How do I format my posts and messages?

When posting messages you may wish to include some formatting such as bold text, italic text and underlined text.

Adding formatting to your post can be done in two ways:

• Using clickable controls similar to those found in most word processors
• Typing formatting commands in BB code

Clickable controls are available in the Standard and Enhanced WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors. The difference between these is that the standard editor will show the BB code in your message and be processed when it is displayed. The enhanced WYSIWYG editor will show your message as it will be displayed while you are typing.

To use these, simply click the button, for example the B (bold) button and then type to get bold text. Click the button again to stop using that formatting. You can also highlight text that you have already typed then click the formatting button to format existing text.

BB code is a special set of codes similar to HTML that can be used in posts to the board. To see the full list of BB code tags that can be used on this site and examples of their use, click here.

To reply you have a few options. You can click on the 'Post Reply' button and add a new post to the end of the thread. Alternatively, you can leave a quick reply in a quick editor box listed below the posts in the thread.

When using 'Quick Reply' you can choose to quote a particular post if you are replying to something someone wrote. You may need to click the quick reply button in a post to activate the quick reply box before you can type into it.

If you want to post replies to multiple posts you can select them by clicking the multi quote button . This button will change to indicate that you've selected it. Clicking post reply will then bring you to the full editor with all the posts quoted.

If you need to edit a post after the 10 minute window, you'll need to contact a forum moderator.

If you want to subscribe to a specific thread, you can do this by using the "Thead Tools" menu bar that appears on each thread.

There are 3 types of subscription.

• Instant Notification by Email.
  This will email you every time there is a new post to your subscribed thread(s)
• Daily Updates by Email.
  This will email you once a day to notify you of new posts to your subscribed thread(s).
• Weekly Updates by Email.
  This will email you once a week to notify you of new posts to your subscribed thread(s).

To see which threads you are subscribed to, go to your Control Panel and select "List Subscribed".

To unsubscribe from a thread, you can either use the "unsubscribe" option that will appear on the "Thread Tools" bar or use the unsubcribe options in your Control Panel

Please use good sense when posting image links. Firstly, we only allow .jpg or .gif format. For any other format, not every user will have the capability to read it and some formats can cause problems with different types of browser.

Keep the image to a reasonable physical and data size. Remember, not everyone has a fast internet connection! As a guideline, pictures shouldn't be much more than 400 x 400 or thereabouts. Any picture that distorts the forum display is too large! Image links that are considered to be too large may be removed by the Moderators. If in doubt, ask!

In many forums "subscriber" users can take advantage of the attachment option to upload photographs directly to Tenths. In this case the image sizes above don't apply as the software will automatically generate thumbnail style pictures for anything over the normal limits.

If you are using the [url] tags to link images hosted elsewhere try to limit the number of pictures to 4 or less

Our normal Code of Conduct applies to posted images. If you want to display an image, please make sure it's appropriate to the forum. If you post an image which is deemed to be offensive, in poor taste or not "family friendly", it will be removed. Persistent posting of unsuitable pictures will be treated as trolling.

The administrator may allow you to use the attachment feature of this forum, which gives you the ability to attach files of certain types to your posts. This could be an image, a text document, a zip file etc. There will be a limit to the file size of any attachments you make.

To attach a file to a new post, simply click the [Manage Attachments] button at the bottom of the post composition page, and locate the file that you want to attach from your local hard drive.

Only certain types of files may be attached: these are the valid file extensions for files to be attached to this forum: .

After posting, the image attachments may display a thumbnail, depending on the forum settings. To view the contents of the attachment (if it is not already displayed) simply click the filename link that appears next to the attachment icon.

You may notice that some threads on this forum also include a section where you can vote on an issue or question. These threads are called 'polls' and this is how to create them:

Creating a new poll

When you post a new thread, you may have the option to also create a poll.

This function allows you to ask a question and specify a number of possible responses. Other members will then be able to vote for the response they wish, and the results of the voting will be displayed in the thread.

An example poll might be:

What is your favorite color?

1. Red
2. Blue
3. Yellow
4. Green
5. Sky-blue pink with yellow spots

To create a poll when you post a new thread, simply click the 'Yes! post a poll' checkbox at the bottom of the page, and set the number of possible responses you want to include.

When you click the submit button, you will be taken to the poll creation page, where you can specify the question and the list of responses you want to include.

You may also want to specify a time limit for the poll, so that (for example) it only stays open for voting for a week.

Voting in and viewing a poll

To vote in a poll, simply select which option you want to vote for, and click the [Vote!] button. You may view the current results for a poll before you vote by clicking the 'View Results' link. Voting in a poll is entirely optional. You may vote for any of the available options, or cast no vote at all.

Generally, once you have voted in a poll, you will not be able to change your vote later, so place your vote carefully!

For operational reasons, polls are not available in every forum. If you want to post a poll and the option is not available, the only way to get a poll put in place is with the assistance of a Forum Moderator. However, you will need to be able to explain why you think the poll would be of benefit. Constructive or interesting polls will usually get the green light. Silly or pointless polls will probably not. Please don't request too many polls! Constant Poll Pestering may result in a Mod complaint!

Smilies are small graphical icons which you can insert into your messages to convey an emotion or feeling, such as a joke or embarrassment. For example, if you entered a sarcastic comment, rather than type 'that was a joke', you could simply insert the 'wink' smilie.

For a list of the smilies currently available, click here.

On occasions, you may want to prevent the text in your message being converted into smilies. You will see a checkbox which you can select when you make a new post, which will allow you to 'Disable Smilies'.

• Can you add my favourite smilies?
• Can I use Custom smilies?

• Only post links to photographs or websites - do not post links to files of any kind
• Ten-Tenths are not responsible for the content of the third party site. Moderators will normally check to make sure the content is appropriate to the thread, but if the site is badly designed or carries spyware, virii, trojans or any other type of nasty, we can't be responsible. It's simply not possible to check every single link for safety, nor is it our responsibility to do so. Use normal internet precautions and click at your own risk!
• If you find a link that is inappropriate, please use the "report bad post" feature to bring it to the attention of a mod.

Moderators oversee specific forums. They generally have the ability to edit and delete posts, move threads, and perform other manipulations. Becoming a moderator for a specific forum is usually rewarded to users who are particularly helpful and knowledgeable in the subject of the forum they are moderating.

Everyone on the Tenths staff is a volunteer, including the Site Owners. Please do bear this in mind when dealing with them and try to be polite - and patient if it takes them a little time to respond to you.

• How long have I been on Tenths - am I sure I'm ready to be a Moderator?
• Why do I want to be a moderator?
• Am I prepared to temper my own posting and "bite my lip" in order to do the job fairly?
• Am I prepared to donate my free time to helping run Tenths, even though that will probably cut down on my reading and posting time?

These are the questions we'll want answers to if you volunteer your services. Whilst it can be fun to be a Mod and it's a great way of getting to know people and participate in the forum, it's not always an easy job!