Post by Lali on Aug 24, 2006 11:37:36 GMT -5
((In progress, for me, means no non-staff replies please. Feel free to read what is currently here. The main page is fully explained, for our proboards newbies.))
Welcome to proboards. Things can be a little confusing for new folks round here, and heaven knows I don’t have all the answers, but I can explain most of the buttons and things you’ll find on Legion of Literates.
Most things are pretty straightforward, and are labelled clearly. Let’s deal with the main page first.
At the top of the screen, if you’re not logged in, there’ll be a chirpy little message saying “Welcome, Guest. Click here to Log-in or Register.” Fairly obviously, if you click the word log-in, you’ll be taken to the login screen, and if you click Register you’ll be taken through the process of making an account on the site.
If you are logged in, that message should be replaced by one saying “Hello, *username*, you have *number* private messages, *number* are new.” You can click the words "private messages" to be taken to your private message inbox, which is essentially an email system for this site and this site only.
The line of icons below that are all fairly self-explanatory. Click on any one of them to follow the link.
"Home" takes you back to the main page of this site, with the list of all the boards.
"Help" takes you to the proboards help site, which has some animated walkthroughs of common functions and so on. Personally I don't think it's that great, but hey.
"Search" takes you to the search function of this site, where you can try and find a message you once read and have now lost. You can change the search parameters to be more or less specific, as you'll see if you ever use it.
"Members" takes you to the list of LoL's members, where you can find any in the alphabetical list of our people. ^_^ It's alphabetized by log-in name, not display name.
"Calendar" takes you to our calendar, surprisingly enough. Registered members can view this and add in any important dates. Birthdays go in automatically when you fill in your birthdate in your profile.
"Profile" takes you to your own personal settings. Following the links and instructions here, you can change your avatar, personal message, signature, display name... Pretty much all of your details can be found under "Modify Profile", and you can change these as often as you like. If you click "Bookmarks" from here, you can save certain threads and choose to be notified by personal message or email when a new post is made.
"Logout" logs you out of your account.
Immediately below those icons there are adverts. Mostly I just ignore them, but sometimes it's quite funny to see what google thinks I'd be interested in. ^_^
Below that is our scrolling Welcome Message. It's been reading what it says now for some time, and will probably stay that way for some time more. If you want to stop it from scrolling, it can be paused by simply moving the mouse pointer onto the text. When you move away it starts scrolling up again. If anything utterly drastic happens to the site, the message may be changed to broadcast the news as well as a notice being put up. I say may. We'll find out if anything like that happens.
Below that is a link that says "Going Down". This takes you to the bottom of the main page, and the shoutbox. It's a quick way to get there if you can't be bothered to scroll.
Below that it should say "Legion of Literates :: Home". The "Legion of Literates" part is a link to the main page (which you're already on. This line of text shows you where you are on the site - currently it reads "Home", as in the main page. On different RP boards, it will have the category and the name of the board instead, and when you're reading a thread, it will have this added on the end. For example: "The Legion of Literates :: The Roleplays :: Fantasy - Medieval :: The Marked" Every separate section apart from the last one is always a link back to the section it refers to.
Next down is a list of the boards. These are separated into four categories: General (for Rules, Applications, Notices etc.), The OOC Forums (for Out of Character (Non-Roleplay) posts and chat), The Newbie Playground (for learners to practice and get their writing/roleplaying up to RP standard) and The Roleplays (for the actual RPs). The lighter grey sections can be clicked to enter the boards.
It's also worth noting that the Board name (eg. "The Rules") can also be clicked to enter the board. The names of the Moderators (eg. "Lali, Ru'Thor") can separately be clicked to see the profile of each moderator.
The last post details, on the far right of each board's section - the name of the poster and the name of the thread (eg. "Lali", "The Rules"") can also be clicked. The poster's name will lead to their profile, and the name of the thread will take you straight to the start of the latest page of that thread.
The dots down the left side of the site correspond to each board. For logged-in members, these flash purple when new messages have been posted in that board since you last viewed it.
Some boards cannot be entered by normal members - "The AA (Admins Anonymous)" for example, is only accessible to staff members. Boards which you cannot enter will display the number of threads and posts, but will not give the last post details.
All non-RP boards have a short explanation of their purpose beneath their name. If you are unsure where to post a thread, you can always PM an admin, or, if you're too terrified of us (we don't bite, honest...
) another member.
At the bottom of the page is the "Info Center". This gives Forum Statistics, such as the total number of threads and posts.
It also gives the Last Updated Topic - the name of the thread and the name of the poster can be clicked, leading to the last page of the thread or to the poster's profile, respectively.
There is also an option to view the 50 most recent posts of the forum. The words "50 most recent posts" can be clicked to follow this link.
On the right of the Info Center, it lists the total members - the number here can be clicked to go to the member list.
Beneath this it has the Newest Member. The name here can be clicked to go to this user's profile.
Below this it also has a record of your private messages, showing you how many you have in total, and how many you have not checked. The numbers here can be clicked to go to your private message inbox.
Below this section, events sometimes show up. Birthdays are displayed here on the correct day, and again the username, when clicked, will lead to their profile.
Events in the calendar also show up here for the month in which they take place. During September 2006, for example, the "Events This Month" section shows that "LoL is 6 months old!". The writing here can be clicked to go to the calendar entry and see any further details entered by the user who posted this event.
Below this is the list of "Users Online". All usernames here can be clicked to go that user's profile.
In red and black below that, we have our own delightful little shoutbox. As you'll be able to see by the messages in there, this is a very informal chatting system for our members. You simply type in your name and the message you wish to post (please bear in mind that this will be visible to anyone who visits the site...) and click send.
If you so wish you can add in your email address, but it seems that most of us don't bother.
If you click "reset", the message you have typed will be erased.
You can click on any of the smileys below to add them into your message.
The "Archive" link will show you all messages previously posted in that shoutbox, the circled R will refresh the shoutbox, and the "Help" link will take you to a small pop-up with the official shoutbox help.
Below the shoutbox is the "Going Up" link which will take you back to the top of the board lists.
Below that is a link reading "Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free", and if any of you are happy to pay for us to upgrade, then feel free, but personally I think we can live with the ads and get the site for free.
Below that, more adverts from google.
Below that, a line reading: "This Board Hosted For FREE By ProBoards". The word ProBoards can be clicked to go to the main proboards site, if you wish to make your own messageboard.
And finally, right at the bottom of the page: "Get Your Own Free Message Board!". Again, the words "Free Message Board" can be clicked to go to the main proboards site.
And that's the main page. ^_^
Welcome to proboards. Things can be a little confusing for new folks round here, and heaven knows I don’t have all the answers, but I can explain most of the buttons and things you’ll find on Legion of Literates.
Most things are pretty straightforward, and are labelled clearly. Let’s deal with the main page first.
At the top of the screen, if you’re not logged in, there’ll be a chirpy little message saying “Welcome, Guest. Click here to Log-in or Register.” Fairly obviously, if you click the word log-in, you’ll be taken to the login screen, and if you click Register you’ll be taken through the process of making an account on the site.
If you are logged in, that message should be replaced by one saying “Hello, *username*, you have *number* private messages, *number* are new.” You can click the words "private messages" to be taken to your private message inbox, which is essentially an email system for this site and this site only.
The line of icons below that are all fairly self-explanatory. Click on any one of them to follow the link.
"Home" takes you back to the main page of this site, with the list of all the boards.
"Help" takes you to the proboards help site, which has some animated walkthroughs of common functions and so on. Personally I don't think it's that great, but hey.
"Search" takes you to the search function of this site, where you can try and find a message you once read and have now lost. You can change the search parameters to be more or less specific, as you'll see if you ever use it.
"Members" takes you to the list of LoL's members, where you can find any in the alphabetical list of our people. ^_^ It's alphabetized by log-in name, not display name.
"Calendar" takes you to our calendar, surprisingly enough. Registered members can view this and add in any important dates. Birthdays go in automatically when you fill in your birthdate in your profile.
"Profile" takes you to your own personal settings. Following the links and instructions here, you can change your avatar, personal message, signature, display name... Pretty much all of your details can be found under "Modify Profile", and you can change these as often as you like. If you click "Bookmarks" from here, you can save certain threads and choose to be notified by personal message or email when a new post is made.
"Logout" logs you out of your account.
Immediately below those icons there are adverts. Mostly I just ignore them, but sometimes it's quite funny to see what google thinks I'd be interested in. ^_^
Below that is our scrolling Welcome Message. It's been reading what it says now for some time, and will probably stay that way for some time more. If you want to stop it from scrolling, it can be paused by simply moving the mouse pointer onto the text. When you move away it starts scrolling up again. If anything utterly drastic happens to the site, the message may be changed to broadcast the news as well as a notice being put up. I say may. We'll find out if anything like that happens.
Below that is a link that says "Going Down". This takes you to the bottom of the main page, and the shoutbox. It's a quick way to get there if you can't be bothered to scroll.
Below that it should say "Legion of Literates :: Home". The "Legion of Literates" part is a link to the main page (which you're already on. This line of text shows you where you are on the site - currently it reads "Home", as in the main page. On different RP boards, it will have the category and the name of the board instead, and when you're reading a thread, it will have this added on the end. For example: "The Legion of Literates :: The Roleplays :: Fantasy - Medieval :: The Marked" Every separate section apart from the last one is always a link back to the section it refers to.
Next down is a list of the boards. These are separated into four categories: General (for Rules, Applications, Notices etc.), The OOC Forums (for Out of Character (Non-Roleplay) posts and chat), The Newbie Playground (for learners to practice and get their writing/roleplaying up to RP standard) and The Roleplays (for the actual RPs). The lighter grey sections can be clicked to enter the boards.
It's also worth noting that the Board name (eg. "The Rules") can also be clicked to enter the board. The names of the Moderators (eg. "Lali, Ru'Thor") can separately be clicked to see the profile of each moderator.
The last post details, on the far right of each board's section - the name of the poster and the name of the thread (eg. "Lali", "The Rules"") can also be clicked. The poster's name will lead to their profile, and the name of the thread will take you straight to the start of the latest page of that thread.
The dots down the left side of the site correspond to each board. For logged-in members, these flash purple when new messages have been posted in that board since you last viewed it.
Some boards cannot be entered by normal members - "The AA (Admins Anonymous)" for example, is only accessible to staff members. Boards which you cannot enter will display the number of threads and posts, but will not give the last post details.
All non-RP boards have a short explanation of their purpose beneath their name. If you are unsure where to post a thread, you can always PM an admin, or, if you're too terrified of us (we don't bite, honest...
) another member.At the bottom of the page is the "Info Center". This gives Forum Statistics, such as the total number of threads and posts.
It also gives the Last Updated Topic - the name of the thread and the name of the poster can be clicked, leading to the last page of the thread or to the poster's profile, respectively.
There is also an option to view the 50 most recent posts of the forum. The words "50 most recent posts" can be clicked to follow this link.
On the right of the Info Center, it lists the total members - the number here can be clicked to go to the member list.
Beneath this it has the Newest Member. The name here can be clicked to go to this user's profile.
Below this it also has a record of your private messages, showing you how many you have in total, and how many you have not checked. The numbers here can be clicked to go to your private message inbox.
Below this section, events sometimes show up. Birthdays are displayed here on the correct day, and again the username, when clicked, will lead to their profile.
Events in the calendar also show up here for the month in which they take place. During September 2006, for example, the "Events This Month" section shows that "LoL is 6 months old!". The writing here can be clicked to go to the calendar entry and see any further details entered by the user who posted this event.
Below this is the list of "Users Online". All usernames here can be clicked to go that user's profile.
In red and black below that, we have our own delightful little shoutbox. As you'll be able to see by the messages in there, this is a very informal chatting system for our members. You simply type in your name and the message you wish to post (please bear in mind that this will be visible to anyone who visits the site...) and click send.
If you so wish you can add in your email address, but it seems that most of us don't bother.
If you click "reset", the message you have typed will be erased.
You can click on any of the smileys below to add them into your message.
The "Archive" link will show you all messages previously posted in that shoutbox, the circled R will refresh the shoutbox, and the "Help" link will take you to a small pop-up with the official shoutbox help.
Below the shoutbox is the "Going Up" link which will take you back to the top of the board lists.
Below that is a link reading "Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free", and if any of you are happy to pay for us to upgrade, then feel free, but personally I think we can live with the ads and get the site for free.
Below that, more adverts from google.
Below that, a line reading: "This Board Hosted For FREE By ProBoards". The word ProBoards can be clicked to go to the main proboards site, if you wish to make your own messageboard.
And finally, right at the bottom of the page: "Get Your Own Free Message Board!". Again, the words "Free Message Board" can be clicked to go to the main proboards site.
And that's the main page. ^_^
