"How To" & Forum Help Guides

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Hello LOST fans! Hope you're enjoying our wonderful community. To help you get the most out of the forum and all of it's features this thread will list guides on how to use forum features/funtions. When we install new features into the board we'll also update this thread.

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In order to fully utilize the abilities of this forum, we will require that you register as a member. Registration is free, and allows you to do the following:

• Talk about Lost (and other interests) with fellow fans!!
• Post new threads
• Reply to other peoples' threads
• Vote in polls
• View private forums
• Edit your posts
• Attach a signature (picture) and text to each of your posts
• Have an avatar (little picture) with each of your posts
• Receive email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify
• Send private messages to other members
• Enter events in the forum calendar
• Set up a 'buddy-list' to quickly see which of your friends are currently online
• MUCH MUCH MORE!!

To register, you will need to specify a username and password, and a valid email address. Entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam', as you can choose to hide your email address, and messages sent to you via email do not reveal your address to the sender in any case. (To verify this, you can try sending an email message to another user.) Sometimes we configure the forum to send you the final part of the registration process by email, so ensure that the email address you provide is valid and working.

If you are under the age of 13, we require that a parent or guardian provides consent before allowing you to complete the registration process. More information about this is available during the registration process.

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Member Profile

It is your responsibility to keep the information in your profile up-to-date. You should especially ensure that your email address is kept current. You can alter any of the fields in your profile, except your username (if you wish to change your username you must contact the Administrator who will change it for you if you have a good reason). Once you have registered your username, it becomes yours for life - so be sure to get your username registered before someone else takes it - that goes to you too, 'Kateishot' fans!

From your profile you can also change elements which add life to your posts, such as your signature, avatar and other fun elements! Go on, check em out!

You can edit your profile via your UserCP or click here.

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Lost Password

If you forget your password, you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link on any page that requires you to fill in your password.

This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address, and an email will be sent to that address instantly, with instructions for resetting your password.

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Avatars

These small images are called Avatars. They are displayed below your membername on all posts that you make. Many forum members like to have avatars of their favourite LOST characters - whilst displaying their creative flair, they also serve to show everyone else who their favourite character/s are There are two kinds of avatars: those provided by the forum and those that you upload yourself.

You may select a pre-made avatar that we have available..OR

You may want to have your own custom avatar, which you can upload from your computer.

For more information about avatars, click here.

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The "Buddy List"

The buddy list is used to keep track of the friends you have made on this forum. By going to your "Open Buddy List" in "Quick Links" menu of the navbar, you'll be able to see which of your friends are currently online and send them a private message. Adding people to your buddy list also allows you to send private messages to multiple forum members at the same time. You may add any member of the forums to your buddy list by viewing their profile or by going to "Buddy / Ignore Lists" in your "User CP".

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Using Search

You can search for posts based on username, word(s) in the post or just in the subject, by date, and only in particular forums.
To access the search feature, click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.

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Can I send Emails from the Forum?

Yes! To send an email to another member, you can either locate the member you want to contact on the member list, or click the button on any post made by that member.

This will usually open a page that contains a form where you can enter your message. When you have finished typing your message, press the [send email] button and your message will be sent instantly. Note that for privacy reasons, the email address of the recipient is not revealed to you during this process.

If you can not find an email button or link for a member, it either means that the administrator has disabled email functions for this forum, or that the member in question has specified that they do not wish to receive email from other members of the forum. If so, you can contact the Admin in case your settings need updating.

Another useful email function is the ability to send a friend a link to a thread you think they may find interesting (This also helps spread the word about our wonderful community!). Whenever you view a thread, you will find a link somewhere on the page which will allow you to send a brief message to anyone you like. Your referrerid is added to the link you send, so if your friend registers on this forum as a result of viewing the link you sent to them, your referrals total will automatically be credited!

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Private Messaging

Registered members can use the Private Messaging system which allows members to send each other private messages.

Sending Private Messages
Private messages work a little like email, but are limited to registered members of this forum. You may be able to include text/BB code, smilies and images in private messages that you send.

You may send a private message to a member of this forum by clicking the 'Send A Private Message' link in the private messaging section of your user control panel, or by clicking the button in a member's posts (or by using the 'send PM' link when clicking their username).

When you send a message, you have the option to save a copy of the message in your Sent Items folder.

Private Message Folders
By default, you will have two folders in your private message area. These are the Inbox and the Sent Items folders.
The Inbox folder contains any new messages you receive, and allows you to view all the messages you have received, along with the name of the person who sent the message to you, and the date and time the message was sent.
The Sent Items folder contains a copy of any messages that you have sent, where you have specified that you wish to keep a copy of the message for future reference.
You may create additional folders for your messages by clicking the 'Edit Folders' link.

Each folder has a set of message controls which allow you to select messages, then either move them to one of your custom folders, or delete them completely. You may also have a button which allows you to forward multiple messages from a folder to another member of the forum.
You may need to periodically delete old messages, as the administrator has set a 100 PM limit to the number of private messages you can have in your folders. If you exceed the number of messages specified by the administrator, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old messages. Note specific usergroups may have higher storage quotas.

Whenever you read a message, you will have the option to reply to the message, or forward that message to another member of the forum. You may also have the ability to forward that message to multiple members of your buddy list.

Message Tracking
When you send a new private message, you may have the option to request a read-receipt for that message. This will allow you to check whether or not a message has been read by its recipient by viewing the Private Message Tracking page.

This page is divided into two sections: unread messages and read messages.

The unread messages section shows all messages that you have sent with a read-receipt request, that have not yet been read by their recipient.

The read messages section shows all messages you have sent with a receipt request that have been read and acknowledged by their recipient. The time that the message was read is also shown.
You may choose to end the tracking on any message you choose by selecting the message and clicking the [end tracking] button.
When you receive a message with a read-receipt request, you may have the option to read the message while denying the read-receipt request. To do this, simply click the 'deny receipt' link rather than the title of the message, if it appears.

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Thread Ratings

You may find a small menu on thread pages which allows you to 'rate this thread' with a number between 1-5.


Casting a vote for threads you view is entirely optional, but if you think that the thread is superb, you might rate it as a 5-star thread, or if you think that it's unspeakably dismal, you might choose to rate the thread with a single star.


Once enough votes have been cast for the thread rating, you may see a set of stars appear with the title of the thread in the thread listings. These stars reflect the average vote cast.

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Referrals

Referrals allow you to be credited for any new users you invite to the forum.


You gain referrals by promoting Lost Community Forums using your unique referral link. The link you should use as your referral link is this:
http://www.lostcommunity.co.uk/forum...p?referrerid=1

Each time someone follows this link to Lost Community Forums and registers as a new member, your referral count will be incremented by one.


The number of referrals you have can be viewed in your profile.


There are prizes or rewards that may be given out for referrals. Please be courteous when promoting Lost Community Forums but also feel free to spread the word wherever and whenever you can

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Post/BB Codes/Editor Tags

Please see this thread for detailed instructions on how to change the appearance of your posts.

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Using Polls

You may notice that some threads on this forum also include a section where you can vote on an issue or question. These threads are called 'polls' and this is how to create them:


Creating a new poll
When you post a new thread, you have the option to also create a poll.


This function allows you to ask a question and specify a number of possible responses. Other members will then be able to vote for the response they wish, and the results of the voting will be displayed in the thread.
An example poll might be:

Who is your favourite Lostie?

1. Boone
2. Ben
3. Ana-Lucia
4. Locke
5. Walt

To create a poll when you post a new thread, simply click the 'Yes! post a poll' checkbox at the bottom of the page, and set the number of possible responses you want to include.


When you click the submit button, you will be taken to the poll creation page, where you can specify the question and the list of responses you want to include.


You may also want to specify a time limit for the poll, so that (for example) it only stays open for voting for a week.
Voting in and viewing a poll

To vote in a poll, simply select which option you want to vote for, and click the [Vote!] button. You may view the current results for a poll before you vote by clicking the 'View Results' link. Voting in a poll is entirely optional. You may vote for any of the available options, or cast no vote at all.
Generally, once you have voted in a poll, you will not be able to change your vote later, so place your vote carefully!

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Using Attachments

You can use the attachment feature of this forum, which gives you the ability to attach files of certain types to your posts. This could be an image, a text document, a zip file etc. There will be a limit to the file size of any attachments you make (please see your UserCP to find out your usergroups attachment quota).


To attach a file to a new post, simply click the [Manage Attachments] button at the bottom of the post composition page, and locate the file that you want to attach from your local hard drive.


After posting, the image attachments may display a thumbnail, depending on the forum settings. To view the contents of the attachment (if it is not already displayed) simply click the filename link that appears next to the attachment icon.

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Editing Posts

If you have registered, you will be able to edit your posts..
To edit your posts, click the button by the post you want to edit.



After you have made your modifications, a note may appear, which notifies other users that you have edited your post. Administrators and moderators may also edit your messages.

You also have the option of using 'Quick Edit', which does what it says on the tin.