Message Board Instructions



OVERVIEW:

This is a public Message Board, serving more or less as a guestbook for the 3000 BC Studios website. Questions, comments, and salutations are welcome.

Messages are organized by topic, and are attached to the name of the user who created them. To keep the board easily navigatable, it is important to only post relevant messages to a particular topic. If no topic currently exists that seems appropriate for the message you want to post, feel free to start a new topic. Also, try to always use the same name when leaving messages, so that other users know with whom they are communicating.

The 3000 BC Studios administrator (i.e., Tony) will check the message board for new posts, and will try to respond promptly where appropriate.


DEFINITIONS:

Topic: The name given to the subject that a group of messages are addressing. Typically, all messages left under a particular topic should relate to that topic.
Header: The first line of information in a message; contains the topic name, poster name, and the date and time the message was posted.
Post: A message left on the message board; or the act of leaving a message on the message board.
Poster: A user who leaves a message on the message board.
Last Post By: The name of the most recent user to leave a message regarding a particular topic.
Total Posts: The number of messages that have been posted under a particular topic.
Reply: To add another message to an existing topic.
Main message board page: The page that you first come to when accessing the message board. This page lists all of the message board topics. (If you are ever not sure how to return to the main message board page, you can always click the message board link at the far left, in the blue-green navigation strip.)
View all topics: To return to the main message board page, where all topics are visible.
X and E symbols: Found in the message header, these symbols are links used by forum administrators to edit or delete messages; they are not accessible to users.



TO VIEW EXISTING MESSAGES:

First, click on the name of a topic. This will take you from the main message board page, where all topics are listed, to the page that displays all the messages posted under that particular topic. Topics are listed in the left hand column of the message board, and are underlined so as to be easily recognizable.
Each message begins with a header that displays the following information about the message:
Beneath the header is the message text that was left by the poster. Messages are displayed, from the top of the page to the bottom, in the order that they were posted.


TO REPLY TO A TOPIC:

From the main message board page, click on the name of the topic to which you wish to add your message. This will take you to the page that displays all the messages posted under the topic. At the bottom of the page, you will find the reply form. Enter your name into the box next to the word Name, and your message in the box next to the word Message. When you are completely satisfied with the wording of your message, click on the button below, marked Post Message. This will add your post to the bottom of page.


TO START A NEW TOPIC:
From the main message board page, click on the button marked Start New Topic. (This button is below the list of topics.) This will take you to a new page where you will be able to enter the following information:
When you are completely satisfied with the name of your new topic, and the wording of your message, click the button below, marked Start Topic. This will take you to a newly created page that will display your topic and message.


EDITING AND DELETING MESSAGES:

Currently, only the 3000 BC Administrator (i.e., Tony) can edit or delete messages. Please try to make sure that you are happy with what you've written when you press that post message button. And, you can always add another post to clarify a previous post, if necessary. If you accidentally post a message that you feel MUST be edited or deleted, please email us.