Viewing Posts

Basic Info
Threaded Format
Flat Format

When you select a post from a board index you are taken to a new screen which shows various things.

At the top of the screen you will see the name of the board the message is in (linked to take you back to the Post List for that board). You will also see the number of times the message thread has been read. At the right, you will see a set of buttons that allow you to do the following (left to right):

• Previous   — Move to the previous thread - the next one up on the post list (disabled if this is the first thread).

• Index   — Move to the Post List for that board.

• Next   — Move to the next thread - the next one down on the post list (disabled if this is the last message on the board).

• Flat   — View the messages in a flat format. This button is disabled if you are currently viewing in flat format.

• Threaded   — View the messages in a threaded format. This button is disabled if you are currently viewing in threaded format. Threaded format is the default.

Next, on the right, you'll see one or two links:

• Favorite Thread   — You will only see this link if you're logged in. This adds the thread to your Favorite Threads list in your Control Panel (details here).

• Print Thread   — This link is always displayed. This displays the thread in a simple, plain format so that you can print it (at the upper left of your browser, go to "File" and choose "Print").

  Note that the printable page will display all text, including any that was formerly hidden in spoiler tags. If this is a problem, you would probably be best either a) printing or saving the thread in its regular format, or b) copying and pasting the parts that you want into a word processing program and printing the new document.

Viewing in threaded format shows the first message, and links to all of the replies below it. The header of the first message shows:

• The subject of the message.

• If the thread has been kept for archiving, you'll see — Kept — beneath the subject. This will only occur in the Watcher's Diary, and it means that after six months of inactivity, the thread will be moved to the Archives board. (Details here.)

• Who posted the message (clicking the user's name takes you to the user's Profile) their User Title (at the time of the post), the time of their post, and their profile picture (if enabled in your display preferences).

• What date/time the message was posted.

• A few buttons and icons:

• Edit / Delete   — This button is only displayed on posts YOU made, and only when you're logged in. Clicking it allows you to modify or delete your post (details here).

• Reply   — Click this to make a post in reply to the post you're reading (details here).

• — This displays the post in a simple, printable format so that you can print it (at the upper left of your browser, go to "File" and choose "Print").

• — Click this icon to add the post to your Post Reminders list in your Control Panel (details here).

• — This allows you to suggest this post to a friend. Click the icon, fill out a simple form, and your friend will receive an email with a link to the post.

Below this information you will see the message itself.

The replies appear below the message you are viewing. The message that you are currently viewing will have its Subject written in black, and the subject will not be clickable. The replies are organized according to who replied to whom, in a threaded format. For example:

In this way, you can follow the various conversations that may be going on in the thread, by seeing who replied to whom.

Viewing a message thread in a flat format displays all of the messages, one after another, in chronological order. Each message will show:

• The subject of the message.

• If the thread has been kept for archiving, you'll see — Kept — beneath the subject. This will only occur in the Watcher's Diary, and it means that after six months of inactivity, the thread will be moved to the Archives board. (Details here.)

• Who posted the message (clicking the user's name takes you to the user's Profile) their User Title (at the time of the post), the time of their post, and their profile picture (if enabled in your display preferences).

• What date/time the message was posted.

• A few buttons and icons:

• Edit / Delete   — This button is only displayed on posts YOU made, and only when you're logged in. Clicking it allows you to modify or delete your post (details here).

• Reply   — Click this to make a post in reply to the post you're reading (details here).

• — This displays the post in a simple, printable format so that you can print it (at the upper left of your browser, go to "File" and choose "Print").

• — Click this icon to add the post to your Post Reminders list in your Control Panel (details here).

• — This allows you to suggest this post to a friend. Click the icon, fill out a simple form, and your friend will receive an email with a link to the post.

The message body follows.

You may choose how many posts to view per page in flat mode in your display preferences. If the number of posts in the thread is higher than the number you have set to show per page, you will find links at the top and bottom of the thread to view the 2nd (3rd, 4th, etc.) page(s). Or, you can click on "All" to view the entire thread on one page.