Forums User Guide

To get started
Demos
FAQ's

To Get Started

1. To start a new thread, choose the category and sub-category where you wish to post your message.
2. Click Post new Message.
3. Enter a subject for your message, and type your message in the box.
4. Click Preview to review what you've written and see how your message looks.
5. When you are happy with your message, click Confirm Post.
6. Your message will now be visible in the Forums for others to read and respond to.

Demos

• How to start a new thread. Video or Text

FAQ

Using the Forums

• What is a forum? What is a thread? What is a post? What is a Sticky Thread?
• How do I start a new thread?
• How do I post a reply to a Forum thread?
• How do I edit a post I have made?
• What can I write in a Forum post? Are there any limitations or guidelines?
• How do I add formatting to my post?
• How do I add emoticons (smilies) to my post?

Member Information

• What is a Public Profile and how do I add one?
• How do I add photos to my Forum postings?
• How do I view other members' Public Profiles?
• What do the icons next to a member's name mean?
• How do I make my Food and Exercise Diary and/or Blog public?
• Where do I find CalorieKing University, so I can get my crown in the Forums?

Favorite Threads

• What are Favorite threads? How do I mark a thread as a Favorite?

Forum: The name given to an online meeting place, where people can communicate and discuss issues by posting online messages for others to read and respond to.

Thread: When a new discussion is started, it's called a thread.

Post: When you write a message in a thread, it's called a post.

Sticky Thread: This is a thread that is considered very important. A "sticky" thread will always appear at the top of the thread list as if it's "stuck" to the top of the list.

To start a new thread, go to the Forum category where you wish to post. Click on the Post New Message link located at the top of the screen.

Enter a subject for your thread and then enter your message text in the area below. Click the Preview button to review what you've written and what your post will look like. If you are happy with your message, click the Confirm Post button. Your new thread will then appear in the Forums.

To reply to an existing thread, click on the thread title to view it. Click on the Post Reply link at the top of the Forum screen or the Reply button located in the bottom right-hand corner of a post.

Enter your reply in the text box displayed, then click the either the Preview or Reply button.

Browse to your post and click on the Edit Post button at the bottom of the post. An editable text box will appear with your post in it. Once you have edited your post, click the Confirm Edit button.

You can only edit the last post you made in a thread.

When posting on CalorieKing forums, please be polite and don't use indecent language. For further information about what's acceptable and what's not, you can refer to our Terms of Use.

Please keep the following rules in mind:

• You may not write inappropriate comments about other CalorieKing members or staff in the forums.
• Your forum posts may not be used to promote other websites or companies.
• Copying material from another member's forum posting and using it in a Forum message, in a Personal Message, or in your Blog is not permitted without the member's permission.
• Inappropriate words will be censored in your forum posts.

You can use formatting, such as bold, italics and underlining, in your posts. To format a word or sentence, type the following html codes before and after your text.

To make words bold: <b>Text to be bold goes here</b>

To make words italics: <i>Text to be italics goes here</i>

To make words underlined: <u>Text to be underlined goes here</u>

An emoticon is a little symbol that you can use to express emotion in your posts, such as a smiling face to show that you are happy.

To insert an emoticon in your post, click on the Show/Hide Smilies link located underneath the text box where you type your post. Click on the emoticon that you wish to add to your post. A code will be added to your post. When you preview or view your post, you will see the emoticon.

A public profile is a collection of information about you that is visible to other CalorieKing members, so that they can get to know you better.

To create your public profile, click on the Account Settings link in the CalorieKing banner at the top of your screen. Click the Set your public profile and photo link.

A public profile can include as much or as little information as you wish to share, so answer as many questions as you like. You can also upload images, which will show in your Blog, and Forum postings.

When you have finished, click the Save button. Your public profile will then be visible in your Forum postings – just click your member name in your posts to view it.

See also How do I add photos to my Forum postings?

To display a photo in your Forum postings, click the link Upload Your Photo at the top of the Forums page. Follow the instructions and click the Save button. When you return to the Forums, you will see your photo displayed in your posts.

If you wish to change your Forum photo, click the Account Settings link in the CalorieKing banner at the top of your screen. Click the Set your public profile and photo link. Follow the instructions to delete or upload your photo and click the Save button.

To view a member's Public Profile, click their Username and their Public Profile will be displayed.

See also What is a public profile? How do I create a public profile?

You may have noticed a number of icons next to members' names in the Forums. Below is an explanation of what each icon represents.

Envelope: Click the envelope next to a member's name to send him or her a private email message.

Thought bubble: Click the thought bubble to see a member's public Blog.

Plate, knife and fork: Click the plate, knife and fork to see a member's public Food and Exercise Diary.

Crown: The crown indicates that a member has completed one of the stages of the CalorieKing University. There are three levels, representing completion of weeks 1 – 4, weeks 5 – 8, or a graduation crown for completing all 12 weeks of CKU.

See also How do I make my Food and Exercise Diary and/or Blog public? and Where do I find CalorieKing University, so I can get my crown in the Forums?

You have three choices with your Food and Exercise Diary. You can choose to keep your Diary private; you can allow only other CalorieKing members to view it; or you can make it available to the general public.

To choose whether your Diary is displayed to the public, displayed only to CalorieKing members, or kept private, click on the Account Settings link located in the CalorieKing banner at the top of your screen. In the Account Settings page, click on the Change your public information and privacy settings link.

A settings page will appear where you can select the privacy settings for your Diary. You can also change other privacy settings here. Once you have made your selections, click the Save button at the bottom of the screen.

See also What do the icons next to a member's name mean?

CalorieKing University (CKU) is a 12-week course, which teaches you the skills, and knowledge you need to successfully control your weight for life. You can also learn more about using your member tools in the lessons, so that you can get the most out of your membership.

You can access CKU from your Today page, or by clicking the CalorieKing University icon in your Toolbar.

Completing lessons from CKU will qualify you for a crown in your Forum and Study Group postings.

See also What do the icons next to a member's name mean?

A Favorite thread is one that you wish to find easily at a later date. To mark a thread as a Favorite, view the thread then click the Mark as Favorite link.

To see your Favorite threads list, click the link Show Your Favorite Forum Threads on the main Forums page, or click the Show Favorites link at the top of a thread.