How To Use This Forum

[Fester]

As a newbie to this forum, but not so much to distilling, I have a few problems that may also apply to others that are new here (or long-timers that never learned the ropes). So if possibe, I'd like to bring alot of information together on one thread.

I ask for the help of everyone here. If it involves navigating this forum, etiquette, posting pictures, performing a meaningful search, understanding all the buttons and options when posting - anything like that - put it here. This can be the 'Tips and Tricks' section for getting the most out of this forum.

I'm putting it out there folks.

Lets start with.....

HOW TO POST A PICTURE

[Husker]

posting a pic:

Hmmm, how about looking at the sticky right here in the off-topic section?

For searching, first READ ALL STICKIES first. You will find that knowing most of that information will both allow you to not have to search, and also provide you with a better grasp of terminology used, thus allowing you to make better searches.

Then it is strongly recommended to use the 'HD Google Search' button, and not the 'Search'. The search engine in phpbb (the 'Search' function), is not nearly as powerful as google's. These forums are highly indexed within google, and usually you will find better search results from that link.

H.

[Fester]

you missed the point. resizing a photo http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5852 is only part of it. i am talking about uploading (posting) it to the forum.
that would make a great link here
perhaps you could post the link here and explain how you did it?
and just what are stickies and where are they?

[Fester]

husker, maybe you could come up with a users manual? I'm still trying to make heads or tails (haha) about using this forum. it is not very intuitive really. i think you are the man to help us all.

make it mandatory reading before using the forum, "like the rules by which we live".

Something like: "How to use this forum" or something.

I am not a noob to computers (i build and program welding robots when i am not playing with my hobbies). but i cannot seem to run a decent search here. i always get either nothing or WAY too much as far as "hits" or results. and there is a real learning curve to posting a picture properly. sending private messages (why don't they respond?).
things like that.

the phpBB FAQ and New Distillers Mimi FAQ are just about useless. at least to me.
what do you think?

the real trouble is you have may have become too accustomed to the navigation and cannot put yourself in the place of a newbie.

this thread was to be a step-by-step-guide for the rest of us. but i will gladly say delete it and you create it right. really.

[Fester]

where's the button that points us newbies in the right direction to using this forum? i've looked... missed it. i want one. please. look... im not trying to be rude or out of line... just trying to plug in a bit more. others are like me. no pics on posts because they can't quite get it at first. sure, after the first time or two, its easy. like everything. the "tips and tricks" is doing it the first time or two. yes?

[Husker]

I do understand your point of view fester.

The searching here leaves some to be desired, but that is the way it is with many search engines. Until you learn 'what' to ask it, you either get bumpkis or 1000's of hits.

As for posting pix, simply click the 'browse...' button, put the file there, add a comment if you want, and click add the file.

(gonna do this to make sure it works like I say).

Ok, that worked. Once you have uploaded from the 'browse' button, there is a 'place inline' button. Clicking that, puts the pic right on the page:

ae65_1.jpg (9.25 KiB) Viewed 685 times

NOTE, this will not resize the pic. I do think I have turned on 'auto' thumbnails on the site, but not 100% sure it works.

As for resizing pic, you will have to do that on your own, using some form of graphic editor, or some online service which does that.

The pics can be hosted here on HD, and it is recommended to host them here, because if done that way, then the pic will ALWAYS be available, if the forum is up. If a lot of people host pix offsite, we end up with lots of red X pictures, for broken links.

However, fester, you seem to be the 'master' of the list (along with master of other things, lol), so possibly you could help coordinate a guide to the forum. Note, we mods have talked about things on the forum needing cleaned up, and re-orgainized. However, we have not fully stepped up to the plate and done so, and the forum's really need it. TONS (and tons and tons) of information here, but a lot of it is scattered and hard to find.

H.

[LWTCS]

I usually send the pic to myself (via Outlook) and my system will auto matically ask me if I want to resize the pic. I click yes, then save the resized pic to a file of my choice.

[Fester]

actually Husker, i think rad is the man for the job if he will take it. he is more organized and experienced. i'll ask him nicely. perhaps beg a little.
i agree, so much wealth here but difficult to mine it

[Fester]

Husker, this does not need to be a thread by me, it needs to be a button on the main page that is an index of how to use this site. and a button inside that that would open a discussion thread like this to hash out suggestions and tips. just an idea.
rad, chime in anytime