Frequently Asked Questions
Teg Salvatore
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Headmistress
Posts: 43
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Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:05:09 GMT
Preview Mode vs BBCode Editor
When creating threads or replying to posts via the text editor, you have two options available to you: Preview Mode and BBCode Mode. You can switch back and forth between these two options when typing in the editor to ensure your posts look the way you'd like them to display. BBCode
The BBCode editor allows you to stylize your post in particular ways. For example, you can create a div that's 100px in width and 175px in height, and center it by using the following code: [div style="width: 100px; height: 175px; margin: auto;"]This text is in a box that is 100px wide and 175px tall. It is left aligned in a box that is centered on the page.[/div] This text is in a box that is 100px wide and 175px tall. It is left aligned in a box that is centered on the page. BBCode allows you to style elements as you would with CSS, instead using BBCode to render the style. We haven't tested all of the CSS attributes. Therefore, we cannot tell you which ones will or won't work. It's a trial and error type of thing. PreviewOptionally, there is also a "Preview" mode. Alternating from the BBCode mode to the preview mode will show you how your text will be displayed. That said, keep in mind that our fonts will display slightly differently from what it shows you in a preview after a reply is posted to a page. However, the preview will give you a rough estimate of what your post will display like so that you have an idea before posting.
You can switch between the two modes by clicking on their respectful tabs at the lower left-hand side of the text editor. Additionally, should you wish to set one as the default editor any time you make a thread or reply, you can do so by taking the following steps: - Click on the "My HogEx" link under the "Interact" category of your sidebar. Doing so will take you to your user profile.
- At the very bottom of the middle column of your profile, click on the "Edit Profile" button.
- Next, navigate to the "Settings" tab and find the "Posting Default" option.
- Then, choose which option you'd like to set as your default editor. Click the radio button next to "Preview" if you want the Preview editor to be the default editor. Optionally, you can click the radio button next to "BBCode" if you want the BBCode editor to be your default editor.
- When you've selected an option, click the "Save Account Settings" button located at the bottom of the page.
*NOTE: Keep in mind that even though you can set a default editor, you will still be able to switch back and forth between the two editors any time you make a post or create a new thread.
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Teg Salvatore
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Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:06:17 GMT
Quoting Another User To "Quote" another user, just navigate to the post that you wish to quote. At the top of the particular post, you will see a "Quote" button. Clicking on that button will open the text editor with the quote already shown inside. Just type your response to the person's reply underneath the quoted portion of the post. When you are satisfied with your response, click on the "Create Post" button located towards the bottom right-hand side of the text editor. Doing so will create your post, quoting and notifying the user of your response to their post. Quoting Multiple Posts At OnceOptionally, you can quote multiple people at one time to avoid double posting on the forums and breaking our rules. To do this, navigate to the first post within a thread that you wish to quote. At the top of the post, click on the "Cog" icon and select the option "Select Post." Then, scroll down to the next post you'd like to quote and follow the same steps. You can do this with as many posts within a thread you would like to quote. When you've selected all the posts that you'd like to quote, click the "+ Reply" button in light blue colored text at the top or bottom of the thread. Doing so will open up the text editor contain each post that you are quoting. From there, you can enter a message beneath each quote as a reply to the user's original post. When you are finished, click the "Create Post" button located on the bottom right-hand side of the editor. Doing so will create your post, quoting and notifying each user of your response to their posts.
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Teg Salvatore
•
Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:07:31 GMT
Adding and Creating Polls There are a few forums on HogEx that allow users to create polls. The few places that polls are allowed to be created allow you to create a question with different selectable options much like a "voting" system. Where polls are allowed, you can create them in one of two ways. See the information below for clarification. Also, an example of a poll has been included in this thread. Creating Polls In New Threads
When you create a New Thread, you have the option to "Add Poll" while in the text editor. The "Add Poll" button is located on the top right-hand side of the editor next to the "Subject" input box. To add a poll, just click on that button. You will be prompted to enter a poll question. Then, you'll have the option to enter different selections for the poll. So say the question is: "Which book--of the seven Harry Potter books--is your favorite?" Your selectable options would be each book title from the Harry Potter series. Each option will appear on its own line in its own "Poll Answers" input box. If there are not enough Poll Answer slots available, you can click on the "add more" link beneath the poll answers input boxes and it will add more boxes for you to input selectable options. Within the poll creation, you can limit users to how many options they can choose when voting in the poll. To do this, change the "Poll Options" for the amount of answers voters can select from "1" to any number you wish. Typically, 1-2 answers are the norm. Additionally, you can set a poll to lock or expire on a specific date at a certain time. And, you can also change how and when the results are displayed for the poll under the "Show Results" option. When you've set up your poll, click the "Add Poll" button at the bottom of the dialog box. It will add your poll to the thread. Then, in the text editor, include the message you wish to include with the poll. Going back to the favorite book thing, you can say something like "Which of the Harry Potter books is your favorite and why?" Then, you can also include your answer or wait until others reply and post your response later. Adding Polls To Already Created ThreadsIf the poll option is available to you, you can add a poll to any thread that's already created. To do this, click on the thread's title. Doing so will take you inside the thread. In the original post (the first post which should be your own) click the "Edit" button. The text editor will open and you should be able to "Add Poll" by following the steps as explained above. *NOTE: Please be advised that once a poll has been created, it cannot be edited. And, remember, polls are only allowed in specific boards which include about a handful of the 200 + forums we have here at HogEx. So, if you do not see an "Add Poll" option, it is likely that the particular forum you are trying to post a poll in does not accept polls.
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Teg Salvatore
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Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:08:45 GMT
Tagging Users In Posts Tagging is an important part of Hogex. When you tag a user in a post, it sends them a notification and brings their attention to the reply you want them to read. Until recently, it was a rather tedious task to tag someone in a post. There are currently two ways to tag a user. The traditional way, which is the tedious task, and the easy "Simple Tagging" way, which is available because of a plugin we have installed to the forum. Traditional Tagging Of Users In A Post
To tag a user the traditional way, you will need to use the @ symbol followed by their username. As an example, if you wanted to tag April, the Hufflepuff Head of House, in a post, you would type the @ symbol followed by her username, april. You would not include any spaces. See below: @april The result would be April. Now, to tag a user the traditional way, you will need to have the user's username and not their display name. To get their username, hover over their display name (linked name around the forum) and a tooltip will appear that will contain the @ symbol followed by their username. Simple TaggingThankfully, we have a simple tagging feature installed on the forum that allows you to tag individual or all users that have posted within a particular thread. When replying to a thread, or using the "Quick Reply" option, you will see a section called "Simple Tagging." It will list the names of the users that have posted in the thread. You can click on a particular user's name from that menu, or you can opt to tag each user that's posted in the thread by clicking on the "All" option.
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Teg Salvatore
•
Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:09:56 GMT
Reporting Posts
Allowing our users to report posts that break the forum rules, or seem questionable helps our staff to take care of content that isn't suitable for HogEx. Sometimes, posts may go unseen by staff, and that is why we encourage users to report posts that they feel breaks the rules or are questionable content-wise. To report a post, just navigate to the post in question and click the "Cog" icon. From the selection drop-down menu, select the option "Report Post." A dialog box will pop up asking you to give a reason for the report. We require all users to provide a reason for the report in as much detail as they can. If there is no reason, it is possible that our staff will ignore it, and you may receive a written warning via owl for reporting a post without a reason. After you've provided a reason, click on the "Report Post" button at the bottom right-hand side of the dialog box. Doing so will notify the staff team of a new report. The reported post will be reviewed by a staff member and actions will be taken against the user who posted the questionable material--if necessary.
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Teg Salvatore
•
Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:11:15 GMT
Sending and Receiving Owls
Our Owl system is one of the best ways to interact with members on HogEx. It allows you to send and receive messages--or owls--privately to and from other users and staff members. There are numerous ways to accomplish this. Outlined below are the different ways you can send and receive Owls. Sending OwlsThere are two options for sending Owls on HogEx. First, you can click on a user's name and doing so will take you to the user's profile. At the very bottom of the middle column--the about me section--click on the "Send Owl" button. When you click the button, you will be taken to a text editor that is the same as when creating a thread or a reply. Just enter a title for the Owl in the Subject text area. Then, in the editor, write out your message. When you are finished, click the "Send Owl" (or "Create Message") button located on the bottom right-hand side of the text editor. Doing so will submit your message and an owl will deliver your letter to the person whom it is assigned. The second option you have for sending Owls is to click on the "Owlpost" link under the "Interact" section of the sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen. This will take you to your "Owlery" (inbox). In the top right-hand corner, you should see a button that says, "Write Owl" (or "Create Message"). Clicking that button will open up the text editor. Here, you'll follow the same steps as above. However, this time, you will have to add the user you wish to send the Owl to manually. To select a user, begin typing their name into the "Recipients" area. You should enter a minimum of three to four letters. A drop-down list will form allowing you to select the appropriate user. Optionally, you can select additional recipients to include in the Owl if you wish to start a "Group Discussion." Proceed by typing out the message and the title as described above. Then, submit the Owl the same way as previously described. Receiving OwlsWhen you've received an Owl from another member or staff member, you will receive a notification next to the "Owlpost" link under the "Interact" section of the sidebar. The alert will appear in the form of a number. It will show you how many unread Owls you have that are awaiting your attention in the Owlery. Clicking on the "Owlpost" link will take you to your Owlery, and you will be able to read any Owls that have been sent to you.
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Teg Salvatore
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Headmistress
Posts: 43
Likes: 1
Gender: Female
Blood Type: Pure-blood
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Post by Teg Salvatore on Oct 12, 2016 15:12:40 GMT
Reporting Owls To Staff
Owls should be reported to staff if a member is breaking forum rules by way of advertising, harassment, threatening you, etc. Reporting an Owl is relatively straightforward. From within the Owl that you wish to report, select the "Actions" drop-down menu. Click on the "Forward" option. A dialog box will appear. In the recipients box, begin typing the staff member's name that you wish to report the Owl to. Be sure to select the appropriate team member. Next, you have the option to include a message with the forward. In that text area, please make sure to explain why you are reporting the Owl so that a staff member can look at it closely and determine the best course of action. When finished, select the "Forward" button on the bottom left-hand side of the dialog box. Doing so will forward the Owl to the staff member, and they will be notified via their Owlpost.
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