Registering for the forums
Anyone can read the forums, but to "post" (write a message) you must
first register. You only do that once, thereafter just login. The Registration
process is straightforward:
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Click the "Forum" link to go to the forum front page. Then click
"Register".
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Agree to the terms and conditions.
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Fill in the form and click "Submit".
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Our system automatically sends you an email which includes an activation
key. This is a link you can click. When that has been done you are registered
and can take full part in the forum.
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There are also two private email lists
(also called email groups) for IAC members only. Sometimes they are (confusingly)
referred to as a "forum".
IAC members can obtain from the IAC office details of how to register for
those email lists. |
In Detail ...
1. The "Forum" link is at the top of the IAC website. Click
on it. This opens the forum pages. The forums use special software, which
is why it does not look like the rest of the IAC website. That software
is used all over the world for all sorts of forums, which is why there are
some questions we do not need for our forum.
At the top left you will see:
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(If you have registered already, click the word "Login"
and sign in. After that you can write to the forum.)
If you have not yet registered, click the word "Register". |
2. AWFUL WARNINGS ... the first thing you see is a slightly intimidating
panel of terms and conditions. Read them but do not worry about them. In
essence it says that if you want to register you must agree not to write
anything illegal, obscene, offensive, threatening and so on.
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At the foot of the panel are two links. If you agree to the terms and
conditions click the first link.
If you do not accept the terms and conditions click the second one. |
3. YOUR INFORMATION ... If you have agreed to the terms you
are taken to a form where you register some details about yourself.
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Username - type in the name you wish to use on the forum. This may,
or may not, be your real name. It must be at least three characters and no
more than 20. You can include spaces, so for example "Pat Smith" is
fine. This name will be shown whenever you write to the forum. We
recommend using your real name because "comic" ones soon become irritating.
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E-mail address - this is the address to which our automatic email
will be sent. It contains a link, which you click to confirm you want to
register. This stops someone else trying to register as if they were
you.
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Confirm e-mail address - type in the address again. The system will
check you typed it exactly the same each time. If there is a difference it
will ask you to type your email address in again. This is to make sure
there are no typing mistakes and that we have the correct email address.
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Password - type a password which you can remember. You may be asked
for this occasionally to make sure you are who you say you are. What
you type does not appear only a blob for each letter or number. This keeps
your password secret from prying eyes.
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Confirm password - type it in again to be sure you typed it correctly.
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Language - ignore this.
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Timezone: - ignore this.
IAC never gives or sells email details to any other organisation or
person.
ARE YOU HUMAN? ... The second part of this page presents a random
set of numbers and letters:
You are asked to type the same letters and numbers into the little box below.
If you cannot make out the letters click the button marked "Refresh confirmation
code" and a different set will appear.
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You do not have to worry about whether the letters are upper or lower
case.
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The system does not put up the number zero, which avoids confusing zero
and the letter o.
This is a way to make sure only human beings register. If we do not do
this, automated programs can sign in and put messages on the forum. These
automated systems send unwanted advertising and pornography - masses of it.
Luckily those systems cannot read the strange display of numbers and letters,
so they cannot register. Before this check was in place we were getting 20
or more such unwanted messages every hour of the day and night, so it is
worth taking a little trouble to keep them out.
At the foot of the page are two links:
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Submit - means send the form off for processing.
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Reset - means empty all the boxes I have typed in so that I can start
again.
NOW WAIT ... If you have everything right, click Submit. The
system checks that everything is filled in properly then gives a message:
All you can do now is click the link to "Return to the index page".
We suggest you go to another web page now.
This is because when you "activate" your forum membership in a moment
you will be taken back to a new page of the forum. This can be a little confusing
if you finish up with two forum pages open.
4. CHECK YOUR EMAIL ... When you next open your email you should find
a new email ...
(Richard Palmer is the owner of the company which hosts the IAC
website.) It usually arrives in moments, but occasionally there
may be a delay. If it has not arrived after half an hour, check your spam
folder in case it has been put there by mistake.
The message inside will welcome you. Part of it looks like:
Click on that long link. It will open the forum, mark you as a properly
registered member and let you login.
On a few computers clicking the link in the email may not work. In that
case hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor over the link so
that all of it is highlighted. Go to the Edit menu at the top of the
email program and choose Copy. Now go to your web browser. Again hold
down the right mouse button and drag it over whatever is in the web address
bar of your browser to highlight that, go to the Edit menu of your
browser and choose Paste. That will put the strange long link into
your browser address bar. Click Go and the forum will open,
mark you as a registered user and let you login.
NOW SIGN IN ...
At the top left you will see:
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Since you have now registered, click the word "Login" ... |
This opens a panel asking for your Username and Password:
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On the left (partly cut off in the picture) is a note about registering
for those who have not yet done so. As a fully registered member you can
now type in the Username and the Password you chose.
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Most of us then click in the box labelled "Log me on automatically each
visit" which puts a tick in the box. That means whenever we visit the
forum we are automatically logged in.
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If you do not want people to know when you are reading the forum you can
click in the other box to tick it.
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Then click the lick below marked "Login".
That is it. You go to the start of the forum and can write as well as read.
When you look near the top right of the forum index page you see ...
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FAQ = "Frequently Asked Questions". It offers rather technical help
in using the forum.
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Search - presents a form where you can fill in words to look for.
It helps you find any postings (messages) on the forum in which you are
interested.
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Members - lists the people who have already registered.
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User Control Panel - takes you to a special page where you can, among
other things, click Profile to tell other people some things about
yourself.
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View new posts - is a helpful way of listing what is new since the
last time you visited the forum.
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View your posts - lets you see whatever you have written.
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Before the start of 2010 there was just a single IAC Forum. Now there are
four subsections:
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Club and General Issues
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Equipment and Technical Issues
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Competitions. Festivals and the Art of Film
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Help and Advice for Newcomers
When you are in any subsection you will find at the bottom right of the page:
Click on the arrow to see a list of all the forums:
Click on the one you want to visit next. It will then be highlighted in blue.
Click the Go button and you are taken to the selected forum.
HOW TO USE ...
The first topic in each forum is marked "HOW TO USE THESE FORUMS". Take a
look the first time you visit. It explains the main tools for using the forum
effectively.
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