Click any "index" link to return to this index

How do I register?
How do I Log In?
How do I Log Out?
How do I change my personal info?
How do I retrieve a lost password?
How do I read forum messages?
How do I post new messages?
How do I Reply to a message?
How do I Use the Event Calendar?
How do I put those little smilie faces in my messages?
How do I add a signature to my posts?
How do I add a picture to my post?
How do I add a web site link (URL) to my post?
How do I tell which messages are new?
How do I see today's activity?
How do I add effects (like bolding or italics)?
Are cookies used?
How can I clear all cookies set on this board?
How do I edit my own posts?
Can I attach files?
Can I search?
What are member ratings?
What are private messages?
What is an Ignore List?
What is a Buddy List?
Are there any censor features?
Can I be notified by email if someone responds to my topic?
Can I search private forums?
What are posting icons?

Registering Show me (index)
You do not need to register to read forum messages. However, registration is required if you plan to post new topics or reply to existing topics.

Logging In Show me (index)
Once you are registered, you must log in in order to post or reply to messages in any of the forums.

Logging Out Show me (index)
When you are ready to leave the forums, you may use the log out option to "offically" log out of the site. However, it is not required to log out. You may, if you wish, simply leave the site. If you do log out, you must log in again the next time you visit. If you choose not to log out, then (if you choose to have your login info remembered when you first registered) you will automatically be logged in when you return to the forums. It does not hurt anything not to log out.

Changing Personal Info Show me (index)
Once you are registered and logged in, you can go to "My Profile" and change any of your personal information, such as your password, signature, email address, location, interests, etc.

Lost Login ID and/or Password Show me (index)
Retrieving your login ID and password is simple, assuming that email features are turned on for this message board. All of the pages that require you to identify yourself with your username and password carry a "lost password" link that you can use to have your username and password emailed instantly to your email address of record.

Reading Forum Messages Show me (index)
There are numerous forums available for you to participate in. The forum area is divided into 5 broad categories: British Automobiles (7 forums), British Car Magazine (1 forum), General Discussions (7 forums), Events (2 forums) and Moderators only (1 forum - restricted access). You can list all forums all at once, or you can list only those forums in a particular category.

Posting New Forum Messages Show me (index)
Assuming you are registered and logged in, you can post new messages in any of the forums (except Moderators forum, unless you are a moderator).

Replying to Forum Messages Show me (index)
There are two ways to reply to a message. You can add a general reply, or you can reply with a quote.

Using the Event Calendar Show me (index)
If you have an event you would like to advertise, you can either post it in our Event forums, or you can add it to our Event Calendar. We recommend you do BOTH. Adding an event to the calendar is very easy. Click the "Show Me" link above to see how.

Adding Signatures Show me (index)
You may use a signature on your posts. You may set your signature in your member profile. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose to include it (or not) with any post you make by checking the "include signature" box when you create your post. You may change your signature at any time by changing your profile, unless a message board administrator locks your profile.

Note: You may not use HTML in your signature file, but you may use UBB Code (except for the UBB Code Image tag).

Adding Pictures! Show me (index)
Probably the most common question we get is, "How do I add a picture to a message?" If it actually very easy to do, but you must remember that, since you can not upload files to our server, the picture you want to post must reside on your own web page, or some other web page. You can then use UBB code directly, or use the "Image" button when posting your message.

Note: Do NOT post inappropriate pictures that violate the rules you agreed to when you registered. Doing so will get you banned in a New Your Minute.

Adding Links! Show me (index)
Probably the second most common question we get is, "How do I add a link to a cool web site?" If it very easy to do You can then use UBB code directly, or use the "Image" button when posting your message.

Note: Do not post links that are inappropriate. (suce as pornographic sites, or sites that violate our posting rules for good taste). Doing so will get you banned in a New Your Minute.

How to Tell New Messages Show me (index)
When you visit the British Car Forum a second or subsequent time, you can tell which forums have new messages or replies since you were last here. Also, when you are in a particular forum, you can tell at a glance which messages are new or have new replies added since your last visit.

Today's Active Topics Show me (index)
If all you want to do is take a quick glance at what topics have been active today (e.g., new topics or topics with new replies) in any of the forums, you can do that with one click of the mouse.

Smilies/Graemlins Show me (index)
Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This message board automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical representation, which we call graemlins. You can use our Instant Graemlins buttons for automatic generation. For example, if you type :o in your post, it will automatically be converted to - a shameful face. The following graemlins are currently supported:

Show Me How

Adding effects Using HTML and/or UBB Code (index)
You can only use UBB Code in your posts. We have turned off the use of HTML as a precation against malicious activity. UBB Code is similar to HTML, but offers just a few basic functions, such as hyperlinking, image display, bolding and italicizing. Complete details on UBB Code are listed here.

Cookies (index)
This bulletin board uses cookies to store the following information: the last time you logged in, your login identification, and your preferred "topic view." These cookies are stored on your browser. Don't worry, Cookies are not used to track your movement or perform any function other than to enhance your use of the message board. If your browser does not support cookies, or you have not enabled cookies on your browser, many of these time-saving features will not work properly and you will not be able to post new messages.

Clearing Cookies (index)
If you ever experience login problems, you may have a problem with the cookies that have been set in your browser. If this happens, you can try clearing all cookies set on this message board by clicking http://www.britishcarforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=clearcookies. Editing Your Posts Show me (index)
You may edit or delete your own posts at any time. Look for the edit icon on the post to be edited. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum moderator(s) or the message board administrators.

Attaching Files (index)
For security reasons, you may not attach files to any posts. You may cut and paste text into your post, however, or use UBB Code (not HTML) to provide hyperlinks to outside documents.

Searching For Specific Posts Show me (index)
You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, by a particular registered member, by date, and/or by forum. Just click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.

Member Ratings (index)
The administrators of this message board may permit members to rate each other. Only registered members may be rated and they can only be rated by other members. Even if ratings are being used on this board, you may elect to not have other members rate you. To turn off member ratings for yourself, just change your profile settings. This option can be disabled by the board administrators.

Private Messages (index)
Members may send private messages to each other. A private message is not email. Private messages are one-to-one communications that can only be read by the recipient. You can read private messages in your profile section. You can also elect to be notified by email whenever someone sends you a private message (you can set this in your profile). You can also prevent anyone from sending you a private message (also configurable in your profile). Only registered members may send private messages.

To send someone a private message, look for the private message icon on a post a person creates. You can also send a private message through the person's member profile, or from your Buddy List, if you have added the person to your Buddy List.

Ignore Lists (index)
Ignore lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your ignore list can no longer send you a private message. You can put someone on your ignore list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to ignore list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use buddy lists.

Buddy Lists (index)
Buddy lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your buddy list is stored in handy location, so that you can easily send the person a private message. You can put someone on your ignore list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to ignore list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use buddy lists.

Censoring Posts (index)
The message board administrators have the power to censor certain words that may be posted. This censoring is not an exact science, however, so certain words may be censored out of context. Please realize that the censoring, if any censoring is being performed, is being done by a computer based on the words that are being screened. Words that are censored are replaced with asterisks.

Email Notification (index)
If you create a new topic, you have the option of receiving an email notification every time someone posts a reply to your topic. Just check the email notification box when creating a new topic, if you want to use this feature. Only registered members can use this feature.

Can I search private forums? (index)
Yes, if you have permission to access the particular private forums you wish to search. Note that you must be logged in to search private forums.

What are Topic icons? (index)
You may associate an icon with each post that you make. There are currently 14 icons, each expressing a different emotion or identification. These icons range from a simple note to sadness to warning. These icons appear next to each topic in a forum listing and on each post. If you do not see icons, your forum administrator may not be allowing icons on this particular forum.

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