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Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to register?
Registration may be required if you plan to post new topics or reply to existing topics (depending on the particular forum you are using). Registration is free, and you are not required to provide your real name. You are required to provide your actual email address, however.
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Where can I review the user agreement?
Please click this link to review the user agreement.
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How can I change my registration profile?
You may easily change any info stored in your registration profile, using the "my profile" link located near the top of each page. You must be logged in in order to update your profile.
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How can users get in touch with me if I hide my email address?
If you would prefer that your email address not be publicly available, but you want users to mail you through this message board, you may choose to do so by editing your mailing preferences. To do this, click the "my profile" link above, then click the "Edit Profile" link. Choose the "No, but allow members to mail me through this board" preference. Note that the administration may disable this feature.
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What do I do if I forget my login ID and/or password?
Retrieving your login ID and password is simple, assuming that email features are turned on for this message board. All of the pages that require you to identify yourself with your username and password carry a "lost password" link that you can use to have your username and password emailed instantly to your email address of record.
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Are cookies used?
This bulletin board uses cookies to store the following information: the last time you logged in, your login identification, and your preferences. These cookies are stored on your browser. Cookies are not used to perform any function other than to enhance your use of the message board. If your browser does not support cookies, or you have not enabled cookies on your browser, many of these time-saving features will not work properly and you will not be able log in. You must be logged in to use most functions of this board.
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How can I clear all cookies set on this board?
If you ever experience login problems, you may have a problem with the cookies that have been set in your browser. If this happens, you can try clearing all cookies set on this message board by clicking here
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What do those icons next to each topic mean?
These icons provide information on the state of each topic:
| New Posts |
Old Posts |
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![[new]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/closedb.gif "[new]") |
![[old]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/closed.gif "[old]") |
An open topic |
![[new]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/bang.gif "[new]") |
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An important topic |
![[new closed]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/redlockfolder.gif "[new closed]") |
![[old closed]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/yellockfolder.gif "[old closed]") |
A closed topic or poll |
![[new closed]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/moved_new.gif "[new closed]") |
![[old closed]](http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/moved_old.gif "[old closed]") |
A moved topic or poll |
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How do the new post images work?
Every time you begin browsing the board, a cookie is set in your browser containing the date and time. When you return later, this cookie is read, and the date in the cookie is compared to the last post time of each topic. If the topic has had new posts since you last visited the board, it will be marked with a "new" icon. Use this link to update the new post indicators. (You may also find the update link on your "my profile" page.)
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How can I use smilies?
Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This message board automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical representation, which we call graemlins. You can use our Instant Graemlins buttons for automatic generation. For example, if you type :o in your post, it will automatically be converted to  - a shameful face. The following graemlins are currently supported:
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:)
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Smile
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:(
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Frown
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:o
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Embarrassed
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:D
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Big Grin
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;)
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Wink
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:p
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Razz
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:cool:
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Cool
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:rolleyes:
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Roll Eyes
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:mad:
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Mad
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:eek:
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Eek!
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:confused:
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Confused
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How do I use HTML and UBB Code?
You may be able to use HTML and/or UBB Code in your posts, if your administrators and moderators have those options turned on for each forum. Some forums may have either HTML or UBB Code turned off, or both turned off. Only your message board's leaders can set this. Every time you post a new note, you will be told whether UBB Code and/or HTML is enabled for that particular forum. If HTML is on, you may use any HTML tags, but please be very careful that you use proper HTML syntax. If you do not, your moderator or administrator may have to edit your post. UBB Code is similar to HTML, but offers just a few basic functions, such as hyperlinking, image display, bolding and italicizing. Complete details on UBB Code are listed here.
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What are posting icons?
Depending on the configuration of your forums, you may be able to associate an icon with each post that you make. There are currently 14 icons, each expressing a different emotion or identification. These icons range from a simple note to sadness to warning. These icons appear next to each topic in a forum listing and on each post. If you do not see icons, your forum administrator may not be allowing icons on this particular forum. (Thanks to Kombat03 for the icon idea!)
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What are moderators?
Moderators control individual forums. They can edit, delete, or prune any posts in their forums. If you have a question about a particular forum, you should direct it to your forum moderator.
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What are user titles?
Each registered member has a title that reflects his or her "rank" on this board. Administrators are given the title "Administrator". Moderators are given the title "Moderator". Some members are given special titles by the administration. All other users are given their titles based on the number of posts they have made:
| Posts |
Title |
| 0 |
New Member |
| 9 |
Member |
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Can I use a signature?
You may use a signature (commonly used in email messages) on your posts. You may set your signature in your member profile. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose to include it with any post you make by checking the "include signature" box when you create your post. This message board's administrator may elect to turn the signature feature off at any time, however. If that is the case, the "include signature" option will not appear when you post a note, even if you have stored a signature. You may change your signature at any time by changing your profile, unless a message board administrator locks your profile.
Note: You may not use HTML in your signature file, but you may use UBB Code. Note that the board administrator may disable the UBB Code Image tag.
Note: You may use a maximum of 250 characters in your signature.
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Can I attach files?
For security reasons, you may not attach files to any posts. You may cut and paste text into your post, however, or use HTML and/or UBB Code (if enabled) to provide hyperlinks to outside documents.
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Are there any censor features?
The message board administrators have the power to censor certain words that may be posted. This censoring is not an exact science, however, so certain words may be censored out of context. Please realize that the censoring, if any censoring is being performed, is being done by a computer based on the words that are being screened. Words that are censored are replaced with asterisks.
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How can I report an inappropriate post?
If you see a post that you believe requires immediate attention from a moderator or administrator, click this icon:  . You can then write a brief note explaining why you are reporting this post. The alert goes to the forum moderator(s) and the board administrator via email. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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What are member ratings?
The administrators of this message board may permit members to rate each other. Only registered members may be rated and they can only be rated by other members. Even if ratings are being used on this board, you may elect to not have other members rate you. To turn off member ratings for yourself, just change your profile settings. This option can be disabled by the board administrators.
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What are Avatar Images?
Avatar Images are small images that users may choose that represent themselves. Like signatures, a user's avatar is displayed with each post he or she makes. You may choose an avatar by editing your profile. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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Can I upload an Avatar Image of my own?
For security reasons, we do not allow any file uploading. If the board administration allows it, you may provide a URL to an avatar hosted on web space that you own. Otherwise, you must choose from one of the avatars provided by the board administration.
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How to I hide the Avatar Images of other users?
If you do not wish to view the Avatar Images of other users, you may hide them by changing your preferences. Click the "my profile" link at the top of this page, then click the Edit Preferences link.
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Can I edit my own posts?
You may edit or delete your own posts at any time. Look for the edit icon on the post to be edited. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum moderator(s) or the message board administrators. If a forum leader edits your post, a note is generated at the bottom of each post that is edited so that every one knows when a post has been edited. The forum administrators may choose to cause a similar note to be added to your post if you edit it. Note that if your post was the start of a new topic, deleting your post will result in the removal of the entire topic (all replies after your topic will also be deleted). Please note that your board administrators may disable the ability of members to edit or delete posts. Only registered members can edit or delete their posts.
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Can I be notified by email if someone responds to my topic?
If you create a new topic, you have the option of receiving an email notification every time someone posts a reply to your topic. Just check the email notification box when creating a new topic, if you want to use this feature. Only registered members can use this feature.
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Can I get email notification of replies to topics I'm interested in?
Yes, you may. When making a full reply to a topic, check the "Email Notification: emails sent to you whenever someone replies." option, located below the Instant Graemlins / Instant UBB Code™ boxes.
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Can I view a list of topics I've subscribed to?
You can find the list of topics, and manage your subscripions from your Edit Topic Notifications page. (You may also find a link to this page on your "my profile" page.)
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What is Quick Reply?
Quick Reply allows you to add a reply to an open topic without leaving the topic itself. At the bottom of each topic will be a field in which you may write your reply. Once you are done, you may post the reply directly, preview the post (if allowed by the administration), or move the post to the normal reply page. If you do not wish to use Quick Reply, you may turn it off by editing your preferences - click the "my profile" link at the top of the page, then click the Edit Preferences link. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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How do I create new polls?
To create a new poll, click the "New Poll" button available inside of a forum:  . If the button is not visible, then polling is disabled in that forum.
Creating a new poll starts like creating a new topic - you must provide a topic subject, and a message for the post.
The polling system on this board allows you to place multiple questions in a single poll. Each question may have multiple options for users to choose from. While creating the poll, you will need to decide the number of questions to ask, and the number of options each question will have.
Once you have posted your poll, you can not return to edit it. You will be able to preview the poll, and return to make changes before the poll has been posted.
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How do I vote in a poll?
To vote in a poll, click the  button inside of a poll topic. Please note that the administrator may choose to restrict certain users from voting in polls, and you may not have permission to vote as a result.
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Can I search?
You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, by a particular registered member, by date, and/or by forum. Just click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.
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Can I search private forums?
Yes, if you have permission to access the particular private forums you wish to search. Note that you must be logged in to search private forums.
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What are Today's Active Topics?
When you visit this message board, you will see a link at the top of the list of forums called "Today's Active Topics". Clicking on this link will provide you with a list of topics in all open, public forums that have been posted to during the current day. Private forums posts are never included in this listing.
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What is the "Blue Arrow" at the top of each topic?
When you visit a topic, you may see a blue arrow icon ( ) at the top of the page. If you click on this icon, or the link next to it, you will be taken to the first new post made since you last started browsing the board. If there have been no new posts in that topic since you last started browsing the board, you will be taken to the last post in the topic instead. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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What are private messages?
The administrators of this message board may permit members to send private messages to each other. A private message is not email. Private messages are one-to-one communications that can only be read by the recipient. You can read private messages in your profile section. You can prevent anyone from sending you a private message by editing your preferences. Only registered members may send private messages. This option can be disabled by the board administrators.
To send someone a private message, look for the private message icon ( ) on a post a person creates. You can send a private message through the person's member profile, or from your Buddy List, if you have added the person to your Buddy List.
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What is an Ignore List?
Ignore lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your ignore list can no longer send you a private message. You can put someone on your ignore list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to ignore list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use ignore lists.
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What is a Buddy List?
Buddy lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your buddy list is stored in a handy location, so that you can easily send the person a private message. You can put someone on your buddy list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to buddy list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use buddy lists.
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How will I be notified when I have received a private message?
If the board administratior has enabled private messaging, and you have received a private message, an icon ( ) and a message will be displayed below the "log out" link at the top of most pages. If you have enabled the option in your preferences, you will also receive an email notification of the private message. You may edit your preferences by clicking the "my profile" link at the top of the page, then clicking the "Edit Preferences" link.
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What is the Community Directory?
The Community Directory is a searchable, browsable list of all of the members on this community. On the Directory page, you may find members based on certain information that each member has provided in his or her public profile. To use the Community Directory, click the "directory" link at the top of this page. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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What is the Member of the Moment?
The Member of the Moment is a box that may be displayed on the Community Directory page. Every hour, a new Member of the Moment is chosen and displayed on the Community Directory page. The selection is completely random, and is not controlled by the board administration.
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What is Recent Visitors?
Recent Visitors is a display of users browsing the forums and topics on this board in the past 30 minutes.
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What do the numbers on the details page mean?
Recent Visitors keeps track of the forums and topics that users have viewed recently. This allows a user to appear to be in more than one place at once.
The number of recent visitors inside a forum is reflected by the Visitors column. The Popularity column is a percentage of all of the visitors currently browsing the board that have visited that forum.
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I just visited a forum or topic. Why am I not on the list of visitors?
The recent visitors information is only updated every few minutes to reduce server load. As a result, you may not immediately see yourself or others.
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Why do I appear in more than one place at once?
Recent Visitors keeps track of the forums and topics you have looked at recently, not where you are at the current moment.
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How can I tell where a certain user was last seen?
You can view the user's last known location by viewing his or her profile. If the user has not been here recently, this information will not be available.
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How do I take my name off the list of recent visitors?
You may make yourself invisible to the Recent Visitors list by entering your my profile page, selecting the Update Profile link, and changing your Hide from Recent Visitors feature? preference.
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