The Settings page is where you can make a wide range of changes to your profile, as well as changes that affect the entire forum. You can make changes to your avatar, your signature, your account e-mail among others. This is a key aspect of your experience with using the forum, but understanding it can take some time. Here is an explanation of the different sections of settings and what they do:
4a. Overview
When you enter the new window, you should see all of your subscribed threads taking up the middle and right-hand side of your window. This area will show all the threads you've subscribed to that have new posts in them. If you would like to see all of your subscribed threads - new posts or not - then scroll down a bit to find the "View all Subscribed Threads".
To the left of your screen you will see:
>> My Messages: Shows you links to your Inbox, Sent Items, to Send New Message, Track Messages and Edit Folders. This doesn't include any folders you've added yourself (will explain below).
>> My Subscriptions: Shows you Subscriptions, List Subscriptions and Edit Folders options.
>> My Settings: Shows you different options you can do for you Profile, Account, Networking, Miscellaneous, and Blog. All of these will be explained below, in detail, as well.
4b. My Messages
>> Inbox: This is where you can check up on your private messages. Your inbox is messages you have received from other people. A closed envelope with a green arrow in a circle on the envelope beside a message indicates that you have replied to that message. A blue, open envelope next to the message means it's unread; and a closed white envelope means you have read the message. To delete message, check the white boxes in the right beside the message/s you wish to delete. The scroll down until you see a "Selected Messages (#)" drop-down box. The # will indicate how many messages you've selected. In the drop-down menu, you should see "Delete" - click that, then hit "Proceed".
>> Sent Messages: This shows messages that you have sent, they do not indicate if the recipient has read the messages or not. Some messages may not be automatically sent here if you have "Don't save a copy of sent messages" option selected in your General Settings area (General Settings -> Messaging and Notifications area -> Sent Private Messages can be found right above Visitor Messages),
>> Send New Message: This allows you to send a message to any member on the forum. You can send a message to up to five people at a time. Moderators and administrators have the ability to send the same message to more than five people, as well as to all members of usergroups and clans.
>> Track Messages: Since the "Sent Folder" does not show you if the recipient has read your messages or not, you can choose to click the "Request a read receipt for this message" below the text box when you click "Advanced" when replying. This means that when the recipient receives your message, they can click "yes" to confirm they've received your message. Also, the recipients may also select "Cancel" to not notify you that they have received it. In this area, you will see how many of your sent messages have confirmed receipts and how many have unconfirmed sent messages.
>> Edit Folders: Here, you can add or delete any existing folders - or even change the name of them to whatever you want. "Inbox" and "Sent" folders are default, so you won't be able to change details about those. However, you can add a "Saved" folder for important information you want to keep as well as folders for your friends messages. Keep in mind that you will have to move the messages manually to these folders, since they will automatically go into your Inbox.
To create a folder, go to the "Add New Folders" area of the Edit Folders window and type in the name of one, two or even three new folders you want to add. Once you've named them, click "Save Changes" in the lower right hand side. You will find that your folders show up after your sent folder.
4c. My Subscriptions
>> Subscriptions & List Subscriptions: These are typically threads that you've created or have manually or automatically subscribed to (see 4d on automatic subscriptions). Clicking this will take you to the "List Subscriptions" you see below this option. It will take you to the new window with all of your current subscriptions. You will be able to see if there has been a new post, who the post was made by and when they made that post. By clicking "
" next to the day and time last posted in, it will take you to the new post made by that user.
>> Edit Folders: Provides you with the same abilities as the "Edit Folders" option in your Messages. However, "Subscriptions" are not an automatic folder, so you may change the name to that folder and add new ways anyway you like. Creating new folders is done exactly like with making new message folders. To edit the current name, look under "Your Folders", you should see the current name of your Subscription folder. Simply highlight the text and type in a new name. Once you've selected the name, click "Save Changes" in the lower right (only use the first "Save Changes" so that it will save the name change).
4d. My Settings
>> Edit Profile: This is where you can fill in and edit information about yourself which is publicly viewable to everyone else. (The exception to this is your date of birth, but your age is shown). It is recommended you fill in as much information as you can so that people can get an at-a-glance overview about you, but it isn't necessary. Your custom title is a caption that appears underneath your name on every post you make, this is made by default depending on your post count, rank bar or status on AL (assistant, moderator, head moderator and admin). We have what is called a "Status" on VBulletin that you can go ahead and edit to be your Custom Title - it functions the same as it did on the old forums, however, you must edit it by going to "My Profile" (at the top of the screen) and clicking the edit button below your avatar.
>> Edit Profile Picture: This lets you upload another image that will take the place of their avatar when you click to see their profile.
>> Edit Avatar: Your avatar is an icon that appears below your name on every post you make, as well as on your profile and in the arcade. You can chose to have your avatar hosted on the forum, or you can provide a link to an image provided from elsewhere (See section 7c). "Upload from Computer" and "Link off-site" are two options for using your own avatar. It is recommended you link off-site to avoid errors. You do not need to modify the avatar dimensions, the forum will automatically detect the dimensions of the image for you. Modifying this may result in what looks like a squished image. If you don't have your own, you can scroll down a little bit more to see ALs pre-defined avatars. We currently have 120 avatars from you to choose from. Below the first 10 avatars, you will see page numbers that you can browse through to see all 120. When you find something you like, select the round button besides the file name and hit "Save Changes".
>> Edit Signature: This is where you can modify your forum signature. Your signature is automatically attached to every post you create. Everything you can do to regular posts (See section 6) can be applied to the signature. Modifying the signature will also affect all past posts you have made, as well as future ones you create. Although, if you have recently added a signature
after making some posts around the boards, your new signature will not be added to those previous posts. If you want your signature to show up, you must go to those posts, select "Edit Post", then "Go Advanced". You should see "Show your Signature" in the Additional Options area under the text box. Check the box and scroll down to select "Save changes".
There is a size limit for signatures however, in which they can be no bigger than 400 pixels in height including all text and images. For more information on content that is allowed in signatures, as well as what the limit looks like, see
[Here]. You can disable forum signatures in 'General Settings' (General Settings -> Thread Display Options).
>> Edit Profile Privacy: Here you can change who can see every part of your profile: what groups your in, your statuses, your contact info, profile picture, etc. If you don't want the default of "Everyone" to see certain things, simply click the appropriate drown-down menu and select the status they must have to view your stuff.
>> Edit E-mail & Password: Pretty straight forward. If you ever want to change your password or change your e-mail address, you can do so here. Be sure to select "Save Changes" once you finish.
>> General Settings: Here you can select many settings for your forum experience. If you want to hide from regular members, assistants and moderators you can do so here by selecting "Invisible Mode On". You can select how your subscriptions are set-up, how you want to receive notification of who has posted in your subscribed threads, who can PM you, how you want to be notified you've received a PM, where your sent messages go, etc. There are a TON of features available, so read through this area and select the permissions you want for your forum experience.
>> Edit Connections: This area allows you to connect Facebook to AnimeLeague. To connect, simply click on "Connect with Facebook". Once you do, the blue facebook "Connect" button that shows up in the upper right of the AL Banner will be replaced with your facebook image. Around the forums, you may also find "Like this thread" at the top of the threads you're reading. Like other sites, you will also see how many of your facebook friends have liked that thread as well.
>> Clan Groups: Just like in the Clans option at the top of the forum (explained in section 3), this will show you all of the active clans we have on our forums, as well as your own. You can also request to join clans through this feature.
>> Edit Ignore List: Here you can search users you do not want to contact you, PM you or anything of that nature. Simply search their username and select "Okay".
>> Edit Arcade Settings: Allows you to customize how you want to be contacted when your high score has been beaten, how you wish to accept challenges, etc.
>> Friends & Connections: Takes you to the same place "Friends & Contacts" did from the Community drop-down menu explained in section 3. Here you can add people to your friend list by scrolling all the way down to the "Add a Member to Your List" area and click "Add Friend" - which will then send them a friend request of sorts so that you will show up on their friend list as well.
In the upper right corner, above all of your current friends on AL, you will find a search area that will allow you to find a friend on your list - if you have multiple pages. You may want to do this for quick access to send them a PM, leave them a visitor message or even to delete them off your friends list. Deleting a friend off your list is easy. You'll see little checked boxes in the upper left corner of each friends' avatar. Unchecking this box and clicking "Save Changes" will remove those with unchecked boxes from your friend list.
>> Event Reminders: When I explained the Calendar in section 3, I told you there was an option to view details about events posted. What I didn't mention was that, at the bottom of the event message, there is an option to be reminded of that event if you're interested in attending or taking part. Once you click that option, all event reminders will show up here for you!
>> Attachments: This window allows you to see any and all attachments you've posted anywhere on the forums. To post attachments, simply select "Manage Attachments" when you're in the Advanced reply reply box (just click "Advanced" to get there). A pop-up window will appear with options to allow you to upload files and images from your computer (click browse to find) and images from other websites (simply place the URL of the image in there). Once you've uploaded your attachments, select the appropriate "Upload" button.
>> Blog: Clicking "Blog" will take you to the Blogs area discussed above in section 3.
