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.
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.
You can create a "viewer profile" to tell people a little bit about yourself. Essentially this is your own personal web page associated with the forum. It can contain just about anything you wish to include. An added feature is you can include a picture even if you don't have a website of your own. When you post new messages your name will be highlighted and people will be able to go directly to your profile.
Creating Your Profile
Click on "Create a Profile" in the navigation bar near the top of the index page. If your name and email address is not already filled out, please do so. Include anything you want to say in the "User Profile:" field. The information above for including Links and Pictures applies for the profile. When you are done filling out your info click on "Edit Your Profile".
Optional Graphic Upload
If you don't have a web site and you want to include a picture you will need a picture available on your home computer. Click on the "Browse..." button. You will get a dialog box to find the file on your own computer. When you find it, click open. You will be returned to the User Profile page and you should see the name of the file you selected in the "Optional Graphic Upload" field. Again, the file type of the graphics file must be either Jpeg or Gif so the extension must include ".jpg", ".jpeg", or ".gif". If it doesn't it won't work right. When you click "Edit Your Profile" the graphics file will be copied to the forum server.
Password
You must enter a password. This makes it so other people can not change your profile but you can.
Changing/Deleting your Profile
You can change or delete your profile at any time by selecting "Edit Your Profile" from the navigation bar.
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 :D ;) 8) :b :\ >:( :|
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] = [center]Centered Text[/center] = [big]Big Text[/big] = Big Text [small]Small Text[/small] = Small Text [red]Red Text[/red] = Red Text You can link words in the bulletin board to pages on KayakWiki using a format similar to Free Links. This permits integration of the Kayak Forum with KayakWiki information. This system is not perfect in that it hides the word you are using to link. To make these links easier to understand you can put the link name after the closing brackets. [[Safety]] KayakWiki If you are attempting to link to a multi word KayakWiki page name, you must include an underscore character "_" in place of the spaces between the words [[Sea_Kayaking]]:Sea Kayaking KayakWiki:Sea Kayaking 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:
- Read the Message
- Memorize It
- Destroy It
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!
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