How to write an index

squeaky

Right, here we go...


Step One:
Please highlight and then copy the text in the quote box below:-

Quote:
This post is going to be a complete collection of ALL "whateveritis" threads here on Old Style. Please do not add any posts or questions into this Index Thread but do your best to choose from the many threads below one which is most closely related to your query and by all means join that one.

Note: I can't close the index thread to stop posters asking questions on it because then you couldn't post into it either.


Step Two:

Start a new thread with the title:-

The Complete Whateveritis Collection

(and obviously change whateveritis to the right subject )


Step Three:

Paste the text that you just copied into the post, and click on the submit button as usual. (and obviously change whateveritis to the right subject )


Step Four:

PM me to let me know that you have started your collection and I'll then paste into it the contents of the original collection that you are taking over and add any others that are currently in the MEGA Index. (I have to do it this way because you can only edit your own posts - so if I was to start your collection you wouldn't be able to add anything.)


Step Five:

I'm pretty sure that most of you will know some or all of the things I'm going to cover here, so please bear with me as I try to make it comprehensive enough to make it easy for less experienced members to manage.

If my explanations of any of the steps still leave you with questions by all means ask them in this thread so that somebody can help you. One really good source of help is the MSE A-Z Guide written by sra and linked here:-

Unofficial A-Z (Look here first)

• Edit button: In your own posts, in case you haven't found it yet, there is an edit button in the bottom right corner of your post as shown here:-

• This opens the basic edit window as shown below, and if you're happy working in that one, fine

• I have found that clicking on the "Go Advanced" button makes editing easier and it gives you more options in the grey tool bar just above the text window.

• Tip: On the right hand side of the toolbar are some small arrows that allow you to change the size of the text edit area. This is very helpful when working up and down a long index list.

• Tip: If you are still seeing codes like [ b]some text[/b] you will be much better off changing your editor to the WYSIWYG one. Help on how to do this can be found in the MSE A-Z by sra which is linked to just above here.

Step Six:

Now we're getting to the real job You can choose to work backwards from the most current threads to the oldest or to work forward from the oldest to the newest. (I've found it easiest to work forward from the back - less chance of missing anything, but the choice really is your own).

IF I have been able to hand you set of threads from the MEGA Index then you only need to work backwards to (or forwards from) about page 400 at the time of writing. (This is pure guesswork on my part. We have over 500 pages of threads which means more than 10,000 threads in total and only about 3,000 are in the MEGA. So if you find that I'm way off, please let me know and I'll edit the 400 accordingly).

I'm going to show you two ways to build your index. First the simple one, and then the (purely optional) smarty pants merge-proof one. By all means choose the one which is easiest for you, but in either case - once you have made a couple of links you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. Promise

Note: The best way to work is to have two windows (or two tabs) open. Have your Index post open in the first one and click on your edit button. The second window should have the Old Style forum listing in it. (Actually, to start with, you might like to have a third window or tab that has this post in it so that it's easy to refer to until you get the hang of things).

Simple Link Collecting:

• Go to your start page (first one or about 400) or the last page you were working on (more about that later) and take a look at the list of threads.

• Using the search facility really doesn't work here, you'll miss threads, so your mark one eyeball is the best tool you've got

• If you are doing "yoghurt" for example it'll be pretty obvious if the post has that word in the title - so grab it as shown below.

• I'm sorry, but you are going to have to actually look at the contents of all the threads whose subject is not obvious from its title. i.e all the "help please..." and "how do I...?" and "I made a mistake..." sort of thing, and if it's one of yours grab that too.

• If you've had to go and look at a thread - use your browser's back button to get back to the list page.

• Place your mouse at the end of the name of the thread as shown here:-

• Take care that the mouse pointer is a and not a or you'll be taken off to the thread

• Now press and hold the left mouse button down and then move the mouse left until all of the title is highlighted:-

• Let go of the mouse button and then move it into the highlighted area as you can see above - right click and choose "Copy" from the little menu.

• Now move to your other window, choose the place that you want to add your link into (an empty line) and again right click in that place but this time choose "Paste" from the little menu.

That's it. One easy link gone and got

Of course, if the title of the thread is not very helpful you will need to change it...

• If you have a link name such as this:- Help please...

• Place your mouse cursor just inside the name:- Help please...

• Hit backspace until you get to the beginning:- elp please...

• Type in the new name: Hedgehog fritterselp please...

• Then delete until the rest of the name is gone:- Hedgehog fritters

This way we make sure that you don't accidentally remove any of the hidden code tags that make this a link.

• Tip: If you're comfortable with mouse operations then you can either carefully highlight the link name as shown above, or double click on it, and simply type your new link name there.

That's it. You're done

MrsTinks

I intend to shamelessly steal this for the Celebrations board Hope you don't mind Squeaky

squeaky

For sure

However - I had a little trouble when I ran over the maximum size limit for a single post and finished up with some duplicate copies - and this is one of them

So I'm going to close this thread for now, and delete it later. You'll need to pinch the OTHER one - same name, once it's done