[GUIDE] Fhearghus's forum guide for dummies

A new addition to my dummies series for the settlers online.
A simple guide with screenshots on how to use the forum,
includes: changing your profile, starting threads, posting in existing threads, responding with quotes,...

The forum on the settlers online seems like a weird place to most of our players, specially the newly arrived settlers.
And to be honest it's a bit confusing and poorly organized.
Still... it's a great place to find any kind of useful info about the game such as official game updates, guides, guild recruitment threads and contests
You just have to take some time to get used to it ;)

In the posts below you will find a simple explanation ( including screenshots ) on how to get the most out of our forum.
There will be a feedback thread for this guide so you can ask for additional info or post your remarks on the guide.
I hope you'll find it useful and it will help you to enjoy our community forum.

Please know that the name " dummies " is not meant to offend or insult any of the players and / or TSO-community
Just thought it as a fun name because of all the other " Dummies-guides " around the world which proven to be very helpful
to me in the past :)

Index

Profile & Edit your profile
Edit your profile picture
Change your avatar
Edit your signature
Profile privacy

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My Account
Edit email and password

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General settings
Login and Privacy
Messaging and notifications
Thread display options
Time and date options
Miscellaneous Options
Edit ignore list

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Networking
Miscellaneous

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Forum overview
Top control bar ( navigation bar )
News and Announcements
Town Hall
Community corner
World Forums

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Creating and replying to threads

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Feedback thread ( reply on here only )

Your forum profile

http://s2.postimg.org/erbegieu1/screenshot_16.pnghttp://s2.postimg.org/opwd2zo9l/screenshot_17.png
http://s2.postimg.org/3ua2rqs2h/screenshot_18.png

When you want to visit your profile click your name or my profile top right of the forum page http://s2.postimg.org/604dm8vix/screenshot_19.png
This page will show your profile like anyone that visits your profile will see it.
On the left side you will find a white box that shows a quick menu " see screen shot 1 " and info " see screenshot 2 ".

The quick menu offers you 4 options : 1) send a private message , 2) view your user notes , 3) find all your posts , 4) find all your threads
and a overview of your activity and join date as well as your avatar picture.
You can click option 1 & 2 to send a new message or add a note as well as view the ones you already made before.
Option 3 & 4 will give you an overview of the the threads you started or the posts you added to a thread.

The info part will show you which friends ( on the forum ) groups , albums and permission groups you are connected to as well as the recent visitors on your page.
You can click on the names to visit either your groups , albums or visitors and friends page.

To edit your profile click your settings and scroll down to the 3rd white box on the left
http://s2.postimg.org/6r1p5rna1/screenshot_20.png

Let's have a look.

Click edit profile
You will end up with 2 boxes center to the right of your screen.
First box will look like this:

http://s2.postimg.org/rcggxo4ux/screenshot_21.png

It will show you your forum tittle ( not the new rank )
and you can add the most basic info and contact info ( date of birth, your personal website and some other communication means like msn, yahoo and skype )

The second box will look like this:

http://s2.postimg.org/mruaiql5l/screenshot_22.png

Here you can add or edit some additional personal and game info.
You can something about yourself, where you live, hobby's, line of work, which Settlers games you played before
and if you play in a guild and whats it called.
This is optional and you should only add the info you feel like sharing with your fellow settlers.

After you added / changed whatever you wished to change click " save changes " bottom of the screen
You can reset everything on this page by clicking " reset fields "
http://s2.postimg.org/4djrer8ux/screenshot_23.png

Edit profile picture

When you click " edit profile picture " you will get this screen:

http://s2.postimg.org/hiz9kv2qh/screenshot_24.png

You will see your current profile picture and bellow that 2 options of changing the picture.

Option 1: add a URL to an image you have stored online
Option 2: add an image with a direct upload of an image stored on your pc ( recommended )

Then click " save changes "

Note: this will be the picture that will be shown on your profile, not your avatar shown on your posts.

Change your avatar

When you click " edit avatar " you will get this screen:

http://s2.postimg.org/onh2tw9zt/screenshot_25.png

You will see the current avatar ( with an option to post without avatar )
and 2 options to add your own avatar

Option 1: add a URL to an image you stored online
Option 2: add an image you stored on your pc

Then click " save changes "

Note: if you would like to use the ingame avatars check : ingame avatars

Edit your signature

You can add a signature below each of your posts.
This can be a line of text, joke, image or a link to any TSO related page / website.
Keep in mind that this signature has to be according the forum rules ( pegi 7 )

When you click " edit signature " you will get this screen:

http://s2.postimg.org/5xp3d5h95/screenshot_27.png

You need to add the signature as text or BB-code.
BB-code is easy when you just use the option bar
Move your mouse over each option to see what it does or read the post explaning BB-code further in this guide.

http://s2.postimg.org/i0uf0psbd/screenshot_28.png

after that click " save signature "

Profile privacy

You can edit your privacy settings ( of your profile ) by clicking " profile privacy "
This will give you control of who can see your details, albums ....
Set them that way that makes you feel comfortable.

http://s2.postimg.org/n0rv8nxy1/screenshot_29.png

After you set your privacy settings click " save "

My account

Moving on to the " my account " box on your left.
You'll find 3 possible options to control or alter your account.

http://s2.postimg.org/6eewdbue1/screenshot_30.png

You will be able to change the way your account works and set preferences as they work best for you.

1) Edit e-mail and password

http://s2.postimg.org/gczuzt3tl/edit...d_password.png

To edit or change your current e-mail or password start with entering your current password.
You can then continue in the box below to set a new password and ( optional ) a new e-mail account.
Save your changes by clicking " save changes " below.
Be careful using this, you might lose track of which password you are using if you change it to often ;)

2) General settings

The general settings are divided in 5 sub categories.

2.1 Login and Privacy: settings on how to be logged in and protect your account info

2.2 Messaging and Notification: settings for receiving, sending messages and receiving notifications on your activity

2.3 Thread Display Options: settings on how your threads and posts are displayed and how you see other threads

2.4 Date and Time Options: settings to change your / other threads timezone view

2.5 Miscellaneous Options: settings for editing, uploading and language

These settings will allow you to change everything from login to display of threads , timezone , ....
Make sure you check everything at least twice before saving.

2.1 Login and privacy

http://s2.postimg.org/mf7hqas9l/edit...d_password.png

You can select ' invisible mode " to browse the forum without appearing visible in the active user list.
this will prevent other players from seeing you are currently active on the forum.
You can allow other users to download a vcard with your used e-mail + username.
If you prefer to keep your e-mail private click " don't allow vcard download ".