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FAQ
Login and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?
Why do I need to join at all?
Why do I get logged off automatically?
How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?
I forgot my username!
I've lost my password!
I joined but cannot log in!
I joined years ago but cannot log in anymore!

User Preferences and settings
How do I change my settings?
The times are not correct!
I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
How do I show an image below my username?
When I click the email link for a user it asks me to log in.

Posting Issues
How do I post a topic in a forum?
How do I edit or delete a post?
How do I add a signature to my post?
How do I create a poll?
How do I edit or delete a poll?
Why can't I vote in polls?

Formatting and Topic Types
What is BBCode?
Can I use HTML?
What are Smileys?
Can I post Images?
What are Announcements?
What are Sticky topics?
What are Locked topics?
What does bump mean?

Private Messaging
I cannot send private messages!
I keep getting unwanted private messages!
I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!

phpBB 2 Issues
Who wrote this bulletin board?
Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?

 

Login and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?
Have you joined? Seriously, you must join the Forum in order to log in. The membership form and instructions can be found at steelguitarforum.com/apply.html. You will receive your username and password via email. If you have joined and you still cannot log in then check and double-check your username and password. Usually this is the problem. If all else fails, contact the administrator.
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Why do I need to join at all?
You may not have to -- joining is only necessary if you want to post messages or contact members via the private message system or email. You don't have to join just to read the forum.
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Why do I get logged off automatically?
If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you log in, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login and never log out. (Please don't use this feature if you access the board from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university cluster, etc.)
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How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?
In "Settings" you will find an option Hide your online status; if you switch this on you'll only appear to board administrators or to yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.
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I forgot my username!
Not likely. Unless you joined a long, long time ago, your username is probably your real name. The real name policy was stated in the Steel Guitar Forum rules in 2000, and became well enforced when we stopped allowing automatic registration in 2002. Try using your real name, first and last. It will probably work.
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I've lost my password!
Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved (it's encrypted), it can be reset. To do this go to the login page and click 'I've forgotten my password'. Follow the instructions and you should be back online in no time with a new, randomly generated password.
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I joined but cannot log in!
First check that you are entering the correct username and password. If they are okay then one of two things may have happened: you changed the email address in "Settings" and have not yet clicked the reactivation link that was sent to your new email address, or 2) you simply mistyped your name and password.
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I joined years ago but cannot log in anymore!
The most likely reasons for this are: you entered an incorrect username or password (see above) or the administrator has deleted your account for some reason (highly unlikely). Some people think that maybe their 'dues' have expired. Not true. There are no annual dues, and memberships do not expire. We still have some members who joined in 1998!
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User Preferences and settings
How do I change my settings?
All of your membership settings are stored in a database on the server. To alter them click the "Settings" link shown at the top of all forum pages. This will allow you to change all your settings.
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The times are not correct!
The times are almost certainly correct; however, what you may be seeing are times displayed in a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, you should change your Preferences setting for the timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. So if you are not registered, this is a good time to do so, if you pardon the pun!
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I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
If you are sure you have set the timezone correctly and the time is still different, the most likely answer is daylight savings time (or summer time as it is known in the UK and other places). The board is not designed to handle the changeovers between standard and daylight time so during summer months the time may be an hour different from the real local time.
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How do I show an image below my username?
These images are known as avatars, and they are a unique expression of a member's personality. You can upload your avatar image in the Profile section of the "Settings" page.
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When I click the email link for a user it asks me to log in.
Sorry, but only registered users can send email to people via the built-in email form. This is to prevent malicious use of the email system by anonymous users, scammers, spammers, etc.
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Posting Issues
How do I post a topic in a forum?
Easy -- click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You must be a member and be logged in before you can post a message. The facilities available to you are listed at the bottom of the forum and topic screens (the You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc. list)
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How do I edit or delete a post?
You can edit your own posts by clicking the edit button for the relevant post. This button will not appear unless you have logged in. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic that lists the number of times you edited it. This will not appear if no one has replied. Only moderators and administrators can delete posts.
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How do I add a signature to my post?
To add a signature to a post you must first create one; this is done in your Preferences, under "Settings". Once created you can check the Add Signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio box in your Preferences (under "Settings"). You can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box on the posting form.
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How do I create a poll?
Creating a poll is easy -- when you post a new topic (or edit the first post of a topic, if you have permission) you should see a Add Poll form below the main posting box. If you cannot see this then you probably do not have rights to create polls. You should enter a title for the poll and then at least two options -- to set an option type in the poll question and click the Add option button. You can also set a time limit for the poll, 0 being an infinite amount. There will be a limit to the number of options you can list, which is set by the board administrator
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How do I edit or delete a poll?
As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator, or board administrator. To edit a poll, click the first post in the topic, which always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote then users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if people have already placed votes only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it; this is to prevent people rigging polls by changing options mid-way through a poll
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Why can't I vote in polls?
Only registered users can vote in polls so as to prevent spoofing of results. If you have registered and still cannot vote then you probably do not have appropriate access rights.
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Formatting and Topic Types
What is BBCode?
BBCode is a special implementation of HTML. Whether you can use BBCode is determined by the administrator. You can also disable it on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML: tags are enclosed in square braces [ and ] rather than < and > and it offers greater control over what and how something is displayed. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.
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Can I use HTML?
That depends on whether the administrator allows you to; they have complete control over it. If you are allowed to use it, you will probably find only certain tags work. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the board by using tags which may destroy the layout or cause other problems. If HTML is enabled you can disable it on a per post basis from the posting form.
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What are Smileys?
Smileys, or Emoticons, 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. Try not to overuse smileys, though, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may decide to edit them out or remove the post altogether.
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Can I post Images?
Yes. Use the 'Upload Picture' button in the message entry toolbar. It's best to pre-size your images to less than 800 pixels in width. 640x480 is best. We have found that the process fails ungracefully on very large images.
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What are Announcements?
Announcements often contain important information and you should read them as soon as possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Announcements are controlled by the moderator or administrator.
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What are Sticky topics?
Sticky topics appear below any announcements in viewforum and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them where possible. As with announcements, sticky topics are controlled by the moderator or administrator.
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What are Locked topics?
Locked topics are set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You cannot reply to locked topics and any poll contained inside is automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons. In the classified ad sections, topics are often locked when an item is sold to prevent it from rising to the top of the list.
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What does bump mean?
Sometimes people reply to a topic simply to bring it to the top of the list. This activity is called bumping. Such posts often contain the word bump and nothing else. TTT (for 'to the top') serves a similar function
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Private Messaging
I cannot send private messages!
There are two possible reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, or the admin has prevented you individually from sending messages. If it is the latter case you should try asking the administrator why.
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I keep getting unwanted private messages!
In the future we will be adding an ignore list to the private messaging system. For now, though, if you keep receiving unwanted private messages from someone, inform the board administrator -- they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages at all.
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I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!
We are sorry to hear that. The email form feature of this board includes safeguards to try to track users who send such posts. You should email the board administrator with a full copy of the email you received and it is very important this include the headers (these list details of the user that sent the email). They can then take action.
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phpBB 2 Issues
Who wrote this bulletin board?
This software (in its unmodified form) was produced, released and is copyrighted phpBB Group a long time ago. It was made available under the GNU General Public License. It has been modified somewhat by b0b Lee.
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Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?
Email admin@steelguitarforum.com or write to the mailing address at the bottom of the page.
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