World Wild Web" contains boards related websites and life online!
   * **Boards**: These are like rooms, where you can find topics related to a specific subject.
   * **Topics**: These are the talking points or threads that anyone can create. For example, the topic "How did you come up with your username?" is a question that invites replies from other users.
   * **Replies**: These are the responses to a particular topic left by forum members.
-To participate in the forum, you need to register an account. You can do that by clicking the "Register" button on the top of the page. You will then be able to create topics, reply to topics, fill out your profile and more!
+To participate in the forum, you need to register an account. You can do that by clicking the **Register** button on the top of the page. You will then be able to create topics, reply to topics, fill out your profile and more!
 ----
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ===== Creating topics :-) =====
-To create a topic, you need to go to the board where you want to topic and click the "New Topic" button. You will then be able to write a subject and a message for your topic and pick an icon for it. You can also use BBCode to format your text, add images, links, videos, and more. If you prefer to use a WYSIWYG editor; click the last icon on the editors icon list to switch to visual mode!
+To create a topic, you need to go to the board where you want the topic to be, and click the **New Topic** button. You will then be able to write a subject and a message for your topic and pick an icon for it. You can also use [[bbcode|BBCode]] to format your text, add images, links, videos, and more. If you prefer to use a WYSIWYG editor; click the last icon on the editors icon list to switch to visual mode!
-You can preview your topic before submitting it by clicking the "Preview" button.
+You can preview your topic before submitting it by clicking the **Preview** button.
 **Tips for Making a Good Forum Topic**
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ==== Keeping the forum usable for others :-[ ====
-Forums are early web technology and there are a few things to be mindful of.
+Forums are early web technology so its important to be mindful that this forum will not automatically format your images so that they load quickly like Discord will. Please resize your images so they are not too big before posting them on the forum! - You will also need to be able to host your own images to display on the forum! You can use image hosting services like imgbb or imgbox - however, these services are not recommended as they have previously burned people and deleted images.
-This forum will not automatically format your images so that they load quickly like Discord or Facebook will. Please resize your images so they are not too big before posting them on the forum! - You will also need to be able to host your own images to display on the forum! You can use an image hosting service like Imgur or your own site, which I recommend.
+==== Drafts :~) ====
+If your topic is incomplete or you'd like to wait a while before posting it, you can save it as a Draft, just click the **Save as Draft** button, this can be done on new topics or replies. You can access a list of drafts on your profile, you'll also see your drafts below the editor when making new posts! Your drafts are private and no one can see them but you, they will be saved forever until you post them or delete them.
+**Micro-Drafts** - In addition to full drafts, the forum also saves micro-drafts automatically - if you accidentally close the editor or leave a page as you're typing, you can return to it and your text should still be there waiting for you! These micro-drafts are saved in your browser and delete themselves after 24 hours or when you clear browser data.
 ----
@@ Line 39: / Line 43: @@
 ===== Replying to topics :-o =====
-To reply to a topic, you need to go to the topic where you want to reply and click the "Reply" button. You can also use the "Quote" buttons, or highlight text to quote it! At the bottom of the page you'll also find a dropdown that lets you quick reply.
+To reply to a topic, you need to go to the topic where you want to reply and click the **Leave a Reply** button. You can also use the **Quote** buttons, or __highlight text to quote it__! At the bottom of the page you'll also find a dropdown that lets you **Quick Reply** without leaving the page.
-A reply can just be a sentence, or something much longer and formatted like a topic, that's up to you. Keep in mind that a forum is not a chatroom so you should put a bit of time into replies!
+  * A reply can just be a sentence, or something much longer and formatted like a topic, that's up to you. Keep in mind that a forum is not a chatroom so you should put a bit of time into replies!
-Replying to very old topics is sometimes called "Necroposting" this is totally find to do on the MelonLand Forum and you are encouraged to respond to old topics.
+  * Replying to very old topics is sometimes called **Necroposting** this is totally fine to do on the MelonLand Forum and you are encouraged to respond to old topics.
-If you want to add more to your last reply; instead of replying again, click the button that says “Modify”, go to the end of your reply and add the word “EDIT” followed by your new text. You can do this again and again by doing “EDIT 1” “EDIT 2” etc. This helps keep the topic clean and readable for others.
+  * If you want to add more to your last reply; instead of replying again, click the button that says **Modify**, go to the end of your reply and add the word “EDIT” followed by your new text. You can do this again and again by doing “EDIT 1” “EDIT 2” etc. This helps keep the topic clean and readable for others.
-If you made a topic but it has dropped down the board you may be tempted to reply to it yourself to make it jump back to the top. This is called Bumping! In some situations its fine, in others its something you want to avoid. On some boards like the showcase, you may want to bump your topics to tell people about new features you added, in this case its fine.
+  * If you made a topic but it has dropped down the board you may be tempted to reply to it yourself to make it jump back to the top. This is called Bumping! On some boards like the showcase, you may want to bump your topics to tell people about new features you added, in this case it's fine.
 ----
@@ Line 53: / Line 57: @@
 ===== Managing Your Profile :-D =====
-To edit your profile, you need to click the "Profile" tab on the top right corner of the page. You will then be able to change your avatar, signature, personal text, and more. You can also click the "Ultimate Profile" tab to add an About Me, Interests and even theme your profile with CSS!
+To edit your profile, you need to click the **Profile** icon on the top right corner of the page. You will then be able to change your avatar, signature, personal text, and more. You can also click the "Ultimate Profile" tab to add an About Me, Interests and even theme your profile with [[forum_css|CSS]]!
 ==== Set default style for your posts ====
 You can set default <ff sans-serif>font</ff>/<fc #00ffff>colour</fc>/<fs small>size</fs> for your posts! This will effect ALL of your posts including past ones, it can be changed at any time.
-Go to Profile/Look & Layout, set your style at the bottom of the page and click "Modify Profile" to save.
+Go to Profile/Look & Layout, set your style at the bottom of the page and click **Modify Profile** to save.
 ==== Styling your profile with CSS ====
@@ Line 63: / Line 67: @@
 ==== Managing & Giving Gifts ====
-The forum has a gift system (Click View Gifts on anyone's profile) to view them. Gifts are a fun way to reward people for things they have done (E.g. someone might give you a gift if you write a particularly good response to their topic). You can also delete gifts you don't want on your own profile with the delete button (this is fine to do)
+The forum has a gift system ; click **View Gifts** on anyone's profile, to view them. Gifts are a fun way to reward people for things they have done (E.g. someone might give you a gift if you write a particularly good response to their topic). You can also delete gifts you don't want on your own profile with the delete button (this is fine to do)
 **To give a gift:** You must be a full member (100+ posts) then click view gifts on someones profile, you'll find an upload a gift form which lets you upload any image that is 32x32px or less.
@@ Line 70: / Line 74: @@
 ===== Pick a new forum theme =====
-The forum is in dark mode high-contrast by default, there is also a light mode low-contrast made by [[user:cinni|cinni]], you can switch to it by selecting "Look & Layout" on your profile page; then look for the Theme selection area at the top of the page.
+The forum is in dark mode high-contrast by default, there is also a light mode low-contrast made by [[user:cinni|cinni]], you can switch to it by selecting **Look & Layout** on your profile page; then look for the Theme selection area at the top of the page.
 ===== Making the forum suit you :-} =====