You need to be logged on to write a post on a forum.
Click on a forum title that you wish to add to. Click on "Write a New Post", put a title in the "Subject" field and compose your message in the "Message" field. You can, for example, bold, italicise or underline portions of your message and include a hyperlink or a smiley by selecting the appropriate icon on the "Message" tool bar. You can also add documents (see "Including a document in a forum post" below) or photos (see "Including an image in a forum post" below) or include a Poll (see "Including a poll in a forum post" below) in your post by using the tabs above the "Subject" field. The "Options" tab also allows you to select whether or not you wish to allow replies to your post and whether you wish to receive email alerts when somebody has replied. Then tag your message (see "Tagging your post" below) and click on "Post" to post your message to the site.
Including a document in a forum postYou can include a variety of documents in a forum post, including .doc, .xls, .ppt, and .txt. The maximum file size that can be uploaded is 5MB. To include a document, click on the "Options" tab in the edit window (above the "Subject" filed) and click on "Add/Update" under "File Attachment". Select "Upload File", browse for the file (scroll to the right for browse) and then click "Save" (also to the right).
Including an image in a forum postThere are several ways to include an image in your forum post:1. The quickest way to upload an image (.jpg or .gif) and include it in your post is to click on the "Options" tab in the edit window (above the "Subject" filed) and click on "Add/Update" under "File Attachment". Select "Upload File", browse for the file (scroll to the right for browse) and then click "Save" (also to the right).2. You can include an image which is published elsewhere on the Internet by clicking on the icon on the toolbar and entering the URL (address) of the image (this is the only way you can include a picture if you use the "Quick Reply" option).
3. If you want to include a photograph from your own ICIS connect gallery (or someone else's) click on the icon, then click on the "Photos" tab and then find the photo you want to include.
Including a poll in a forum post
To include a poll in your forum post, click on the "Poll" tab above the "Subject" field, tick the "Include a Poll in this post" box, devise your question, include a description if you wish, add your first answer in the "Add Answer" field, and click "Add", and then add further answers as desired. If you wish to include a deadline for responses, complete the "Expires After" field, then "Post".
Tagging your postWhen you write a new post or reply to a post (but not with "Quick Reply") there's a section under the edit box headed "Tags". This is a place where you can put some keywords (separated by commas) to indicate what your post is really about - e.g. benzene or distribution, or whatever. If enough people tag their posts in this way, it becomes much easier to find related posts. The relative popularity of the tags is also visualised in a "Tag Cloud" - which appears on the right of the page. All kinds of things can be tagged - forum posts, blog posts, photographs etc.
Editing a post once it is liveYou can edit a post that you have already added by clicking on the "Edit" button that appears on the post. The Edit function is set up to discourage people from editing their post for the wrong reasons, so you can only edit it within 30 minutes of posting - leaving you a bit of time to correct spelling mistakes etc. PLEASE NOTE: you can only save changes if you describe the changes you have made in the Edit Notes box. Again, this is to discourage abuse.Want to start a new discussion forum?If none of our current forums are suitable for your proposed discussion, please email ICISconnect.Admin@icis.com with your suggestion, and we'll set a new one up for you.