Here you can find answers to questions about how the board works. Use the links or search box below to find your way around.
How is all this structured?
The home page contains lists of standards under review, which themselves contain sections (also known as threads) (more specific subject areas).
The home page has a list of fsection, with basic statistics for each - including the number of comments and number of members and posts, and which member posted the most recent message.
How do I find my way around?
When you click on a Standard's name, you are taken to the list of sections (aka threads) it contains. .
Multi-page views
When there are more sections to display than will fit on a single page, you may see the 'Page' box, which contains page numbers. This indicates that the list of sections has been split over two or more pages.
This method of splitting lists of items over many pages is used throughout the application.
What are sticky threads?
'Sticky' threads are created by moderators or administrators (?), and remain 'stuck' to the top of the listing, even if they haven't had any posts recently. Their purpose is to keep important information visible and accessible at all times.
How do I read a Section (aka thread)?
To read a section, click on its title. Each post in a section is created by the administrator. You'll see some brief information about the member who created the section above the main post message. In some cases it will be to the side of the post.
To submit a comment to a specific section, click on the + Submit Comment button. If this button does not appear, it could mean that you are not logged in as a member, or that you do not have permission to submit a comment, or that the section has been closed to new comments.
The administrator will probably require you to register in order to use all the features of the tool. Being registered gives you an identity, a fixed username on all comments you submit and an online profile.
Registration is free (unless otherwise specified), and offers an extended range of features, including:
How do I register?
You register by clicking on the 'Register' link near the top of the page. You will be asked to choose a user name, password and enter a valid email address. In addition there will be some other fields to which you will be asked to respond. Some will be mandatory while others are optional. Once this is complete you will either be fully registered, or in some cases you may have to click on a link in an 'activation email' sent to your email address. Once you have done this you will be registered.
Note that entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam'.
How do I search for something?
To quickly find a section of interest anywhere on the tool, click on the 'Search' link in the navigation bar at the top of the page. Then, type in the keyword or phrase you wish to search for, and hit enter or the search icon to view the results.
For more control over the search, select 'Advanced Search'. The advanced search page allows you to restrict your search to individual forums (known as "Standards Under Review"), find posts or threads by user (known as "Sections within a Standard"), or return results based on tags (?). There are also options to find posts (sections) from a certain date.
How do I search a specific standard or section?
If you are browsing a standard, you can quickly search for a section by clicking on the 'Search forum' link near the top of the page (it's above the list of sections).
Announcements are special messages posted by the administrator or moderators. They are a simple one-way communication with the users and you can't reply.
What are thread tools?
At the top of each thread, there is a link called 'Thread Tools'. By clicking on this link, a menu will appear with a number of options:
What is 'Automatic Login'?
When you register (and also when you login using the form at the top of the screen), you will be given the option to 'Remember Me'. This will store your identity securely in a cookie on your computer. If you are using a shared computer, such as in a library, school or internet cafe, or if you have reason to not trust any other users that might use this computer, we recommend you do not enable this.
How do I clear cookies?
You can clear all your cookies set by the forum by clicking the 'logout' link at the top of the page. In some cases, if you return to the main index page via the link provided and you are still logged in, you may have to remove your cookies manually.
In Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP: Click the 'Tools' menu. Select 'Internet Options' from the menu that appears. Click 'Delete Cookies' on the dialog box that appears. It will be in the center area of the 'General' tab.
In Internet Explorer 7: Click the 'Tools' menu. Select 'Internet Options' from the menu that appears. Click 'Delete...', beneath 'Browsing History' on the dialog box that appears. It will be in the center area of the 'General' tab. Click 'Delete cookies...' on the next dialog box that appears.
In Firefox: Click the 'Tools' menu. Select 'Options' from the menu that appears. From the dialog box, select 'Privacy' on the left. Find 'Cookies' on the main pane, and click the 'Clear' button adjacent to it.
In Safari: Go to Preferences, Security, then show Cookies and either select 'Remove all' or select individual cookies and then the 'Delete' button.
In Opera: Go to Tools, Preferences, Advanced, Cookies, Manage cookies then select the name of this site and click the 'Delete' button.
Your cookies should now be removed. You may want to restart the computer and revisit the forums to be sure.
Other browsers may have a different method of clearing cookies. Refer to the documentation for your own browser if you are unsure.
I forgot my password. What can I do?
If you forget your password, you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link. This will appear on any page that requires you to fill in your password.
This link brings up a page where you should enter your registered email address. An email will be sent to that address shortly, with instructions for resetting your password.
Since passwords are encrypted, there is no way to resend your original password. This option provides you with the ability to reset your password.
You must be able to receive emails to your registered email address for this to work. You may need to check your spam filters and folder if you do not see this email in a few minutes.
You will see a 'Calendar' link near the top of the forums (if this option is enabled by the administrator). By default, the forums will have one Calendar that can be viewed and used by all members.
Members can add upcoming events that might interest the community. You can also sign up to get email alerts about upcoming events.
In addition, the administrator could create additional private calendars for individual members or for specific user groups.
How do I add an event to the Calendar?
If you have the appropriate permissions, there will be a box on the Calendar labelled 'Add New Event'. The administrator may have enabled registered members to post public events, but usually this is not the case. It's more likely that you can only post your own private events that can only be seen by you.
There are three types of event that can be added to a calendar:
Just choose the appropriate option for the event you are adding, fill in the required information, then save the event. It will now appear on the Calendar.
Where do birthdays show?
Birthdays may be shown on the calendar if the administrator has enabled this feature. Your birthday will automatically be shown on the calendar if you have entered the date of your birthday in your profile. Note: if you do not enter the year of your birth when you edit your profile, your age will not be shown on the calendar.
If you enter your birthday, your name will also appear on the main forum page when it is your birthday.
What are Your Notifications?
When you have logged into the board, a link to 'Your Notifications' may be displayed in the 'Welcome' box near the top of the forum. 'Your Notifications' will show if you have any one of the following:
By clicking on the 'Your Notifications' link, you will be able to quickly see how many of each type you have received. Clicking on any of the links in the menu will take you to the relevant page within the User Control Panel or elsewhere in the system.
If there are no notifications, then this link will be replaced by a link to 'Private Messages' (?).
