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

Hi, I've stumbled over your journal and saw that yove been waiting for an ACE for a while
I think back when you signed uo with h2, there weren't any aces, so no wonder nobody ever greeted you. But ok, it's been your hootoo anniversary only recently, so here's my for you:

Hello and welcome to the wonderful community of h2g2 , also called 'hootoo '
I am your <./>ACE</.> and have come to meet you and to greet you and to help you with your first steps on this site.
First things first :
, there's always somebody near to help you with whatever your problem might be. For example you can reply to this message and/or ask me a question by simply pressing the reply button. Or you can click on the name above this message, which will bring you directly to my Personal Space ( recommended ), where you can leave a message for me.


Emmily has created a shiny new page : h2g2 in a nutshell here A8468742


Feisor has set up a wonderful page with hints and links, so please, go and explore them here: A719840
Things you should know before you start :
This is an open forum, so everything you post can be seen by everybody else, and you cannot delete it, nor can you correct it once it is sent. This is where the 'preview' button below your answering box comes in handy
The only thing you can edit or delete, is any guide entry you create,( go here for more info : A53209 ) which includes the introduction on your Personal Space.
If you reply to this message and tell me a bit about your interests, I can most certainly point you directly to the best places to go.
This is where I would explain a few site-specific things, but my friend said it was too long, so I'll wait until you ask

Take your time, have a look around the site, and enjoy yourself
P.S. I'm certainly prone to having forgotten something vital to you, so please don't be shy, hit the reply button below this message

Bel

Bel,

Thanks for the welcome! I wasn't feeling left out or anything . . as you say there weren't any ACE's back when I joined!

I decided it was time I updated my space a bit and have been having a good look around . . h2g2 has grown quite a lot! I've popped in from time to time since I joined, but never got around to doing much. See the mention on my space of the Procrastinators Society!!!

Two questions:
1. How do I switch on the display of people who have added me as a friend? I have seen this on some personal space pages. I know that hippychick-iow has added me but it isn't showing at the bottom of my space. I have changed my Preferences to Expert user mode, but that doesn't switch it on.
2. What's the difference between normal and expert user mode?

I've looked around quite a bit for answers to these two questions without success, so hopefully you can point me in the right direction?

Thanks
Merlin

Hi Merlin, I must admit, that I have no answer to your second question, I didn't even know there was something like a normal and an expert user mode.
Are you sure wqe're not talking about a difference in skins ? Do you use plain skin ? That could be considered as 'normal' user mode, whereas brunel could be the expert user mode, but that's really just a wild guess. I'll go and ask a guru, I'll come back to you. The first part of your question is easier to answer, you have to put the between the and the <(GUIDE> at the bottom of your page. For some odd reason, it doesn't always work, though, it never worked for me until I splitted my PS, i.e. put huge parts in an entry of its own and more or less just let the basics on my PS. Please try it, and let me know if it works

Ok, I have set my preferences to plain skin to have a look. I'm quite proud I wasn't completely off with my guess, it is a feature you only have in plain skin, and not in brunel. However, what it means escapes me still, so I'll do a few researches

Bel,

works perfectly - see my space! I haven't had to reduce the size of my space or anything - it just worked. Thanks. I've just realised that I didn't do exactly as you instructed - I put the statement between the opening tags right at the top of the page - maybe that's how to make it work all the time?

On reflection I suppose I could have found this by using the testuserpage facilty. Is there a list somewhere of the OPTIONS that are available? Sorry, I'm a terminal geek so I'm bound to ask!!

When I click Preferences I have four selections, and I've shown what they are currently set to:
Nickname: Merlin
Skin: Alabaster
User Mode: Expert
Forum Style: Frames
So it seems that the skin and the user mode are different things.

I'd be interested to know what the difference between Normal and Expert User Mode is (see comment above about being a geek!) but - you have answered my main question, which was how to show "The following people have you on their friends lists:", so thanks again!

OK . . just read your latest post . . I presume that what you refer to as "plain" is Alabaster?

No, plain was the original skin apparently, when the site started - maybe you remember it ? Alabaster is a bit more sophisticated than plain skin, but is the same bright skin. Plain skin is what people use who get here via other menas than a PC . If you go to my space, you can have a look at the different skins by clicking on the links I provided - it's nothing permanent, so don't worry. I have now posted a question on the gurus' homepage, hoping for a reply. Failing that, I'll ask in feedback, Jim Lynn will know, I'm sure.
And I have seen that the option works, was a bit puzzled that I couldn't find it at the place indicated, but as long as it works, it doesn't really matter where it is, does it ?

Good morning Merlin, I'm just back from reading the replies to my question, have a look here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F48887?thread=2289154&skip=3&show=8 So, it looks as if it's a function that's redundant. Bel

Bel,

Thanks again . . I've put the inbetween the closing tags now and it still works fine.

I've read the thread about the Expert mode . . the Researcher who contributed most to that conversation (U228046) is the same one from whom I "borrowed" (with acknowledgement!) an idea for a MARQUEE page counter on my homepage, and they have also contributed to a conversation on my homepage. What a small h2g2 world it is!!!

And another coincidence . . I've just talked about MARQUEE, and you (B'Elana) are Maquis!! hehehe (Doesn't look terribly funny in writing . . but they sound the same!)

Have a great w/e!

Hello Merlin, thanks for the feedback, it's always good to hear if things work out.
I know that TiT contributed most to the thread, but he didn't read nor answer the actual question, that was Clive.
Great to know somebody who knows who B'Elanna is - you're right, I'm Marquis, I'm rebellious, or even a traitor ( depends on your point of view ), I'm half Klingon - so be afraid


take care

Bel

Oh yes . . very afraid! In space no-one can hear you scream! Mixing my references now. Isn't it funny how much noise there is in space in lots of Sci-Fi? I suppose total quiet doesn't make for good TV/film.

Well I knew that you would get it as I had seen your name on the Star Trek Appreciation Society page. Also, who else other than a Star Trek fan would choose the name? I've asked to join the STA Society so hopefully my name will be added soon. When I get around to it I'll ask to join the Procrastinators Society too.

I haven't seen excelsior for quite a while now, so it could be a while before you'll be added to the list of the Startrek Appreciation Society, but maybe somebody else keeps it up to date
Are there any conversations going on then ? I haven't been there for yonks, there was a time when communication was a bit difficult, so i unsubscribed from everything.
You're right about the space/sound thing,but just imagine all the sci-fi films without the sounds - wouldn't make for such good effects
What do you mean, you're mixing your references now ? Sounds as if I should have another look at your PS

Oh well . . I'll wait to be added to the ST list. I'm not exactly in a rush . . it's taken me 7 yrs to ask to join!!!
There hasn't been a huge amount going on - three conversation threads in the last 3 months.
Yes, I guess you are right about how bad SF films would be without the sound. I just smile now and again when I remember that you actually wouldn't hear anything. Most of the time, of course, I'm so drawn into what I'm watching that I don't notice!
All I meant was that I was mixing references to Star Trek and the original Alien film. The "In space no-one can hear you scream" tag line was the advertising for it.

Oh, ok, thanks for explaining Alien I don't think I've ever managed to watch one of them from beginning to end, but my husband is a great fan of the alien films