The Movie Forum FAQ cont.

I see some of the members have formatted their messages with HTML. How can I do that?

If you use Windows Internet Explorer 5 (or above) there is a WYSIWYG posting box provided as the default. So you can easily choose different fonts, colours, layouts etc.

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Other users can hand code HTML messages. It's simpler than it seems. See below for some common tags you might want to use.

Important: To post messages in HTML (the language webpages are written in) you have to be in Advanced View in the forum, that option is not available in Basic View. If you want to make sure a forum message is posted in HTML you have to make sure that you click/select the box that says :

Check here if HTML tags are in the message (not including signature).

If you don't do this your message will show with all the HTML tags (instructions) visible, and not only is that hard for others to follow it puts all your hard work to waste! Though the following information is in HTML I have formatted it in such a way that you can copy & paste the HTML you need. I've also used the colour blue to make it absolutely clear which the tags are :-)

For quoting back previous messages I personally tend to use Italics; for movie titles & names, Bold; & occasionally for stressing something, Underlining. Though some people like to avoid underlining in case readers mistake the text for a link. You may prefer some other style. Here's what to put to get all of them.

In each case the words "enter text here" are replaced by the words you want to use.

For Italics :

<i> enter text here </i>

For Bold :

<b> enter text here </b>

For Underlining :

<u> enter text here </u>

If you post HTML messages you will find that formatting such as paragraph & new line returns isn't automatic. To avoid all your writing 'running together' you need to include the following :

For a new paragraph put: <p>

To start a new line on purpose/insert a 'break' (normal word wrap will occur automatically) put : <br>

Here's an example without the line & paragraph breaks :

HAMLET: To be or not to be, that is the question:Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And, by opposing, end them.

Here's it with the tags visibly included (i.e. what you would type) :

HAMLET: <p> To be or not to be, that is the question: <br> Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer <br> The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, <br> Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, <br> And, by opposing, end them. <p>

Finally here is the same quote as it will appear to the reader :

HAMLET:

To be or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And, by opposing, end them.

How do I use colour and post links?