Newbie Learnings with The Forum

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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This forum is terrific. Thought I’d share some of my basic learnings about the forum for a relative newcomer (actually, a periodic visitor who has returned again). Perhaps others can add:

a) Inability to post is addressed in the following thread about Windows Comparibility view. Noting, besides losing work perhaps, with computers is worse than an obstacle: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/204082.aspx

b) Of course, the search features are terrific about finding prior info on a subject. On the right column, “Search This Community” is the tool I usually use (versus “Search This Site” (above) for an area like DCC, Layout Planning, etc"

c) It took me awhile to note that “Your Forum Discussions” plus “Your Favorites” is on the right column. The former is self explanatory (items you posted anew or participated in), except I could not find some prior period discussions where I asked questions until noting that it shows 3 months only until I changed the dropdown to “All”. On the “Your Favorites” I eventually figured out how to mark a thread that contained info I would want to access later (e.g., on wiring sizes). That is done by selecting the “More” button on a tread posting and selecting “Add to Favorites”. It’s great to know I can access prior info in these ways.

d) On posting photos, which many users often do wonderfully to answer my queries, I know I’ve got that covered in one of my favorites, but likely covered under another topic (hope I can find it). A search would get me there, but perhaps someone can post a good prior thread that instructs how to do this.

I’m grateful to the dedicated folks who share the technical items as well as the practical tips on using the site. One thing I note is a great attitude on the part of all the contributors. I h

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To post photos, first place your image on a free image hosting service like Photobucket. Then …

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I’ll add one. Recently at least 2 times I’ve typed a reply and when I hit Post I got a no connection (Windows diagnose connection) message. Not sure why this is occurring but it’s of course frustrating. I think I’ll start highlighting the text, then right click / copy before hitting Post so it’s in the Windows cut & paste saved area so if I have to try again it’s a simple right click / paste exercise.

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Cuyama:

That;s the hard way.

Upload to Photobucket, hover the cursor over the picture you want to use, this box will open under it.

Click in the bottom box label (IMG code) It will copy everything you need to the clipboard.

Go to your forum post, place the cursor where you want the picture and click “paste” ( V)

That’s all there is to it.

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Phoebe: Since the method you describe has been reported not to work with all combinations of all browsers and all photo hosting platforms, I thought it might be helpful to provide a method that is known to work pretty broadly at the cost of one additional click.

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I have been using Firefox web browser since 1998 and solves all issues.

I use Photo Bucket for uploading.

So easy a Caveman, oops, Cave Person can do it.

Stepson also uses it. Works well in Windows computers. Just let the PC use IE for updates of the OS.

Some here never take time to learn all the different options in this site and have to be led by the hand.

Rich

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I use the same method you are describing as I am often switching O/S and Browsers depending on my location so the old manual method works every-time. I use the same method for posting videos from Youtube as well which makes the video playable from within the forums which is preferable.

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