Star Trek Communiquez

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The time now is Wed Sep 08, 2010 16:59

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Star Trek Communiquez Forum Index

FAQ

Login and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?
Why do I need to register at all?
Do I need to pay to register for a username?
Why do I get logged off automatically?
Do I need to set my browser to accept cookies?
How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?
I've lost my password!
I registered but cannot log in!
I registered in the past but cannot log in anymore!

User Preferences and settings/Profile
How do I change my settings?
The times are not correct!
I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
My language is not in the list!
How do I show an image below my username?
Can I upload my own avatar for use?
How do I change my rank?
When I click the email link for a user it asks me to log in.
Why can't I view the profiles of others?

Posting Issues
How do I post a topic in a forum?
How do I edit or delete a post?
How do I add a signature to my post?
Can I move a message from one forum to another forum?
How do I create a poll?
How do I edit or delete a poll?
Why can't I access a forum?
Why can't I vote in polls?

Formatting and Topic Types
What is BBCode?
Can I use HTML?
What are Smileys?
Can I post Images?
Can I attach a file in my message?
Can I add HTML codes in my message?
What are Announcements?
What are Sticky topics?
What are Locked topics?

User Levels, Groups, Ranks
What are the ranks underneath my username?
Why are there no Fleet Captain, Commodore and Fleet Admiral ranks?
I notice the background color holding the rank pips is in Command Red, can I change it to Operation Mustard Yellow or Science Cyan colors?
What are Administrators?
What are Moderators?
Why are the ranks held by Administrator and Moderators different?
How to achieve the ranks of Administrator and Moderators?
Which forum can I access?
I have posted 10 messages, but why am I still a Cadet?
I keep getting a reply about "60-second interval not met", why can't I post messages rapidly after one another?
Can I change my username but retaining my rank?

Private Messaging
Can I send a message to a user privately?
How will I know whether a user has sent a private message to me?
I cannot send private messages!
I keep getting unwanted private messages!
I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!

Rewards System
What are the ways I can earn points/latinum under the Rewards System?
What can I use the latinum/points I earned for?
Where can I find out how many latinum points I have earned so far?

General Enquries
Can I advertise at StarTrek.com.sg or the Communiquez?
Can I donate some money to support the Communiquez?
Can I suggest a new forum?
How long will the Administrator or Moderators reply to my query?
Are my personal information secured?

Usage of Star Trek Media Gallery
How do I upload files to the Gallery?
Is there a file size limit that I can upload?
What if I wish to upload a file larger than 1MB?
What is this button called "Lightbox"?
Why is it that when I try to download a file, a alert box that says "I am sorry but you do not have enough points to download the file(s)?"?
Why is my file not shown in the gallery after I uploaded it?

Why can't I log in?
Have you registered? Seriously, you must register in order to log in. Have you been banned from the board? (A message will be displayed if you have.) If so, you should contact the webmaster or board administrator to find out why. If you have registered and are not banned and you still cannot log in then check and double-check your username and password. Usually this is the problem; if not, contact the board administrator -- they may have incorrect configuration settings for the board.
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Why do I need to register at all?
You may not have to -- it is up to the administrator of the board as to whether you need to register in order to post messages. However, registration will give you access to additional features not available to guest users such as definable avatar images, private messaging, emailing to fellow users, usergroup subscription, etc. It only takes a few minutes to register so it is recommended you do so.
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Do I need to pay to register for a username?
No, the Communiquez are provided FREE OF CHARGE, courtesy of our volunteer Julian Ng.
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Why do I get logged off automatically?
If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you log in, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. This is not recommended if you access the board from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university cluster, etc.
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Do I need to set my browser to accept cookies?
Yes. Cookies are used to track your Username/Password for your current session. Without accepting cookies some functions would not work properly.
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How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?
In your profile you will find an option Hide your online status; if you switch this on you'll only appear to board administrators or to yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.
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I've lost my password!
Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved it can be reset. To do this go to the login page and click I've forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be back online in no time.
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I registered but cannot log in!
First check that you are entering the correct username and password. If they are okay then one of two things may have happened: if COPPA support is enabled and you clicked the I am under 13 years old link while registering then you will have to follow the instructions you received. If this is not the case then maybe your account need activating. Some boards will require all new registrations be activated, either by yourself or by the administrator before you can log on. When you registered it would have told you whether activation was required. If you were sent an email then follow the instructions; if you did not receive the email then check that your email address is valid. One reason activation is used is to reduce the possibility of rogue users abusing the board anonymously. If you are sure the email address you used is valid then try contacting the board administrator.
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I registered in the past but cannot log in anymore!
The most likely reasons for this are: you entered an incorrect username or password (check the email you were sent when you first registered) or the administrator has deleted your account for some reason. If it is the latter case then perhaps you did not post anything? It is usual for boards to periodically remove users who have not posted anything so as to reduce the size of the database. Try registering again and get involved in discussions.
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User Preferences and settings/Profile

How do I change my settings?
All your settings (if you are registered) are stored in the database. To alter them click the Profile link (generally shown at the top of pages but this may not be the case). This will allow you to change all your settings.
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The times are not correct!
The times are almost certainly correct; however, what you may be seeing are times displayed in a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, you should change your profile setting for the timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. So if you are not registered, this is a good time to do so, if you pardon the pun!
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I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
If you are sure you have set the timezone correctly and the time is still different, the most likely answer is daylight savings time (or summer time as it is known in the UK and other places). The board is not designed to handle the changeovers between standard and daylight time so during summer months the time may be an hour different from the real local time.
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My language is not in the list!
The most likely reasons for this are either the administrator did not install your language or someone has not translated this board into your language. Try asking the board administrator if they can install the language pack you need or if it does not exist, please feel free to create a new translation. More information can be found at the phpBB Group website (see link at bottom of pages)
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How do I show an image below my username?
There may be two images below a username when viewing posts. The first is an image associated with your rank; generally these take the form of stars or blocks indicating how many posts you have made or your status on the forums. Below this may be a larger image known as an avatar; this is generally unique or personal to each user. It is up to the board administrator to enable avatars and they have a choice over the way in which avatars can be made available. If you are unable to use avatars then this is the decision of the board admin and you should ask them their reasons (we're sure they'll be good!)
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Can I upload my own avatar for use?
Yes, but only if you have obtain the rank of Captain and above. Once you have attain the required rank, go to your profile and you will find an addiitonal option to upload you own avatar. Note that the avatar cannot be larger than 60px x 60px and must be less than 5kb.
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How do I change my rank?
In general you cannot directly change the wording of any rank (ranks appear below your username in topics and on your profile depending on the style used). Most boards use ranks to indicate the number of posts you have made and to identify certain users. For example, moderators and administrators may have a special rank. Please do not abuse the board by posting unnecessarily just to increase your rank -- you will probably find the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.
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When I click the email link for a user it asks me to log in.
Sorry, but only registered users can send email to people via the built-in email form (if the admin has enabled this feature). This is to prevent malicious use of the email system by anonymous users.
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Why can't I view the profiles of others?
If you did not login as a user, you are not allowed to view the profiles of others. This is an additional level of privacy we provide to members of the forum. It is also highly recommended that when you register for the forum to leave the "Hide email from public" checkbox checked. This provides yet another level of privacy.
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Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?
Easy -- click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You may need to register before you can post a message. The facilities available to you are listed at the bottom of the forum and topic screens (the You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc. list)
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How do I edit or delete a post?
Unless you are the board admin or forum moderator you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post (for only a limited time of 15 minutes after it was made) by clicking the edit button for the relevant post. Please note that normal users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.
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How do I add a signature to my post?
To add a signature to a post you must first create one; this is done via your profile. Once created you can check the Add Signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio box in your profile. You can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box on the posting form.
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Can I move a message from one forum to another forum?
No. Hence, look carefully whether you are posting a message at the correct forum, or else you may receive many cutting remarks from other users. However, moderators/administrators can move your post if they deem fit.
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How do I create a poll?
Creating a poll is easy -- when you post a new topic (or edit the first post of a topic, if you have permission) you should see a Add Poll form below the main posting box. If you cannot see this then you probably do not have rights to create polls. You should enter a title for the poll and then at least two options -- to set an option type in the poll question and click the Add option button. You can also set a time limit for the poll, 0 being an infinite amount. There will be a limit to the number of options you can list, which is set by the board administrator
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How do I edit or delete a poll?
As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator, or board administrator. To edit a poll, click the first post in the topic, which always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote then users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if people have already placed votes only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it; this is to prevent people rigging polls by changing options mid-way through a poll
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Why can't I access a forum?
Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post, etc. you may need special authorization which only the forum moderator and board administrator can grant, so you should contact them.
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Why can't I vote in polls?
Only registered users can vote in polls so as to prevent spoofing of results. If you have registered and still cannot vote then you probably do not have appropriate access rights.
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Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?
BBCode is a special implementation of HTML. Whether you can use BBCode is determined by the administrator. You can also disable it on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML: tags are enclosed in square braces [ and ] rather than < and > and it offers greater control over what and how something is displayed. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.
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Can I use HTML?
That depends on whether the administrator allows you to; they have complete control over it. If you are allowed to use it, you will probably find only certain tags work. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the board by using tags which may destroy the layout or cause other problems. If HTML is enabled you can disable it on a per post basis from the posting form.
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What are Smileys?
Smileys, or Emoticons, are small graphical images which can be used to express some feeling using a short code, e.g. :) means happy, :( means sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen via the posting form. Try not to overuse smileys, though, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may decide to edit them out or remove the post altogether.
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Can I post Images?
Images can indeed be shown in your posts but onyl if you have attain the rank of Rear Admiral and above. You can link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.some-unknown-place.net/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor to images stored behind authentication mechanisms such as Hotmail or Yahoo mailboxes, password-protected sites, etc. To display the image use either the BBCode [img] tag.
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Can I attach a file in my message?
No, attaching file in your messages is currently not allowed, to minimize draining on server resources. However, we may consider this option for future upgrade.
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Can I add HTML codes in my message?
No, HTML codes is not allowed due to unpredictable security risk.
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What are Announcements?
Announcements often contain important information and you should read them as soon as possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Whether or not you can post an announcement depends on the permissions required, which are set by the administrator.
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What are Sticky topics?
Sticky topics appear below any announcements in viewforum and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them where possible. As with announcements the board administrator determines what permissions are required to post sticky topics in each forum.
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What are Locked topics?
Locked topics are set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You cannot reply to locked topics and any poll contained inside is automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons.
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User Levels, Groups, Ranks

What are the ranks underneath my username?
It's a system-generated Starfleet ranks. The more messages you posted, the higher the rank you hold. In Starfleet, high-ranking officers have special rights and privileges. Likewise users here with higher rank could access different Officers' Lounge forums. Here's a list of ranks available for your promotion:

Cadet : 0 - 10 messages posted
Ensign : 11 - 50 messages posted
Lieutenant, J.G. : 51 - 100 messages posted
Lieutenant : 101 - 250 messages posted
Lt. Commander : 251 - 500 messages posted
Commander : 501 - 1,000 messages posted
Captain : 1,001 - 3,000 messages posted
Rear Admiral : 3,001 - 6,000 messages posted
Vice Admiral : 6,001 - 10,000 messages posted
Admiral : above 10,001 messages posted

To avoid the forums be spammed by users with message flooding simply for the purpose of rising in ranks, there is a 60-second interval in between of each posting. As mentioned in the "User Agreement" when you signed up for an account, spamming will NOT be tolerated.

Why are there no Fleet Captain, Commodore and Fleet Admiral ranks?
You are very observant, indeed. These ranks are deliberately left out. We conjecture that if Star Trek is to follow US Navy Command structure, Fleet Captain and Commodore shall be obsolete ranks in Starfleet. These 2 ranks have never be worn by any senior Starfleet officers since TNG onwards. It is expecting that the next promotion for a Captain is a 2-star Rear Admiral (e.g. Captain Janeway). The rank of Fleet Admiral is currently reserved for future upgrade, or perhaps reserved it to our distinguished VIP. Hence, the highest honors an user can archived is the prestigious 4-star Admiral.
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I notice the background color holding the rank pips is in Command Red, can I change it to Operation Mustard Yellow or Science Cyan colors?
No. The background color holding the rank pip is just a static graphic. Perhaps in future we might consider upgrading it to selectable options for users to choose from.
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What are Administrators?
Administrators are people assigned the highest level of control over the entire board. These people can control all facets of board operation which include setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or moderators, etc. They also have full moderator capabilities in all the forums.
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What are Moderators?
Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) whose job it is to look after the running of the forums from day to day. They have the power to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally moderators are there to prevent people going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.
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Why are the ranks held by Administrator and Moderators different?
The Administrator, Global Moderator and Moderators are special users whose ranks are not affected by the number of postings made. The square gold pip was once worn by a Starfleet scientist and warp-field specialist appeared in ST:TNG "Where No One Has Gone Before", however it has never be worn again.
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How to achieve the ranks of Administrator and Moderators?
You can't. The ranks for Administrator, Global Moderator and Moderators cannot be archived through number of postings, rather it is being designated to specific volunteers who administrate or moderates the forums. Those who wish to serve as volunteer moderators can email Webmasterfor inquiry. If you have a good Trek records in the past in contributing to the betterment of local Star Trek community, in any means whatsoever, you may be considered for the position of a moderator. The position of Administrator and Global Moderator is currently restricted.
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Which forum can I access?

General - Trek News & Announcements
The posting to this forum is restricted to Admin & Mod only. Other users can only read but not posting.
The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, Star Trek Movies, Treknology & Treknowledge
These forums are meant for specific Trek discussion. There is no restrictions on posting and reading.
Officer's Lounge
These forums are meant for general discussion. There is no restrictionon posting and reading at Lower Deck, but users must reach certain ranks before allowed into other forums.

Commander's Bridge is a forum for users with Lieutenant Commander rank and above only.
Captain's Ready Room is a forum for users with Captain rank and above only.
Admiral Banquet is a forum for users with Real Admiral rank and above only.

I have posted 10 messages, but why am I still a Cadet?
To be promoted to Ensign, you must post at least 11 messages. Likewise for other ranks, your posting must exceed the minimum before you will be promoted to the next rank.
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I keep getting a reply about "60-second interval not met", why can't I post messages rapidly after one another?
This feature is known as Flood Control, a measure to prevent users from flooding Forums with messages in loops, thereby straining on the server resources and slowing down on response time. However, if you attain the rank of Lieutenant Commander and Commander, the time betyween 2 posts is shorten to 30 secs. For ranks of captain and above, no flood control is enabaled in your profile.
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Can I change my username but retaining my rank?
No. Once you create a new username, you would have to start all over again as Cadet. However, if you insists on using a new username and discard the old username, simple contact the Administrator to lock your old account. Changing of username is discouraged as it creates many administrative matters and security issues. The only exception where you can retain your rank with a new username is when the Administrator or Moderators deem your username as undesirable and request you to re-create a new username.
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Private Messaging

Can I send a message to a user privately?
Yes, you can do so by clicking on the link with the image

or the link "You have xx messages" in the "Subspace Messages" table in the main forum page. You can also send the same message to multiple recipients. However, if you abuse the system, you will be banned from it. Repeated offenders will be also banned from the forum.
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How will I know whether a user has sent a private message to me?
Once you login, at the menu bar of the forum, you will have a line that reads "You have x new messages". That will indicate to you whether any user has sent a private message to you or alternatively, you can enabled a popup box to alert you of new private message in your "Profile". You can do so by clicking on the link "Profile" at the top menu bar of the forum and then find the options named "Notify on new Private Message" and "Pop up window on new Private Message" and select "Yes" for both options.
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I cannot send private messages!
There are three reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, the board administrator has disabled private messaging for the entire board, or the board administrator has prevented you individually from sending messages. If it is the latter case you should try asking the administrator why.
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I keep getting unwanted private messages!
In the future we will be adding an ignore list to the private messaging system. For now, though, if you keep receiving unwanted private messages from someone, inform the board administrator -- they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages at all.
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I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!
We are sorry to hear that. The email form feature of this board includes safeguards to try to track users who send such posts. You should email the board administrator with a full copy of the email you received and it is very important this include the headers (these list details of the user that sent the email). They can then take action.
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Rewards System

What are the ways I can earn points/latinum under the Rewards System?
There are several ways for you to earn points under the Rewards System.

Posting in the forum - 1 latinum/point per post
Uploading Images - 10 latinum/points per validated image
Moderator of forum - 15 latinum/points per completed month of service(30 days) credited to the "normal" user account. If termintation of service is within a month, a prorated amount corrected to the nearest whole latinum/point will be credited to your "normal" user account within 2 weeks upon your termination.
Active participation in local RPG (USS Astral) - 15 latinum per month (4 weeks). Active means at least 1 In-Character post per week for all 4 weeks in a month.
Submission of own-designed Star Trek handphone logo, ringtone, picture SMS - 25 points per accepted submission.
(Note: Point 5 submissions must be your own work and cannot be works that are copyrighted/ owned by others. Infringement of this rule will render you and NOT the administrators/moderators/webmasters of this forum/website(s) liable to the full extent of the law.)
Any valid/useful contribution made to the Star Trek community - Will be decided on a case-case basis.

More will be added in time to come.
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What can I use the latinum/points I earned for?
They allow you to download files from the Star Trek Media Gallery. Different types of files require a different redemption latinum/points as shown below.

Redeem image files - 5 points per image file.
Redeem music files - 10 points per music file.
Redeem Video files - 20 points per video file.

More will be coming soon.
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Where can I find out how many latinum points I have earned so far?
Click on your username and scroll all the way down until you see a field called "Latinum". If you have not earned any points or have 0 points it will not show.
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General Enquries

Can I advertise at StarTrek.com.sg or the Communiquez?
Not for the time being. StarTrek.com.sg and the Communiquez are strictly non-commercial. Our mission is to provide services to the Trekkies community at large. However if your products and/or services offered are related to Star Trek, we do encourage it to be advertised at our site under Quark Merchandise … FREE-OF-CHARGE!
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Can I donate some money to support the Communiquez?
Thank you for your kind offer, but we could not accept any cash donation as it's against Star Trek principals in soliciting for funding. StarTrek.com.sg and the Communiquez are managed and run by volunteers out of their own respective expenses. We enjoy offering our services for the betterment of the local Star Trek community. Hence, we look forward to see more Trekkies coming forward to volunteer their service, time and efforts, in helping us to better ourselves, rather than offering monetary incentives. However, we do welcome individuals and companies to donate some Star Trek stuff as gifts or prizes for contests opened to all Trekkies. Please email the Webmaster for such donation in kind.
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Can I suggest a new forum?
Yes, email the Administrator on the title of your proposed new forum.
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How long will the Administrator or Moderators reply to my query?
Do note that the Administrator and the Moderators are only volunteers who is not obliged to answer each and every questions posted by users. Please read the FAQ thoroughly for answers first before email us. However, we would try our best to reply to you at our earliest time possible.
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Are my personal information secured?
The administrator of the forum has taken every effort to make your information as secure as possible. The password you chose is encrypted by the system and would be very difficult to hacked. Furthermore, the place where information is stored is protected by a password as well. In addition, we have also disallow internet robots to enter this server. However, we would also like to have your cooperation in ensuring that you delete all cookies after you logged out and to remove all temporary internet files in your cache. In addition, we would like you to note that under NO circumstances will anyone ask for your password. If you receive any mails/posts asking you to reveal you password, please report it immediately to the Administrator.
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Usage of Star Trek Media Gallery

How do I upload files to the Gallery?
To upload files, click on the appropriate category link you wish to upload your file to. You will be able to see a button named "Upload" at the top of the category page. Click on that button and you will be presented a upload form to be filled in. Submit the form to begin upload. You will be notified that your upload of the file is successful.
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Is there a file size limit that I can upload?
Yes. The maximum file size you can upload is 1MB.
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What if I wish to upload a file larger than 1MB?
Please contact the administrator at: moderator@vampirovibrio.com. Include a short description of what your file is and how large your file is. The administrator will get back to you shortly.
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What is this button called "Lightbox"?
It is like a storage area for you to select for files you wish to download all at once instead of one by one. To use it, click on the "Lightbox" button located under each file. You will see that it will be checked. This means that that file is being stored in your storage for future download.

The usefulness of this function is that you can select several files you wish to download and store them there and once you have everything you want, just click on the link "Lightbox" located at the top menu bar of the page. You will be presented with a page that shows all the files that are in your storage area. To begin download of all the files, click on the button that reads "Download" and even more amazingly is that all the files will be packaged as a .zip file. So there is only one file to download and it will be reduced in size. Note that in order to extract all the files that are zipped, you will require the program Winzip or any other archiving programs that can extract .zip files.
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Why is it that when I try to download a file, a alert box that says "I am sorry but you do not have enough points to download the file(s)?"?
See the FAQ section on Rewards System.
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Why is my file not shown in the gallery after I uploaded it?
All files uploaded to the gallery will need to be validated by the administrator. Validation will usually take no more than 24 hours and will be validated in the same day. Onyl upon validation that the file will be shown in the gallery and also only then will you be awarded the appropriate points/latinum in your account. For more information on point/latinum, please see the FAQ section on "Rewards System".
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