Forum Help Page

URL and email links
You can include hyperlinks in the text of your messages. No special formatting is required. Any valid URL or email address will be automatically converted to an underlined hyperlink.

Formatting Codes
The following codes are available to you if you want or need to specially format 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] =	Fixed-Width Text
[center]Centered Text[/center] =	Centered Text
[big]Big Text[/big] =	Big Text
[small]Small Text[/small] =	Small Text
[red]Red Text[/red] =	Red Text

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

*NM* and *PIC* "Telltales"

If you post to the forum without typing any text in the message box, “*NM*” for No Message will be added to your subject. This alerts readers that your entire message is in the subject.

If you post a picture in your message (on those forums that allow it), “*PIC*” will be added to the subject.

Important General Tip

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!

Including Photos in your Posting

First you upload the picture to web space somewhere. You should limit the width of the picture to 640 pixels.

Then when you post your message or classified ad you put the URL (address) of that picture in the appropriate box. Be sure to Preview your message to make sure the picture shows up correctly.

If you link to a picture that is is too wide it causes the forum display to be disrupted. Such pictures will be removed from the posting.

NOTE 1: if you link to photos that reside on your own computer, only you will be able to see them.

NOTE 2: If you link to photos in your Yahoo! or similar album, you might be able to see them if you are are logged into your Yahoo! account, but other people will not be able to see them because these album sites prevent linking to the photos. You CAN however include a link to your albums if they are set to be public. Put that URL in the Optional Link URL box and put something like 'Click here to view a picture' in the Optional Link Title box.
CAUTION: Some organizations not only prevent you from linking to your pictures from an external site, auction or forum, but will consider doing so a violation of their rules. Read their policy statement before linking.

NOTE 3: When using a hosting site that does allow linking to the images that you have uploaded, use the URL that they specify. Do NOT right-click on the image and use that URL. Also, do NOT use a link with the word session in it. This is a temporary link used while you are uploading the picture. You might be able to see the picture in your ad because you are logged into your photo account, but other people will only see a red "x".

If you are a ShiaNet (Earthlink) member or Charter member you have personal Web space available where you can post your pictures. Check with their support number for information or click on one of the following links:

Earthlink | Charter

If you are using Charter, your link should look something like http://mail.chartermi.net/~mylogin/mypicture.jpg. Do NOT use a link with the word session in it. This is a temporary link used while you are uploading the picture.

There are several other places where you can store your pictures. Unfortunately, MOST of these services prohibit linking to your photos in order to preserve their bandwidth use.

To find sites that ARE designed to host images for classifieds and auctions search the Internet for "image hosting" using a search engine. A few of these sites are free. To find them, search for "free image hosting" (See the Google link below).

One hosting site that has both free and paid versions is: