Posting a Topic or Message
When you post to a conference, you are either adding to a current topic or starting a new topic. If you want to contribute to a discussion that is underway, then post a message in an existing topic. If you have something to contribute to the general theme of a conference but it doesn't relate to the existing topic, then you can start a new topic. If you are the first visitor to a conference, you will also need to post a new topic message.
Messages can be written as plain text or with HTML-formatting. Even if a message is written in plain text, WebBoard converts it into HTML format. This allows you to include stylized text in your messages. You can also include inline images and sounds, as well as JavaScript and Java applets. If a conference has been set up to allow active links in messages, any URL typed in a message will be hyperlinked to the resource listed, without the need to type the HTML tags.
The steps involved in posting a new topic are:
Convert line breaks to HTML breaks
interprets line breaks (hard returns) in the message as HTML line breaks (i.e. <br>-tags). This is a useful default option, which allows you some control over the formatting of your posting.
Preformatted text (No HTML)
to insert, or paste in, original material from another source, such as an email message. This message will be displayed as plain text with no HTML (careful – if your pasted message contains soft returns instead of hard returns, this option will make all of your message appear on a single long line!)
Anonymous
to exclude your name from the post. When you use this option, your message is signed "Anonymous." This feature should not be used for class-related postings, as your contributions to the discussion are an important part of your grade. Instead, use private conferences or email the instructor directly to discuss sensitive issues.
Preview message
to review your message before posting it. When you choose this option, you can edit it again before posting. If the Preformatted text option is not chosen, the message will be displayed as HTML. This is a good way of testing whether your HTML-formatting worked. Hyperlinks will be displayed in color and underlined.
Preview/Spell-check
to use WebBoard's dictionary to check for any misspelled words. This is a default option. When you choose this option, you can edit your message to correct spelling errors before posting. Note that the spell-checker doesn’t understand HTML codes very well, so disregard its complaints about those.
Attach file
to attach a file to your message. You can attach the following file types: Document, Image, Audio, Multimedia, Application or Unknown. WebBoard's file attachment option allows document sharing in work groups. This option actually uploads the file to the WebBoard server.
To finally post your message, click on the Post button in the upper right corner of the message window (you can later still edit or delete your message, if necessary).
If the Preview or the Preview/Spell Check option is turned on, the message you entered will be displayed for verification before it is posted to the conference.
If the spell check option is turned on, the misspelled words and words not recognized by the spell checker will be underlined in red. You can click on the marked words to edit them or use the suggestions WebBoard offers to correct them. This window is displayed:
Select the appropriate suggestion to replace the wrongly spelled word, or type in the correct spelling in the Change to: text box and then click the Done button.
You can also add the word to the dictionary, so the spell-checker won’t complain about it anymore. This is useful for class-related special terms that pop up frequently in postings.
WebBoard will display the Message Preview window again. To finally post it, click on the Post button.
Images already present on your Computer can be included as inline images in your messages. This can be done after uploading them to the WebBoard server.
The steps involved in adding images are:
A dialog box asking you to type in the name of the image file to be uploaded will be displayed. Choose the type of the file you want to upload by clicking on the appropriate file type in the choices at the top of the screen. Choose Image for a graphic file. Select the file on your desktop with the help of the Browse… button. If you want, also add a description of the file.
Now your message will appear with an icon of the file and the name (and description,
if you gave one) of the file beside it like:
Now we want to include it inline, rather than just as an attachment at the end. We’ll need to make a hyperlink to the image:
Inline Images!!<br>
<br>
http://webboard.uic.edu/upload/morph2.gif
<br>
Bill Washington
UIC, Chicago, IL
60607
Note that it is also possible to include a hyperlink to any GIF or JPEG file on a remote web-server as an inline image, as you can include any standard HTML in your postings.
You are allowed to delete the messages you have posted anytime before. To delete a message you have posted,
To post a reply to a message/topic in the conference,
WebBoard gives you the option of replying to the author of a message directly instead of to everybody on the conference. Emailing a reply to the author can do this. You can use this feature for an occasional private question to your instructor (about grades or personal matters). Most questions, however, should be directed to the class (or your study group, i.e. probably the members of a private conference). That way, true class interaction becomes possible – and you may find that your questions get answered much faster!
Before you send an Email reply, make sure your browser mail preferences are configured right. A desktop mail program like Eudora will also do the job. If you are working in the UIC ADN labs or any other publicly accessible computer, make sure you change the mail preferences. You will have to specify your own email-address for the From: field, and the outgoing mail server at UIC must be set to smtpserv1.cc.uic.edu (if it isn’t already).
In Netscape, you find this under Edit-->Preferences-->Mail&Groups-->Identity.
In Internet Explorer, it is in View-->Internet Options-->Content-->Edit
Profile-->Personal.
Once you are set, follow these steps:
