Once you've successfully logged in, either as an existing user, new user, or guest, you will see the board's main page, where most WebBoard activity occurs.
Using WebBoard
What's covered in this section
Note: Illustrations used in the following directions may look slightly different for the board that you will be using. Board managers have the option to customize the look and feel of their board. Regardless of the customization, basic functionality remains the same.
Once you've successfully logged in, either as an existing user, new user, or guest, you will see the board's main page, where most WebBoard activity occurs.
Typically, a board's main page has three main activity areas:
- The menubar (top frame) has buttons for using WebBoard's commands and features.
- The conference list (left frame) displays the conferences, topics, and messages.
- The message window (right frame) is the working area where information and forms are displayed.
Post - opens a form in the message window to compose and post a new topic to a conference.
Refresh - updates the Conferences list.
Chat - displays the Available Chat Rooms list. If chat is not available, this button does not appear.
Search - opens the Message Search form for finding specific content in topics and/or messages.
Mark All Read - displays a list of all conferences and allows you to mark messages as read in one or all of them.
Page - opens up the Logins Now page and allows you to page other users who are currently logged onto the board. Not all boards have this feature.
More - opens the More Options menu from which you can select the features and functions listed below.
My Profile - displays your user profile information and allows you update it.
My Address Book - your personalized address book is available to you when you post a message on a board that allows Attention messages (not all boards have this feature).
My Mailing Lists - displays a list of conferences from which you can select which conferences you want to receive all postings via email.
My Watch Lists - WebBoard will notify you by email when new messages are posted to topics or conferences you want to watch.
Search Users - for finding active WebBoard users by first or last name.
Current Users - lists the users who are currently logged on.
Today's Users - lists the names of people who have logged in today.
Today's Messages - lists conferences that have messages posted today.
Top 10 Users - lists the top 10 users by the number of logins.
Top 10 Posters - lists the top 10 message posters.
Mark All Read - displays a list of all conferences and allows you to mark messages as read in one or all of them.
Conference Profiles - lists each conference with a brief description.
List Boards - lists each virtual board on this site that you have visited.
Login Again- lets you to log in again to the current board.
Help - displays Help for WebBoard features.
Logoff - ends your WebBoard session.
Browsing Conferences, Topics, and Messages
Conferences are the idea starters for the board. A conference is created by a WebBoard administrator or manager. Topics and replies are created by the users of the board. A topic message starts a discussion, and any replies continue it.
The Conferences list shows all the conferences on this board. An expansion box (+ icon) to the left of a conference name indicates that the conference has topics and messages. The numbers in parentheses to the right of the conference name tells how many total and how many new messages are in it. Conferences with new messages have a NEW icon to the right of the conference name.
To display the topics in a conference, click the expansion box. You can expand only one conference at time.
An expansion box to the left of the topic name indicates that this topic contains more than one message. Click the topic to view it in the right frame. After each topic and message is the poster's name and date.
WebBoard's messages are arranged logically with the earliest (original topic) message at the top of each topic list. You can follow a thread from its beginning if you desire, or jump in at a later point. When you click a message on the Conferences list, the message appears in the right frame. By default, all subsequent messages in the topic are displayed so you can read them in order.
WebBoard conferences can have two different types of messages:
- Topic messages start a new thread of a discussion within the conference. You can start a new topic at any time.
- Reply messages respond to an existing topic or reply message and keep the current discussion thread going. Replies are always indented under the message being replied to in the Conferences list.
Menu and Post Options
Message Menu
Below is a brief description of the options
Top - takes you to the top of the Topic List
Post - click to start a new topic
Reply - click to reply to an existing topic or a reply message
Reply Quote - includes text of original message with reply
E-mail Reply - reply is e-mailed to individual who posted the message and is not displayed on the board
Delete - deletes the message, you can only delete your own messages
Edit - click to edit messages you have posted
Move - move messages to a different conference
Previous - displays previous message
Next - displays next message
Previous Topic - displays previous topic
Next Topic - displays next topic
Entire Topic - view the entire topic list
Post form options
Below is a brief description of the options
Convert line breaks to HTML breaks - to automatically turn line breaks into carriage returns or blank lines. If you deselect this option, all lines in your message are run together.
Watch this Topic - select if you want to be notified by email when new messages are posted to this topic.
Anonymous - to post anonymously. Your name is not attached to the posting. The post appears anonymous to others, but the manager of the board will know who posted it.
Preview message - to review your message before you post it.
Preview/Spell check - to review and spell check your message-this is a default setting.
Attach File - to attach a file to your message.
To post a new topic
- Select a conference by clicking the conference expansion box.
- Click Post on the message menu or Post in the main menubar.
- Enter the new topic name in the Topic field. Keep the topic name short.
- Choose any of the options by checking the appropriate box(es) in the menu at the top of the message posting form.
- Type in your message.
- When you complete your message, click Post. Depending on which options you have selected, WebBoard either posts your message immediately or allows you to preview it (with or without spell checking).
To post a reply
- Select a conference by clicking the conference expansion box.
- Select a topic or existing message to reply to.
- Select Reply from the menu at the top of the message you wish to respond to.
- Choose any of the options by checking the appropriate box(es) in the menu at the top of the message posting form.
- Type in your message.
- When you complete your message, click Post. Depending on which options you have selected, WebBoard either posts your message immediately or allows you to preview it (with or without spell checking).
When you are finished with your WebBoard session, you can simply point your browser at another site on the Web or you can officially log off WebBoard. The Logoff button in the menubar takes you to another page designated by the WebBoard administrator.
8/19/02
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