• Welcome to the BassResource.com Family

• Register an Account
• Log Into Your Account
• Log Out of Your Account
• Forgotten Password

• User CP
• Profile Overview
• Edit Profile
• Contact Information
• Options
• Buddy List
• PM Preferences

• Starting a Topic
• Replying to a Post
• Posting a Poll
• YaBBC Reference

• Personal Messaging
• Broadcast Messaging

This help section will get you up to speed on the functions of this forum. Inside, you will learn how to register an account, login, edit your profile, post a message, and much more. If you would like to skip ahead to a section, please use the menu to the left.

Since the last release of these forums, many new features have been introduced, so take your time reading through these HELP files.

You may use the menu on the left to quickly jump to any topic below.

You may use this ^ button at the bottom right of each Help section to return to the top of the Help page

Step 1: In the menu above, you will see items titled "Home", "Help", "Login", "Register", etc. Click on "Register".

Step 2: On this new page, you will see a form where you can choose your username and displayed name, password, and enter you email address. Fill in the boxes with your information.

Step 3: Fill in the characters presented in the Verification Code (CAPTCHA) box.

Step 4: Check the box to agree to the User Agreement.

Step 5: Click on the "Register" button at the bottom of the page.

That's it! The administrator requires you to validate your account before you can post. An E-mail will be sent to you containing your password.

USER TIP: Some ISPs and E-mail handlers treat the link sent to you in such a way that it will not work if you click on it. If that happens, try copying and pasting the link from the E-mail into your browser's URL window and reaching the forum that way.

Now you"re ready to log in and post!

Step 1: In the menu above, you will see items titled "Home, "Help", "Login", "Register", etc. Click on "Login".

Step 2: On this new page, you will see several options.

• Username or email address - Enter in the userID or the email you registered with. (these are case-sensitive).
• Password - Type in your password. (your password is case-sensitive).
• Logged in For - Choose how long you would like to stay logged in for.
• Forgot Password - If you can't remember your password, click this button to have it resent. (Full directions below.)

Step 3 Once you have everything filled out, click the button in the form titled "Login".

Congratulations! You are now ready to participate in this community! Note, if you do not see the "Login" button in the menu, you may already be logged in.

If you get an error message:
When you do certain things like validate your membership or request a lost password, the system sends you an email with a coded validation link to follow. This link is rather long and may be split by a line break in your email program. This may result in the part after the line break not being hyperlinked with the rest of the coded link. The result is that the link is broken and only a portion of it is hyperlinked. So, when you click on it the partial link is invalid.

The solution is to look carefully at the link to see if this has happened and copy and paste the link back together in your browser location bar to make it whole again. For example, the link in your e-mail may look something like this:

<http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?action=activate;u
sername=677660677A7D;activationkey=1CqNW1Ub6jLsA>

You need to piece the two parts together in the address bar so the last part looks like this:

YaBB.pl?action=activate;username=677660677A7D;activationkey=1CqNW1Ub6jLsA

When you copy and paste the URL, do not include the <> brackets.

Step 1 In the menu above, you will see items titled "Home", "Login", "Register", etc. Click on "Login".

Step 2 On this new page, you will see a button titled "Forgot Password". Click this button.

Step 3 A new page will load with a single box. Enter your username or the email address you registered with (remember, your username is case-sensitive). Please do not copy and paste your username or password from the e-mail you recieved. Type it in exactly as shown instead.

Step 4 Click the button titled "Send".

If you get an error: "Error: You have an invalid ID. Please try again. "
When you do certain things like validate your membership or request a lost password, the system sends you an email with a coded validation link to follow. This link is rather long and may be split by a line break in your email program. This may result in the part after the line break not being hyperlinked with the rest of the coded link. The result is that the link is broken and only a portion of it is hyperlinked. So, when you click on it the partial link is invalid. The solution is to look carefully at the link to see if this has happened and copy and paste the link back together in your browser location bar to make it whole again.

When you enter the 'User CP', you have multiple choices of what to do:

• Above the left side pane, you see a tabbed menu containing 'Messages', 'Profile' and 'Posts'.
• In Messages, you are controlling all of your personal messages, you can sort them in your folders (if enabled) or send new messages as well as search for a particular message.
• In Profile, you can view your Profile's appearance and edit its contents. With the 'Buddy List' you can quickly check your friends' online status, send messages to them, and check their details.
• In Posts, you can check & update your Notifications and Favorites as well as consult your own latest posts.
• On the right hand pane you'll see part of your Profile as it appears in the Display Posts page, your Buddy List, information regarding your online/offline appearance, and your Board and Topic Notifications.

Step 1: To change your Profile, click the "User_CP" option in the forum menu above. Then click "Profile" in the small tabbed menu below the main tabbed menu. This will bring you to the View Profile page.

Step 2: On your View Profile page, you will see several links that allow you access to each part of your user Profile, which is divided into five sections: Edit Profile, Contact Information, Options, Buddy List, and PM Preferences. Click the appropriate link to access that part of your profile.

Step 3: For security reasons, you will then be asked to enter your password. Do so, then click "Confirm Password".

You now have access to all of your account settings and options for this YaBB forum. Details on each of these settings are described below.

Password

If you wish to change your password, you may do so by filling in this box. It is highly recommended that your password be at least 6 characters and use a combination of letters and numbers.

Verify Password

To help prevent you from inadvertently being locked out of the forum, the form checks to be sure you/ve spelled the new password correctly by having you enter your new password again in this box.

Name

This is your Display Name. This is the name everyone will see throughout the forums. Most forum systems display the username you login with, but this is not the case with BassResource.com!

Gender

Optional. If you want others to know your gender, you may pick "Male" or "Female" from this drop-down box.

Birthday

Optional. If you would like others to see how old you are and have a special icon in your profile on your birthday, please enter it in DD (day), MM (month), YYYY (year) format.

Location

Optional. This box is available for filling in information about where you live, where you're from, or anything else you choose to have displayed in your Profile.

E-mail
This must be a valid e-mail address. It is used for system notifications such as a forgotten password, topic notifications, and forum e-mails.

Hide e-mail from Public
Check this box if you do not want other community members to view your e-mail address. Note: this does not hide it from Admins.

ICQ
If you have an ICQ account, you may enter your UIN here.

AIM
If you have AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), you may enter your user name here.

YIM
If you have Yahoo! Instant Messenger, you may enter your screen name here.

MSN
If you have an MSN Messenger address, you may enter it here.

Google Talk
If you have Google Talk, you may enter your address here.

Skype or VoIP
If you have a Skype or VoIP address, you may enter it here.

Website Title
If you have a website, you can enter the title here. This will be the text the URL (below) will attached to.

Website URL
Here you can enter the URL to your website. Note, this must be a full URL. (i.e. include http:// ) Also note this is the only place you are permitted to put a link to your website (NOT in your sig line!).

Personalized Picture
Your profile allows you to define a small picture (called an avatar) that will display under your name to the left side your posts. This forum has a number of avatars already installed, and you may pick one from the list. If you wish to use your own image as an avatar, please see the options below.

• Linking to your own avatar image
  If you have your own image and would like to use it as an avatar, you may enter the URL here. Note that logos, banner ads, marketing slogans and the like are not allowed. Any image deemed promotional in nature by the moderators will be removed.
  
  For instructions on how to use your own picture, please see the How to post a picture for your avatar tutorial.
• Uploading your own avatar image
  If you would like to upload your own image and would like to use it as an avatar, click on the Browse button and select a file on your computer to upload.

Personal Text
This is a small line of text that will display below your avatar.

Signature
Your signature is displayed at the bottom of every post you make and in your profile. We encourage you to enter information that will help others get to know you. For example: Your location, Boater/Non boater, experience level, types of water you fish, etc.

Also note that you are able to display a picture here. The maximum size limit is 420p wide by 60p high. Images exceeding this limit will be removed.

While you are welcome to place sponsor names and their URLs here, you MAY NOT place a link back to your own site here. Also, please note all promotional slogans, marketing language, sales, etc. are not allowed and will be removed. Only paid advertisers of BassResource.com are granted this priviledge.

Preset Time Format
This option allows you to change how the dates and time are presented to you throughout this community.

Custom Time Format
You may also create a custom time format using the special codes here.

Time Offset
Since your time may be different from the server, you can enter your correct time zone to adjust it accordingly.

Enable Automatic Daylight Savings Time Change
Checking this option will add or subtract an hour from your time zone as appropriate. NOTE: Times for starting and stopping DST varies around the world, and a server located in one geographic area may not display DST corrections correctly for a user in a different geograhic zone.

• Add users to your Buddy List by clicking on the link below the Buddy List display box.
• Delete users from your Buddy List by double-clicking on their user name inside the Buddy List display box.

Ignorelist
This function allows you to ignore other members by preventing you from viewing any personal messages they send. Additionally, you are given a checkbox option to disable all PMs if you wish.

Notify Me of New PMs by e-Mail:
If you would like an e-Mail when a members sends you a personal message, this options allows you to enable that feature.PLEASE NOTE: This sends an e-mail to let you know you have a new PM. If you choose this option, please remember to return to the forum to answer your PM. DO NOT reply to the e-mail as it will send the message to the admin, and NOT to the sender! (the admin will not forward it for you)

Enable Personal Message Popup?
Checking this box will display a small popup window to notify you of any new Personal Messages. If not checked, you will see new messages in the "greeting" at the top of the forum in this format: You have X message(s), and Y new message(s).

PM Popup shows PMs in new Window?
If you have PM Popups enabled, checking this box will open your PMs in a new window when you click on the link in the popup window, otherwise, it will load in the current one.

Enable the "Preview" Button for the PM Posting Page:
Checking this box adds a button below the PM screen that allows you to preview your PMs just as you can with posts.

View Message Text In List View of Personal Messages?:
Checking the box enables viewing the first line of message text in list views. To view only the sender/recipient and date etc., leave this box unchecked.

Enable the "Active" Preview Option on the PM Posting Page:
Checking this box adds a button at the top of the PM screen that allows a live preview of your PM as you type it.

This will present you with a new page where you can begin to type your post. Below you will find a description of the items on this page.

Subject: This is the title of your topic and is what will be shown on the category page.

Message Icon: If you would like to add a special icon to your post, you may choose one from this list.

Add YaBBC tags: YaBBC tags give you the ability to format the text in your post. To add, simply click on the button of your choice. See below for a complete reference.

Add Smileys: Personalize your post by adding an emoticon, or smiley. Just click on the one you want and YaBB will automatically put it in your post.

Attach: You may be able to add a file to your post by clicking on the "Browse" button to find the file on your hard drive to upload. Pay attention to the allowed file types and maximum file size.

Post/Preview/Reset: These three buttons do exactly what you would expect. Press the "Post" button if you're ready for the community to view your message, press "Preview" if you would like to see what your post will look like first or press "Reset" to clear all of the boxes and start again.

What is YaBBC?

YaBBC is a set of tags based on the HTML language. It allow you to add formatting to your messages in the same way as HTML does, but have a simpler syntax and will never break the layout of the pages you are viewing. Most YaBBC tags can be wrapped around text, by first highlighting the text, and then clicking on the YaBBC button with the desired formatting.

Insert URL, Link
Syntax: Result: Syntax: Result:	[url]http://www.BassResource.com[/url] http://www.BassResource.com [url=http://www.BassResource.com]BassResource.com Forum[/url] BassResource.com Forum
Type URL and text: www.BassResource.com BassResource.com Forum Highlight all of it: www.BassResource.com BassResource.com Forum Click the button: BassResource.com Forum The [link] YaBBC tags work in the same manner as the [url] tags, with the exception that the [link] tag (there is no insertion button for this tag) will open the clicked link in the present window, whereas the [url] tag opens the clicked link in a new window.
Insert FTP
Syntax: Result:	[ftp]ftp://ftpdom[/ftp] ftp://ftpdom
Insert Image
Syntax: Result:	[img]http://www.bassresource.com/fishing-forum/Templates/Forum/default/on.gif[/img]
Insert Email
Syntax: Result: Syntax: Result:	[email]myname@domain.com[/email] myname@domain.com [email=myname@domain.com]Click to email me[/email] Click to email me
Type mail-addr. and text: myname@domain.com Click to email me Highlight all of it: myname@domain.com Click to email me Click the button: Click to email me
Insert multi media files
Syntax: Example: Result:	[media]url to flash file[/media] [media]http://www.your-domain.com/yabbchelp.swf[/media]
Insert Table - Column - Row
Syntax:	[table][tr][td]text example[/td][/tr][/table]
Insert Horizontal Rule
Syntax: Result:	[hr]
Insert Teletype
Syntax: Result:	[tt]text example[/tt] text example
Insert Code
Syntax: Result:	[code] [/code] Code: <script language="Javascript"> <!-- alert("Hello BassResource!"); //--> </script>
Insert Quote
Syntax: Result:	[quote]Hello BassResource[/quote] Quote: Hello BassResource
Insert Edit
Syntax: Result:	[edit]This was edited in YaBB 2[/edit] Edited: This was edited in YaBB 2
Insert Superscript
Syntax: Result:	text [sup]example[/sup] text example
Insert Subscript
Syntax: Result:	text [sub]example[/sub] text example
Insert List - List Item
Syntax: Result:	[list][*]item 1 [*]item 2 [*]item 3[/list] item 1 item 2 item 3
You can create ordered lists by including the letter "o" at the beginning of the list tag.
Syntax: Result:	[olist][*]item 1 [*]item 2 [*]item 3[/olist] item 1 item 2 item 3
You can create 2 or 3 level lists by including a list inside another list.
Example: Result:	[list][*]item 1 [*]item 2 [list][*]subitem 1 [*]subitem 2[/list] [*]item 3[/list] item 1 item 2 subitem 1 subitem 2 item 3
/me
Syntax: Result:	/me loves BassResource loves BassResource
Insert Marquee
Syntax: Result:	[move]text example[/move] text example
Insert Timestamp
Syntax: Result:	[timestamp=1121602762] Jul 17th, 2005 at 8:19am
Insert Bold Text
Syntax: Result:	[b]text example[/b] text example
Insert Italic Text
Syntax: Result:	[i]text example[/i] text example
Insert Underline Text
Syntax: Result:	[u]text example[/u] text example
Insert Strikethrough Text
Syntax: Result:	[s]text example[/s] text example
Insert Highlighted Text
Syntax: Result:	[highlight]text example[/highlight] text example
Change Font Face
Syntax: Result:	[font=Courier New]Courier New font[/font] Courier New font
Change Font Size
Syntax: Result:	[size=14]14 point font[/size] 14 point font
Choose a text color
You can either use the quick color picker to choose a text color from the palette containing 12 ready made color tags or open the palette to create a custom color tag.
Syntax: Result:	[color=#ff0000]red colored text[/color] red colored text
Insert Preformatted Text
Syntax: Result:	[pre] this is preformatted text [/pre] this  is preformatted text
Insert Left Aligned Text
Syntax: Result:	[left]text example[/left] text example
Insert Center Aligned Text
Syntax: Result:	[center]text example[/center] text example
Insert Right Aligned Text
Syntax: Result:	[right]text example[/right] text example

Personal Messages

While e-mail is a good way to correspond privately with members, it has several drawbacks: You must open your e-Mail application to write and send the message; the recipient must open his/her e-Mail application; check his/her mail and your message will mixed in with all the other mail and it can take sometimes several minutes to an hour for mail to reach the recipient.

As an alternative to e-mail, BassResource offers a faster, more private method. Personal Messaging on the forum provides instantaneous delivery to the recipient's private mailbox. The PM is sent and received entirely through BassResource, so neither you nor the recipient have to open another program or leave BassResource. Personal Messaging also gives both the sender and recipient greater privacy: no one's real e-mail address is involved or revealed. Personal Messages show only the username and name of both parties.

BassResource offers an option for Administrators to allow members to send an Alert to the Moderator of a Board if there is a problem. If this is enabled, the Moderators of the Board will receive a PM but will not be able to reply except by sending an e-mail to the member.

Another option is allowing Personal Messages to be sent as copies similar to e-mails. You can send carbon copies (cc) and blind carbon copies (bcc) and the recpients may also respond directly to other original recipients.

You also have the option to create additional storage folders for your PMs, and if the number of messages is large, you can find individual messages by using the PM Search feature.

If a recipient isn't online, Personal Messages wait in the member's PM box until the next time he/she logs in and manually reads and/or deletes them. Should you for some reason need to call back the message before the other party reads it, you can recall it by going to your PM Outbox and clicking the Recall link under the message.

BassResource Personal Messages center is basically a self-contained, highly private e-mail system.

The Administrator can enable Broadcast Messaging for these groups:

• Administrators
• Administrators and Global Moderators
• Administrators, Global Moderators, and Moderators

Those allowed Broadcast Message permission can send BMs to the following recipients:

• Administrators
• Global Moderators
• Moderators and all members of member groups assigned as Moderators
• All forum members
• Any combination of the above