- Why do I need to register?
- How do I register?
- I have a username and password, how do I log in?
- I forgot my username and/or password.
- What if I’ve registered but still cannot log in?
- I’ve logged in before, but now can’t log in.
User Profile & Settings
- What is a profile?
- How do I add a signature to my post?
- Why am I required to log in to post, view members, or email other users?
Privacy & Security
- How do I change my password?
- How do I change my username?
- How do I change my email address?
- What profile settings are required?
Navigation
- What is a Discussion Board?
- What is a Thread?
- What do the Thread icons mean?
- Can I sort Threads when viewing a Discussion Board?
Posting
- Can I use HTML?
- Can I add attachments to my posts?
- Can I add images to my posts?
- How do I post a new message to a Discussion Board?
- How do I reply to an existing post?
- How do I edit or delete my posts?
- My Post been replaced with “Message has been deleted”.
- How do I add a signature to my posts?
Private Messages
Registration & Login
In order to post discussion board topics or reply to existing threads, you are required to register. As a registered user, you will also be able to add a personal signature and contact other users using a private contact form.
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To create an account, go to our registration page and sign up with your email address and username. You will receive an email containing your assigned password, which you may change at any time by logging into your user account.
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I have a username and password, how do I log in?
After successfully registering you should have a username and password. You can then visit the Community homepage and enter your username and password to login.
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I forgot my username and/or password.
If you forgot your username and/or password, go to the Community page, and click on “Request New Password” under the Community Login. Enter your username or email address. You will be sent an email with a link that will allow you to log in and create a new password. Do not contact Chicago Metro AEYC regarding your forgotten password, as the administrators of the site have no way to access your existing password.
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What if I’ve registered but still cannot log in?
If you’ve registered and can’t log in, check to ensure you have a valid username and password. If you are sure the username and password are valid, but still can’t log in, you may either require account activation or your account may be blocked. In this case, it is best to contact the board moderator.
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I’ve logged in before, but now can’t log in.
First check to ensure your username and password are correct. If you still can’t log in your account has either been blocked or deleted due to inactivity. Please contact the board moderator.
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User Profile & Settings
A profile is information about your account that controls how you view information within the Online Community. This includes details about posts you’ve contributed to, how long you've been a member of the community, and how to contact you anonymously using the personal contact form.
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How do I add a signature to my post?
A signature is a message that is appended to the end of any posts you make in the Discussion Boards. You can edit your signature from the My Account page (click on the "Edit" tab). This signature will then appear at the bottom of any messages posted by you.
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Why am I required to log in to post, view members, or email other users?
You are required to be logged in before viewing/using these areas in order to protect the privacy of users who have shared their information or to prevent unwanted/unsolicited emails.
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Privacy & Security
Once logged in you can change your password from the My Account page (click on the "Edit" tab).
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You cannot change your username.
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How do I change my email address?
Once logged in, you can change your private email address from the My Account page (click on the "Edit" tab).
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What profile settings are required?
The only profile setting that is required is your private email address. This is the email address that is used when you subscribe to the Discussion Boards, when other users send you an email from the site, or when a forgotten username/password is emailed. The private email address is never shared or displayed publicly. Please note, however, that if you send an email using the Personal Contact Form, the user you are contacting will be able to see your email address in the email they receive.
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Navigation
A Discussion Board is a grouping of related threads of discussion. A Discussion Board contains 0 or more threads and may also contain sub-Discussion Boards.
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A Thread is a grouping of related posts. A Thread contains 1 or more Posts. The first post becomes the Thread and replies to the original post increment details on the Thread, such as the reply count or last post.
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What do the Thread icons mean?
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Thread Icon Legend |
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Topic with posts you have not read. |
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Topic with posts you have read. |
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A pinned topic with posts you have not read. Pinned topics are displayed before other topics until they become unpinned. |
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A pinned, or sticky, topic with posts you have read. Pinned topics are displayed before other topics until they become unpinned. |
Can I sort Threads when viewing a Discussion Board?
Yes, you can sort threads when viewing a Discussion Board by Topic, Replies, Created and Last Reply. The default sort for a Discussion Board is to display the newest threads first (Last Reply descending). To sort, simply click on the headings at the top of the Discussion Board.
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Posting
Yes. You cannot type HTML directly into the default, rich text editor, but you can access and edit the HTML of your post by clicking on “disable rich-text”. A standard HTML textbox will replace the rich text editor box.
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Can I add attachments to my posts?
No.
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Yes and no. You can use the Insert/Edit Image 
from the toolbar at the top of the text editor to link to an image already existing on the internet, but you may not upload new images from your desktop. Please remember that all linked content is subject to copyright regulations as well as our Community Guidelines and Terms of Use.
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How do I post a new message to a Discussion Board?
After logging into the Discussion Board, click on the text link at the top of the page that reads “Post new forum topic”. Clicking on this link will take you to a form for posting a message. You are required to enter a subject or title for your post, as well as the text body of your question or comment. When you are finished, click “Preview” to see your message before it is published, or “Submit” to post your message immediately.
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How do I reply to an existing post?
You can reply to an existing post by clicking on “Add new comment” at the bottom of the original posting. You must be logged in to post replies.
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How do I edit or delete my posts?
You may not edit your posts once they are published. If you submitted your post in error and want it deleted, send an email to the board moderator containing the full text of your message, as well as the time and date you posted it.
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My Post been replaced with “Message has been deleted”?
If your post violates the Community Guidelines and Terms of Use, it will be deleted by the moderator.
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How do I add a signature to my posts?
See How do I add Signature to my Post? in the User Profile and Settings section.
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Private Messages
A private message is email within the Discussion Boards. You can send a private message to other users within the Discussion Board site that is visible only to them. You will not be able to see the user’s email address, but your email address will be visible to the message recipient within their email browser.
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