"HOW TO" for Ning Networks users - by
Maia
THESE ARE THE MAIN AREAS THAT SEEM TO BE CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE. WILL
ADD MORE AS OTHER THINGS ARE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST:
SIGN IN FIRST! IF YOU DON'T
YOU WILL NOT ONLY NOT BE ABLE TO POST, BUT WILL NOT SEE CERTAIN LINKS OR BE
ABLE TO EDIT YOUR PAGE, LOAD PHOTOS, VIDEOS, ETC.
PHOTOS
Uploading your profile image: I encourage members to include a
profile photo - it doesn't have to be one of yourself, if you would rather
not. Any spirit symbol, nature scene - whatever of beauty and light will be
fine!
It is really EASY - just click on "change my profile photo" under the grey
image box and then click on "Browse" and it will go to your computer and you
can select the image you want. It will automatically size it for you...so
long as the image is not SMALLER than the profile image box or a WAY huge
image.
Uploading images in your "My Photos" box: click on "add photos (on
your "My Page"). Then choose "Browse" and upload directly from your hard
drive. Like uploading your profile photo, if the image is really HUGE
(especially in dpi) it may not load. Otherwise should work fine. Once loaded
you have the option to edit your photos. This means give them a title and
you can also comment on them. I suggest that you DO give them a title. A
blank in that box will show the jpg file name, which is not too attractive
usually.
You are given an option for the photos you load to let "Anyone," "Just My
Friends," or "Just Me" see. If you choose "Anyone" for some reason it is
also shown on the main page - yet you are also given an option to promote to
the "main page" - so I am not sure what that is about!
To really view your photos or anyone's the best, on that person's
page, click on "view photos" and then on "get a slideshow of these photos."
REALLY NICE! You can even get the "embed code for this large version for
your My Space, website, blog, etc. HOWEVER, if you have a website and a high
virus protection setting on your browser, IT WILL NOT LET YOU SEE THE
SLIDESHOW ON THE WEB - IF ON YOUR WEBSITE. You have to know how to change
the settings to allow it, and then that could be letting some "nasties"
in as well! So I can't use these on my websites. )
-:
Creating Photo Albums (and viewing your own photo
albums): Click on the "PHOTOS" tab, and then "My Photos." Here you will
see any photo albums you have already created and be given the option to
create more.
Adding images to your text boxes (on your page, blogs
and forums): Ning's html can be "quirky" in some ways. If you upload an
animated gif directly from your computer, it will NOT show the animation. To
enter animated gifs into Ning text boxes is to place them in a photo source
such as Photobucket
and then click on the photo icon in your Ning text box and choose the option
to link "directly" rather than upload from your computer. Then copy the
direct link from your Photobucket images and paste it into that box on Ning.
OR you can choose "image" in Photobucket and paste that right into the
text box.
If you try to enter several images into your text box,
UNLESS YOU PASTE THE "IMAGE" CODE RIGHT INTO THE TEXT BOX WHERE YOU WANT IT
TO GO, for some reason Ning will always put the image at the TOP of the
page! This is why it is best to sue a source like Photobucket, where you
have a choice of how to work with the html code.
Photobucket also has the best slideshow-maker in my opinion. Once
you have images loaded in your Photobucket page, you can select "create
slideshow." Once you save your slideshow (you can make as many different
ones as you want), if you go back and edit it later (adding or removing
images from it), once saved again, those changes will automatically appear
where ever you have your slideshow operating.
INVITE
There are 3 types of "Invitations":
1) Invite non-members to become members. You do this by clicking on
the "Invite" tab. From there, it is like sending an e-mail (it IS sending an
e-mail).
2) Invite members to become your "Friend." This you can do from the
Main page (if these are very new members) or their "My Page" or clicking on
the "Members" tab. Underneath their profile image it will say "invite as my
friend" (or something like that - I have thus far invited everybody so don't
currently have an example to look at!). You can't see the "invite
friends" when you are not SIGNED IN.
3) If you have a GROUP or are a member of one, then there is an
"invite to group" link on that group page.
EDITING POSTS
You can't edit your "comments." You have to DELETE them and start over
(cut and paste some from the old one if necessary) or just add new info in a
new follow-up comment. In the forum you can "edit." In the blog you have 15
minutes to make changes.
SET YOUR NING PAGE AS YOUR BROWSER HOME PAGE
1) Go to your page on the ELVIS CANDLELIGHT
NETWORK.
2) In your browser top bar select "Tools" and the
"internet options."
3) At the top you will see a little house icon and
it says "homepage." Underneath the box click on "use current." Then at the
bottom of the "Tools" box click "Okay."
It's done! Now every time you open your browser it will
automatically take your to your "Candlelight" page. if you decide you want
to change this later on, you can always go back and set a new option.
Maia Christianne Nartoomid+
