Message Board Manual
www.ifd-inc.org/messageboard
General Information:
The new IFD message board is substantially different from the old one we had. In an effort to make it easy for everyone to use we have created this training document. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have.The new site uses allows us to have private message boards that are available only via password protection. Currently the IFD group has two: the member board, open to all IFD members, and the owner’s board open to owners and managers. Based on your registration status, you will either see one board or two boards when you sign in.
Registering to the Message Board:
Due to the fact that the site is password protected and only open to IFD members, if you need to register any IFD member employee to the board you can do it in one of two ways:
1. Email Catalina the full name and email address of the person to register.
2. Sign up on the website by using the register link (see below marked in red). Once your account is verified you will receive an email with your registration information.
You will receive a few email messages from the website directly once you are set up. The first one is sent to confirm the email address you registered with and it tells you that you are "pending for approval". The second email will go out once the registration is approved, and it will contain your Log in and password. Keep in mind that the site is case sensitive. If you forget your password you can have Catalina reset the password or you can have the site email you a new password. To have the site email you a new password click on the log in link on the top bar. (see below marked in red). If you do not need to have the password emailed to you, you can login directly by typing your user name and password on the bottom of the main screen.
Once you request the site for your password, you will get a new email which will require you to click on the link to activate your new automatically generated password. The new password can be located on this same email below the activation link. Follow the link to activate the new password and now you can log in using this new password. Once you login you will be taken directly to your profile where you need to confirm this new email and choose a new one. (See Profile information below). You can have the site remember you by checking the box next to the login function before clicking log in. It uses cookies to remember your username and password.
Profile:
Once you register you can change and update your profile any time you want. Just click on Profile on the top bar. (see below marked in red). Please keep in mind a few things in this section. Due to the nature of the site there are a few rules set up so that everyone knows who is posting.
You can change information in your profile but please do not change the following:
1. User Name
2. Location (This is your IFD member company so everyone knows what company you work for).
3. Signature Line. (This includes your name and your company name).As a default I am setting everyone up so that the site emails you if someone replies to one of your messages. You have the option of removing this option in every message you post. You can also remove your signature link on each email. Please leave the signature line on all posts. One of the things you can change in the profile section is your time zone. The site is currently set up for GMT (Greenwich Meridian Time). Each person can customize their own time zone if they desire.
Checking the Board:
After logging in to the site, you will see three new tools that we did not have in the previous board and one similar to the old one. (See below in red).
1. First, on the top left you will see the date and time (based on GMT unless you changed it) you last logged in to the site.
2. Second, on the top right, you will see a series of links that will take you to view posts since your last visit, view your own posts, or view unanswered posts. You will see an orange color on any new posts that are new since your last visit.
3. A new orange post icon will show up next to the message board that has new posts as well as on the internal topics that are new.
4. And finally like before, you will be able to see who the last post was from. If you click on the name of the person who posted that message, you can see that persons profile as well. If you follow this link you will get more information about the person who is posting the message and you can email or send private messages (PM) via the board as well.
To enter the board you are interested in, click on the name in blue (Member Board, Owners Board). This will take you to the topic screen. (See below). In the topic screen you will be able to see if any members are online and posting at the moment on that board. You will also see the new post icon and the topic with a highlighted orange image. You will see how many replies to the messages, who wrote the original and last posts, and you will be able to see how many times the message has been viewed. Click on the topic to read the post and its replies.
Replying to a message or posting a new message:
Once you click on a topic you will see all the related posts. You can click on the top or bottom of the page on the new topic or post reply buttons. The top navigation bar is right above the messages and the bottom one is at the bottom of the page. (See below for bottom banner).Bottom Banner Explanations:
Use the new topic button for a brand new topic post. Use post reply to post to the current message thread you are reading. If you want to monitor that message click on Watch this topic for replies, the site will automatically email you if someone posts to that thread of messages. You may unsubscribe at the same location (it will change as soon as you click on it) any time you want. It is important to note that if you get an email from the site and do not click on the link to see a new message, the site will STOP emailing you if there are more replies. If you want to return to the main IFD board (Where you only see the two message board names) you can click on the IFD logo on the top of the page, or click on International Floral Distributors Forum Index link. If you want to go back to the list of topics click on the "Member Board" link, or the Go button on the Jump to: Menu. Finally at the very bottom left you will see a list of things you can do on the forum, such as post topics, reply to, edit, and delete posts.
If you post a new topic or a reply, you will get the screen below. If you want to use bold letters, italics, or any of the other tags just click on the one you want before and after the words, or highlight what you want to modify. The site will automatically place the opening and closing tags. You can also use Emoticons (Smiley faces). At the bottom you will automatically have two boxes check marked. Please leave the attached signature and you can choose to be notified or not of replies.
Post topic as Normal or Sticky notes is the final option. Sticky notes stay at the top of the message board even if someone does not reply to it. It is used for important announcements that never go away.
Running a Poll:
Interested in doing a poll? Start by posting a new topic. Fill in the Subject line and body and then at the bottom of the page you will see the poll options. For multiple answers just click the add option button as many times as you need. Anyone will have the ability to see poll results by clicking on the link right below the submit button.
See example: Please note that you need to have a blank poll option at the end. You also need to write a topic message just like you do with any post you do.
Private Messages (PM):
You can send anyone on the board a private message which works just like email but the message stays on the board. You will get an email telling you that you have a private message waiting for you online. When the recipient logs in they will see they have a message in their home page.
Click on any of the following buttons to check a members profile, send a private message (pm) or sent an email.
If you have no messages in the private forum inbox you will see:If you have messages in the private forum inbox you will see:
Other Information:
Using the same menu below you can click on FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), Search, or Memberlist. FAQ has additional information that can help you navigate the site, the search button will allow you to look for specific words or posts and the memberlist will show you everyone who is registered on the board.
Setting the Message Board as the default page on your Browser:
Open your Internet Explorer, click on Tools, Internet Options, and on the General Tab (it opens here as the default) you will see the first option says: Home Page. In the address line here type the IFD Message Boards URL: http://www.ifd-inc.org/messageboard/
Once you are done with this just click OK to close the tab and you are ready to go.
