After spending a lot of time answering the same questions over and over again I thought I'd take some time to put together a comprehensive tutorial on various features and functions the Minecraft Forums (and IPB in general) offer. I have tried to cover as much information as possible, but there will always be things that I miss, things that I am wrong about or things that I haven't made clear enough. Please don't hesitate to post here with ideas on content to add, constructive criticism, corrections to content or to even ask questions.
Each section has two sets of tutorials: a video tutorial and a text/image based tutorial. Both contain the same material, I just wanted to cover all the bases as some people prefer one over the other.
Upcoming tutorials:
Editor
Goto and Anchor
Using the Search
Changing Forum Display Name
Reporting Content
Without further ado...
Profile Customization
Text tutorial:
Customizing your Avatar:
You have several options on where to change your avatar. The first is in your profile by clicking the "change" link that is overlaid on your avatar like so:
Your next option is via the toolbar in the upper right hand corner like so:
Once you click either one of these options you will be presented with the Avatar Editing dashboard. Here you can upload an image from your local machine, a URL or use a Gravatar. Your avatar should be no larger then 150x150 and have a file size of less then 50kb. Unless you upload the image as a .gif, the forum will resize the photo to 100x100 for display. Once you are finished uploading your avatar you can select the "Done" button.
Changing Contact Info and General Site Settings
Hover your mouse over the gear icon in the upper right hand corner of the forum and select "Site Settings"
On this page you can edit your Time Zone settings, About Me block, your birth date, your gender, location, interests, Minecraft name, etc.
Editing Your Signature
On the left hand side of the Site Settings page you should see a menu like this:
Select "Signature" and you will be brought to the Signature Editor page. Here you can create a sig or edit an existing one. Please make sure you pay attention to the restrictions.
Creating and Editing Threads
Text tutorial:
Go to the section you want to create your thread in. Please make sure it is in the correct section. Several of the Forum sections have rules against posting certain kinds of threads and it would be a shame if your received a forum warning because you weren't paying attention. Once you are in the section you want to post your thread in, select the "Start New Topic" button found on the right hand side of the forum.
This will bring up the Thread editor. Fill in the Topic Title and the Topic body with whatever information or questions you want to ask. You can use tags if you want, but they are optional
If you made a mistake when creating the thread and you want to edit what you wrote, you just need to click the "Edit" link found at the bottom of every post. If you want to edit the title of your thread and/or add/edit a poll, then you need to click the "Edit" link and then the "Use Full Editor" Button
To add or edit a poll, just click the "Manage Topic Poll" link either when creating your thread or when using the Full Editor
What are the post ranks and how do I get a higher rank?
You can get higher ranks by making more posts. You can find a full list of ranks here
How do I make a spoiler?
Wrap the content you want in the spoiler in spoiler tags like so:
[spoiler]blah blah blah[/spoiler]
How do I lower my warning level? How can I see my current warning level?
Your warning level will decrease 30 days after your last warning. So if you have one day left until your warning level goes down and you get another warning, the 30 day timer is reset.
To see your current warning level, just click the "Warn Status" link
Why isn't my avatar changing?
Clear your browser's cache
Why can't I upload this picture for my avatar? Why does my animated gif lose it's animation?
Your avatar needs to be no larger then 300x200 and have a file size of less then 50kb. If the forum has to resize your animated gif, it will lose it's animation
How do I change my forum display name?
Make a thread in the Contact the Forum Admins section. Threads in this section are private between you and the admins (which is why you will only see your own threads). Generally speaking you only get one name change so make sure it's one you like
How come no one has responded to my Moderator application?
Patience, most apps get a reply within 1-2 months.
What's with this video/sound ad? Why am I seeing adult ads on a game site that has children on it?
These types of ads are not allowed but they do slip through sometimes. Please contact citricsquid with as much information about the ad as possible. Things like: where on the site you saw the ad, your physical location, the url of the ad (right click and select "copy image URL"), a screenshot of the ad, etc
Ending Words
This is still very much a work in progress, so there are still a lot of subjects I want to cover. Like I stated in the Intro, please don't hesitate to ask questions and make suggestions/critiques on the content shown
I did consider at one point making a tutorial on setting up a basic IPB forum, but then scratched the idea as there are already a lot of really good tutorials out there
I did consider at one point making a tutorial on setting up a basic IPB forum, but then scratched the idea as there are already a lot of really good tutorials out there
(the hosted community is a great option if you don't want to deal with setting up the forum or find hosting)
Do you have a link to these IPB tutorials? I've been interested in the IPB forum software recently, and I would like to see these tutorials you mention.
This has helped me tremendously. It is amazing to see these kind of staff members making a difference in the community, just by taking a little time to create a well-thought out forum post that explains basic concepts that might not come to you at first.
Introduction
Text tutorial:
Go to the section you want to create your thread in. Please make sure it is in the correct section. Several of the Forum sections have rules against posting certain kinds of threads and it would be a shame if your received a forum warning because you weren't paying attention. Once you are in the section you want to post your thread in, select the "Start New Topic" button found on the right hand side of the forum.
This will bring up the Thread editor. Fill in the Topic Title and the Topic body with whatever information or questions you want to ask. You can use tags if you want, but they are optional
If you made a mistake when creating the thread and you want to edit what you wrote, you just need to click the "Edit" link found at the bottom of every post. If you want to edit the title of your thread and/or add/edit a poll, then you need to click the "Edit" link and then the "Use Full Editor" Button
To add or edit a poll, just click the "Manage Topic Poll" link either when creating your thread or when using the Full Editor
Text tutorial:
By Opeth
Here are some common questions that come up about the forum and the answers to those questions
Where can I find the forum rules?
http://rules.mcf.li
Here are some shortcuts:
You can get higher ranks by making more posts. You can find a full list of ranks here
How do I make a spoiler?
Wrap the content you want in the spoiler in spoiler tags like so:
How do I lower my warning level? How can I see my current warning level?
Your warning level will decrease 30 days after your last warning. So if you have one day left until your warning level goes down and you get another warning, the 30 day timer is reset.
To see your current warning level, just click the "Warn Status" link
Why isn't my avatar changing?
Clear your browser's cache
Why can't I upload this picture for my avatar? Why does my animated gif lose it's animation?
Your avatar needs to be no larger then 300x200 and have a file size of less then 50kb. If the forum has to resize your animated gif, it will lose it's animation
How do I change my forum display name?
Make a thread in the Contact the Forum Admins section. Threads in this section are private between you and the admins (which is why you will only see your own threads). Generally speaking you only get one name change so make sure it's one you like
How come no one has responded to my Moderator application?
Patience, most apps get a reply within 1-2 months.
What's with this video/sound ad? Why am I seeing adult ads on a game site that has children on it?
These types of ads are not allowed but they do slip through sometimes. Please contact citricsquid with as much information about the ad as possible. Things like: where on the site you saw the ad, your physical location, the url of the ad (right click and select "copy image URL"), a screenshot of the ad, etc
I said this. Two days later, my computer's motherboard melted down and I had to get a new one with Windows 8.
Irony in the first degree.
If you are interested in getting an IPB license though, you can purchase it here: http://www.invisionpower.com/store/comparison/
(the hosted community is a great option if you don't want to deal with setting up the forum or find hosting)
Do you have a link to these IPB tutorials? I've been interested in the IPB forum software recently, and I would like to see these tutorials you mention.
Jefe, sticky this. Everywhere. Now.
Yes. Pin this topic.
I said this. Two days later, my computer's motherboard melted down and I had to get a new one with Windows 8.
Irony in the first degree.
But that's the best bit!
And why isn't this topic pinned or something?!