BBS Navigation Tips

Navigating through this Message Board is quite intuitive. Chances are, you can find your way around very easily, without reading this document. If you plan on becoming an active reader/poster on this Message Board (and we hope you do!), then you will probably get a lot out of this page -- so keep reading. I guarantee even a "seasoned veteran" will learn something about navigating the Message Board that he/she didn't know before they came here.

There are three main types of pages you deal with when navigating the Message Board: The Main Read Page, the Message Post page, and the Archived Main Read Page. This document breaks down those three sections, and explains the various links/buttons that you will encounter. The Main Read Page
The Main Read Page is the "bulletin board page" where the messages are listed. You have two choices when browsing through the Main Read Page: the Thread Sorted version (the default) or the Date Sorted version. There is a link to the other version at the top and bottom of each of those pages (i.e. if you're on the Thread Sorted page, there is a link to the Date Sorted page, and vice-versa). The Thread Sorted page sorts messages according to subject, with the replies falling in an organized fashion BENEATH the original posts. The latest message post is always at the top of the current grouping. The Date Sorted page is sorted as you might imagine, with the newest message post listed at the very top. Both of those versions contain the same basic "header" and "footer" of helpful links:
  • Register (Optional) - Click on this link if you'd like to register a username, to make frequent posting much more enjoyable. Registered users experience many benefits.
  • Post a Message - If you'd like to post an original message (i.e. start a new thread).
  • X-sorted posts - (Where "X" is either "thread" or "date.") This link will take you to the other version of the Main Read Page, where message posts are sorted by either thread or date (depending on what the link states).
  • Help - This link will take you to the front page of our Message Board, which offers you the help topics, one of which you are reading right now!
The Main Read Page also contains target links: Down—represented with an arrow pointing down (appears above the message-posts), and Up—represented with an arrow pointing up (near the bottom). They do exactly what they show. If you click on the former ("Down"), you'll shoot down to the bottom of the page, if you click on the latter ("Up"), you'll shoot back up to the top of the page. This can be quite handy when the page gets lengthy.There is one more section on the Main Read Page: The Archive List (near the very bottom of the page). As the Main Read Page fills up with posts, it automatically archives at a set interval (every 80 posts). Each time it archives, the current posts are moved to an archive page ... numbered accordingly. You can navigate to the various archive pages using The Archive List. If you're interested, you can read more about The Archival Process.

The Message Post
Arguably the most important aspect of the entire Message Board, a Message Post is quite obviously a message that a person posts to the Message Board. When a message is posted, it is automatically assigned a "Post Number" and is listed in the proper place on the Main Read Page. For navigation purposes, each Message Post contains a header section of links that exactly mirrors a footer section; both contain the following important links:

  • Previous Thread - This link will take you to the top of the thread that appears directly before yours. A "thread" is a term used to refer to a branch of discussion on a set topic. If you reply to a post, you've added a message to a current thread. If you post a new message, you've started a new thread.
  • Next Thread - This link will take you to the top of the next thread in the Message Board. Please note that if you attempt to navigate to a thread that doesn't exist, you will be sent to the Main Read Page (and an explanatory message will appear at the top of the Message Board).
  • Thread Sorted Posts - Works exactly the same as the "X-sorted posts" link (described above.) It displays the most current "Main Read Page," with message posts sorted by thread.
  • Date Sorted Posts - Works exactly the same as the "X-sorted posts" link (described above). It displays the most current "Main Read Page," with message posts sorted by date.
  • Previous Message - Will take you to the message posted chronologically before the post you are currently reading. That is, if you're reading post number 100, the Previous Message link will take you to post number 99, which isn't necessarily in the thread (subject) you're currently reading.
  • New Post - If you'd like to post an original message (i.e. start a new thread).
  • Next Message - The exact opposite of the Previous Message link, this pointer will take you to the message that was posted chronologically after the post you're currently reading. That is, if you're reading post number 100, the Next Message link will take you to post number 101, which isn't necessarily the next message in the thread (subject) you're reading.

If there have been any replies to the message you're reading, you'll see a section near the top of the current post that says "Replies to this message:" and beneath that, you'll see a listing of one (or more) replies, including the author's name and the time/date posted. In this manner, you can very effectively navigate an entire thread.

If you would like to post a response to the message you're reading, simply click on the "Respond" button underneath the message. The default is to post your response only, but you can choose to either post, post and email, or just email the response using the checkboxes to the right of the button. When the Response form is displayed, you'll also notice that you have the option of sending a CC (carbon copy) of your message to one (or more) email address(es). All email options are available for registered users ONLY.

When reading a message response (that is, a response to an original post), you'll notice a line that looks similar to the following:

At 23:17:39 PST on 05-03-96, Scott wrote:

The words "Scott wrote" will be a link to Scott's original message. If you are reading a message response that is quite a ways into a thread, you can easily navigate up to any of the posts in that thread (assuming that everyone has left the "headers" intact).

Archived Main Read Page
Whenever a Main Read Page is archived, the current posts are "sucked" off the main page, and placed in the archived page. This allows us to keep the main read page at a very minimal size, which lets you download it quickly. More information on the archival process is available.

Each archive is numbered; the lower the number, the older the archive. Each archived page is almost identical to the Main Read Page. There are two new links added to the top and the bottom of these pages, and the Archive Listings do not appear at the bottom of these pages.

The first new link is the Next Archive link). If you click on this link, you'll go to archive prior the one you are rignt now. Just as with the Main Read Page, you can view archived pages in thread or date sorted mode. The second new link is Leave Archive. When you click on it, you will be taken to the Main Read Page of the Message Board (current messages).

A word on cached-pages and reloading
This Message Board was created with the idea that it could be very busy; new messages being posted all the time. In light of this, whenever you click on a link that loads the Main Read Page, you are actually running a "script" (or "program") that displays the most current page. In effect, it is as if you went to the Main Read Page and pressed the Reload button on your browser. Likewise, whenever you post a message or response, the Main Read Page is displayed ... this too is the most current form of the page. For the most part, you should always be seeing the most current page available. If you are using Netscape Navigator, you should turn on "Verify document every time" under Options >> Network Preferences >> Cache.