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When you select edit avatar the following web page is displayed.
The screen shows your current avatar (if you have one) Green Arrow.
If you want to use a predifined avata,r the image is displayed on the left hand side of the second box; The blue arrow shows the image of the avatar you can select from the pages shown.
If you want to use your own avatar you need to specify if you are providing it from either a website (Option 1) or your computer (Option 2).
It is important to note the size of the allowable avatar and the radio button which states Use Custom Avatar needs to be selected/identified by the plum arrow.
The Options Section is extensive and covers many topics:
Invisible Mode - this mode allows you to be seen or not seen on the Forum in the Currently Active Users area- Red Arrow.
vCard usage - allows use of a vCard if selected. Yellow Arrow
Administrative Notification - by selecting this option you can receive emails from Administrators - Blue Arrow - we recommend that this option be selected so that Administrators or Moderators can get in contact with you.
Receiving email - this feature allows you to receive emails from other users - Dark Blue Arrow.
Friendship Request - If someone wants to befriend you and you have this option selected, they with their avatar) will be displayed on your page when visited or viewed. Magenta Arrow
Thread Subscription Control (Green Arrow) By selecting the pull down menu (Teal arrow) to Subscribe, you will recieve an email notofication for any thread that you subscribed to when there is a new post in it.
Private Messaging Control - if you want to have the ability to write private messages select Enable - green arrow .
Private Message Access - This field will allow you to select whether you want to receive PM's from anyyone or just from your contacts and administrators - Purple Arrow. We recommend that this option be selected, so Administrators or Moderators can contact you if necessary.
Private Message Email Alert - By selecting this option, you will recieve an email alert that you have a priviate message sent to the email address you selected earlier Magenta Arrow .
Private Message Alerting - By selecting this option you will get an alert when you get a Private Message. - Please note that you need to enable pop ups from the BMW MOA Website for this function to work - Blue Arrow.
Sent Folder Control - Selection of this creates a copy of your sent private message(s) in your sent folder. - Red Arrow
Visitor messages - enable/disable as you desire Black Arrow
Notification Control - limits the use of visitor messages to contacts and Moderators - Light Blue Arrow
Message Display Controls - Allows you to select if you want to display your signature, avatar, or images. - Black Arrow
Thread Display Options - Allows you to see the format and style of the web page in several variations.(Blue Arrow):
Linear - Oldest First
Linear - Newest First
Threaded
Hybrid
Post View Contol - Selection allows you to control how many threads per page will be displayed, (Red Arrow) - ranges from Default to 40. Red Arrow
Thread Age Control - Allows you to select the number of days of posts you will see. From 2 days, a week, 100 days or all. - Please note there are smaller incremental time frames omitted, all can be viewed in the pull down menu. Yellow Arrow
Time Zone Controls - Allows you to set the time zone you are in for proper time stamp for your area. Magenta Arrow
Time of the Week Control - Allows you to set the start of the week to your preference. - Teal Arrow
The Editor Control allows you to select the type of text formats you can use.
There are three interface types available to you. The simplest of these is a simple text box, while the last is a fully-fledged WYSIWYG editor, which allows you to format your text as you want it and see the results immediately.
Depending upon the capabilities of your web browser, you may not be able to use all of these options. If you experience problems when posting messages, try switching to a different interface type.
These selections are controlled in the pull down menu indicated by the Blue Arrow.
Registered members may send each other private messages.
How do I send Private Messages?
Private messages work a little similiar to email but are limited to registered members of this forum. You may be able to include BB code, smilies, and images in the private messages that you send.
You may send a private message to a member of this forum by clicking the 'Send A Private Message' link in the private messaging section of your user control panel (more info), or by clicking the 'Send a Private Message' link in the drop down menu that appears in that member's posts when you click on their username.
When you send a message you have the option to save a copy of it in your 'Sent Items' folder.
Shown below is how to access your private messaging; click where the blue arrow is pointing:
By default, you will have two folders in your private message area. These are the 'Inbox' and the 'Sent' Items folders.
The 'Inbox' folder contains any new messages you receive. It allows you to view all the messages you have received, along with the name of the person who sent it, and the date and time it was sent.
The 'Sent Items' folder contains a copy of any messages that you have sent, when you have specified that you wish to keep a copy for future reference.
You can create additional folders for your messages by clicking the 'Edit Folders' link.
Each folder has a set of message controls which allow you to select messages, then either move them to one of your custom folders or delete them. Once you have selected your messages you can choose the following options in the 'Selected Messages' box at the bottom of the list:
Move to Folder
Delete
Mark as Read
Mark as Unread
Download as XML
Download as CSV
Download as TEXT
You will need to periodically delete old messages, as the administrator has set a limit on the number of private messages you can have in your folders. If you exceed this number, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old ones.
If you would like to keep a record of your messages before you delete them, you can use any of the 'Download as..' options listed above to take a copy and store them on your own computer.
Whenever you read a message, you will have the option to reply or forward it to another member of the forum. You also have the ability to forward that message to up to 5 members of your contact list.
When you send a new private message, you have the option to request a read-receipt. This lets you check whether or not a message has been read by its recipient. To do this, go to the 'Message Tracking' page.
This page is divided into two sections: Unread and read messages.
The unread messages section shows all messages that you have sent with a read-receipt request that have not yet been read by their recipient.
The read messages section shows all messages you have sent with a receipt request that have been read and acknowledged by their recipient. The time that the message was read is also shown.
You may choose to end the tracking on any message by selecting it and clicking the 'End Tracking' button.
When you receive a message with a read-receipt request, you have the option to read the message while denying the read-receipt request. To do this, simply click the 'Deny Receipt' link rather than the title of the message.
Shown below is where to access the Track Changes section.
Subscriptions are a way of keeping track of different threads or forums. You can choose how you are notified about updates - For example by having them listed in your User CP and receiving email updates for each one.
How do I subscribe to a thread or forum?
To subscribe to a forum, click the 'Forum Tools' link above the list of threads then select 'Subscribe to Forum'. You then have the option to choose the subscription mode for this forum. If the forum that you are subscribing to has any child forums (forums within a forum), then your subscription will be extended to these automatically.
To subscribe to a thread, click the 'Thread Tools' link at the top of the list of posts then click 'Subscribe to Thread'. You can then choose the subscription mode that you wish to use for that thread.
What subscription modes are available?
There are a number of different forum subscription modes available. When you want to subscribe the following modes are simultaneously displayed for selection.
No Email Notification - Lists the subscription in your User CP only. You do not receive any notifications about new posts or threads in the forum.
Daily Email Notification - Sends one email a day with the new and updated threads in the forum and any sub-forums. If there are no new or updated threads in the forum or its sub-forums, you will not receive an email.
Weekly Email Notification - Sends one email per week in the same way as the Daily Email Notification.
Thread Subscriptions have the same options as forum subscriptions with the following additional option:
Instant Email Notification - Sends an email as soon as a new post is added to the thread. This is not sent for every reply and will only be sent once until you revisit the forums.
How do I manage Subscriptions and Folders?
Thread subscriptions can be sorted into folders for easy management. You can create as many folders as you wish by going to 'Edit Folders' in the 'Subscribed Threads' section of your User CP. To add a new folder, enter the folder name into one of the blank boxes and save the page. To delete a folder, delete the folder name. Editing a folder is done by simply editing the folder name in the list.
You can also manage your individual subscriptions by clicking 'List Subscriptions' under 'Subscribed Threads' in your User CP. Here you can select which subscriptions you wish to manage and delete them, move them to another folder, or change their subscription type.
Forum subscriptions are not managed through the List Subscriptions page but are shown on the User CP page where they contain the option to unsubscribe from the forum.
From above posting, the controlling radio buttons are shown for management use.
You can also manage your individual subscriptions by clicking 'List Subscriptions' under 'Subscribed Threads' in your User CP. Here you can select which subscriptions you wish to manage (GREEN ARROW) and delete them (RED ARROW), Edit them to another folder, or change their subscription type (BLUE ARROW).