Read the Help Guide for the Boards
Help Guide
? -
Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about the new message board software for the community area of ABCNEWS.com.
1. What happened to the message boards?
We have upgraded the software that runs our message boards! You'll notice some changes in the way the boards work. There are now two options for sorting the messages and you can use emoticons to smile, smirk and frown more effectively. The boards will also run faster and more smoothly as a result of the upgrade. Also, if you want to find something on the boards, we have added a search tool.
2. How do I change the message view options?
You now have the ability to sort messages in either a threaded or flat view. You can select a style while in any of the forums. At the top of the message list just click on the word "threaded" or "flat."
Threaded View: When you click on the word "threaded" at the top of the message list, all the posts are grouped by topic. You can then read the entire sequence in that specific discussion. To view the original message in the thread, and all replies to it, click on any subject in the list and you will be directed to the start of the discussion. To start your own thread click on the "Post a Message" button and create a new topic.
Flat View: By selecting this view you will see the entire list of messages, including all the topics, in a particular forum. You can then view individual messages one at a time.
3. What are threads?
Message threads are basically conversations that take place based on linkages between messages. Once a new message is posted, and replies are added, the original message and all subsequent replies become part of the same thread. To view a list of all messages in a thread, click the thread link in a message or select the "Thread" message view (see #2).
4. Why do I need to sign in?
You do not need to sign in to read messages, but to take advantage of all of the available features on our message boards and post messages you will need to be a registered member of the GO Network. Registration is free, and is transferable to all GO Network sites.
If you are already registered with the GO Network, enter your username and login information on the sign in page. You will not need a new account to start using the improved software.
If you have not registered before, follow the instructions through our e-mail center to create a new account. Refer to our privacy policy for a description on how information you provide for these accounts will be used.
5. How do I create bold and italic text within my messages?
When creating a new message, you are now able to use a limited number of HTML tags to customize your messages. The options are bold, italics and underlining. To add these features highlight the desired text and then click on one of the buttons below the message field window marked "B," "I," or "U."
6. How do I use emoticons? 7. How do I include an HTML link? We encourage you to share information as a way of starting compelling discussions. To do so, you can add a Web link by simply pasting the complete Web address into the message, e.g. http://abcnews.go.com. When posted, this will automatically become a "clickable" link. Alternatively, you may add a text link by using this code: [url=web address]text link[/url], e.g. [url=http://abcnews.go.com]ABCNEWS.com[/url]
8. Why are asterisks replacing the text I type? 9. Why did my post disappear?
You may now add emoticons to your messages. To do this you type the appropriate ASCII code in your message and, when it is posted, it appears as an image. For example, ": )" would become "
." Below is a table of available emoticons and the ASCII codes to type for them.
For Emoticon:
Type This:
: ) or : - )
: ( or : - (
: D
: x
; \
B - )
] : )
: p
X - (
: ^ O
; ) or ; - )
: 8 }
: _ |
? : |
: O
: |
We encourage you to post Web links to news items from other sites, rather than copying the entire article into the message board, which is a copyright violation. If you copy an entire article into a message window it will be deleted.
The message boards use a language filter to discourage profanity in discussions, replacing words that are commonly understood to be offensive with asterisks. Occasionally the filter misinterprets inoffensive words as offensive. If you see a post that is offensive, please report it to us and remember to follow our house rules of conduct.
ABCNEWS.com reserves the right to delete posts that violate our house rules. Your post may have been deleted for that reason. If your post was made in reply to a comment that violated our house rules, even if it did not break the rules, it may have been deleted as part of the thread relating to the original violation.
