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I searched for one and didn't find it anywhere, so why not make one myself? If you'd like to know how to do something neat in the SavingAdvice forums that I didn't cover, please reply and we'll see if we can't help you out!
How to Make a Quick Reply:
At the very bottom of the page, there is a text box. Instead of clicking the 'Post Reply' button, waiting for the page to load, typing your reply, and posting - you can just type your reply in the box and click 'Post Quick Reply.'
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How to Format Posts:
The best method for formatting is to use the 'Post Reply' button as it has more options than the Quick Reply box.
In the Post Reply form, you can choose to bold, italicize, underline, or change the color/size/font of text.
The simplest way to do that is to just type your post like normal, then highlight the text you want to change the look of, and click the apporpriate button/drop-down.
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How to Quote a Post:
In the bottom right corner of each post, there are 3 buttons. Find the post you want to quote, and click the 'Quote' button. You'll be taken to the Post Reply page, with the post you'd like to reference automatically added in the text box.
You can edit the text inside the [ quote ] tags to narrow in on the specific part of the post you want to address. You can also divide the post out into multiple boxes to address certain sections of the post individually by adding in [ quote] [/ quote] tags wherever you want (without the spaces). The one without the / is to begin a quote section, and the one with the / is to end that quote section.
How to Quote Multiple Posts at the Same Time:
Next to the Quote button, there is a small square button with a quotation mark and a + sign. This is the multi-quote button. To quote multiple posts, simply click that button for each post you would like to quote, then click the 'Post Reply' button (at the top or bottom of the thread). They should turn orange/red (I'm color-blind) and change to a minus sign when clicked correctly.
If you accidentally clicked a post you didn't want, just click the orange minus sign and it will be removed.
Yes you can click one post on page 1, then click to page 2 and multi-quote a post from page 2. It won't wipe it out by switching pages in the thread.
I'm not sure if there's a limit, but that'll likely never come into play. Don't try and quote 10 people at once. The software may be able to handle it, but us readers may not be able to
How to add a Memorable Quote to your post
Maybe you're not quoting a post as reference, but would like to add in a quote for dramatic effect. You can also do this with the [ quote] tags. [ quote ] -put your famous quote here [ / quote]. You can then format the quote like you like it, for instance italicized.
I like to add a little 'From: Website' line before most of my quotes, just to show where it came from. I just type that in on my own - there's no button to do that. It also provides a reference usually to the other website I got the information from. I do this alot with info from the IRS.gov website, when quoting directly from the website.
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How to Change what the Link says:
If you've ever tried to post a link, you know that when you type in www dot google dot com, it shows up like this: Google -without you having to do anything.
But what if you tried to link to a site like YouNeedABudget, and the link auto comes back like:
Personal Budget Software - Finance Software for Windows, Mac & Linux
And you don't like that - how do you change what the link says?
Simple. After you type in a link, click 'Preview Post.' This will generate the text for the link within your post so you know what you're working with in a format like so:
[ url = www youneedabudget com]Personal Budget Software - Finance Software for Windows, Mac & Linux[/ url]
Simply change the "Personal Budget..." section to read something easier on the eyes, like 'YNAB: Personal Budget Software.'
YNAB: Personal Budget Software
Ahhh. Much better.
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How to Link to a Specific Post:
Say there was a post in a 401k thread you absolutely loved, and you wanted to post a link on your blog to let your readers know what you just learned. How do you generate a link directly to the post you like?
Answer: The 'permalink' button.
At the top right of every post, there is a caution sign for reporting posts. But just to the left of that sign is the word '(permalink)' If you click this button, it will generate a link directly to that post in the navigation bar (where you normally type in google.com or whatever).
Cut and paste onto your blog/facebook/whatever
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How to Rate a Thread
You absolutely love the What Frugal Thing... thread. How can you rate it to let the world know how you feel?
Well, 1st click into the thread you like. Then at the top of the 1st post on each page, there is a little blue bar with 4 options. The furthest right option says 'Rate Thread'.
Click. Rate. Vote. Done.
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How to Send a User a Private Message:
You have to have a certain amount of posts before you can message people. I believe that limit is 10 posts.
Once you have 10 posts, you can then just find a post by the person you'd like to message, click their username in the post, and select 'Send a Private Message to ______' from the dropdown list that shows up.
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How to Create a Signature:
First, go to your Control Panel
On the left side navigation panel, the top option is 'Edit Signature.' Click there.
Add a personalized signature. But keep the signature down to a total of 4 lines Max (as forum rules state) -- this is just so signatures don't get out of hand and get bigger than the posts.
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How to Add a Picture/Avatar to all your posts:
Go to your Control Panel
On the left side navigation panel, the 5th option is 'Edit Avatar'
You can either choose from the options they have available. If you don't like 'Aliens' change the 'Avatar Category' to one of the other available choices.
If you don't like any of those, you can add your own tasteful image. Make sure any image complies with forum rules before adding. No nudity, etc.
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How to Make those crazy lines I have beneath each topic:
All I'm doing is hitting the minus key over and over. Well, technically I held the key down. Then I copied and pasted it so I wouldn't have to keep typing all those minus signs in.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Make Sure the Internet doesn't delete your post:
Don't you hate when you took your time typing up a long reply and your internet screws up when you try and submit it and wipes out your whole post forcing you to start all over again??
So do I! That's why every time I type a post of a decent length (ie. this one) I am sure to do the following.
Click inside the thread.
Hit ctrl+A, ctrl+X, ctrl+V - in that order! This selects all text, then cuts and copies it all. (just hold down the ctrl key and type a x v)
If the internet screws up and wipes out your post, it's okay because your entire post has been copied to your clipboard.
So go back to the thread, post reply, click in the text box and hit ctrl+V again (or right click and choose paste). Viola! Entire post has been restored. Quotes, formatting and all!
Just make sure you don't try and copy something else before you paste it and try again.
I prefer the cut and copy method to the ctrl+A, ctrl+C method, because cutting out and restoring my entire post gives me definitive proof that I didn't click the wrong button. But ctrl+a c will also work.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Create a Bulleted/Ordered list:
If you want to make a short listing in the forums the simplest thing is to go to the 'Post Reply' page. Then make a list of your items hitting enter after each one, like so:
apples
bananas
oranages
grapes
Then just highlight your list, and from the formatting toolbar above, click the appropriate list-making button. Bulleted list is a picture of 3 bulleted items
Ordered button has 1,2,3.
And if you forgot an item, just add in[*]kiwis before the [/ list] tag.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Other things worth noting:
SavingAdvice has a search function. It's at the top of every page right below 'News, Articles and Blog Posts.' Please use this feature.
It's worth checking out your 'options' settings in the Control Panel. On the left side, choose 'Edit Options.' Set as you desire.
How to Make a Quick Reply:
At the very bottom of the page, there is a text box. Instead of clicking the 'Post Reply' button, waiting for the page to load, typing your reply, and posting - you can just type your reply in the box and click 'Post Quick Reply.'
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Format Posts:
The best method for formatting is to use the 'Post Reply' button as it has more options than the Quick Reply box.
In the Post Reply form, you can choose to bold, italicize, underline, or change the color/size/font of text.
The simplest way to do that is to just type your post like normal, then highlight the text you want to change the look of, and click the apporpriate button/drop-down.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Quote a Post:
In the bottom right corner of each post, there are 3 buttons. Find the post you want to quote, and click the 'Quote' button. You'll be taken to the Post Reply page, with the post you'd like to reference automatically added in the text box.
You can edit the text inside the [ quote ] tags to narrow in on the specific part of the post you want to address. You can also divide the post out into multiple boxes to address certain sections of the post individually by adding in [ quote] [/ quote] tags wherever you want (without the spaces). The one without the / is to begin a quote section, and the one with the / is to end that quote section.
How to Quote Multiple Posts at the Same Time:
Next to the Quote button, there is a small square button with a quotation mark and a + sign. This is the multi-quote button. To quote multiple posts, simply click that button for each post you would like to quote, then click the 'Post Reply' button (at the top or bottom of the thread). They should turn orange/red (I'm color-blind) and change to a minus sign when clicked correctly.
If you accidentally clicked a post you didn't want, just click the orange minus sign and it will be removed.
Yes you can click one post on page 1, then click to page 2 and multi-quote a post from page 2. It won't wipe it out by switching pages in the thread.
I'm not sure if there's a limit, but that'll likely never come into play. Don't try and quote 10 people at once. The software may be able to handle it, but us readers may not be able to
How to add a Memorable Quote to your post
Maybe you're not quoting a post as reference, but would like to add in a quote for dramatic effect. You can also do this with the [ quote] tags. [ quote ] -put your famous quote here [ / quote]. You can then format the quote like you like it, for instance italicized.
I like to add a little 'From: Website' line before most of my quotes, just to show where it came from. I just type that in on my own - there's no button to do that. It also provides a reference usually to the other website I got the information from. I do this alot with info from the IRS.gov website, when quoting directly from the website.
From: And so, my fellow Americans... at BrainyQuote
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
-John F. Kennedy
And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
-John F. Kennedy
How to Change what the Link says:
If you've ever tried to post a link, you know that when you type in www dot google dot com, it shows up like this: Google -without you having to do anything.
But what if you tried to link to a site like YouNeedABudget, and the link auto comes back like:
Personal Budget Software - Finance Software for Windows, Mac & Linux
And you don't like that - how do you change what the link says?
Simple. After you type in a link, click 'Preview Post.' This will generate the text for the link within your post so you know what you're working with in a format like so:
[ url = www youneedabudget com]Personal Budget Software - Finance Software for Windows, Mac & Linux[/ url]
Simply change the "Personal Budget..." section to read something easier on the eyes, like 'YNAB: Personal Budget Software.'
YNAB: Personal Budget Software
Ahhh. Much better.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Link to a Specific Post:
Say there was a post in a 401k thread you absolutely loved, and you wanted to post a link on your blog to let your readers know what you just learned. How do you generate a link directly to the post you like?
Answer: The 'permalink' button.
At the top right of every post, there is a caution sign for reporting posts. But just to the left of that sign is the word '(permalink)' If you click this button, it will generate a link directly to that post in the navigation bar (where you normally type in google.com or whatever).
Cut and paste onto your blog/facebook/whatever
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Rate a Thread
You absolutely love the What Frugal Thing... thread. How can you rate it to let the world know how you feel?
Well, 1st click into the thread you like. Then at the top of the 1st post on each page, there is a little blue bar with 4 options. The furthest right option says 'Rate Thread'.
Click. Rate. Vote. Done.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Send a User a Private Message:
You have to have a certain amount of posts before you can message people. I believe that limit is 10 posts.
Once you have 10 posts, you can then just find a post by the person you'd like to message, click their username in the post, and select 'Send a Private Message to ______' from the dropdown list that shows up.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Create a Signature:
First, go to your Control Panel
On the left side navigation panel, the top option is 'Edit Signature.' Click there.
Add a personalized signature. But keep the signature down to a total of 4 lines Max (as forum rules state) -- this is just so signatures don't get out of hand and get bigger than the posts.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Add a Picture/Avatar to all your posts:
Go to your Control Panel
On the left side navigation panel, the 5th option is 'Edit Avatar'
You can either choose from the options they have available. If you don't like 'Aliens' change the 'Avatar Category' to one of the other available choices.
If you don't like any of those, you can add your own tasteful image. Make sure any image complies with forum rules before adding. No nudity, etc.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Make those crazy lines I have beneath each topic:
All I'm doing is hitting the minus key over and over. Well, technically I held the key down. Then I copied and pasted it so I wouldn't have to keep typing all those minus signs in.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Make Sure the Internet doesn't delete your post:
Don't you hate when you took your time typing up a long reply and your internet screws up when you try and submit it and wipes out your whole post forcing you to start all over again??
So do I! That's why every time I type a post of a decent length (ie. this one) I am sure to do the following.
Click inside the thread.
Hit ctrl+A, ctrl+X, ctrl+V - in that order! This selects all text, then cuts and copies it all. (just hold down the ctrl key and type a x v)
If the internet screws up and wipes out your post, it's okay because your entire post has been copied to your clipboard.
So go back to the thread, post reply, click in the text box and hit ctrl+V again (or right click and choose paste). Viola! Entire post has been restored. Quotes, formatting and all!
Just make sure you don't try and copy something else before you paste it and try again.
I prefer the cut and copy method to the ctrl+A, ctrl+C method, because cutting out and restoring my entire post gives me definitive proof that I didn't click the wrong button. But ctrl+a c will also work.
---------------------------------------------------------------
How to Create a Bulleted/Ordered list:
If you want to make a short listing in the forums the simplest thing is to go to the 'Post Reply' page. Then make a list of your items hitting enter after each one, like so:
apples
bananas
oranages
grapes
Then just highlight your list, and from the formatting toolbar above, click the appropriate list-making button. Bulleted list is a picture of 3 bulleted items
- apples
- bananas
- oranages
- grapes
Ordered button has 1,2,3.
- apples
- bananas
- oranages
- grapes
And if you forgot an item, just add in[*]kiwis before the [/ list] tag.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Other things worth noting:
SavingAdvice has a search function. It's at the top of every page right below 'News, Articles and Blog Posts.' Please use this feature.
It's worth checking out your 'options' settings in the Control Panel. On the left side, choose 'Edit Options.' Set as you desire.
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