Forum Basics and my Favorite Features on JETBOATERS.net <New Members Read me!>

[Julian]

Here is a list of my favorite features on the forum and how you can use them (if an explanation is needed...some are obvious!)

1. My favorite feature is the "@" feature.
   • What does it do? It notifies a member if they are mentioned in a post!
   • How do you use it? Simply type the @ symbol and begin typing the user's name and a box will appear once you have enough letters (3 typically) to narrow the name down. Then select the name and you are done! For example, @Bruce - do you like this feature? This will put a message in his "Alerts" menu that we was mention in this post.
   • Why would you use it? If you have a question about something the original poster or any other member said in regards to a topic, you can call their attention to it with the @ callout.
   • The HELP feature builds on this and can be used if you are on the water and need help. (just be sure you put the @ - - plus the word help in the body of the post not the title.
2. Mobile device layout - if you look at the site on your mobile device, the site auto scales to keep menu items in view! Works GREAT!
3. WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) editor - I am so happy to have bullets, numbering and indents!!!!
4. Image uploading - you can drag and drop pics into your posts (although some browsers don't support this). You can also multi-select files and upload them at once vs one at a time!!! WOOT! To upload one image, click on the "Upload a File" button next to the "Post Reply" button in the lower right of the posting screen.
5. Embedded Video - videos play in the window without taking you to the destination site
6. I like likes - you can "like" posts so the author gets feedback. <Updated> We have also added a broad "Post Rating" add on that allows you to more than just "Like" a post, but you can also "Agree", "Love", "Funny", "Great shot", "Informative", "Creative", "Disagree" and "Optimistic"!
   
7. Trophies - this is just a fun feature. When you reach various levels of usage in the forum, you are automatically awarded a trophy. Here are the trophies we have at the time I authored this post (note the one in honor of Mel! LOL)
   • Number of Posts:
   1. First Message Points: 1 (your first post)
   2. Keeps Coming Back Points: 5 (30 posts)
   3. Can't Stop! Points: 10 (100 posts)
   4. Addicted(Mel?) Points: 20 (1000 Posts---the Mel Award!)
   • Number Of Likes:
   1. Somebody Likes You Points: 2 (your first like)
   2. Like It a Lot Points: 10 (Your posts have 25 likes from other members)
   3. Seriously Likeable! Points: 15 (Your posts have 100 likes from other members)
   4. Can't Get Enough of Your Stuff Points: 20 (Your posts have 250 likes from other members)
   5. I LOVE IT! Points: 30 (Your posts have 500 likes from other members)
   • Other Awards:
   1. Founding Member Points: 10 (You are a founding member-@Bruce or @Julian can award)
   2. Banned and Proud of it! Points: 10 (Your profile setting says Yes you are banned - click in your name, and select "Personal" in the drop down and asnwer the question.
8. Hashtags - this is a feature that will be interesting to see if it takes off or not.
   1. What does it do? When you click on a hashtag it takes you to a quick search window that shows you all the posts that included that tag. It is like a fast search. #features or #YDS for example will show you posts about features of the board.
   2. How do you use it? If you keep an eye on the hashtags that people are using, then if you post about a feature, putting in #features ("#" with the word features with no space), will add it to the auto search function.
   3. Why would you use it? You would use it to help members quickly find references to things of use to other members. This is a work in progress....but I was thinking that perhaps the FAQ would also list the hashtags next to each FAQ - where applicable.
9. Member Map-Put your location in your profile and you will appear on the map. Then if you want to see if a member around you can help with something...voila...they are easy to find and connect with!
10. FAQ - We have added a new add on that allows us to create a standardized FAQ rather than just a post with lots of stuff! Since the FAQ has gotten so large, here is a tip to find stuff faster....go to the FAQ and then hit CTRL-F on your keyboard (if you have one)-type a word you seek, then voila...you'll know if there is an FAQ on that topic!
11. Bookmarks - Want to bookmark a post and come back to it later...go for it!
12. History - was just on a thread and want to go back to it...click on the history tab!
13. Quoting from prior posts is easy...just select the text and click on the reply button that appears below it (or the quote button for multiple-if you use the quote button, you also have to click on the Quotes button by the reply box and it gives you an option to insert multiple quotes at once). It looks like this:

Here are some of the basics on forum use and terminology:

One of the best ways to get good use of this forum is to us the "Watch Thread" feature. It is a link in the upper right of every "thread". Clicking on this allows you to be notified (either by email, or just when you log onto the forum) that a thread you are interested in has new "posts". Here are some basic terms:

• Forum=a Group of relevant threads (think of a folder of topics). This thread is posted in the "Gatherings Forum"
• Thread = a group of posts on a particular topic. This is begun by clicking on "Post New Thread" button at the upper right of a forum's main page. (the embedded link will create a new thread in the gatherings forum).
• Post=an individual's reply to a thread

Alerts on the forum are helpful for you to know when:

1. Someone has tagged you in a post (a reply to a thread)
2. Something you are "watching" has new replies from someone.

Keep in mind that if you keep ignoring "Alerts" about a thread you are watching, it will stop alerting you. My first stop when I open the forum is to look at alerts. Since I follow (or "watch") a lot of threads that I'm interested in, my alerts button in the upper right will have numbers over it telling me how many alerts I have when I log in. These will either be alerts because someone tagged me (described above) or due to me "watching" a thread.

 

[jawsf16]

iPhone posting is easy even with pics. Love this forum layout. @Bruce and @Julian are making this too easy. Thanks guys!!

 

[txav8r]

Note that I am not leading the post count! And I intend to lag behind someone, anyone! Just not going to get hammered for being a helper on this forum! LOL

 

[Julian]

Hey....I'm just trying to get a head start before Steve shows up! LOL

 

[farrelltravis]

All the features are awesome!

 

[maboat]

... before Steve shows up! LOL

Brian runs the board but Steve-45 acts like he's the only one with something worth contributing. (although he did make some quality "babes and boats" contributions) Steve45 was the reason I almost left the first time but DCB-270 calmed me down and pulled me back.

I wouldn't be surprised if Steve45 influenced Brian to ban Mel because Mel was on track to surpass Steve's #1 poster spot

 

[txav8r]

I was always...read my lips...ALWAYS...more interested in content rather than quantity. Sure, we all hit "welcome aboard" and have our fun places we like to chat. But if there was ever a word count ranking, you can add this forum and the other one...after 5 years I will still have the lead. Not bragging rights at all. I always felt that many posts were over the head of the laymen. And laymen populate these forums. Now plenty of experts out there, but laymen make up the mass population. Guys that come on, ask a question...and how you answer makes the difference in whether he stays or goes. So speaking plainly and with enough info to help him get the answer he seeks was my goal. WAY too lengthy for the experts out there, but just the ticket for the guy just learning the ropes. We have all suffered the put downs by someone, so I understand the feeling some a new guy feels when a seasoned veteran is short with him. Hopefully, the spirit of this forum and board will carry forward! And all members here will remember when they knew nothing, and be as helpful and courteous to others as you would want them to be to you! I have sent my share of PM's to rectify my own perceived arrogance many times. Hope I can keep that to a minimum and just be helpful...but racing to the top was never a goal of mine.

 

[Julian]

So, did I miss any features you like?

 

[jawsf16]

I was always...read my lips...ALWAYS...more interested in content rather than quantity. Sure, we all hit "welcome aboard" and have our fun places we like to chat. But if there was ever a word count ranking, you can add this forum and the other one...after 5 years I will still have the lead. Not bragging rights at all. I always felt that many posts were over the head of the laymen. And laymen populate these forums. Now plenty of experts out there, but laymen make up the mass population. Guys that come on, ask a question...and how you answer makes the difference in whether he stays or goes. So speaking plainly and with enough info to help him get the answer he seeks was my goal. WAY too lengthy for the experts out there, but just the ticket for the guy just learning the ropes. We have all suffered the put downs by someone, so I understand the feeling some a new guy feels when a seasoned veteran is short with him. Hopefully, the spirit of this forum and board will carry forward! And all members here will remember when they knew nothing, and be as helpful and courteous to others as you would want them to be to you! I have sent my share of PM's to rectify my own perceived arrogance many times. Hope I can keep that to a minimum and just be helpful...but racing to the top was never a goal of mine.

Hey Mel lets keep these short posts to a minimum. Clearly you are trying to boost your count and not really add anything here...

 

[txav8r]

Lost my head gents...not sure where I was going with that. I was clearly off topic! I was half way responding to both you and Mark, Julian, but I got sidetracked on the post count thing, and attempting to justify my wordiness I suppose. I try to put more meat in the words Bryan or use more of them!

 

[txav8r]

So, did I miss any features you like?

Julian, you and Bruce have been amazing at your grasp and understanding of XenForo and made leaps with setting the parameters and giving available add-ons. For the life of me, I couldn't think of anything we are missing really. We can watch a thread, unwatch it, receive notifications via email and disable them without issue, we have recent and new posts now, the MAP, a photo section, and the logo is fast approaching! Excellent work you guys have done!

 

[Julian]

For all the new users, this is a good thread to check out to familiarize you with some of the new features here.

 

[robbo3]

The image upload is awesome and I dig the mobile layout. Now I have access to good information wherever I am in a usable format. Nice work guys!

 

[Julian]

@robbo3 the @ feature is really useful, and "likes" are a great feedback tool. Glad you like the mobile layout too!

 

[Julian]

Other cool features we've added since I wrote this, or that I've noticed since then are:

1. The @ ... help feature (put the @ and the word help together) that brings attention to those signed up for the help usergroup to the post in question.
2. Four big addons -- Selective Quoting, Member Online indicator, Similar posts and Polling Improvements (click on this link to learn all about those additions)
3. Minor item...but did you know that if you click on a person's location, it opens up a map centered on that location?
4. We continue to add trophies and member titles

And in the background we continue to ponder and improve upon how we keep the forum SPAM free. We've had a few get through, but not many!

Hope the members are enjoying the features! Our goal is to ensure we keep the forum focused on members and FOR members. So if you have an idea on what you'd like to see, we'll be happy to consider it (if it is feasible without to much overhead).

 

[MikeyL]

"It's ALL GOOD"

PS - Admins - Pls note: SHORTEST reply I have ever made -ML, L O Ga

 

[96Pirate]

Well, if I didn't say it before...THANKS fellas for getting this site stood up and keeping it issue free. Once you have been on this site for any length of time, you do realize how good it really is. I am a member on some other forums and this one blows them away by far. And thanks also for continually improving on what I thought was an awesome site when it 1st launched. It just gets better and better. So here's a big THANK YOU to those involved!

I think the @ feature is my favorite and most used.

 

[96Pirate]

Hey guys! I just thought of something. Is there any way to customize the @ to be in groups? Either setup by the admins or by individuals, like an email distro list?

I was thinking maybe by State/Region/etc. But if individuals can customize their own that might be better. I was going to respond to the Fuel Tax post and let everyone in NC know that I believe it is available, so instead of typing each member I could just type @NC

Would work good for gatherings as well.

@Julian, @Bruce , @txav8r , @admins ???

 

[Zarrella]

The Mobile app is one of my favorites.....and @ and the likes and the recent post and the.........and the.......hell....too many to name!

 

[Julian]

We have the capability to create regional groups etc but haven't implemented anything yet. We'll start a thread on it specifically.