When you get to the forum, this is a sample screen shot of what you'll see(Fig.1 below). You may print this out for quick reference to many of the frequently asked questions (faq)!LALO KASIA FORUM "FAQs" PAGEBelow are questions raised by the "Lalo Kasia Forum" current members! Please feel free to ask any questions if you so wish.
Q1. How do I login to the forum?
A1. You can do this in two ways, either you fill in the username and password on bottom of Fig. 1 or you click on the login icon on yellow strip(Fig.12a). Note that you must register (Q12 below) before your account can be activated so that you can login.Q2. I have registered but when I filled in my details I don't seem to get anywhere, what is happening?
A2. Registration only gives you your username and password, it does not give you access right to the forum. You cannot access the forum without your account being activated and this can only be done by the webmaster(see forum instructions). For those; whose accounts have not been activated, all you see is Fig.1. Idealy, you should aim at seeing Fig.2. However, Fig.2 is only for members whose accounts have been activated.Fig.1
Q3. I have logged in but don't know what to do next. How do I navigate my way around?
A3. Successful login gives you the screen below, shown in Fig.2. You have three choices here, you are most likely to use the General Discussion section even though you can use the other two as well. Click on the General Discussion to go there. What you'll see next is a screen similar to that of Fig.3: Screen of Fig.3 shows you a sample of the topics which have been posted so far. You can read any of the posts by clicking on the desired one.Fig.2:
Fig.3: Sample screen of some of the topics already posted on the forum.
Q4. How do I post a new message on the forum?
A4.Fig.3 above shows you an icon with new thread as its name(top right hand corner). Clicking on the new thread icon takes you to the start new thread (screen Fig. 3b) where you can type your post.Fig.3b
Q5. How do I reply to any of the posts?
A5. In Fig.4 below it shows you the strip at the end of each thread. On the center of the strip, you see an icon with reply as its name. Click on the reply icon to post a reply to the current topic(thread).Fig.4:
Q6. What is an Instant Message?
A6. An Instant Message is a facility offered by the forum to allow members to send private messages to each other while using the forum. It can act like a "mini chatroom" but only between you and targeted users and no one else will see those messages. Messages are purely confidential to you and the receiver(s). No one else will see what you sent to a targeted user.Q7. How do I send a message using the Instant Message facility?
A7. There are two ways you can do this. If you know the username of the one you want to send a message to; using Instant Message then simply click on messages in Fig. 6 or messages in Fig.7. You can then type the username of the targeted user in the username box before typing your message. As you can see, the Instant Message facility can be activated in three ways.
Fig.6: This appears at the bottom of the forum screen
Fig.7: appears on top of forum screen
Q8. How do I know that a friend is online?
A8.When you get to the forum, check the Users Online by looking at the strip similar to that of Fig. 8.Fig.8:
Q9. How do I fill in the message editing screen?
A9. Fig.9 below is the actual editing and composing screen of the Instant Message Functionality. You can simply type the username of the intended user or if you came here via the message icon while reading a post then the username of the person you wanted to talk to would automatically appear in the username box(by default). Once in Fig.9, all you have to do is type your message, preview then post.Fig.9:
Q10. What are tags and what are they used for?
A10.Tags encapsulate codes used to program HTML (hypertext markup language) formatting, hypertext linking and embedding objects. Fig. 10 below shows you how certain tags are used. For instance, the result of the first line would be the word hello being bold. A tag must have a start and end. These are denoted by the square brackets before and after the text you want the tags to act upon. Please note that you can simply type the tags yourself if you so wish(advanced HTML users may do their own coding).
When you click on any of the tags, a pair of start [] and end [/] square brackets will be given - the important thing here, is for you to put whatever you want to do in between the two tags (start and end).Fig.10:
Q11. Can I modify my post after I sent it?
A11. Yes, you can. Click on "modify icon" as in Fig. 11a will allow you to carry out any modification. Modification can be done only by the owner of the message and by the webmaster . Note that before you send your message, you must preview it - make corrections and finalise your message before you press the send message button or post button in Fig.11b depending on whether you are doing an Instant Message or you are starting a new thread or simply replying to a thread.Fig.11a: This is what you see on the last reply to a thread.
Fig.11b:
Q12. Webmaster, I did ask you to create my login details - how does one register by himself/herself?
A12.Fig. 12a below shows you where to register on the forum screen.Fig. 12a:
Clicking on the register button gives you the screen in Fig.12.
You simply fill in a preferred username then an email (a valid one please!). Read the agreement then Click on radio button "I Agree" then press the Register Button.After you sent your registration details (within a minute or so, your password will be emailed to your email address), check your email address for your details. Keep the password and you must contact the webmaster to activate your account. You must tell the webmaster what your username is. He does not need to know your password. Your password is treated with confidentiality and you are the only one who knows what it is! Remember you can change your profile and hence your password from time to time. However, the username remains the same!
Fig. 12:
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Q13. I have used my forum details to access my email but to no avail?
A13. Please note that your forum details are not necessarily the same as that of the tongahighschool.com mailing facility unless you made them the same when you registered for the forum and signed up for email address. Usually, username and password are case-sensitive that is - if some characters are in uppercase or lowercase then they must be entered as such.Q14. How do I get to scroll on to the next page of topics on the discussion forum? I looked at the top, it says 15 topics but I only see about 12 on screen........
A14. It all depends on what category you are in. When you successfully logon to the forum, you should be presented with the "screen dump" shown in (Fig.2) above. The number of topics up at the top shows you the total number of topics currently posted. However, these topics come from the three categories (General Discussion, Feedback,Forum news and Jobs). So, if you are currently navigating your way around in the General Discussion category then you will see only the ones listed under General Discussion. A bit of kitchen mathematics here will help(take aways and pluses may do the trick, ha ha! malie kautama fika!)Q15. If one decides to "close account/cancel/delete user"
a) How does one do that? Simply press 'Delete User'on the Profile page?
b) Will it erase every post one has?
c) Will it create a domino effect on the others' posts, if it does erase everything? Will it distort the
meaning of the entire discussions?
Please enlighten me. I noticed when I modify profile,it changes everything which leads me to wonder.A15.
(a). From the profile page, pressing the "Delete User" simply deletes the user of that profile. He/she will no longer belong to the membership list of users of the forum. In fact, that user is gone and cannot logon to the forum in the future. He/she needs a new account to be activated.
(b). No, deleting a user does not affect the posts already recorded on the forum.
(c). No, it will not create any domino effect whatsoever. The posts will remain as they are but the user of the deleted profile is now gone! However, to give new users a "context" of posts by other users - it is a good idea not to delete users. Let the webmaster handle that side of things please!Q16. If someone sends me a private message using the Instant Message facility, how will I get it at my email address without having to go to the forum to view the message?
A16.You need to set this up yourself. Fig. 13 below shows you a screen shot of part of the Instant Message screen. On top of it is an icon with the name preferences. Click on it and change the box "Notify by email" in (Fig. 14) from No to Yes. This will ensure that you will always get any private message sent to you without having to come to the forum to view your Instant Messages. By changing your preferences, you will have a copy in your Instant Message Inbox as well as a copy sent to you via email(provided that you filled in a valid email address.Fig. 13
Fig.14
Make sure you click on Save Preferences so that the new change to your preferences is updated.
Q17. Is there a way of retrieving only new postings as oppose to retrieving every posting under the
heading to read them? I am just curious.....
A17. Absolutely my dear! You don't have to retrieve old messages to see the most recent ones. Fig.15 below shows you where you can do just that. Click on Recent Posts and read along! It is that simple.Fig.15:
Please, if you have any more questions then feel free to contact the webmaster. We are building up this FAQs page to help new comers to the Lalo Kasia Forum as well as current users who are still not sure of some of the features of the new forum. As usual, any new thing in life needs a bit of fiddling around before you eventually master its tricks! This is where "trial and error" play a major role in any learning curve.Our aim here is to reduce the GRADIENT of your learning curve by minimisation of learning variables and maximisation of ABSORPTION rate!
