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:

(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.

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.

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Confirm password - type it in again to be sure you typed it correctly.
• Language - ignore this.
• 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.

• You do not have to worry about whether the letters are upper or lower case.
• 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:

• Submit - means send the form off for processing.
• 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. [If you still cannot find it send an email to: asstweb@theiac.org.uk]

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:

Since you have now registered, click the word "Login"  ...

This opens a panel asking for your Username and Password:

• 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.
• 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.
• If you do not want people to know when you are reading the forum you can click in the other box to tick it.
• 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 ...

FAQ = "Frequently Asked Questions". It offers rather technical help in using the forum. 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. Members - lists the people who have already registered. 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. View new posts - is a helpful way of listing what is new since the last time you visited the forum. View your posts - lets you see whatever you have written.

FIVE FOR THE "PRICE" OF ONE ...

Before the start of 2010 there was just a single IAC Forum. Now there are FIVE subsections:

• Advice on Films
• Club and General Issues
• Equipment and Technical Issues
• Competitions, Festivals and the Art of Film
• 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.