Getting started: Difference between revisions

Getting started: Difference between revisions From Online Manual

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Latest revision as of 00:36, 9 May 2014

So, you have arrived at a forum powered by SMF! Perhaps you have been looking at the Board Index or a screen telling you that you need to register before you can access the forum.

Some forums permit guests to read posts or even post messages, while other forums only allow registered members to see the posts. On some forums, many of the most useful features will only become available to you when you become a registered member. Because SMF is such a flexible system, permissions will vary considerably between forums.

The Home Page

Here are four key areas that are normally available to you on the opening page of the forum:

Forum Header - At the top of the forum's opening page you will find the forum header, which contains items such as the forum title, banner and logo. It also has a section with information about you, links to unread messages, as well as the date. There is usually a quick search box located here.
Main Menu - This menu is situated just below the forum header and it contains links to the main sections of the forum. On the main menu guests will usually find a link to register, as well as the option to log in. The menu may also have links to search, personal messages, the calendar, profile and the memberlist, depending on permissions.
Board Index - This appears on the main page of the forum. Categories are used to make it easier to find the boards that interest you. For information on how to keep up to date with new topics and posts, please see How to view unread posts and replies. Once a board has been entered it is possible to post a new topic.
Info Center - In the default layout, the Info Center is located below the Board Index. Depending on how it has been configured by an administrator it contains interesting information and statistics about activity on the forum.

As a regular user

Retrieved from "https://wiki.simplemachines.org/w/index.php?title=Getting_started&oldid=24443"

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As a regular user

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-{{TOCright}}
+So, you have arrived at a forum powered by SMF! Perhaps you have been looking at the {{llink|Board index|text=Board Index}} or a screen telling you that you need to {{llink|Registering|text=register}} before you can access the forum.
-==Getting Started==
-So, you have arrived at a forum powered by SMF! Perhaps you've been looking at the board index or a screen telling you that you need to [[registering|register]] before you can access the forum.
-Some forums permit guests to read posts or even post their own messages, while other forums only allow registered members to see the posts. At some forums, many of the most useful features will only become available to you when you become a registered member. Because SMF is such a flexible system, permissions will vary considerably between forums. Here are four key areas that normally are available for you.
+Some forums permit guests to read posts or even {{llink|Posting|text=post messages}}, while other forums only allow registered members to see the posts. On some forums, many of the most useful features will only become available to you when you become a registered member. Because SMF is such a flexible system, permissions will vary considerably between forums.
-==Main Menu==
+== The Home Page ==
-You've arrived here as a guest (or have registered but are currently logged out). The Main Menu (which appears on every page) should normally contain five or six buttons (or text links):
-[[File:Mainbuttons.gif]]
-*'''Home''', this takes you back to the board index.
+Here are four key areas that are normally available to you on the opening page of the forum:
-*'''Help''', this takes you to a guide to learn how to use the forums.
-*'''Search,''' this allows you to search the forums for whatever posts/topics/information that you're looking for.
-*'''Calendar''', links to the forum calendar (if enabled).
-*'''Members''', this displays the complete list of all the registered members on the forum.
-*'''Login''', this allows you to log in if you're already registered.
-*'''Register''', this button allows you to Register (or sometimes apply for registration) when you wish to do so.
-However, once you've registered and logged in, the main menu should look a little different: [[image:mainbuttons_02.gif]]
-*'''Home''' (as before).
-*'''Help''' (as before).
-*'''Search''' (as before).
-*'''Profile''' this allows you to make changes to your profile settings.
-*'''My Messages''' this takes you to personal message area (if enabled).
-*'''Calendar''' (as before).
-*'''Members''' (as before).
-*'''Logout''', this allows you to log out again if desired.
-Forum administrators should also note the presence of an additional "Admin" button, which will lead you to a page where you can manage and administrate your community.
+*'''{{llink|Forum header|text=Forum Header}}''' - At the top of the forum's opening page you will find the forum header, which contains items such as the forum title, banner and logo. It also has a section with information about you, links to unread messages, as well as the date. There is usually a quick search box located here.
+*'''{{llink|Main menu|text=Main Menu}}''' - This menu is situated just below the forum header and it contains links to the main sections of the forum. On the main menu guests will usually find a link to {{llink|Registering|text=register}}, as well as the option to {{llink|Logging In|text=log in}}. The menu may also have links to {{llink|Search|text=search}}, {{llink|Personal messages|text=personal messages}}, {{llink|Calendar|text=the calendar}}, {{llink|Profile|text=profile}} and the {{llink|Memberlist|text=memberlist}}, depending on permissions.
+*'''{{llink|Board index|text=Board Index}}''' - This appears on the main page of the forum. {{llink|Category|text=Categories}} are used to make it easier to find the {{llink|Board|text=boards}} that interest you. For information on how to keep up to date with new topics and posts, please see {{llink|How to view unread posts and replies|text=How to view unread posts and replies}}. Once a board has been entered it is possible to {{llink|Posting|text=post}} a new topic.
+*'''{{llink|Info center|text=Info Center}}''' - In the default layout, the Info Center is located below the Board Index. Depending on how it has been configured by an administrator it contains interesting information and statistics about activity on the forum.
-==Board Index==
+{{ {{Localized|As a regular user}}}}
-The board index (forum home page) is full of information and links. Its appearance is affected by some of the options the administrator has chosen, and by the theme.  When the SMF default them is used, the board index normally looks something like this
-* The "linktree" or "breadcrumb" line helps with navigation.  On this page, it consists only of the forum name, and  links right back to the top of this board index.
-* The Mark as Read button enables registered members to mark all posts in the entire forum as 'read'. This will clear the list of posts in the Unread Posts section of the userbox
-* Category names are highlighted with a category name background.
-** If the category is collapsible, clicking the category name collapses (hids) or expands (shows) boards that belong to this category.
-** The Unread Posts link connects you to a list of all the posts from all the boards in this category which you have not yet read.
-* Within each Category, you will see listed one or more boards.
-** The board name links to the message index for that board.
-** The board description describes the board's content, and may also include links to child boards and/or specify the board's moderator(s).
-** The New Posts [[File:Off.png|x20px]] or No New Posts [[File:On.png|x20px]] icons, usually in the leftmost column, show registered members whether there have been any new posts to the board since they last read it. For some boards have child boards within them, the "new posts in child board" icon shows that there are new posts, but only within a child board.
-==Message Index==
-Like the board index, the message index interface is quite straightforward when reduced to its essential components.
-* Some forums show the navigation tree at the top in a space-saving horizontal mode.
-* The page numbers link to further pages of the board and may be accompanied by Go Up and Go Down buttons linking to the top and bottom of the current board's page.
-* The Mark as Read button enables registered members to mark all posts in this board as "read".
-* The Notify button enables registered members to subscribe to email notification of replies to topics in this board.
-* The New Topic and New poll buttons are for starting new topics and polls, as described in the posting article.
-* The Subject, Started by, Replies, Views and Last post links enable you to sort the columns by these parameters (with Last post also toggling between descending and ascending order as indicated by the little arrow).
-*The [[Topic]] icons in the leftmost column are explained by the key below.
-*The [[Post]] icons in the next column are sometimes used to draw attention to the mood or purpose of the topic.
-*The [[Topic]] subject links to the start of the topic, with extra links for subsequent pages and new buttons to take registered members straight to their first unread [[Post]] of the topic.
-*Double clicking on the topic subject column will allow you to edit the title of the topic straight from the message index, as long as you have quick-moderation enabled in your profile and that you have permission to edit your own posts - to edit your topic titles, and permission to edit everyone else posts - so you can edit titles of topics not started by you.
-*Where the [[Topic]] has been started or last replied to by a registered member, their names link to their respective profile.
-*The Jump to menu provides a convenient quick method of navigating the forum. It will allow a user to quickly &quot;jump&quot; to any [[Board]] that they have access to view.
-==Topic Display==
-Sometimes referred to as threads, topics are actually where you find posted messages:
-* Some forums show the navigation tree at the top in a space-saving horizontal mode.
-* Some forums may also be configured with 'Previous' and 'Next Topic' links.
-* The page numbers link to further pages of the topic, and may be accompanied by 'Go Up' and 'Go Down' buttons linking to the top and bottom of the current page.
-* The Reply button enables you to Reply to the topic.
-* The Notify button enables registered members to subscribe to email notification of replies to the topic.
-* The Mark Unread button enables registered members to mark the Topic as 'unread', which means that it will still be listed as new and can be effectively 'saved for later'. Note that this button changes to Add Poll in the bottom button set for users with permission to add polls to existing topics.
-* The Send Topic button enables registered members to send a link to the topic by e-mail.
-* The Print button creates a simplified, printer-friendly rendering of the page.
-* The author name links to the author of the post's own profile.
-* The author details in the left-hand column may be accompanied by further personal information.
-* The topic subject links back to the start of the topic.
-* The Quote button enables you to quote the post.
-* Furthermore, Modify and Delete options are normally provided to enable registered members to edit their own posts.
-* Report to Moderator enables you to report abusive or wrongly-placed posts to the forum staff.
-* "Logged" indicates that the IP of the author has been logged. The actual IP is only available to board administrators or those that have the permission to manage members of a forum.
-* The "Jump to menu" link provides a convenient, quick method of navigating the forum. It will allow a user to quickly "jump" to any board that they have access to view.
-* The "Quick Reply" section at the bottom of the topic's page allows members to post in a posting box located at the bottom of every page in a topic as an alternative to clicking the "Reply" button that leads you to a new page to submit a message.
-{{As a regular user}}

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