Help and advice

Want to start a new discussion forum?

Lockyer — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:28:09 GMT

It you wish to start a whole new topic of discussion, email ICISconnect.Admin@icis.com with your suggestion, and we will set up a new forum for you.

Welcome...

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:05:22 GMT

...to ICIS connect - a platform designed for the chemical industry and academic community, to discuss issues, make contacts, share pictures and offer advice and support to each other.

By clicking on the yellow navigation bar above you can access the BLOGS, FORUMS, PHOTOS (or picture galleries) or DOWNLOADS areas.

Signing in with your usual password (see How to register for ICIS connect) should allow you to post on the forums or reply to existing forum posts immediately (see "Posting on forums" and "Posting a reply to existing forum posts" below), add photos to your picture gallery (see "Posting to a picture gallery" below), write your own blog (see "Writing a blog" below) or upload and download documents (see "Uploading and downloading documents" below).

Please feel free to ask questions and we'll do our best to answer them. If you have any problems logging in then please contact us at ICISconnect.Admin@icis.com

Posting on forums
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 post
You 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 post
There 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 post
When 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 live
You 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.

Replying to forum posts
There are two ways to reply to an existing forum post:

1. Click the "Reply" button and compose your reply in the "Message" field. Add any documents or images (see "Including a document in a forum post" and "Including an image in a forum post" above), then tag your reply and click "Post".

2. Click "Quick Reply", compose your message and post. Using "Quick Reply" does not allow you to add documents or tag a message, and restricts your ability to add an image.

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.

Posting photos to your picture gallery
You are automatically assigned a picture gallery when you register on ICIS connect - your gallery will have your site nickname as the gallery title.

You will find this by either:
1) clicking on "CONTROL PANEL", then on "My Photo(s)". To add a photo to your own gallery, click on "New photo in..." and follow the instructions under "Publish New Photo".
2) clicking on "PHOTOS" on the top yellow navigation bar of the home page and then clicking on 'All Galleries' (found by scrolling to the foot of the page (left-hand side)). You will then need to scroll through the list of 'member galleries'. To add a photo to your own gallery, click on "add picture" (under "Common Tasks" down the right-hand side), and follow the instructions under "Publish New Photo".

Under the tab "Advanced Options" you can choose a number of features, including whether to enable others to comment on your photo and whether you wish to receive email feedback notifications.

You will only be able to add and delete photos from your own gallery. You can of course view other people's galleries, but will not be able to add or delete from them. You may be able to add a comment to others' photos.

Writing a blog
You are automatically assigned a blog when you register on ICIS connect. You will find this by clicking on "BLOGS" on the top yellow navigation bar of the home page and then on "Blogs on this Site" (under "Blogs" down the right-hand side). Your blog will have your site nickname as the title. Click on your blog title, and then on "Write a Blog Post" (under "Common Tasks" down the right-hand side) and follow the instructions.

Uploading and downloading documents
To upload a document, select the appropriate folder and subfolder. Click on the "Upload" button, click on "Specify File/URL" and browse for your file (scroll to the right) and click "Save", Complete the Name, Description and Tags fields and then "Save". Please send suggestions for new folders or subfolders to ICISconnect.Admin@icis.com

To download a document, select the file to be downloaded and click on the "Download" button.

How to upload and download documents

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:03:14 GMT

To upload a document, select the appropriate folder and subfolder. Click on the "Upload" button, click on "Specify File/URL" and browse for your file (scroll to the right) and click "Save", Complete the Name, Description and Tags fields and then "Save". Please send suggestions for new folders or subfolders to ICISconnect.Admin@icis.com

To download a document, select the file to be downloaded and click on the "Download" button.

How to write a blog

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:01:56 GMT

You are automatically assigned a blog when you register on ICIS connect. You will find this by clicking on "BLOGS" on the top yellow navigation bar of the home page and then on "Blogs on this Site" (under "Blogs" down the right-hand side). Your blog will have your site nickname as the title. Click on your blog title, and then on "Write a Blog Post" (under "Common Tasks" down the right-hand side) and follow the instructions.

How to post a photo to your picture gallery

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:59:16 GMT

You are automatically assigned a picture gallery when you register on ICIS connect - your gallery will have your site nickname as the gallery title.

Under the tab "Advanced Options" you can choose a number of features, including whether to enable others to comment on your photo and whether you wish to receive email feedback notifications.

How to reply to a post on a forum

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:57:52 GMT

You need to be logged on to reply to an existing post.

There are two ways to reply to an existing forum post:

1. Click the "Reply" button and compose your reply in the "Message" field. Add any documents or images (see "Including a document in a forum post" and "Including an image in a forum post" above), then tag your reply and click "Post".

2. Click "Quick Reply", compose your message and post. Using "Quick Reply" does not allow you to add documents or tag a message, and restricts your ability to add an image.

How to write a post on a forum

Lockyer — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:56:08 GMT

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.

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

How to register for ICIS connect

Lockyer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:21:59 GMT

You need to register and be logged in to post messages or reply to postings on ICIS connect. To register, just follow the steps in (1) or (2) below to access the site:
(1) If you are already a subscriber to ICIS news or to ICIS Chemical Business online or have previously trialled or been a subscriber to these services:
- Click on ‘Sign in’ (top left)
- Enter your email address and password – these must be the email address and password you use to log on to ICIS news or ICIS Chemical Business. [If you have forgotten your password, click on ‘Forgotten password’ and a password reminder will be emailed to you]
- At the prompt, choose a forum nickname. Use any combination of letters or numerals with no spaces. Your nickname is the name which will appear on the ICIS connect site against your postings. Until further notice, we suggest that you do not attempt to change your nickname once selected - so choose with care!
- Submit. [You will be taken directly to the home page of ICIS connect. You should be able to see your nickname in the top left. If ‘Sign in’ and ‘Join’ are still visible, click on F5 to refresh the site.]

(2) If you are not a subscriber to ICIS news or to ICIS Chemical Business online and have not previously been a triallist or subscriber to these services:
- Click on ‘Join’
- Complete the ‘Register for ICIS connect form’ including creating your own password and choosing your forum nickname. For your forum nickname, use any combination of letters or numerals with no spaces. Your nickname is the name which will appear on the ICIS connect site against your postings. Until further notice, we suggest that you do not attempt to change your nickname once selected - so choose with care!
- Submit [You will be taken directly to the home page of ICIS connect. You should be able to see your nickname in the top left.]

[If you receive an error message saying ‘your email address or password is incorrect. Please try again’, this is because your email address already exists in our system. In which case, go to ‘Sign in’ (top left), enter your email address and click on ‘Forgotten password’. A password reminder will be emailed to you. You will then be able to register and log on to ICIS connect following the instructions in (1) above].

If you encounter any difficulties in registering or logging on, please contact our Customer Support Centre on csc@icis.com, or
if you are in Europe or the Middle East:
tel: +44 20 8652 3335
if you are in the Americas:
tel: +1 888 525 3255 (toll free US and Canada) or +1 713 525 2613
if you are in the Asia-Pacific:
tel: +65 6588 3955 (toll free within Asia-Pacific)

Spacing between paragraphs

Lara McNamee — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:50:09 GMT

Every time I try and post something the paragraphs all run into one big text block and I have to keep editing the message to try and get the paragraphs to be separate ones (however most of the time I end up having to leave it as one big block) – am I doing something wrong?

View all users

GreenChick — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:20:18 GMT

Is it possible to have all users together in one page for viewing such as a list of all member icons instead of doing search?

All ICIS news' top stories - in one handy place!

chemsyndicate — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:50:41 GMT

I have built a Delicious page that serves as a 'one-stop-shop' for all the regions' top stories, which I update every time we have a new top story. It's a handy page to keep for anyone on the move, or as a promotional tool to highlight our free content. You can find it here http://del.icio.us/ICIStopstorypicker

or simply copy the RSS subscription feed into your Readers

http://del.icio.us/rss/ICIStopstorypicker

hope it comes in handy!

Photo in profile

GreenChick — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:12:26 GMT

Hey folks,

How do I upload a photo for my profile? Do I use the avatar tab for that? That doesn't seem to work for me. Pls. advice, thanks!