Help with Posting Messages to the Forums

Including links to other pages

You may include links to other pages by just including the URL of the page in the body of your text. Be sure to include the "http://" and the URL will usually end with ".html" or ".htm". There is also a "Optional Link URL:" field at the bottom of the message entry page for including the URL along with a title. This will create a link at the bottom of the post. Again, remember to have the link start with "http://" along with all the other address information.

Including Pictures with the Messages

You may include pictures with your messages by including the address of the picture in the field where it says "Optional Image URL:". Note that only certain kinds of files will work here. The file needs to be a graphic file recognized by the browser. These are usually either "Jpeg" or "Gif" files and should end with ".jpeg", ".jpg", or ".gif". If you are uncertain use the "Preview Message" button to check before you post it. There are several other graphics formats which may work, but test to make sure.

The most common mistake is to attempt to link to the page which contains a picture instead of linking to the picture itself. This will not work right. If what you want to include contains a lot of text and stuff other than just the picture, you need to get the address of just the picture. To do this find the picture you want and right click on it (Mac users - click and hold). You should get a menu including something to the effect of "Open Image in New Window". Selecting this will give you a new window with just the picture in it. Go to the address bar of your browser which shows the current address of what you are looking at. Copy the contents of the address bar and paste it into the "Optional Image URL:" field in the message posting window.

If you are having trouble, try using the "Optional Link URL:" to provide a link to your picture instead. This should be less touchy. The picture won't appear on the message but at least people should be able to get to it fairly easily.

Creating User Profiles

I have turned on the ability to create a "User Profile". You will notice the navigation menu now includes "Create User Profile" and "View User Profiles". You can click on "Create User Profile" and you will be presented with form for adding some text describing yourself, plus a space for a web page link if you have a home page. You can also link to a picture. If you don't have your own website, you can upload a picture to the ConnYak website using the "Optional Graphic Upload:[Choose File]" option. This lets you choose a file on your home computer. The file must be a graphics file such as Jpeg or Gif. The file size is limited to 200 KB. This is a fairly large file but not huge. You may need a photo program to reduce larger files.

You will be asked for a password. This makes it so other people can not change your profile on you and so messages you post will be associated with your name. You need to remember your password, although the "Save Password # Yes 0 No" option will automatically fill in your password when you post messages. Select "Yes" to automatically have your password entered in later posts.

If you are asked for a password but know you never provided one previously it is generally because you are using a name that someone else is already using.

Once you have created a profile, the navigation menu a the top should read "Edit Profile" instead of "Create Profile" if you ever want to change your profile or picture, this is where you would do it.

To see your profile go to "View User Profiles" and select your name from the list presented.

"Smiley" Codes

If you include certain ASCII "smiley" characters (also known as "emoticons") in the subjects or bodies of your messages, they'll be automatically converted to graphics, as follows.

:) :)     :( :(
:O :O     :D :D
;) ;)     8) 8)
:b :b     :\ :\
>:( >:(     :| :|

Formatting Codes

The following codes are available to you if you want or need to specially format your messages. (Unlike the "smiley" codes, these will work only in the bodies of your messages.) Simply put the appropriate formatting codes before and after the text you want formatted, and voila, you've moved out of the world of plain text!

[b]Bold Text[/b] = Bold Text
[i]Italic Text[/i] = Italic Text
[list][*]Item 1[*]Item 2[/list] =
  • Item 1
  • Item 2
[quote]Quoted Text[/quote] =

Quoted (block-indented) Text

[code]Fixed-Width Text[/code] =
Fixed-Width Text
[center]Centered Text[/center] =
Centered Text
[big]Big Text[/big] = Big Text
[small]Small Text[/small] = Small Text
[red]Red Text[/red] = Red Text

For example, the following message:

This is a [red]test[/red] of the Emergency Formatting System. This is [i]only[/i] a test. If this were real formatting, you'd need to do the following: [list][*]Read the Message[*]Memorize It[*]Destroy It[/list]

Would appear on the forum as:

This is a test of the Emergency Formatting System. This is only a test. If this were real formatting, you'd need to do the following:

Important General Tip

Never assume that your message will look the way you expect it to look! Previewing your message before you post it is always a good idea, anyway, but is even more important if you're using the above codes, since if you mis-type something, the message won't look the way you expect it to look!