Quick Reference Guide
The basic menu structure is very similar to previous versions of the 3x series of Ikonboard, with a number of additions and modifications. Below is listed a "quick guide" for the most commonly used features of the control panel.
Maintain
Everyone needs to maintain their board and a board Administrator may want to
help keep his/her statics up to date after removing members or posts, and that,
among other features, are bundled together here. The Maintain
area provides you with the basic tools necessary to help keep things running
smoothly. Your file manager can be found here to access both the CGI as well
as the html parts of the board. Cleaning out temp files, add or remove members
of the board's webring, or even to turn the board on or off, during upgrades,
downtime or resuming normal service.
Options/Settings
When you first install your board, you will probably want to customize it. The
Options/Settings category contains those tools
for the basic customization. This includes creating or changing the Administrator
Control Panel Password, Setting skin and/or language defaults, changing or adjusting
board paths (helpful if you forget to take your cgi-bin out of your non-cgi
path or URL), setting up your standard Board Options, as well as the default
options for your Categories, Forums, & Topics. Most of the defaults for
your board will be found here. Remember that these can be changed at any time,
so if you decide you don't like something one way, go in and try something else.
You will probably want to spend your first hour or so after setting up your
board in this area to get things working the way you want them to before you
start having members registering and posting.
Category Control
Your next biggest area will be Category Control.
Before you start setting up forums, you have to set up at least one category.
Inside this, it will give you the options to choose who can and cannot read
topics posted in that category, as well as if you want to put one category inside
another. You can also change the order the categories are displayed, if you
add one and decide you want it above another already there.
Forum Control
Your next important area will be Forum Control.
The is where you make them, edit permissions for various user groups, decide
their order and even which category they'll go under. If you decide to be rid
of one, you will turn to this area, as well as if you needed to adjust or add
rules to specific a specific forum or forums.
Member Control
Member Control can be a very important area for
those who make accounts for some members ahead of time, change what member group
they belong to or need to delete those who've been members for a while but don't
post or even log into the board for a period of time. This is also the area
where you can add people you don't want on your board, very helpful if someone
is spamming or posting rude or unwanted comments.
Skins
Perhaps one of the more asked about features is the Skins
area. If you want to change the look/feel of your board, this will be the place
where you edit font sizes or colors, board colors, change graphic names if you've
uploaded replacements, or even importing or exporting skin packs you've downloaded
or made.
Hopefully this quick guide will get you started on the more basic functions of your control panel. If you want more information, then select that item from the menu on the main page of this guide.
Written 6/22/02 by Snow Wolf for Ikonboard
Jarvis Network