| Login and Registration Issues |
| Why can't I log in? The Noticeboard is primarily designed as a forum area for members of the AVMA to allow them to discuss issues and plan events. However some sections of the Noticeboard, such as the Missing Instrument Register, have been made available to the public as a community service on a 'read-only' basis. To include an item on the Noticeboard you will need to email the AVMA using the 'Contact' option in the main menu. Back to top |
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| Why do I get logged off automatically? If you do not check the Remember me box when you log in, you will have to log in again next time you visit the AVMA forum. To keep yourself logged in, make sure the Remember me box is ticked during login. This is not recommended if you access the board from a shared computer though, e.g. library, internet cafe, etc. Note also that if you do a clean up of your computer files and delete cookies then you will also need to log in again. Back to top |
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| I've forgotten my password! Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved it can be reset. Just contact the AVMA forum administrator directly by email or phone. Back to top |
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| I am a registered user but cannot log in! First check that you are entering the correct username and password. If you are sure these are valid then try contacting the AVMA forum administrator by email or phone. Back to top |
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| Posting Issues |
| How do I start a topic in the AVMA forum? If you want to start a new topic you will first need to choose a general topic area from the main index. Click on the topic area and you will see a list of the topics that have already been entered. On the left hand side at the top and bottom of this list you will see a button labelled 'newtopic'. Click on this and it will open the 'Post a new topic' window. You have to enter a subject title in the top box, then type the main message in the larger box. The subject title you use will appear in the index of topics so try and make it as descriptive as possible . When you are finished you can click the 'Preview' button at the bottom and see how the message will appear, and make changes if necessary. Click the 'Submit' button at the bottom of the window when you are ready to post the message. Back to top |
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| How do I reply to a post? It's the same procedure if you want to reply to an existing topic. Only this time you click the 'postreply' button and you will get the 'Reply to topic' window. Back to top |
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| Can I edit or delete a post? You can only edit or delete your own posts. If you want to change something that you have written click on the edit button that appears next to the relevant entry. If someone has already replied, you can still edit your post but some text will be added below the post to indicate that you have edited it. Please note that you can't delete a post once someone has replied. If you really need to have something completely removed contact the AVMA forum administrator. Back to top |
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| User Preferences and Settings |
| How do I change my settings? All your settings (if you are registered) are stored in the database. To alter them click the Your Profile link in the main menu at the top of the page. This will allow you to change your settings. Don't worry too much about the Preferences section below - they are set to the most useful options and shouldn't need to be changed. Back to top |
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| Can I be notified when someone has added something to the forum? Yes... there are two ways. Firstly, make sure that in your profile you have set 'Always notify me of replies' to 'Yes'. This will tell you (via an email) when someone makes a response in a topic that you have been participating in. But you can also be informed of any new topics... in each forum there is a link near the top right of the screen that says: 'Watch this forum for new topics'. Click on this link and you will now be watching this part of the forum for any new postings (again, you will be notified by email). You can click this link again at any time to stop watching that particular forum. Back to top |
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| Formatting and Topic Types |
| What are emoticons? Emoticons, or smilies, are small graphical images which can be used to express some feeling using a short code, e.g. :) means happy, :( means sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen via the posting form. If you have chosen to have them 'enabled' then the text version will be converted into a cute little icon. Try not to overuse emoticons, as they can quickly render a post unreadable. But they are good for occasional use, especially if you are joking or being sarcastic. Other people can't see your expressions when you write something and misunderstandings are very common (and can often cause offence unintentionally). Back to top |
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| Can I post images? Images can indeed be shown in your posts. However, there is no facility at present for uploading images directly to the AVMA forum. Therefore you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server - in other words you first have to load the image to an internet site and then put in a link pointing to that location e.g. http://www.some-internet-place.net/my-picture.jpg. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC . Back to top |
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| What are the little page icons on the left of the screen and why are some white and some orange? These icons are used to show you if there are any new posts since your last visit. If the page is white then you have seen everything in that section... if it is orange then there are some new posts you may want to read. If you'd like to mark them all off as read without actually reading them, look for the Mark all topics read option which should be somewhere on the same page. Back to top |
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| What are Announcements? Announcements contain important general information so please make an effort to read them. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Back to top |
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| What are Locked topics? Locked topics have been closed by the AVMA forum administration for a variety of reasons. You cannot reply to locked topics. Back to top |
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