INTRODUCTION

These are the steps you need to take to access the Message Board.

There are several ways you can use the Message Board:

• Browse and Read messages without logging in

• Search the messages without logging in

• Print a message without logging in

• Post a message - you don't have to log in but if you have registered previously you can log in with your existing username.

• Registering a username and logging in

• Maintain a list of your Favourite Message Boards for return visits (This feature requires logging in with a registered user name)

• Maintain a list of those Notifications on any Board - you will receive notification of all new messages when you select this feature from any Message Board. (This feature requires logging in with a registered user name)

VISIT THE MESSAGE BOARD
Click HERE to go straight to the EoLFHS Message Board (the site will open in a new window so you can switch back to this page and check the steps as you use the Board). The format is pretty much the same as before: newest messages appear at the top with title and author's name. Scroll down through the messages to see if any interest you.  Click the message title to view the message in full and click the Back button in your browser to return to the list. Check if there is a Next link to take you to further pages. You can do all of these without logging in.

Reading the Messages:
Click on any message to read it.  If replies have been posted, they will show as links underneath the message box. When you have read a message, click the link "List Messages" which appears just below the Message Board name.

See Author's other Postings:
You can now view the Author's other postings in all other Message Boards by clicking on their linked name. (Note: if there is no link on the author's name this indicates that the author has registered their name in the system).

Print a Message:
You can print any message. When you click the Print icon, you will see the full message (without all the graphics at the top of the screen). You will now see the email address of the poster whether it was shown as a link or not in the message screen previously. Click the printer icon in your browser to print the message.

HOW DO I POST A MESSAGE?
Near the top of the screen, click the link 'Post a New Message'
For best results and so that visitors can find you when they do a search use the following formats:

• subject line [in the format Name, Date, Location for best results]

• message [You can add links and email addresses within the message text, they will show up as clickable links when the message has been posted]

• surnames [type in as Smith, Jones, White, Edwards]
  Note: Only surnames (last names) should be listed in the Surname Box, and each should be separated by a comma. The Surname Box is used to index the surnames in your message and is not to be used for listing surnames not included in the message text.

• classification [select from all (top option for general queries), [query, bible, biography, birth, cemetery, census, death, deed, immigration, lookup, marriage, military, obituary, pension, will]

Preview Message button and edit if necessary before posting. Your new message will appear at the top of the list when you view the list.

Posting a Reply to a Message:
If you want to reply to a message that someone else has written, you need to have their message on screen first.
Click the link 'Post Reply'

The subject line will already be completed for you
Type your message [You can add links and email addresses within the message text]
surnames [type in as Smith, Jones, White, Edwards]
Preview your reply and post when you are happy with it.

Your message appears directly below the one you have replied to.

Visitors to the Board can see straightaway if my posting is of interest to them or not.  You are also advised to enter your Surname interests in the appropriate box. These surnames become part of Surname Helper and will show up when somebody searches that name from any Surname Helper box.

LOGGING IN WITH REGISTERED USERNAME
There are several ways you arrive at the Registration Screen for the first time. Whilst on the first page of the site, you will see a link "Login using my existing account"

Go direct to the Registration/Log in Page HERE If you are a new user click on the Sign Up Now button, otherwise enter your username and password in the login boxes.

You can also choose not to register with the Board.

SEARCH THE EoLFHS BOARD
You can search for any word in the Search box just below the Message Board name. Choose whether you just want to search the EoLFHS site or ALL Message Boards. Click Go to see the results.

SEARCH FOR OTHER BOARDS
To find a surname or locality board enter the name(s) in the Find a Board box. If this is a Board you would like to visit on a regular basis, add it to My Favourite Boards see below You can also search the Message Board site from their Home page HERE

Advanced Search:
There are many options available in this facility, you can search using just one of these functions:

• Search All Boards or just EoLFHS (or whatever board you are viewing at the time)

• Enter a word or phrase in the Subject box

• Enter an author's name in the Author box to view ALL their postings

• Select a date range in which to search including postings made prior to the merger of the Boards

• Enter a Surname

• Select Soundex for Surname variants (follow the link for further information about Soundex)

• Select a Message Type - Choose from the drop down Menu e.g. Marriage, Death etc. (Currently there are a couple of entries in the Lookup Classification)

NOTE: The original EolFHS Board did not have these separate classifications but they are now available.  When searching other Message Boards you may want to limit your Search Results by selecting one of the options. all, bible, biography, birth, cemetery, census, death, deed, immigration, lookup, marriage, military, obituary, pension, will

E-Mail an Author
You will notice when you read any message that the writer's email address is shown as a clickable link. You can write direct to that person, but your reply will not then appear in the threaded message.

ADD TO FAVOURITES
This process is to set up a series of Favourites within your settings for the Message Boards. It does NOT save in your browser Favourites, you would need to do this in the normal way.

While you visit any Board and intend to pay a return visit, you can click the link Add Board to Favourites.  There is no limit to the number of favourites you can accumulate. To view your Favourites click the link My Favourites to the right of the screen next to your name. This only appears after you have logged in.

ADD TO NOTIFICATIONS
This facility allows you to receive notifications about newly posted messages on ANY board. While you visit a board and you decide you wish to have this notification, click the Add Board to Notifications. To view your Notifications click the link My Notifications to the right of the screen next to your name. This only appears after you have logged in.

LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
This is an important page on any message board as it is intended to provide additional resource information for visitors about linked web sites.