APTS FORUMS

Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions. We hope you find these helpful as you begin using the GC Forum. If you have any questions not addressed below, let us know. Email us at grantcenter@apts.org with additional questions, as well as suggestions on ways we can update this document to make it even more useful.

What is the Grant Center Forum (GC Forum)?
The GC Forum is a friendly environment where you can discuss any topic related to funding or public broadcasting. You are able to post questions or comments that can be viewed by your public media grantwriting peers. In turn, they can respond to your posts. You are also able to reply to other posts. This public conversation will allow you and others to share your wisdom and thoughts to help each other find answers and spread helpful information. The goal is to build an active public media grantwriting community which benefits from the collective knowledge of its members.

How do I begin to use the Forum?
To join the discussion, a username and password are required. For step-by-step instructions on how to obtain a log-in as well as how to create and respond to a post, access our Getting Started on the GC Forum page here: http://www.apts.org/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24

We also provide posting guidelines and a Code of Conduct if you are not familiar with discussion forum etiquette. You can view these guidelines here: http://www.apts.org/phpbbforum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23

How do I know when a new topic or reply has been posted since my last visit?
On the main GC Forum page showing the full list of forum topics, any unread posts or replies will be indicated by an orange colored image to the left of the topic title. You also have the option of selecting either View unread posts or View new posts below the red APTS Forums banner on the right. Unread posts are those which have not been read by you, and new posts are all posts and replies that are new to the forum. When accessing unread or new posts, you can return to the GC Forum page through the blue link titled Board found directly below the links to view unanswered posts and active topics. This will direct you to the APTS Forum directory. From there, click on Grant Center Forum to return to the discussion.

If you want to be notified by email when a reply has been made to a topic in which you are active, just check the box marked Notify me when a reply is posted found below the text box in your reply or post. If you wish to remove email notifications, you can do so by deselecting the same box next time you post a reply to the particular topic in question.

Can I receive email notifications?
Yes, you can receive email notifications from topics in which you have already participated either as a creator of the topic, or as one of the discussants.

For specific topics to set up email notifications simply check the box marked Notify me when a reply is posted, below the text box, prior to selecting Submit.

There is no way to retroactively sign up for email notifications, unless you wish to do so for all discussion threads in which you are participating. If you wish to change your default setting to always receive email notifications on all topics in which you are listed as a participant, this can be done by accessing the User Control Panel on the top right, below the red APTS Fourms banner. Once in the control panel select the Board Preferences option indicated on the left. The option to change the email notification setting is found under the Edit posting defaults option. Simply change Notify me upon replies by default from "No" to "Yes." Click Submit to make official.

How do I change my password?
Your password can be changed through the User Control Panel located on the top right below the red APTS Forums banner. Once inside the control panel, simply select Profile from the options on the left, this will then display four options under the Profile category. The ability to change your password is found in the Edit account settings (the last option). Make all the necessary changes and click Submit to make official.

How do I view posts and replies only I have submitted?
To view only posts you have contributed to, you can select the View your posts option. This is the last of three options on the top right, below the red APTS Forums banner. You can select this option at any time and it will take you to a list of the discussion topics in which you have participated, either as the creator or as a participating member of the discussion.

How do I format the text of a post?
The GC Forum provides only the basic formatting options: Bold, Italicize and underline. To utilize any of these functions, simply type your text into the text box, select the word(s) you wish to format and then select the particular function which you would like to see. The different functions are found just above the text box. Once selected, you will notice brackets filled with either a b, i or u placed both before and after the selected text. The new edits will not appear in the text box, select the Preview option to see the finalized post. Click Submit to make the post permanent.

You also have the option to create a bulleted list. To do so, type your list into the text box with each bulleted item starting in a new line. To create the bullets, select the [*] function at the beginning of each bulleted line. Once you are completed, highlight the entire list and select the List function to make the necessary indentation. Your list should look like the following example, but with brackets instead of parentheses:

The Services Public Broadcasting Provides:
(list)(*)Education
(*)Job readiness training
(*)Teacher professional development(/list)

Select Preview to view your edited text, and select Submit to make official.

How do I return to the Grant Center forum page?
You can return to the main GC Forum page to view the full list of topics at any time. Simply select the Grant Center Forum link directly above the topic title. The link will be blue and is directly below the links to view unanswered posts and active topics.

If you find yourself in a place on the forums where the only option is Board index, don’t panic. This is typically the case if you are in the User Control Panel. Simply select Board Index. This will redirect you to the APTS Forum directory. Just click Grant Center Forum to enter the Grant Center discussion.

What options do I have to edit my profile? How do I do it?
You can edit your profile to create a signature, upload a thumbnail image to accompany your username, change your password, and/or add more personal information on your occupation and interests for others to view.

You can make all of these changes through the User Control Panel. Simply click on the link titled User Control Panel on the top right, below the red APTS Forums banner. Once inside the control panel, you can edit your profile by selecting the Profile option on the left. Choose from among the four options listed (edit profile, edit signature, edit avatar (image), and edit account settings) to make any and all the changes you find necessary.

Can I create a personal signature?
Yes, you can create a personal signature visible on all posts and replies submitted by you. To do so, enter the User Control Panel by clicking the link on the top left below the APTS Forums banner. Once in the control panel, the signature option is found by selecting Profile on the left below Options. From there, click the second option on the left side marked Edit signature.

You can first preview your signature by clicking Preview below the text box. Click Submit to make your signature official. You can always return to this option to make additional edits at a later date.

What’s the User Control Panel?
The User Control Panel allows you to change you profile, organize topics you find important, privately chat with colleagues, and much more. You can enter the User Control Panel through the link provided on the top right, below the red APTS Forums banner. Once in the control panel, you can filter through the different options provided on the left:

• Option 1: Overview: Here, you can learn more about your personal activity in the forum, as well as organize topics and posts to your liking.
• Option 2: Profile: Here, you can add personal information to your profile for others to view, upload an image, create a personalized signature and change your log-in credentials.
• Option 3: Board Preferences: Here, you can change your contact preferences, as well as preferences on how you participate in the forums, change email notifications, the organization of the main forum page and change other related default settings.
• Option 4: Private Messages: Here, you can send private messages to your friends and colleagues who are also participating in the GC Forum.
• Option 5: Friends and Foes: Here, you can categorize users as a “Friend” or “Foe” to either prioritize or limit discussions where that individual is an active participant.

Can I post attachments or put URL/website address links in my posts?
Unfortunately the Grant Center forum platform does not allow for the uploading of attachments. Participants are allowed to add a URL but are unable to insert a link, which would allow readers to click on the link and be directed to the related site. If you wish to add a URL simply copy and past the URL as text. The reader will have to do the same to access the website mentioned.