DISCUSSION FORUMS HOW-TO HELP
The Discussion Forums offer several message boards on different subjects that permit you to discuss and respond to topics with other community members.
Select Forum To Begin
To begin, select a forum such as North America Roller Coasters and Parks or Europe Roller Coasters and Parks from the Discussion Forums page.
Message Board Index and Topics
The first page of the forum is called the Message Board Index or message list. This page contains a list of topics with linked titles. The preferences you select under "My Options" sets up how many messages are shown, the sorting order and style for the message board index page. From within an individual discussion forum you can always return to the message board index by clicking the Message Board icon.
A topic on the message board may or may not have replies, but the original message and all of its replies (if any) is called a "thread".
Layout Options and Sorting Orders
There are two layout and sorting options available for the message boards. The layouts are Collapsed (Bulletin Board) and Exapnded Threads. The sorting choices are Active Topics First or sort by Topic Start Date.
See My Options for more specifics on these features.
More How-To Topics
Select one of the topics below for further assistance on how-to use the message boards.
- Read Messages
- Post a New Message
- Post a Reply Message
- Search for Messages
- Change My Options
- Message Board Icons
- Report Problems and Abuse
Read Messages
To read a message click on the title of the message, which links to the page with the message or message and all replies depending on the message board format you've selected.
If you've selected the "expanded" format you will need to click on the title of each reply message to read it. All replies are listed with linked titles at the bottom of the message page and beneath the original message on the message board index.
You may also link directly to a reply from the message board index when viewing "expanded" index. If you're viewing the "collapsed" index then all replies will be shown on the same page as the original message.
Post Messages
To post a message click the "New Message" icons in the upper or bottom left corner of the message board index. You cannot post a new message from within a message so return to the message board index first.
You must be a registered member to post on the message boards. Not a member? Sign-Up today, it's free.
If you have not signed-in you will be prompted to enter your username and password before you will be taken to the post form. Complete the post message form and press the "Post Message" button at the bottom of the form to post your message. You must include a subject and type a message to post. Showing your e-mail address, including a link or linking to an external image for inclusion is optional.
If you want to preview your message before posting it click the "Preview Message" button. You will be shown a preview of your message where you may make any necessary changes. When finished press the "Post Message" button to post it. Once you post a message you cannot edit it.
Reply to Messages
To reply to a message click on the "Post Reply" icon at the top or bottom left corner of the message page or click on the "Post Reply" text link.
You must be a registered member to post on the message boards. Not a member? Sign-Up today, it's free.
Complete the post reply form and press the "Post Message" button at the bottom of the form. For replies the subject will be pre-filled in for your message, but you're welcome to change it. Also the message you're replying to will be quoted inside the message box. You may keep the quote or delete all or a portion of it. Showing your e-mail address, including a link or linking to an external image for inclusion in the reply is optional.
If you want to preview your reply before posting it click the "Preview Message" button. You will be shown a preview of your message where you may make any necessary changes. When finished press the "Post Message" button to post it.
Search for Messages
Click on the search icon or "Search" link on the message board to go to the search page. On the search page you may search for messages by keyword and limit your search to messages posted within a range of dates. You may also search by username. Press the "Search" button and a message board index page will appear with all messages matching your search terms.
Change Your Options
(Also called "Preferences") You can set and save your personal preferences for the layout of the message board index, message sorting and the number of messages to be shown.
To change your perferences click the "Options" icon in the upper right corner of the message board index. The My Options page lets you set-up the following preferences:
- Select how many days, weeks or months of messages to show on the index.
- Select from two message board formats "Collapsed" (Bulletin Board, one page per thread shows the original message and all replies) or "Expanded" (Individual page and link to for each message and reply).
- Select a sorting order, either UBB where the newest threads and threads with the most recent reply move to the top of the message list or non-UBB where the sorting of threads is by date and time of the original message.
When finished click "Update Options" and your preferences will be saved for future visits.
Message Board Icons
Decriptions of the icons that appear on the message boards and what happens when you click on them.
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Message Board - When clicked it will return you to the message board index. |
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New Message - Post a new message to the message board. |
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Post Reply - Post a reply to the message you're reading. |
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Search - Allows you to search for messages matching phrases or keywords. |
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Options - Set-up your preferences for the layout, sorting and the number of messages to be shown. |
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E-mail - Click to send e-mail to the poster of the message. |
Report Problems
To report a technical problem or a violation of our Usage Policy please Contact Us. In your e-mail be sure to include as much detail as possible including the forum name, message subject, message number if possible or a link to the problem.
We will contact you as soon as we resolve the matter or if necessary to obtain more information.
