This FAQ is here to answer many of the common questions and problems users encounter. As a rule of thumb, if your problem could be experienced by others as well - check here before posting it in Tech Support. If its common enough, the answer will already be here and you can save some time.
*If the code in your signature is messed up, Check here
User Signatures
A signature is an optional message and/or picture which will appear at bottom of your posts.
How do I set signatures to be hidden or appear?
This is a user profile option that you can toggle on or off, by checking or unchecking the option. Turning it on will make each post show that user's signature below the post message. Turning it off will stop it from showing up this way. To toggle this setting on or off, check or uncheck the following: User CP > Edit Options > Thread Display Options > Visible Post Elements > Show Signatures
The first is to find the image you wish to use and copy its url. If you have it saved on your computer, you will need upload it to another server, then copy its url. (I personally use photobucket, which is free and easy to use).
Alternatively, you may use the upload form in the Edit Signature page to upload a banner. To upload the image from your computer, click the [browse] button next to that section. A File-Open menu pops up. Navigate to the image file you want, select it, and hit open. Then click "Save Changes". The next page wont load for a minute or so, depending on your connection, because your computer is uploading your signature image. Once that is done, just insert [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] where you would like the signature image to be.
Please note that the url should NOT have a URL tag around it, should not have any spaces in it, or anything else. The bbcode in your signature should look exactly like it is above, with only the url changed.
*If you are having problems with your signature and have the Wysiwyg posting option on, you may need to turn that off before updating your signature. Sometimes the wysiwyg will automatically put extra code within it, which will mess up the simg tag.
What is or isn't allowed in a signature?
Much of what is or isn't allowed is up to the judgement of the moderators. Your signature should only have a single banner image, or two images with the secound one put inside of a Spoiler tag. It should not be excessively long, unless it is put within a Spoiler tag. If you think your signature might be pushing the limits, contact a moderator or admin and ask. We are fairly lenient on the signatures, but there are limits.
Your signature is subject to the same rules of a post, but with higher regard. This is because there may be times when something that is normally unnacceptable in a post are looked over because of the context. In a signature, however, the context will be lost and it will be shown in areas where it has no value. Censor evasion, for example, will not be tollerated in any way.
What is the maximum length of my signature?
The current maximum length of a signature is 500 characters. Most BBCode tags dont count for this limit, such as formatting tags, etc.
Normal: This is the default. Fixed Size: It forces each person's signature to 150 pixels tall. If a user's signature it larger than that, it will show a scrollbar to the right. Auto-Hidden: This causes each person's signature to be hidden, except that there will be a clickable ___ that will make the signature show up for that post. It is very similiar to the [spoiler] tag.
User Avatars
Your avatar is an image that is visible below your screen name on every post you make. It's an effective way to personalize your posts.
There are two options on how to set your avatar. You can either upload the image file from your computer to our servers, or you can upload it to another server of your choice and link to it by its url. Please note that either way requires the image file to be within the maximum sizes, as detailed in the next section.
To link to an offsite image you've hosted elsewhere, simply enter that image's URL, and hit Save Changes. Please note that dynamically formed images can't be used, such as those from an attachment. The image file must be read, by both filename and data stream, as nothing more than an image.
To upload the image from your computer, click the [browse] button next to that section. A File-Open menu pops up. Navigate to the image file you want, select it, and hit open. Then click "Save Changes". The next page wont load for a minute or so, depending on your connection, because your computer is uploading your avatar file. After the next page is loaded, the file should be on our server and automatically set as your avatar.
What is the maximum size for my avatar?
An avatar's maximum deminsions is 100 x 100 pixels. An avatar's maximum file size is 40 KB (40960 bytes). Any avatar image that goes over these limits will automatically be rejected by the uploading or linking processes.
Flags
The vBulletin Flags are small images under a user's avatar section that shows the flag of that user's selected country.
How do I turn flags on/off?
This is an option in your control panel's user options. To set whether or not you want a user's country flag to be displayed with his posts, select or deselect the profile option, located here: User CP > Edit Options > Thread Display Options > Flags > Turn Flags Off
How do I set my country flag?
Setting your country flag is as simple as selecting what country you are from in your user profile - it will be displayed automatically to those who choose to view it. To set which country you are from, select that country in your user profile's drop down menu, located here: User CP > Edit Profile > Additional Information > Country > Country
Private Messages and Emails
vBulletin allows users to not only send "Private Messages" and Emails to each other through the forum software, but also allows users to set how and whether or not other users can send Private Messages or Emails to them.
Private Messaging Options
vBulletin's Private Messaging System allows for the setting of several options that affect how users interact with the system. Below is a list of these options, which can be found in here: User CP > Edit Options > Messaging and Notification > Private Messaging
Enable Private Messaging: If you do not want to send or receive private messages, you may disable the private messaging system. Recieve Private Messages from Buddies Only: You may limit the members who may send you private messages to just those on your buddy list if you wish. Other members who attempt to send messages to you will be told that you have disabled private messaging. Recieve Email Notifications of Private Messages: The forum can send a message to your email address to inform you when someone sends you a private message. Show New Private Message Notification Pop-Up:
If you are browsing the forums when you receive a new private message, the system can pop-up a notification box informing you of the new message. Always Save a Copy of Sent Private Messages: When sending a private message, you can choose whether or not to save a copy of the message to your Sent Items folder by default.
Email Options
vBulletin allows users to specify whether users can email them through the forum, as well as whether Administrators can. These options can be found here: User CP > Edit Options > Messaging and Notification > Recieve Email
Receive Email from Administrators: Disable this if you do not wish to let Administrators send you emails through the forum. Recieve Email from Other Members: Disable this if you do not wish to let other members email you through the forum.
Miscellaneous Options
These options are miscellaneous ones that do not fit into the above categories.
Postbit/Threadview Options
MTGSalvation allows users to choose between two different styles of viewing posts: one with the information on the left, and one with the information above the post.
These options may be found here: User CP > Edit Options > Thread Display Options > Postbit Style
vBulletin 2 Postbit: Choose this to display the poster's information on the left of a post. vBulletin 3 Posbit: Choose this to display the poster's information above the post.
Message Editing and Posting Interface
When posting messages to the forums or other members, there are three interface types available to you. The simplest of these is a simple text box, while the last is a fully-fledged WYSIWYG editor, which allows you to format your text as you want it and see the results immediately.
Depending upon the capabilities of your web browser, you may not be able to use all of these options. If you experience problems when posting messages, try switching to a different interface type.
This setting may be changed here: User CP > Edit Options > Miscellaneous Options > Message Editor Interface
Basic Editor: A small textbox. Standard Editor: A textbox with extra formatting buttons. Advanced Editor: A javascript-powered, full-featured WYSIWYG Editor.
* It is recommended that users use the Standard Editor in the Edit Signature page in order to prevent redundant BBCodes. You may change back and forth between the Standard and Advanced Editors by clicking the button in the top right of the Editor.
Forum Skin
There is more than one skin in which you can view the forums. If you would like to switch to a different skin, select it from this list. MTGSalvation currently has 3 skins available for choosing.
This option may be found here: User CP > Edit Options > Miscellaneous Options > Forum Skin
Default Skin: A slightly modified version of the vBulletin Default skin. Light Skin: A modified version of the vBulletin Default skin that uses grays and similar colors. Dark Skin: A modified version of the vBulletin Default skin that uses dark grays, black, and blue.
Auto-BB Code
This function allows users to automatically have BBCodes of their choice wrap around every post they make.
Enter the opening portion of BB code tags that you would like format all of your posts (e.g. [color=red]). Multiple tags are fine, but no text will work outside of the tags. Only single quotation marks (no double quotation marks) can be used in this field.
It may be found here: User CP > Edit Options > Miscellaneous Options > Automatic BB Code
Text Formatting
These BB Codes are used to determine how text in a post looks and what functions, if any, it serves. They can be combined in any way, shape, or form.
The Color Tag
The color tag changes the color of the surrounded text. It is available for use as a dropdown menu in the message editor under this button: .
Syntax:
[color=foo]bar[/color]
foo: This is the hex code or name of the color the text should be. bar: This is the text whose color you are wanting to change.
The Size Tag
The size tag allows users to change the size of text within the tag. It is settable through a dropdown menu in the message editor.
Syntax:
[size=foo]bar[/size]
foo: The size of the desired text. This is on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being the smallest. bar: The formatted text.
The Style Tags
There are four different style tags. They are used to change the general appearance of the text.
Syntax:
[b]foobar[/b] makes foobar
[i]foobar[/i] makes foobar
[u]foobar[/u] makes foobar
[s]foobar[/s] makes foobar
Alignment and Floating
This allows users to align or float their text or images to the left, center, or right of the post.
Syntax:
[align=foo]bar[/align]
foo: The direction in which the text aligns (currently left, center, or right). bar: The aligned text.
Syntax:
[float=foo][img]bar[/img][/float]
foo: The location in the post to which the image floats. bar: The url of the floating image.
Indentation
This allows users to indent text or an image 5 spaces.
Syntax:
[indent]foobar[/indent]
foobar: The indented text.
Hyper-Linking
This allows users to add links to any location on the internet to text.
Syntax:
[url]foobar[/url]
foobar: The URL to which you are linking.
Syntax:
[url=foo]bar[/url]
foo: The URL to which the text is linking. bar: The text that when clicked, links the user to the given URL.
Email Link
This allows users to create a special link that when clicked opens the default Mail program (e.g. Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird Mail) on their computer and begin writing an email to the given address.
Syntax:
[email=foo]bar[/email]
foo: The email address. bar: The formatted text.
Box, Quote, Code, HTML, and PHP Tags
Each of these BB Codes uses a box and an indentation, as well as other things, to distinguish it from the rest of a post.
Box Tag
This tag creates a simple box with a different background color.
Syntax:
[box]foobar[/box]
foobar: The content inside the box.
Quote Tag
This tag creates a box that is prefaced by "Quote:", includes the username of the user who posted the message, and can link back to the original post.
Syntax:
[quote]foobar[/quote]
foobar: The quoted content.
Syntax:
[quote=foo]bar[/quote]
foo: Username of whoever posted the quoted content. bar: The quoted content
Syntax:
[quote=foo;bar]foobar[/quote]
foo: Username of whoever posted the quoted content. bar: The post id number that contains the quoted content. foobar: The quoted contant.
Code Tag
This code creates a box prefaced by "Code:".
Syntax:
[code]foobar[/code]
foobar: Content inside the code box.
HTML Tag and PHP Tags
These codes create a box prefixed by HTML or PHP and also use color formatting to properly identify the syntax of HTML or PHP code.
Syntax:
[html]foobar[/html]
foobar: HTML content inside the code box.
Syntax:
[php]foobar[/php]
foobar: PHP content inside the code box.
This faq was written by Feyd_Ruin with large amounts of help from ButteBlues.
Intro:
This FAQ is here to answer many of the common questions and problems users encounter. As a rule of thumb, if your problem could be experienced by others as well - check here before posting it in Tech Support. If its common enough, the answer will already be here and you can save some time.
*If the code in your signature is messed up, Check here
This faq was written by Feyd_Ruin with large amounts of help from ButteBlues.
No longer staff here.
There is a way to fix this.
Before posting a thread asking why your banner won't show with the [simg] tag or why your spoiler won't show, follow these simple steps:
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