Formatting & Forum Advice Thread

As I could not find any thread on here with these, I thought I would write one.

Why?

Because I am somewhat familiar with the forum software (Discourse) because the L1T Forum uses the same software.
And because it was missing.

Content

1) Formatting
2) Other features
3) Misc tricks


Cursive Text

*Cursive Text*

Alternatively: _Cursive Text_


Bold Text

**Bold Text**

Alternatively: __Bold Text__


Strike through

<s>Strike through</s>

Underlined

[u]Underlined[/u]

Headline

## Headline

The # can be stacked to make smaller headlines.


Block Quote

> Block Quote

Alternatively: image


<br> inserts a line break, useful for lists.



______ ← Usually makes a line, but with the color settings, it is hard to see :wink: .

Screenshot from other forum showing line:




2) Other Features

Table:

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
1 2 3
A B C
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3
-|-|-
1 | 2 | 3
A | B | C

Code tags
(important to show other people formating and stuff :stuck_out_tongue:)

Your <br> stuff here[

[code]Your stuff here[/code]

Bullet points

  • Bullet point
  • Bullet point
  • Bullet point

Also here: image
Just to show different signs work (pick one):

- Bullet point
+ Bullet point
* Bullet point

List

  1. Point 1
  2. Point 2
  1. Point 3
  2. Point 4
    Also here: image
1) Point 1
2) Point 2
3. Point 3
4. Point 4

Spoiler tag (not activated)

Blurry text or image

[spoiler]Blurry text or image[/spoiler]

[quote]What was said somewhere[/quote]

Also: When you highlight someone elses post, it will give you an option to quote:
image
This will notifiy the user of you mentioning them. A good way to respond to multiple users at once.


3) Misc tricks

Link description < Link to Z’s channel

[Link description](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3XdYJjWliOdKuZMNaTiP8Q)

Alternatively:


You can break up a list of bullet points using <br>

  • Point 1
  • Point 2

  • Point 3
  • Point 4
- Point 1
- Point 2
<br>
- Point 3
- Point 4

Poll
You can also include Polls into your post!
I recommend you use the popup to create them:
image
image
image

  • Option 1
  • Option 2
0 voters
[poll type=regular results=always public=true]
* Option 1
* Option 2
[/poll]

Hide Details
If you have a block of text or a bunch of images you don’t want to clutter up a thread, you can use the “Hide Details”-function.
image

[details="Summary"]
This text will be hidden
[/details]

Whatever is between the “[Details]” texts will be hidden in a small drop down like so:

Test

Awesome stuff in here!


Other things:

  • Images can placed by Crtl+V or rightclick > paste
  • #off-topic-new lets you link to categories: #off-topic-new
  • @User mentiones a user (notifies them) so you can invite them to join the conversation

  • Clicking the 3 dots gives you the option to bookmark a specific post:
    image
    You can find you bookmarks here:
    image
  • Workarround for this one: image
    Include <Your minimum character filler> in your post.


I hope this comes in handy from time to time.

13 Likes

Nice, helpful formatting tips and tricks that I can ignore with walls of text. Great guide :+1:

1 Like

Better have them and not use them than not having them at all.

1 Like

Thread controls

Posted with a spelling error in the title or in the wrong category?
(Also applies to TL3 users = Regulars)

Scroll to the start and click the pencil.
image

Make your changes, then click the checkmark (or in case you don’t want to change, just the X)

Bottom Menu
image
This menu lets you:

  • Share the thread via link
    The share button also lets you invite users via their username or email
    image
    Alternatively, you can @Username_Here any user in your post.

  • Bookmark lets you bookmark the thread or clear bookmarks made to posts in the thread (more info on bookmarks below).
    Your bookmarks show up in your user menu here:
    image
    image

  • Flag a post that does not fit in to the forum, is spam, etc.

  • The Bell lets you set notification options for the thread.
    image


Post Controls

Editing
Made a spelling mistake or want to keep the slightly off-topic discussion isolated?
Click the pencil below your post
Note: Edits are limited in number and the option times out after a few weeks
image


Said something you in hindsight don’t want to have in the thread?
Click the three dots,
image
Then click the trash can:
image

As you have the three dots menu open:
This here lets you reply to a post with a new topic (or get a link to that post in the thread you are looking at).
The linked topic function is nice to not derail a thread…
image


Flag function
This is for when a post is spam, someone misbehaves or is grosely off-topic.
image
Flag-Options include:
image


Bookmarks
You can bookmark a thread or a specific post in a thread.
image

The bookmark menu lets you set a reminder and a reason.
Notice the cog reveals an option to delete the boomark when the reminder notification is sent.

Settings (only TL3 and up)
Lets you turn your post into a wiki making it editable by other users.
Also has the moderation options in there :wink:
image

3 Likes

Thanks for this thread. I was wondering how to strike through text. I wish there was a dedicated button for it.
You should also consider changing the thread title. I didn’t know what this thread was until I looked

Open to suggestions

I would have called it something like Forum Thread and text formatting guide.
Since most people probably aren’t aware of what Discourse is

1 Like