How to use the forum

[EPAdmin]

How to use the forum

If you have never used an online discussion forum before, the layout may feel unfamiliar at first. The basics are quite simple once you know where things are.

The Board Index

The Board Index is the forum’s main page.

It shows the different sections of Estranged Parents, such as general discussion, support areas, Start Here, useful organisations and the Media & Reference Library.

Click or tap a forum name to open it.

Topics and posts

Inside each forum you will see a list of topics.

A topic is a conversation about one subject.

Inside a topic, each individual message is called a post.

Click or tap a topic title to read the conversation.

Finding recent activity

The New posts link is one of the easiest ways to see what has been added since your last visit.

You may also see links for unread posts, active topics or your own posts, depending on the page you are viewing.

Returning to the main forum

You can return to the Board Index using the navigation links near the top of the page.

You can also use the breadcrumb trail, which shows where you are within the forum.

For example:

Board index > General Discussion > Coping with estrangement

Each part of the trail can be clicked to move back up a level.

Reading longer discussions

Popular topics may run over several pages.

Use the page numbers or Next and Previous controls to move through the discussion.

Your account menu

When you are logged in, your username appears near the top of the page.

From there you can access your profile, private messages and account settings, and log out when you have finished.

Using the forum on a phone or tablet

Estranged Parents is designed to work on smaller screens as well as desktop computers.

On a phone, some menus may be collapsed behind icons or menu buttons. The same forums and functions are still available.

If you get lost

Do not worry about clicking the wrong thing. Reading the forum will not change anything.

You can always return to the Board Index and start again.

The next guide explains how to start a new topic and reply to other members.