Tips & Tricks

[skb]

Some of us are old forum hands while some are new and probably this is their first ever forum. This topic is for old & new forum faithfuls to submit their small Tips & Tricks for sharing with others. Hopefully this will make forum use, a better experience for all. I'll go first.

When making a post, there is the Post or Preview buttons below the text box. Clicking that will do the needful, BUT, just above that, is a shortcut hint to do the same from your keyboard itself, and not go for the mouse.

alt+s to post & alt+p to preview

[skb]

When typing or editing a post, you can click this area of your text box with the mouse and drag it down to enlarge the size of the text box.

[skb]

On the home page of the forum, if you find it inconvenient to scroll all the way down, you can collapse an entire Category by clicking on the Name of the category or the [-] button on the right side.

[skb]

Here's another interesting Trick that I discovered only today.

At the bottom of every post, next to the Like button, is the information how many people have liked that post. Clicking this opens up the list of people who have liked the post. If the list is very long, all the names don't display in the pane that open up. But if you click that same link twice or thrice rapidly a larger window pane opens up displaying all the names in one screen.

[skb]

If you like to use special symbols in your posts, this site is a good resource.
https://tools.oratory.com/altcodes.html

We all talk of the weather & temperatures in our fasting posts. You can type "Alt+248" to get the "°" symbol. NumLock has to be on, and only the number keys on the right side Number Pad seem to work. 

[walkerwally1]

That is quite useful.  I use Windows Character Map and made a document with symbols I used and can then copy and paste quite easily.  I have never been good at remembering key shortcuts, LOL.

[Shanny]

I've always used the ASCII codes, but that's just what I'm used to - I used Wally's character map before I discovered ASCII. Whatever works, I always say! 

[walkerwally1]

I haven't found the smiley emoticons yet, anyone know where they are hiding?

Like Wally said, if you use the 'Quick Reply' box at the bottom of the posts, the editor will open up without the Emojis. If you want to use them, you have to click the "Reply" button and the extra Emoticons can be found by clicking the "More" button.

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Note : If you use the "Quote" option for a reply, by default it will open up the "Quick Reply" box.

The workaround for that is (to use Quote + Emoticons) ;
1. Click Quote to open the Quick Reply box with the nested Quote.
2. Select all the text and use Cntrl+C (to copy) or Cntrl+X (to cut)
3. Now click the Back Button and then the Reply button
4. Cntrl+V to paste the copied text into it and proceed.

Complicated, but that is how it is.

I also found that if you are in the "Quick Reply box you can just click on the "Preview" button and it takes everything to the regular reply box with all of the Emoticons.  Easy   

[Grammabear]

Some of us (namely me) need ALL the help we can get.   

[Tamagno]

Don't we all, Grammabear...

[skb]

Another one that I discovered today. If you click on the Category name (see image) it will list all your unread posts in just that Category. The Arrow head on the other end is the Collapse / Expand button.

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[Grammabear]

Don't we all, Grammabear...

Tamagno - I sometimes feel hopelessly inadequate when it comes to technical things.  I believe my 18 yr old grandson is much wiser when it comes to technical things.

[Grammabear]

I've always used the ASCII codes, but that's just what I'm used to - I used Wally's character map before I discovered ASCII. Whatever works, I always say! 

Where could one go to learn about these things you've mentioned?  I would like to try and learn, but don't know where to start.   

[skb]

Where could one go to learn about these things you've mentioned?  I would like to try and learn, but don't know where to start.   

Google Search is a pretty good place to start. You can ask it any question and it will always bring up the best answers

[Tamagno]

Google search is great, isn't it?

Inevitably, though, I think eventually you just have to get your hands dirty and try things out. (I've made incredibly gonzo messes doing that, but...)