h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You know the answer. I know you know the answer. So why can't I get my quote boxes neat 'n tidy like yours ? I've found your message 14 (May 10, 2006) http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbsn/F2564203?thread=2931244&skip=0&show=20 < quote user='$' userid='#'> ? I'm getting close, but I just can't crack the code. RSVP

Note that they won't work *here*, ie on a non-MB sub-site which hasn't got that extra software attached (or at least not attached properly, since preview is definitely reacting but faultily). I can't show an example of it without the spaces that are necessary to stop it from working, because otherwise people wouldn't see the formatting at all!

< quote user='king_ell' userid='1663890'>I'm getting close, but I just can't crack the code.< /quote>

So in < quote user='$' userid='#'> ? < /quote>

- quote is a tag which has opening and closing forms (to surround the text to be formatted) and takes attributes (just like real HTML ones)

- The $ represents the person's nickname (now largely ignored by the updated BBC MB software anyway!)

- The # represents their account- user- or U-number (NB just the number, without the U at the start)

- The ? represents the section of their post you want to quote.

Bingo !

I had tried pretty much every combination, including dropping the "U" in front of the a/c no.

But sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference, as in your throwaway line "preview is definitely reacting BUT FAULTILY".
Many of my trial-efforts were in preview mode only, and the indications were that I hadn't got it right - when I probably already had.

Many, many thanks.

ps I know the Science & Questions,Questions boards on R4 are a poor substitute for some of your previous haunts, now closed down, but do look in from time to time. You might find the occasional thread of interest, even if the company is boring.