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Table Of Contents
This guide is for use by board managers.
It serves as an orientation guide and documents most board features and options.
If you've not already set a board up, setup takes less
than 3 minutes. There's no software to download. All boards are private
and no advertising is placed on your board.
Your board allows you to customize over 100 items on your board.
However, if you prefer to use the system defaults, your board will
work just fine without making any changes or customizations.
This guide doesn't provide
information for general users, but rather
information for the board manager on how to manage and configure your board.
Users can find information regarding viewing, searching, and posting messages by
Clicking Here for User's Guide
As the board manager, you have the ability to
customize or change over 100 different settings/configurations
on your board. Some board managers never change any of these
settings, instead preferring to use the system
defaults. However, you can usually change/select any feature
by clicking Yes/No radio buttons next to a list of
features on your board management page.
To view a sample Board Management Site
Click Here
A list of available features follows:
Non-Threaded vs Semi-Threaded vs Threaded Configuration
Top
You can configure your board as a Threaded, Semi-Threaded or Non-Treaded board.
The difference between these configurations is the format used
to display messages.
Your choice will depend on personal preference
and how you use your board.
In general if your board is used more as a discussion forum,
where you'll have users posting replies to messages and replies
to replies...etc,
you'll want to use the "Threaded" configuration.
If your board is
used more in the fashion of a Bulletin Board that
you might have hanging in the company hallway, i.e. used to
post items, events, etc. of interest to the group, the Non-Threaded
format may be a better format to use.
The Semi-Threaded format is sort of a compromise between the two.
For a detailed description of these two formats
Click Here.
Customization
Top
Board managers can customize over 100 board features. Customization is not necessary, however a
board manager has the ability to customize the
appearance and functionality of the board, in most cases just
by selecting "Yes/No" radio buttons associated with various
customization features. For a detailed description of features
that can be customized, review the section below labeled: " Configuration Settings".
To view a sample Board Management Site
Click Here
Moderator Capability
Top
Your board can be configured as a "Moderated" board.
Using this configuration, messages Posted by your users
do not appear on your board until you (or someone you've
appointed as a "Moderator") has "Approved" the message.
Multiple moderators are allowed. You, as the board manager,
and/or other users you've designated as "Moderators", are notified
immediately whenever a user posts a message.
An email is sent to you, and/or your moderators, so the newly
posted message can be reviewed and then
approved, disapproved, or deleted. Moderators can always
view messages awaiting approval by going to:
http://www.bulletinboards.com/usermod.htm
and using their Moderator password. Doing this allows a
moderator to view any message awaiting approval, as long as
the moderator has "Moderator Privilege" for the forum the message
was posted into.
Security/Password Protection
Top
Board managers have the option of setting up
various levels of Security and Password Protection for
their board. A system wide password and/or individual
login passwords can be setup to limit access to your board.
Individual login passwords can even be designated
access to only certain parts of your board.
You have the ability to password protect only certain
sections of your board.
You also have the ability to Ban IP addresses from
accessing your board or vice/versa, i.e.,
only allow access to specific IP addresses.
To view a detailed description of Security/Password protection features
Click Here.
Profanity Language Filter
Top
Each board has a Profanity Language Filter that if
enabled will filter profanity from user's messages.
Searchable - Message Board Filter Query
Top
Visitors to your board can retrieve only the subset of messages
that interests them. They can search your board for one or
more specific messsages based on keywords, email addresses,
username, date range, etc.
Board Partitioning
Top
You have the ability to divide your board into sections/categories
to create a more organized look and user friendly format. You also
have the option of designating different access privileges for each section.
Seamless Integration into your existing site
Your board can be configured to appear as just another page existing
on your current site. Board Managers can
create a link or button from a page on their site directly to their
board. The "Home" button at the top of your board will automatically
take users back to the page on your site where they came from. This
results in your board appearing as just another page on your site.
Automatic Email Notification
Top
Users can request to be notified whenever
a message is posted to your board. They can even request to
be notified only of messages posted to a specific section of your board.
Click Here for a detailed explanation of different types of Email Notification available.
Votable Messages
Top
"Votable Messages" can be created allowing users to Vote yes/no on
the idea presented in the message. "Votable Messages" are always displayed
showing the current yes/no voting count. To make a message "Votable", a user
need only click on the checkbox within the Post Message form labeled: "Click here to
make this a Votable message". This capability can be given to all users, or restricted
to only the board manager.
Formatting Message Text, Embedding Graphics and HTML
Top
Your board provides users with an easy interface
(the HTML Formatting Toolbar) for inserting graphics, hyperlinks,
smilies, and HTML code. The Formatting Toolbar also allows
users to easily use color, bold, italics, font type/size, etc.
when formatting a message. For a more detailed description of these capabilities
Click Here.
Board Management Panel
Top
Each board manager is provided with their own "Board Management Panel".
Managers can use their Management panel to make configuration changes
to their board. They do so by clicking Yes/No radio buttons
associated with different board options. To view a sample Board
Management Panel
Click Here
File Attachment Capability
Top
You have the option of allowing users to attach files to messages. No FTP or
other software is required, this capability is built into your board. This feature allows
users to easily attach files (Word, Excell, Text, Graphics, etc.) to messages, giving users
an automated way of uploading files directly from their PC.
If you decide to turn
this option on, there is a $.50/megabyte/month storage fee for uploaded files.
To view the user interface, board managers use to enable the FTP option
Click Here
Visitor Counters
Top
Each board has two "Visitor Counters" associated with it. These can be
hidden or displayed to the general public. One counter tracks the
number of visitor to your board since it was created and the other
tracks the number of visitors to your board as of a date
you specify. The second counter can be reset to zero by yourself
at any time via your board management page.
Archiving Messages
Top
You have the ability to archive specific or groups of messages into a special "Archived"
data base. This option lets you remove messages from your board while still allowing
users to search your board's "Archives" for messages you've archived. You can configure your board to
automatically archive messages, based on date range or number of messages. You also have the
ability to selectively specify which messages to archive. In the event no archiving specification is given, a
board will automatically begin archiving older messages after 250 active messages
have been placed on the board.
Billing/Cost
Top
Because we place no advertising on user boards and therefore receive
no advertising income, we do charge a monthly service fee of $9.95.
There are no other fees associated with the use of your board, i.e.
no setup fees, and no maximum message limit.
Payment can be made via credit card or via check (although credit
card or PayPal payment is required for Non-US customers).
Content Policy
Top
Board Managers are responsible for all messages
posted on their board. The only restriction concerns
Adult oriented content. Our policy prohibits Adult-oriented boards,
designed for entertainment or commercial purposes.
This includes providing access to
pornographic materials (images or multimedia),
whether for free or for payment, regardless of whether
adult verification is used or not.
Our content policy and terms of use are described in more
detail by clicking here: Terms Of Use
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Sign Up and Installation Procedures
Top
Installation Procedures
Top
There are none.
There's nothing to install, just complete and
submit the setup form. Your board is installed on
our server, there's no software to download, install,
or maintain.
Sign Up Procedure
Top
The "Sign Up" procedure should take you less than 3 minutes.
Upon submitting the SetUp form and email is sent to you
immediately, confirming your Sign Up was successful and your
board is operational.
The Sign Up form is located at: http://www.bulletinboards.com/setup.cfm
Completing this form involves:
Designating a unique 1-8 character code for your board
Designating a unique 1-8 character manager's password for your board
Optionally, Defining any partitioning of your board
Providing Billing and Contact information
You can change any of this information via your board management page
after your board is set up.
Within 3-5 minutes after submitting the Sign Up form, you'll
receive an email confirming your board is operational and giving
you the address of your board and the address of your board
management page. Your Board Management page will allow you to make
further customizations to your board, if you choose.
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Defining Categories/Forums - Board Partitioning
Top
Defining Categories/Forums Top
You have the option of dividing your board into a
maximum of 12 different categories/forums. Creating
categories/forums on your board, allows users to post messages under different
subjects and presents users with a more organized grouping of the board's messages.
The decision to create multiple categories/forums
on your board is entirely yours. Although you can create up to 12 forums
the only requirement is to have at least one forum defined.
When you set your board up initially, one forum will be automatically
created for you. Subsequently, via your board management page, you can add/delete/rename
forums as often as you like.
Category/Forum Privileges Top
When defining categories/forums you have the option of specifying access
and posting privileges for each category/forum. For example, you could have one
category/forum Viewable by all users and another category/forum only Viewable by
a select group of individuals. For a detailed explanation of assigning
posting/access privileges to categories/forums
Click Here
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Security/Password Protection
Top
Password Protection Is Not Required Top
The default configuration for your board doesn't have password
protection enabled, however, you can easily enable this option via
your board management page.
To enable this option, go to your
Board Management page => Password Protection section =>
and answer "Yes" to the option labeled:
"Step 1.Enable Registration/Password Protection for your board?"
Enabling Password Protection
forces all users to your User Login Page, where they
must enter a valid password to gain access to your
board.
For a summary synposis of password protection
Click Here
Board Manager's Password Top
This password is required to set your board up.
You created a 1-8 character code to be
used as your manager's password when you set your board up.
You can change your manager's password at any time via your
board management page. Your manager's password gives
you full access to any section of your board, regardless of
the section's assigned access privilege. The manager's password can be
used to delete or modify anyone's message. It's the only password
providing access to your board management page.
Your board management page is accessed via the url:
http://www.bulletinboards.com/usermod.htm.
Moderator Passwords Top
Passwords configured as "Moderator Passwords"
have special privileges. Users with Moderator Passwords
can "Approve/Disapprove", Modify, and Delete messages for those parts of your
board where you've given them "Moderator" privilege.
The "Approve/Disapprove" option is only valid for boards
using the "Moderated" configuration.
System Wide Password Top
You can define a System Wide Password via your board management page.
A System Wide Password is simply a password you create and give to
everyone on the system. The advantage of this level of password protection
is that it's easy to set up. The disadvantages are that if you have a problem
user and need to change the password, you'll have to notify all users of
the new password and you're limited to giving everyone the same level
of access. When using individual
login passwords you can specify access privileges at the individual level
and if you have a problem with one user, you need only remove that
particular password.
Although not usually done, there is a way of sending users
to your board's login page without enabling password protection on your board.
The usual need for this scenario is where you want some of your board open to the
public but other parts are Restricted. In that case you'll want to send privilege
users(those having an individual password with Restricted access privileges)
to your board's login page. Your board's login page is always:
http://www.bulletinboards.com/chkpswd.cfm?comcode=xxx
where xxx is your board code will display your board's login page.
Individual Login Passwords Top
In addition to a system wide login password you have the option of setting up individual login passwords.
You can define individual login passwords, usernames, and associated access
privileges via your Board Management page => Password Protection section.
You can assign different individuals, different access privileges.
For example, you could assign one login password Viewing and Posting privilege
for a particular forum and yet for another login password,
only assign Viewing privilege for that same forum.
Some board managers create individual login passwords and then
assign them to different groups, every member of a particular group getting
the same login password. This allows you to set up different access privileges
at a group level instead of the individual level.
Assigning Access and Posting Privileges to Login Passwords Top
When defining login passwords, you can associate specific privileges with each
password. Privilege refers to the right to View, Post, Modify and Delete
messages on your board. You can assign all or some subset of these privileges
to each password. For a detailed explanation of login password privileges
Click Here
Introductory Text on Login Page Top
Your board provides you, via your board management page, with the option
of creating an "Introductory Paragraph" that will appear on your board's
login page. The text in this "Introductory Paragraph" is entirely of
your own choosing and can include html, if you choose.
Login Name Top
To have each user's assigned Login Name automatically associated
and displayed with each message they post, you'll want to
configure your board as follows(utilizing your board management page):
2. Select the "Yes" radio button beside the question:
"Users must use their assigned password to post messages?"
3. Select the "Yes" radio button beside the question:
"Display Users Assigned Login Name with messages?"
Passwords and Posting Messages Top
This seems like a good place to answer the question
that often comes up regarding the "Password" input
field found on the "Post Message" form.
If you've assigned individual login passwords
you can require users to use their assigned login
passwords to post messages.
However, regardless of whether you've enabled
password protection, all users have to enter
a password when posting a message. Unless you're requiring
visitors to use their assigned login password, the password they
use when posting a message can be any 1-8 character code they
choose. The only way to bypass this requirement is to not
allow users to Modify or Delete their own messages.
In that case users are not required to enter a password.
Entering a password when posting a message ensures
no one except the message creator (and you as the
board manager) can Delete or Modify that message.
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Types of Email Notification
Top
Four types of automated email notification are available.
These options are all controlled via your board management page.
Board Manager Notification Top
You board can provide Immediate Email Notification to the board
manager whenever a message is posted to your board.
Message Creator Notification Top
Your board can send Immediate Email Notification to the creator
of a message, whenever someone posts a Reply to his message. This
option is only applicable for Threaded Boards.
Board Member Notification > Top
Visitors to your board can add their email address to your
board's Email Notification List by clicking on a link
at the top of your board labeled:
"To Be Notified when a new message is posted, Click Here"
A user can then request notification if any new messages are posted to
the board or alternatively, can request email notification only if
new messages are posted to a specific section of your board.
To view a page similar to one your visitor would use to add their email address to
your board's Email Notification List Click Here
For more info on Board Member Email Notification
Click Here
Board member notification occurs once each day. The system searches each
board's email notification list and for each email address found,
based on the level of interest associated with the email address,
determines if new messages have been posted. If new
messages are found an email is sent to the email address indicating new messages
have been added to the message board.
The default email notification configuration causes email notifications to
contain text indicating how many new messages were added to Forums the user
is interested in. The notifications will not contain the actual content
of the new messages.
If you enable the "Email Notification Plus" feature, via your board management
page, your user's email notification messages will contain the actual content
of new messages. This feature also allows users to post and reply to messages
directly from their email browser.
Immediate Email Notification
Top
Immediate Email Notification can be enabled, by the board manager,
for up to 12 users.
This is accomplish via your
Board Management page => Main Settings =>
"Click Here To View Current Email Notification List".
Immediate Notification is often used when a board
has different moderators monitoring different sections of the board.
Using this option each moderator can be immediately notified whenever
a message is posted into the forum/section he is monitoring. However,
this capability can be assigned to any user. The board
manager has the option of designating up to 12 email addresses on
his/her board's email notification list, to receive Immediate Email Notification
of new messages posted to the board. Other users on the board's email
notification list will receive notification once per day, of new messages
added to the board. To
Sign Up Procedure Top
The "Sign Up" procedure should take you less than 3 minutes.
The end result will be an email sent to you confirming
your Sign Up was successful and your board is operational.
The Sign Up form is located at: http://www.bulletinboards.com/setup.cfm
Completing this form involves:
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Configuration Settings
Top
There are over 100 configuration settings available to a board manager,
allowing substantial contol over the appearance and functionality of his/her board.
All settings are configurable via each manager's "Board Management Page".
To view a sample Board Management Site
Click Here
Appearance Configuration Settings
Top
Board Logo(s)
Top
A customized logo is created, based on the organization's name,
automatically when you set your board up. However, you can
use any logo/graphic you like. You can specify a maximum of
two logos/graphics be displayed at the top of your board.
If two logos are desired you can also specify if
they should be place above and below each other or
arranged side by side. The fields controlling these settings
are labeled "Board Logo:" and "nd Board Logo:". The 2nd Board
Logo field is located on the "Advanced Custom Settings Page".
To have a logo appear on your board requires that you enter
the URL of the graphic you want to use for your logo into
one of these fields. If the graphic you want to use doesn't
have a URL address, because it doesn't reside on the
net, then send it to us and we'll place it on our server.
This will create a valid URL address for the logo. If you
don't want to use a logo you can always enter this URL into
the logo field:
http://www.bulletinboards.com/gif/onepix.gif.
This causes the system to not place any logo on your board.
Custom Buttons Top
If you don't care for the appearance or name
of any button on your board you can change them.
All buttons at the top of each board, i.e. the
"Post", "Modify", "Delete", etc. can be replaced
with your own custom buttons. To replace
one or more of these buttons, via your management page,
go to the "Advanced Custom Settings" page,
where you'll be able to specify a
replacement for any button on your board.
Smaller Font Top
You can have the text of messages on your board appear
in a smaller size font by selecting the "Yes" radio
button associated with the question:
"Should Message Text be displayed in Smaller Font?".
Background Gif Top
If you have a gif or jpg graphic file you would like
to use as the background for your board, you can do so
by specifying the URL of the graphic file in the field
labeled: "Background Gif:". Alternatively, you can select
a background gif from several system offered selections
located beneath the "Background Gif" field on your management page.
Background Color Top
You can specify a Background Color to be used for your board via
the Advanced Custom Settings page. Specifying a Background Color
will override any Background Gif setting you may have specified.
Message Background Color Top
You can specify a Custom Color to be used as a background color for each message,
separate from the general background color of the whole board. This setting is
available via the Advanced Custom Settings page.
Message Text Color Top
You can specify a Custom Color to be used for all message
text displayed on your board via the Advanced Custom Settings page.
Link Text Color Top
You can specify a Custom Color to be used for all hyper-links
displayed on your board via the Advanced Custom Settings page.
Category Table Color Top
For Non-Threaded boards, you can specify a Custom Background Color to be used for
the "Category Table". The Category table is the rectangular green area at
the top of your board.
For Threaded boards, you can specify a Custom Background Color to be used for the
"First Time Msg Warning" box. This is the message displayed when a user
first visits your board, showing the Icon Color Coding Legend, and
the notice about the initial download of a Java Applet. Both of these
settings are available via the Advanced Custom Settings Page.
Setting Frame/No-Frame view option(Threaded Configuration) Top
The default display setting for boards using the Threaded Configuration is to divide the browser into
two frames, i.e. a top frame(MsgList Window) showing the messages titles/folders and a lower
frame(Message Content Window) to display the content of any particular message selected
from the upper MsgList Window.
Other Configuration Settings
Top
Setting Default Time Zone Top
The default time zone used is U.S. Eastern Standard Time. This default can be
changed via the Advanced Custom Settings of your management site.
Setting Default Date Range for Msg Retrieval Top
The default date range used for message retrieval is All Msgs., effectively causing all
messages to be retrieved. As the number of messages grow you may want to change this default
to a shorter date range to limit the number of messages retrieved. For example, you may
want to set it to only retrieve the last 2 weeks of messages. This will tend to make your
board display faster, since fewer messages are retrieved. Regardless of the default
setting you used, the user can always override this to retrieve whatever date range they prefer.
This default can be changed via the Advanced Custom Settings of your management site.
Set the Default Format for Posting Messages Top
This option is only available if you configure your board to Not Allow users to post HTML within
their messages. You'll see this option listed in the Main Settings section of your Board Management
page, with the label:
Should AutoFormatting be the default format for posting msgs?
This option determines whether line breaks in sentences are displayed exactly as typed, or
whether the width of paragraphs are expanded to accomodate the width of a user's browser window.
The user can always override this default when posting a message.
Click Here
for a more detailed explanation of this feature.
Enabling the File Attachment Option Top
Activating the FTP option for your board, allows users
to easily attach files (Word, Excel, Text, etc.) to messages.
When a user elects to attach a file to a message, your board
will automatically upload the file from the users computer and
store it on our server. Other users can then download the attached
file by clicking on the "Download" link displayed with the associated message.
Click Here
for a more detailed explanation of this feature.
Enabling the Spell Checker Option Top
Activating the Spell Checker option for your board, allows users
to request your board to run a Spell Check of their message, before
it's posted..
Click Here
for a more detailed explanation of this feature.
Enabling Auto Reply Field Fill-In (Threaded Configuration) Top
Enabling this option causes the ShortTitle field of Reply messages to be automatically filled in
with the ShortTitle text of the message being responded to.
Selecting the "Yes" radio button associated with the question:
"Should ShortTitle field be filled in Automatically, for reply msgs?"
enables this option.
Making a Msg Always Appear As the First Msg in a Category Top
You can cause a message, that you post as the board manager, to always be displayed
as the first message in a category. Normally, the order in which messages are displayed
is based on the Sort Order you've specified, i.e. Sorted by date(the default)
or Sorted alphabetically by ShortTitle.
To have a message always appear as the first message in a category you
should do two things:
1. Use your manager's password when posting the message
2. Selecting the "Yes" radio button associated with the question:
"Make this the first message in its category?" on the Post Message Form.
Making the Email Address and/or User Name Field Required Top
It's possible via your management site to specify that whenever a
user posts a message, he/she must enter their email address and/or
their user name.
Changing the Input Field Names on the Post Msg Form Top
There are two fields, labeled "UserName" and "Phone", that appear on the Post Message Form,
that can be renamed if desired. For example, you could rename those fields to be "Job Title" and
"SSN" instead of "UserName" and "Phone".
On the "Advanced Custom" settings section of your management page you'll find an area that
allows you to rename these fields. Realize, you can always hide these fields also, so that the
user is not prompted at all with these fields.
Setting the Msg Sorting Sequence to Use Top
For Non-Threaded boards, you can select the order in which messages are displayed from one of
the following 3 selections: Earliest Messages First, Oldest Messages First, or Alphabetically by
Message ShortTitle.
For Threaded boards, you can select the order in which messages are displayed from one of
the following 2 selections: Earliest Messages First or Oldest Messages First.
You specify the sorting order of messages via your board management page.
Configuring the "Home" button Top
Every board has a "Home" button. Most board managers, who link/integrate their bulletin/message
board into their already existing site, will configure the "Home" button on their message board
to point back to their site. This gives visitors to your board the feeling of the board being
"just another page on your site". The default link for the "Home" button is www.bulletinboards.com.
Re-Configuring the "Home" button to point to your website, is done via the field on your management page labeled:
"Home Page URL:".
Setting the Maximum Msg Size of a single Msg Top
You can limit the size of messages that are posted to your board.
The default maximum size for a single message is around 500 lines.
You can specify a new smaller maximum message size by entering the maximum number of lines a
single message can contain. The new size you specify, must be less than 500 lines
(approx. 80 characters per line). Some board managers use a reduced Max Msg Size,
in order to prevent a user from posting messages, that could potentially, each be 10 pages long.
Creating an Introductory Paragraph for your Board Top
You can create an introductory paragraph for your board that will appear just
beneath your board logo. To do this use the link on your management page labeled:
"Click Here To Create/Modify An Introductory Paragraph near the top of your board".
Preventing Profanity Language on your Board Top
Enabling the "Profanity Language Filter" ensures any new messages posted to
your board will not contain profanity.
Click Here
for more information.
Banning IP addresses Top
Your board management page allows you to ban specific IP addresses
and also IP ranges. You can type in a specific IP address
(205.33.100.45) or a range (205.33.100.*). To view a sample user interface for Banning IP addresses
Click Here
Wording - i.e. Bulletin Board/Message Board/Forum/etc. Top
Your board can use wording other than
"Bulletin Board" (e.g. Message Board, Forum, Discussion Group, etc).
You can substitute whatever text you like to replace the
phrase "Bulletin Board". There is a field on your management page that wiil allow you
to specify whatever wording you want to substitute for the phrase "Bulletin Board".
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Restricting Board Capabilities
Top
The default setting when your board is first set up is to
enable all options. Some board managers, prefer to limit
users access to all capabilities of their
board. Following is a description of the Viewing and Posting
options a board manager can restrict or disable.
Hiding Board Buttons Top
One way to limit or restrict users from specific functions on your board is
to remove the associated Buttons at the top of your board linking users to
those functions. For example, if you don't want users to be able to Modify
their messages you could remove the "Modify" button.
All Buttons-Links at the top of your board can be hidden via your management
site. Simply clicking a Yes/No radio button on your management site will
hide or display the associated functional button on your board.
Hiding Visitor Counters Top
There are always two visitor counters maintained and viewable via your board
management page. You have the option via your management page of having these
counters made visible or invisible to users visiting your board.
Hiding IP addresses Top
The IP address of anyone posting a message on your board is captured and stored with the
associated message. You have the option, via your management page, of displaying each
message's associated IP address at the bottom of each message.
Hiding Message Identifiers (MsgIDs) Top
Each message has a unique message identifier. Message Ids are used
when identifying a message to delete or modify. They are displayed at
the bottom of each message. You have the option, via your management page, of
specifying whether message identifiers should be visible to your users.
Hiding Message Creation Date Top
You can specify, via your management page, that message Creation dates,
which are normally shown at the bottom of each message, be hidden.
Hiding Message Creation Time Top
You can specify, via your management page, that message Creation times,
which are normally not shown at the bottom of each message, be visible or hidden.
Hiding Email Address of poster Top
You can specify, via your management page, that the email address of the message
creator, if one exists, be visible or hidden.
Hiding User Date Range Prompt Top
The "User Date Range Prompt", i.e. the drop down-down box at the top
of your board that allows a user to specify the date range of
messages to view, can be removed from your board via your
board management page.
Hiding the MsgId, UserName, Email Address of a specific Msg Top
The system default when displaying messages, is to display, at the bottom of each message,
the Message Identifier, Date of the Message, and if entered the Username and Email Address.
As the board manager, when posting a message, you can cause these items to not be displayed
on a specific message by doing two things:
1. Use your manager's password when posting the message
2. Selecting the "Yes" radio button associated with the question:
"Hide the MsgId, Name, Date, EmailAddress for this msg?" on the Post Message Form.
Only allow Board Mgr to Post Messages Top
Enabling this option on your board management page ensures
no one will be able to post a message unless they possess the "Manager's Password"
Only allow Board Mgr to Create Votable Messages Top
Your board defaults to allow anyone to create/post "Votable" messages.
However, you can change this default to prevent the creation of
"Votable" messages or only allow the board manager to create
"Votable" messages.
Prevent users from using HTML when posting messages Top
The system default is to allow users to embed HTML within their
messages. You can disabled this option via your board management page.
Hiding Email Prompt on Post Message Form Top
Users are normally presented with an input field to enter their
email address when posting a message. You can disable
this prompt via your board management page.
Hiding Phone Number Prompt on Post Message Form Top
Users are normally presented with an input field to enter their
phone number when posting a message, you can disable
this prompt via your board management page.
Realize, you could rename this field for some other use, other than to capture a user's phone number.
For example, you could rename this field to be "SSN" to capture a user's social security number.
Hiding User Name Prompt on Post Message Form Top
Users are normally presented with an input field to enter their
user name when posting a message, you can disable
this prompt via your board management page.
To prevent users from being prompted to enter a user name,
answer "Yes" to the option in the "Hiding Fields" section
of your board management page, labeled:
"Should User Name Prompt of Msg Creator be hidden?"
Realize, you can rename this field for some other use, other than to capture a user's name.
Just as an example, you could rename this field to be "Your favorite song" to capture a users favorite song.
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Deleting Messages Top
A board manager can delete anyone's message, and via utilities on the board management page,
can do so one message at a time, selectively, by date range and/or as a group. This
capability can also be configured to occur automatically without manager intervention.
fyi:
Users can delete messages they create, but only messages they create.
You can disable this option by removing the "Delete" button from your board.
Deleting Messages Selectively
You have two options when deleting messages selectively. One way is to use
the "Delete" button at the top of your board, like all other users, and
specify the message id of the message you want to delete(remember to
use your manager's password). The other way is to use the "Delete
Messages Selectively" utility on your management page. This utility
generates a list of all messages on your board with a radio button
beside each message allowing you to just click
on the "Delete" radio button beside each message you want to Delete. Altenatively, instead
of listing all messages, you can request a subset of all messages, by date range, to choose from for selective deletion.
Click Here
to view a sample user interface used to Delete Messages Selectively.
Deleting Messages As A Group
You can delete messages as a group using the "Delete
Messages By Category" utility on your management page. This utility
allows you to delete groups of messages by category and date range.
It can also be used to delete messages from your message archives.
Click Here
to view a sample user interface used to Delete Messages as a group by Category.
Deleting Messages Automatically
You have the option of configuring your board to
automatically delete messages. This option allows
you to have your board automatically delete messages older than X days or to
automatically delete all messages except for the latest X number of messages. This option is
provided as a utility in the Utilities section of your
management page labeled:
"Automatic Deletion of Old Messages".
Archiving Messages Top
The board manager has the ability, via the board management page,
to move messages from the active part of his board into a special archival storage
area reserved for his/her's board. Messages moved into a board's archived
area remain accessible and searchable by users. The primary reason for archiving
messages is to maintain a clutter-free board and also to improve
user response time. A board with fewer active messages, loads faster.
Archival of board messages can be
done selectively, by date range and/or as a group, and/or configured
for automatic archival based on date range or number of messages.
Moving old messages into your "Message Archive" will tend to cause your
board to load faster, especially if there are a large number of messages posted.
Archiving Messages Selectively
You can "Archive" message selectively via the "Archive Messages Selectively"
utility on your management page. This utility
generates a list of all messages on your board with a radio button
beside each message allowing you to just click
on the "Archive" radio button beside each message you want to Archive. Altenatively, instead
of listing all messages, you can request a subset of all messages, by date range, to choose from for selective archival.
Click Here
to view a sample user interface used to Archive Messages Selectively.
Archiving Messages As A Group
You can archive messages as a group using the "Archive
Messages By Category" utility on your management page. This utility
allows you to archive groups of messages by category and date range.
Click Here
to view a sample user interface used to Archive Messages as a group by Category.
Archiving Messages Automatically
You have the option of configuring your board to
automatically archive messages. This option allows
you to automatically archive message older than X days or to
automatically archive all messages except for the latest X number of messages. This option is
provided as a utility in the Utilities section of your
management page labeled:
"Automatic Archival of Old Messages".
Moving Messages from one category to another Top
Assuming you allow users to Modify their own messages, each user can move a message he/she has
already posted in one category to another by using the "Modify" button at the top of your
board. The procedure is to Modify the message and
select the radio button beside the category you want to move the message to. Although
users can move individual messages from one category to another with this method,
as the board manager you have a utility("Move Messages") on your management page that allows an
entire group of messages to be moved from one category to another.
Click Here
to view a sample user interface used to Move Messages from one section(category) of your board to another.
Backup Utility Top
You can request a comma delimited ascii file
be created of all messages on your board using the "Backup" utility on your management page.
Email List Utility Top
You can request a comma delimited ascii file
be created of all email addresses associated with messages posted on your board using the "Email List" utility on your management page.
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Contact Billing Information
Top
All information regarding billing and point of contact can be viewed and
modified via your board management page. If you choose you can specify
different information for billing and the board manager.
This section allows you to specify two email addresses, one used by our staff for billing
purposes and the other used by board visitors to contact yourself(the board manager).
The email link displayed at the bottom of your board labeled "Bulletin Board Management" is derived
from the email address you enter in the second email address in this section labeled "Board Manager Email".
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Search Engine Options
Top
Some board manager's may want to submit their board for
listing within internet search engines. Your management page
provides the capability of creating hidden Search Engine data
important in most search engine placement algorithms.
These options are located at the bottom of your management page.
The hidden Search Engine data you can create and associate
with your board used
by Search Engine Robots are: the Title, Keywords, and Page Description.
If you're not submitting to search engines you can ignore
these fields. However, if you're planning on submitting
it's a good idea to update these
fields before submitting your board for search engine indexing.
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50% Revenue Sharing Affilliate/Partnership Program
Top
A 50% revenue sharing partnership is available to board managers participating in our affiliate program.
The program pays 50% of all income generated from referral accounts, for as long as those accounts exists.
Click Here
for more information on our Affiliate program.
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These options are infrequently used and not readily apparent from your management page. There's no
radio button to enable these options. Implementing these options requires the board manager
to place a specific keyword in the field labeled "Keywords" at the bottom of
the management page.
Remember to separate multiple keywords in the Keywords field with commas.
For example, you might enable three of these options by placing the following keywords in
the "Keyword" field on your management page: nofooter,fast,noresults
Explanations follow:
Alpha Sort of messages modifier. [AlphaDesc]
This option, modifies the default alpha sort based on ShortTitle of message.
The normal alpha sort causes messages to be sorted alphabetcally based on
ShortTitle in Ascending order, i.e. letter a is displayed before letter b.
Using this option causes the alpha sort to be sorted in Decending order.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "AlphaDesc", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Display Message Hierarchy List using a Bold Font. [BoldMsgList]
This option, applicable only for boards using the Threaded Display format,
causes the Hierarchy of Message List titles and Forum Names to
be displayed using a Bolded type face.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "BoldMsgList", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Email Notification Security [SecureEmail]
This option allows the board manager to place tighter security control
on automatic email notification messages. Normally email notification
messages include a user's email notification password.within the email,
as a convenience, in case the user wants to modify/delete his email
nofication profile. Use of this option prevents the inclusion of a
user's email notification password within an email notification message.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "SecureEmail", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Change Color Scheme of Calendar. [GreyCalendar]
This option allows the board manager to change the default color scheme of the Calendar page
to a Black/Grey background color scheme.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "GreyCalendar", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Make your board more secure. [ExtraSecure]
This option allows the board manager to add an extra layer of
security. This feature validates that every user
is retrieving pages in a prescribed manner. This feature prevents
hackers or users who are hiding their identity from attempting
to enter your board in an unauthorized
manner.
Caveat - when this feature is enabled, it will prevent any user
from accessing your board that is using identify protection software. Also
in this mode, session cookies are not used, which will cause users to have to log in
every time the board is refreshed/reloaded.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "ExtraSecure", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Notified board manager when email notifications added or deleted. [EmailNotify]
This option allows the board manager to have the system send him/her an email notification whenever
a user adds or deletes their email address to/from your board's email notification list.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "EmailNotify", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Make Board Run Faster Option (Threaded Boards). [Fast]
For "Threaded" boards, this option allows you to realize
a slight improvement in board response time by eliminating some
database queries. Utilizing this option will improve board response
time, however you sacrifice the "number of messages count" normally
displayed beside each category folder.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "Fast", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide All Buttons at the top of your board Option. [HideButts]
This option is very infrequently used, but still available.
It allows you to configure your board so that no buttons
(i.e. "POST", "MODIFY", etc.) are displayed on your board.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "HideButts", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide Category/Forum names Table (Non-Threaded SemiThreaded Boards). [HideCat]
For "Non-Threaded" boards, this option allows you to
configure your board so that the Table of Category/Forum links at the
top of your board are not displayed.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option 'HideCat', without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the "Help" Link. [HideHelp]
This option allows the board manager to hide the Help link that
appears after the word Forums located at the the top
of Non-Threaded and Semi-Threaded boards.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "HideHelp", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the Manager's Guide icon. [HideMgrGuide]
This option removes the ability of User's to access the Manager's Guide.
Place the keyword option "HideMgrGuide", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Hide "Top" link (Non-Threaded Boards). [HideTop]
For "Non-Threaded" boards, this option allows you to
configure your board so that the link labeled "Top", listed
after each category, (used to take a user back to the top of your
board) is not displayed.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "HideTop", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Display Visitor Counters on the Login Page Option. [LoginCounters]
This option applies only to those boards utilizing login passwords.
Visitor counters, are by default shown on your main message board page
and not shown on the Login page. However, they can be made to appear
on the Login page by placing the keyword option "LoginCounters", without quotes,
in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Limit size of Uploaded files to 25000 bytes. [Max25000]
This option applies only to those boards that have the File Attachment capability
enabled. There are two other associated keyword options(Max50000,Max500000) that limit the
size of uploaded files. Max50000 limits an uploaded file size to 50,000 bytes and
Max500000 limits the uploaded file size to 500,000 bytes.
Enable this option by
placing one of the keyword options described above
in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Have List of Message Titles appear first [MsgList])
This option is not applicable for boards using the Threaded display format.
Normally the List of Message Titles are displayed at the bottom of a
message board.
This option allows the board manager to specify that the
List Of Message Titles appear at the top of the message board when
the board is first displayed.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "MsgList", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Only allow the Board Manager to attach files. [MgrOnlyFileAttach]
This option allows the board manager to specify that only he has the authority to
attach files/photos to messages. The FTP(file attachment) option must be enabled for this to work.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "MgrOnlyFileAttach", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide Folder Icon Color Coding Legend Option (Threaded Boards). [NoFolderIcons]
For "Threaded" boards, this option allows you to hide
the block of text that is initially displayed containing the Folder Icon
color coding legend and other descriptive info.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoFolderIcons", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide Footer Information Option. [NoFooter]
You can hide the support information located at the bottom
of your board. This is the information that reads:
-----------------------------------------
To Learn About Bulletin Boards: Click Here
To View Frequently Asked Questions About Bulletin Boards: Click Here
System Support Email: [email protected]
(321) 984-9080
© 1997 - 2011 P.A. Corp. V9.0
------------------------------------------
Place the keyword option "NoFooter", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page, to
cause this information to not be displayed.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Don't format Login Page introductory paragraph. [NoLoginFormat]
This option, which is only applicable for boards using password protection and
where the board manager has created an introductory paragraph for the Login Page,
will cause the introductory paragraph on the login page To Not be formatted within
a table. The default is to have the introductory paragraph enclosed within a table
with borders and this option prevents that.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoLoginFormat", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the "Board Manager Only Options" on the "Post Message" Form. [NoMgrOptions]
This causes the two "Board Manager Only Options", on the bottom of the Post Message Form,
labeled:
Make this the first message in its category?
Hide the MsgId, Name, Date, EmailAddress for this msg?
to not appear.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoMgrOptions", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the "Password Field" on the "Post Message" Form. [Hide the Modify and Delete buttons]
Entering a password on the Post Message form is required so
the message creator can be identified in
the future, if he/she decides to Modify or Delete the message.
It is possible, to eliminate the requirement to enter a password when
a message is posted.
If your board is using "password protection" and a user saves his password,
via the link on your board's login page
labeled: "Should your computer remember your password?"
the user will not be prompted to enter a password. The system will
use his saved password and not therefore not require the user to enter a password.
If your board is not password protected, there is another option
available. It is possible to not require the user to enter
a password by Hiding the Modify and Delete buttons and the Modify/Delete link.
Although doing this allows
a user to post a message without entering a password, the password field still
appears on the Post Message form. This allows the board manager, moderators, or
users with special posting privileges to enter a password when posting a message.
If you want to completely hide the password field from the Post Message form, the
procedure to follow is(using the Hiding Buttons section of your mgmt. page):
1. Hide the Modify Button.
2. Hide the Delete Button.
3. Hide the Modify/Delete Link
4. Place the word "NoMgrOptions", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom
of your management page.
If your board is password protected, a user can just ask the board to save their login
password, and thereafter the board will not ask for a password when
creating a message.
Hide Message List Text at the top of your board Option (Threaded Boards). [NoMsgList]
For "Threaded" boards, this option allows you to hide
the text at the top and/or right side of your board that reads:
Message List
Double-Click (quickly) on folder icons below to view Message Titles.
Clicking on a Message Title displays the message in the bottom window
This option will also hide the Folder Icon Color Coding Legend that appears when
the board is first loaded.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoMsgList", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the Smilie Icons displayed near the bottom of the Post Message Form. [NoSmilies]
This option hides from the user the row of Smilie Icons listed near the bottom
of the Post Message form.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoSmilies", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the Password Save option on the User's Login page [NoPasswordSave]
This option prevents users from saving their Login Password
on their computer. Although allowing users to save their password is a convenience,
some board managers may want the additional security
provided by forcing users to always login with their login password.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoPasswordSave", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the Names of Voters Option. [NoResults]
This option applies only to boards containing "Votable" messages.
Users are always able to view not only the vote count of "Votable"
messages but to see the names of each voter. Suppressing the
names of the voters from public view can be accomplished by
placing the keyword option "NoResults", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Hide the phrase listing the Date of Last Post [HideLastPost]
This option applies only to boards using the Non-Threaded or Semi-Threaded
display format.
Hide the link next to category/forum names, labeled:
ViewMsgTopics. [HideViewMsgTopics]
This option applies only to boards using the Non-Threaded or Semi-Threaded
display format. You may want to consider this, since users can
always view message topics by clicking on a Category/Forum name.
Prevent Search Engines from indexing your board. [NoRobot]
Although Search Engines are not able to locate a message
board unless they are given the link to the board, they will index the board
if given the url to your board. You can prevent any indexing of your board,
even if a search engine has your board's url by using the keyword option "NoRobot".
Enabling this option is accomplished by
placing the keyword option "NoRobot", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Remember to separate multiple keyword options in the Keywords field with commas.
Display Messages without surrounding Table Border. [NoTable]
This option, applicable only for boards using the Non-Threaded and Semi-Threaded Display format,
will remove the normal border that surrounds the message list display.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoTable", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide the NAVirus Disclaimer (Threaded Boards). [NoVirusWarn]
For "Threaded" boards, this option allows you to have the
NAVirus Disclaimer link(explaining the misdiagnosis by older Norton
AV software of the NiceDay Virus) to not be displayed.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoVirusWarn", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
This will also cause the "Optimum Viewing" phrase in the footer section of Semi-Threaded boards, to not be displayed.
Don't allow users to enter website addresses into messages. [NoWebAddrs]
Prevents users from adding a website address into either the message or message title.
This feature is sometimes used to reduce spam postings, since most spam posting have links to other websites.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoWebAddrs", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Make the "Phone" field a required field. [PhoneRequired]
This option allows the board manager to make the Phone field a required field
whenever a user posts a message. Remember, the Phone field can be renamed to
represent anything you like. For example, you could change the Phone field label
to be "Eye Color" or anything else you like. The rename field capability
can be accomplished via the Advanced Settings section of your board management page.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "PhoneRequired", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Require users to register, to Post a Message. [RegisterToPost]
This option requires users to "Register" before they can post a message.
Registering requires creating a password and providing a valid email address.
This option only works if you have answered "Yes" to the option in the Password Protection section
of your Board Management page, labeled:
"Users must use their assigned password To Post Messages?"
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "RegisterToPost", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Reverse the Ban IP effect. [ReverseIP]
This option causes the ban ip page to have the opposit effect,
i.e. IP addresses requested to be banned, will be the only ip addresses
allowed to view board.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "ReverseIP", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Redefine the "Top" link/shortcut [TipTop]
This option allows the board manager to redefine the "Top" links
(displayed after each category name) to point to the very top of the board, as opposed to the top message.
I.E., enabling this option causes the board to be repositioned(whenever a user clicks on a
"Top" link), to the very top, so the
board logo is displayed, as opposed to being repositioned just beneath the top so the first message is at
the top. Some board managers may want to enable this option to ensure the board
logo is displayed every time a user clicks on one of the "Top" links.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "TipTop", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Hide Email Message Copy on Post Message Form[NoMsgCopy]
This option allows the board manager to hide the line on the Post Message Form
that reads "Click Here to have a copy of your message/password emailed to you"
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoMsgCopy", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Eliminate maximum width limit when displaying messages[No680]
This option allows the board manager to eliminate the default maximum table
width size used to display messages, for Non-Threaded and Semi-Threaded boards.
The default limit used when displaying messages is to display messages within
a table defined to be 680 pixels wide. Message lines are wrapped within this
table when their width exceeds 680 pixels. Using this keyword will cause your
board to display messages where message text will fill a
users complete screen width before wrapping.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "No680", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Don't load board into a new frame. [_self]
This option allows the board manager to specify (only applicable for Threaded Boards using Noframe Format)
to not display messages in a new window. This option only useful for websites that display their
board within a Framed page and are using the Threaded-NoFrame display format.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "_Self", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Don't allow users to attach .EXE files [NoExeFiles]
This option prevents users from attaching and uploading files having a .EXE filename extension.
This option is only useful for boards that have the File Attachment Option enabled.
Three related keyword options are "NoRunTimeFiles", "NoRunTimeFiles1", "NoRunTimeFiles2".
Using the keyword option "NoRunTimeFiles prevents
files with the following file extensions from being uploaded:
.exe, .com, .cmd, .bat, .dll, .mdb, .mde, .vbs, .js, .sys, .pif, .ocx, .vbe
Using the keyword option "NoRunTimeFiles1" prevents any file not having one
of the following filename extensions from being uploaded:
.jpg, .gif, .pdf, .doc
Using the keyword option "NoRunTimeFiles2" prevents any file not having one
of the following filename extensions from being uploaded:
.jpg, .gif
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "NoExeFiles", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Allow users to post Replies into "View Only" forums. [ReplyOk]
This option is usually used when a board manager wants to set up a forum/category where
only the Board Manager or a Moderator can post New Message Topics but still allow normal
users to post "Replies" to those message topics. This is accomplished by setting the
access privilege of a forum to "View Only" and then placing the keyword
option "ReplyOk", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
Caveat, doing this will allow users to "Reply" to any forum that has "View Only" privilege.
This option is only applicable to Semi-Threaded and Fully Threaded boards.
Enable this option by
placing the keyword option "ReplyOk", without quotes, in the keywords field at the bottom of your management page.
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