Start your own forum: STEP 2 -- Create your own Voy Forum

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Subject: Start your own forum: STEP 2

Author:
moderator

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Date Posted: 19:30:24 01/29/13 Tue
In reply to: Moderator 's message, "How to create your own Forum" on 19:08:17 01/29/13 Tue

Now, that you want to start your own forum,
Log in, and,

go to GENERAL FORUM SETTINGS (basic options)

Choose your Forum Title.
Then, enhance your forum by choosing a URL to Header Image.
This will put a nice image at the top of screen.

FOR EXAMPLE:
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg1xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

--------------------------------------------------------
Then, Choose your main page description
Write material in your HEADER (HTML ALLOWED)

IF you're not familiar with Basic HTML, here's a good tutorial.
http://jollyoldsaintnick.net/carols/howtousehtml.html

http://jollyoldsaintnick.net/carols/htmlsymbols2.html

In short, the most important HTML symbols are

- which allows your paragraphs to break to the next line.

allows your words to break into an entirely new paragraph.
For example:
"Welcome to our forum
please, no inflammatory comments allowed.

Thank you for visiting."

next, go to Forum index format:

THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU CHOOSE [COMPACT MODE].

in the "Reply format", I STRONGLY RECOMMEND, you choose VERBOSE.

so,
Forum index should be COMBAT,
Reply format should be VERBOSE.

I choose "Reverse threads".

scroll down,
and it asks for a URL TO BACKGROUND image.
This will make the forum look much nicer. Please choose a simple design. Nothing colorful.

Here's an example:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4922412299_ba7c22d3ce.jpg

please do not use this background icon. It is simply a guideline, since many people have complained that their FLICKR images didn't work. You must use the "http://FARM5.STATIC.FLICKR.com" beginning. I know, it's stupid.

Then, choose whether you want to moderate the forum. If you check this option, then NO comments will appear without approval. So, you probably shouldn't choose this option.

I keep Anonymous posting Unchecked.
I Require a name with posts.
DO NOT require an E mail address with posts.

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Replies:

[> Subject: Step 3

Author:
Moderator
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Date Posted: 19:49:47 01/29/13 Tue

I named the most important feature as
--------------------------
Forum index should be COMBAT,
Reply format should be VERBOSE.
---------------------------

The reason is because this allows you to keep the written threads hidden from the main page. They are neatly contained within a box.
AND, when you click them, The VERBOSE feature allows you to read all the comments within that thread, without needing to re-click.

Aside from that,
You have other options, such as choosing your listing category, and other nice features.
So, don't forget to visit these areas.

HOWEVER,
This tutorial primarily focuses on Aesthetic and practical features. So, I will NOT cover this area.

The next important step is to scroll down,
past
Theme Selector
Category Manager
Admin Password

DISPLAY SETTINGS.
This is similar to General Forum Settings. Only better.
--------------------------------------------------------

Note: if you choose a Background image,
it will override the Background Color feature.

I will explore this area in Step 4.

Here, I would like to suggest another IMPORTANT FEATURE.

When you scroll down halfway through DISPLAY SETTINGS,
you'll see the MESSAGE LISTING FORMAT AND STYLE section.

You'll see that Forum Index and REPLY format have already been changed to
COMPACT, VERBOSE.
Next, on STYLE:
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU CHANGE THIS.
Instead of TEXT 1, CHANGE IT TO TABLE 1.

This will make your forum MUCH easier to read.
You can always change it back, if you don't like it.