HyperBBS Help

Instructions for using the HyperBBS Forum Software

To return back to where you were, press your Browser's Back Button.

Reading Messages

Each Forum consists of a Base Message. A Base Message looks like a normal web page and generally includes Text describing the Topic of Discussion. The Base Message is the starting point for all messages Posted to the Forum. Messages may be added to the Base Message or as "replies" to a Message.

There are Buttons and Links to Add a new message, change the Display Type, and Search messages.

To read a specific Message, you click on the Message Title. A new page will be displayed showing the Message Text and all of the Replies to that Message.

Adding a Message

You can add a message, or reply to one, by clicking on the Add Message Button. It is assumed that the current message that is displayed is the one being replied to, so make sure you have the message you want to reply to on the screen.

The message form asks for a Subject. This should say something distinctive about the subject of your message. When Replying to the Base Message, you must enter a Subject, or the message will be rejected. When Replying to a specific message, if you leave the Subject field blank, the Subject of the message you are replying to will automatically be inserted for you when you save your message.

Your message can be just the Subject, if that is all you wanted to say, otherwise you will need to choose a format for your text:

Formatted means that several automatic formatting changes will be done for you. Long or short lines of paragraphs will be wrapped and filled, where a paragraph is all consecutive lines separated from the next paragraph by a blank line. A paragraph will be left unformatted if any line starts with spaces or tabs. You can start the first line of a paragraph with indentation, however. Anything that looks like a URL or email address will be made into an Link. HTML tags are converted into plain text. Multiple blank lines are contracted into a single blank line.
HTML means you have the full power of the HyperText Markup Language. This, for example, is how you get images embedded in your message. But you must at least separate paragraphs with <P> or they will look like one big blob. Please try to generate correct HTML since otherwise you could mess up the display of the appended message tree. However, don't include the <HEAD> or <BODY> tags, these are included automatically for you. Special Characters must use HTML escape sequences. For instance, any text beginning with an angle bracket '<', will need to use an escape sequence ( <grin> would be written as, <grin> ).

Other Options

If the Administrator has enabled them, you may choose from a list of Icons to give your message special meaning.
You must enter your Name. This can be your Full Name, your First Name, or your Handle.
You may also include your E-Mail address. This is optional, but if you wish to be notified of any Replies to your Message, then an E-Mail address will be needed. It also gives others the opportunity to send you E-Mail directly.

Submitting your Message

When you are finished entering your message, click the Preview Message button. The next page will be your message formatted as it will appear to readers, with a Post Message Button at the top. If it looks OK, go ahead and Post it.

If you want to edit your message, use your Browser's Back button to return to the previous page with the message form.

If you decide to not Post your message, just don't click the Post Message Button.

You may also Post your message directly, bypassing the Preview stage.

After you Post your message, a new page will be displayed thanking you for your contribution. From that page, you may return directly to the Forum, or to the Message you replied to.

Administration of Messages

Messages may be deleted or moved to a new location by an administrator. If you'd like one of your messages to be moved or deleted, please contact the Forum Administrator to request that this be done.