Welcome to the easy and free, open forum for art communication! Following are detailed instructions that will make your time here easy and enjoyable.
| The basic layout of the message board uses frames, with the top window displaying a scrollable list of all the messages posted within the last week.Towards the bottom of the top window are links to go back in time one week at a time. When one of the messages in the top window is clicked on, that message can then be read in the lower window. | |
In the top window is also a "menu bar". There is one located at the top of the window, and if you scroll to the bottom of the page, another is there also.
Post New Message: This link should be clicked if you want to begin an entirely new topic. Please do not use this to respond to an existing message (see the next section for information about responding to existing messages).
Search: Use this link for searching through all the existing message if there's something in particular you're looking for.
Set Preferences: It's probably best to leave this one alone :). However, you can use this to set the time frame of displayed messages in the top window and change how they're displayed.
Mark All Messages Read: Clicking this will remove the "NEW" tag that precedes new, or unread messages.
Remove Frames: This will change the layout of the page to a standard web page without frames. It's suggested to keep with the frames as the non frames version runs slower and can be a bit more confusing to find things.
View User Profiles: This allows you to see any profiles visitors to this message board have set up.
Create Profile: This allows you to create your own profile to tell the world, well, to tell anyone here interested, all about you and your passion for art. You can also upload a picture if you so desire, of yourself, your artwork....... or even your cat :) (more on this in it's own section further down).
HOME PAGE: This of course takes you to the home page of B-muse.com
When you click on the subject line of a message, it will appear in the lower window. At the top and bottom of lower window is also a "menu bar".
View Thread: This will take you to the bottom on the lower window page and show you a list of any and all of the responses there may be.
Post Response: This is the link to click if you want to post a response to the message your currently reading (more below).
Read Prev Msg / Read Next Msg.: As they suggest, these links simply scroll through the messages.
When you click either Post New Message in the top window, or Post Response in the lower window the following form will come up.
Your Name: Enter the name you wish to be known by.
Your Contact Us: This is completely optional, however no one will be able to see your email address if you do enter it, and it will allow for you to be automatically notified if someone replys to your post.
Subject: If you're posting a New Message you'll need to enter in an appropriate subject title. If you're responding to an already existing message this will be filled in for you (though you do have the option of changing it).
Message: Here's where you get to type everything you wish to say.
Optional Image URL: If you wish to include a picture with your message, and that picture is already on the internet, enter the complete URL to that picture here.
Optional Graphic Upload: If you would like to include a picture with your post, and that picture is on your own computer, click the "Browse" button, locate the image on your computer in the window that opens, and double click the name of the image. Please note, the size of the image must be under 40k.
Password: If you have created a profile (see Profile section below) you'll need to enter your chosen password here.
Save Password: By clicking "Yes", your computer will remember your password for you, so that next time you post a message you wont need to remember it and it will be automatically entered for you.
If you'd like Contact Us notification of....: If you've entered your Contact Us above, and you click the "Yes" box, you will automatically get an Contact Us notifying you when someone responds to your post.
Creating a profile allows for two things. First it "registers" the user name you post under so that no one else can use it. Secondly it allows you to tell everyone anything you'd like about yourself. At your option, you can also include a picture (yourself, your art work....... or, yes, even your cat). After you create a profile, when you then post to the message board, your name will be shown as a link, that if clicked will go to your profile.Remember, you can change or delete your profile at any time you wish.
Your Name: Enter the name you wish to be known by.
Your Contact Us: This is completely optional, however no one will be able to see your email address if you do enter it, and it will allow for you to be automatically notified if someone replys to your post.
User Profile: Here's where you get to type everything you wish to say.
Optional Link URL: If you have your own web site that you would like listed in your profile, enter the entire URL of the site here.
Optional Link Title: If you have your own web site, and you've filled in the URL above, enter the name you wish the site to be known as. This name will become a link to the site in your profile.
Optional Image URL: If you wish to include a picture in your profile, and that picture is already on the internet, enter the complete URL to that picture here.
Optional Graphic Upload: If you would like to include a picture with your post, and that picture is on your own computer, click the "Browse" button, locate the image on your computer in the window that opens, and double click the name of the image. Please note, the size of the image must be under 40k.
Password: You'll need to choose a password so that in the future you can update or delete your profile.
New Password: If in the future you want to change your password, enter the old password above, and your new password here (twice).
Save Password: By clicking "Yes", your computer will remember your password for you, so that next time you wish to update your profile you wont need to remember it and it will be automatically entered for you.