Get the most out of your time on CLF - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Char · 06-20-2009, 11:20 AM

CLF Tip #1 Make sure you don't miss any new posts

When you first log on for the day, click on "Quick Links" in the Navigation bar located just below our Cruise Line Fans banner.

There will be a dropdown menu

The first option is "Todays Posts"

Click on that and every thread that has been posted to during the last 24 hours (or therabout) will be listed, including Off Topic.

Quickly scan titles to see what is new.

Check it off and on during your session to keep up with the new postings.

Char · 06-21-2009, 08:28 AM

CLF Tip #2

Check the STICKIES at the top of each page for valuable information.

Char · 06-22-2009, 02:04 PM

CLF Tip #3 Finding prior posts

If you want to find old posts that you or someone else has made here is how:

Click on the persons name above their avatar.

On the dropdown menu click "Find more posts".

Their last 500 posts will be displayed.

The title shown is the thread name. Click on that if you want to go to the beginning of the thread.

Under the poster's name is the first line of the post. Click on that if you want to go to that specific post.

Here is an example:

(Celebrity Cruises: We'll have open dinner seating on ships by September)Celebrity Cruises: We'll have open dinner seating on ships by September
Views: 10
Posted By Char
We also like the traditional. I don't think they will...

We also like the traditional. I don't think they will be doing away with that for a long time....lots of seasoned cruisers are set in their ways.

Char · 06-23-2009, 07:53 AM

CLF Tip #4 Finding threads you are following

In the Navigation bar click on "User CP"

If there are new posts (since the last time you looked) to threads you have posted on or subscribed to, they will be displayed.

This is what the window heading will look like if you have new posts:
New Subscribed Threads: (9)

Each one will be displayed along with these 2 symbols in the title line
(title is here)

If you want to go to the first new post in that thread click on the little check mark at the beginning of the title. (shown above on the left)

If you want to go to YOUR last post on that thread, click on the little arrow shown above on the right.

Char · 06-24-2009, 08:32 AM

CLF Tip #5 Smilies

When you are posting in the Quick Reply window you will see the little smilie face in the row of options above it.

Click on it and it will open a dropdown list of 25 smilies.

At the bottom of this list is an option to "Show all Smilies". Click on this and another window will open with a large selection of smilies. Expand this window to the side to see both rows of smilies. (In the regular "Post Reply" window the 25 smilies are already displayed to the right of the message box with the option of "More" at the bottom)

Place your curser where you want the smilie to go then click on the selected smilie to insert it into your post.

In the large box of smilies you will see the name of the smilie bracketed by colons like this :smiley:

To Manually insert a smilie, place a colon then the smilie name as shown in the list of smilies, then another colon. Such as : thumb: (do not leave a space between colons and smilie name) When you post your message the : thumb: will show as this example smilie

Other popular smilies are:
hail
cheer2
doh
juggle
popcorn2

(Remember to put colons before and after smilie name)

Char · 06-25-2009, 10:01 AM

CLF Tip #6 Who's Online

Another option in the "Quick Links" dropdown menu is "Who's Online"....it is at the very bottom of the menu.

Click on Who's Online and a window will open showing you everyone who is logged on and their location on CLF. It also has a time listed when the member was actually on a particular thread or location.

(little known fact...if you do not log off CLF when you leave, you will still be shown as on the forum for about 15 minutes after you leave, then your name is automatically removed from the Who's Online list.)

Char · 06-26-2009, 10:16 AM

CLF Tip #7 Who's a Member

Also in the Navigation bar above, you will see Member List. It will open to a complete list of all our members on CLF.

The alpha listing of names is the default, so it will open to an alphabetical list of members.

There are several columns:
Name
Join Date
Posts
Reputation

If you click on any of these headings it will sort the Member List by that heading.

For instance, if you click on Join Date, the list will be sorted from the beginning of CLF with the members names in the order in which they joined.

Same with the others---Posts will sort the list by how many posts members have made. (this is quite astounding!)

Char · 06-27-2009, 08:47 AM

CLF Tip #8 Posting Options

At the bottom of each post you will see these buttons:

Edit: If you see any changes that you would like to make after you submit a post, this function is for you! It is available for at least 24 hours after the post is made.
Click on the Edit button
Make your changes/corrections
Click Save and you're done.

Quote Post: To quote a post click on this option beneath the post you are wanting to quote. A window will open up and have the post quoted at the top of the message box. Type your message below the quote and submit.
(note: if you are editing out part of the quoted post make sure you do not delete any part of the brackets before or after the post. If you do, the post will not be quoted correctly.)

Multi-quote: As the name implies, you can quote more than one post in your message.
Click on Multi-quote beneath each post you want to quote.
After the last multi-quote post has been selected, click on the Reply button found at the bottom left of the last post in the thread.
A window will open that has all of your selected posts quoted.
To reply to each post quoted, place your cursor after the ending quote bracket [/quote] and type your message. Place your cursor after each ending quote bracket until you have answered each quoted post. (if you accidentally erase part of a bracket you can easily replace it)
Hit Submit and you are done.

Quick Reply: This button takes you to the Quick Reply box located at the bottom of the thread. Use this if you are wanting to make a quick reply to a post that is not close to the bottom of the page....otherwise just scroll down to the bottom and post it directly into the Quick Reply box already waiting for you at the end of the thread.

Char · 06-28-2009, 08:51 AM

CLF Tip #9 Forum Home

When you click on Forum Home a window will open giving you the "Deck Plan" for the Good Ship CLF.
Each Deck has various Forums with different subject matter.

Centrum Deck

Sun Deck

Lido Deck

Sky Deck

Promenade Deck
Note: at the bottom of the Promenade Deck there is a light blue navigation bar. Here you will find
Mark Forums Read View Forum Leaders

The orange boxes to the left of each Forum will indicate if there are any new posts in those Forums since you were last here.

no new posts

incicates new posts

Then, below the Decks will be current information about CLF:

Top 10 Stats

What's Going On?

Take a tour and click on everything clickable to familiarize yourself with what is available to you here on the Good Ship CLF.

Char · 06-29-2009, 08:55 AM

CLF Tip #10 Calendar

In the Navigation bar above you will see the Calendar

This is for you to record any important events, such as birthdays and cruises.

Click on it and the present month will be displayed.

At the top are 3 options Show Today Monthly View Add New Event

If you want to add your personal special date(s) click on Add New Event and follow the directions.