FROM: Jim Cameron, JForum WizSysop, 76703,3010 TO: W. Marsh, 103271,67 DATE: 12/2/95 4:56 PM Re: Welcome To JFORUM !! Greetings -- and welcome to the Journalism Forum... JFORUM ! I'm the Chief SysOp of CompuServe's Journalism Forum. Since you recently visited and joined the Journalism Forum, I wanted to take a moment to welcome you and to offer you any assistance that I or the rest of the JFORUM staff might be able to provide. Note: I've tried to make this message as useful as possible for you -- and, as a result, it's a bit on the long side. You can always download or capture it for later reading offline... or print it out, if you chose. JFORUM began in 1985 as an online meeting place for journalists, freelance writers and those just interested in the news business. Since then we've grown to over 42,000 members worldwide and have added special members-only areas for such groups as NASW (National Assoc. of Science Writers), IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors), ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) and SABEW (Society of American Business Editors & Writers). The Journalism Forum's message area is organized into sections and, within each section, into "threads" of topics. Most members read multiple sections during their visits to the forum so please post messages only once in the section most appropriate to the message's subject. Some newcomers post their questions in multiple sections but doing so simply isn't good forum etiquette! Threading of messages by topic helps keep related messages together so that you can follow the discussion on a particular topic in a logical sequence. Threading of messages by topic has been around on CompuServe for years and is a key feature of forums. It helps make reading and participating in discussions a lot simpler and more enjoyable. While you are reading a message, it might trigger a thought in your mind about something unrelated to the current thread. In that case, please start a new topic rather than replying to the message. This simple step goes a long way to helping keep the discussions in the forum organized! While some new members prefer to "lurk" or just "read the mail" for a while, I encourage you to actively participate in the Journalism Forum. When you read a message that brings something else to mind, be sure to add your comments to the thread. When you can help someone else with an answer based upon your own experience, please do so. And, of course, when you've got a question yourself, please post it in a message addressed just to All. A brief housekeeping note: Our policy on JFORUM is that all members use their real, full first and last names. If you are affiliated with a supplier, you may also want to include your company's name with yours in brackets. If you need to re-enter your name to include both first and last name, please see the tips at the end of this file for details on how to change your name based upon the type of communications software you're using to access JFORUM. More details on JFORUM's operating policies can be found in the NOTICES area of JFORUM. As a reminder, if you know someone who would benefit from a free introductory subscription to CompuServe, please have them call 1-800-848-8199 and ask for representative #633. From outside the United States, call (614) 529-1340 in the United States. CompuServe will send out a kit to help them get started including TEN FREE HOURS of online access... a great way to show your friends what is possible online in CompuServe. As you know, CompuServe software comes in four "flavors"... Windows, Mac, OS/2 and DOS. I hope this message has helped provide you with information to make your use of the Journalism Forum as productive as possible. At the end of this message, I've also included some additional tips which may help make you time online more productive. If you have comments or questions, please GO JFORUM and post us a message. In fact, if this welcome message has brought to mind any questions you want to ask, the best thing to do is to GO JFORUM and post those questions in messages directly on the forum. Rather than replying to me, posting your questions in the forum will bring the quickest and most complete set of answers to your questions. A forum message addressed just to SYSOP will get to the next one of our support staff who enters the forum -- so that's usually the best way to get a quick answer to any question about the forum operation that you might have. If your question is a more general one about journalism, specific media or issues etc., then simply address the message to ALL. The next time you GO JFORUM, please do three things: 1) Leave a message on the Message Board in Subtopic 20/New Mbr Intro's introducing yourself by name, where you work and what you do, and your interests. Don't be shy! 2) Register in our Members Directory so others can find you. If you are using a version of CIM, select "Special" and "Change Member Info." Be sure to list as many key words as space allows describing yourself, your interests and professional associations. In other communications programs, just chose the MD (Members Directory) from the top JForum menu. 3) If you are a member of a professional journalism organization check area 15 / Journalism Organizations to see if your group is online with JForum and let your online rep know you are here. If your group is not already with us, contact me and I'll help get 'em online. Best regards, <<>> 76703,3010 Chief *Sysop / Founder The Journalism Forum TIPS for New Members -------------------- Be sure to take advantage of these FREE CompuServe Support Forums: WCIMSUP Win CIM Support Forum CSNAVSUP CompuServe Navigator Support Forum MCIMSUP Mac CIM Support Forum NAVSUP Mac Navigator Support Forum CSAPPS CompuServe Applications Forum OCIMSUP CompuServe OS2CIM Support Forum DCIMSUP DosCIM Support Forum These forums give free help with each of the four mentioned software programs used to access CompuServe. Also, don't forget: HELPFORUM General help with CompuServe PRACTICE Practice forum skills: reading & writing messages; uploading & downloading files. NEWMEMBER Assistance with questions asked commonly by folks new to CompuServe. =================================================================== FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Q. Why can't I find the message I just posted? Did someone delete it? A. New members sometimes ask why they can't find messages that they've posted. The messaging software is designed to not show you the same messages over and over. You have to specifically ask it to do so. Here's how it works: You'll notice that every message has a number. As each new message gets posted, the new message number is higher than the one before. Well, every time you come into the forum and read messages, the forum software keeps track of what message numbers you read. Then, when you go away for a while and come back later, the forum software remembers the Highest Message Number (HMN) you read before. It won't show you any messages before that--it assumes that you have already seen them. This is good, actually. You wouldn't want to keep reading the same messages over and over again. The reason you couldn't "see" the message later on is that you'd read it before. But it was still available for others to read on the forum message board. If you're using CIM and want to see older messages, just pull down the Messages -> Browse menus, and set the date back a few days. One additional comment: messages last only about two weeks on the forum before they automatically "scroll off." We don't "trash" them -- it's just that older messages are removed to make room for new ones as they are posted. Once messages have scrolled, they are gone forever. =================================================================== Q. How can I change my name in a forum? A. It is not difficult to change your name in a forum, although the technique varies with the communication software in use. The following lists a few of the popular programs used to access CompuServe and how to use the program to change your name within a forum. If your program is not listed and the documentation do not explain the procedure, use the procedure listed under INTERACTIVE. WinCIM and MacCIM and DOSCIM 1) Log onto CompuServe and enter the Forum. 2) Select "Special" from the menu at the top of your screen, then select "Forum Options" from the menu that drops down. 3) Change your name in the Name edit box, and click on the "Set" button. Navigator 1) Double-click the CompuServe Session Parameters tile(in the Session Preview window) and type your first and last names into the "Your Name:" box. 2) Close the Parameters window by clicking the upper left-hand corner. 3) Double-click the white portion of the Forum tile and select "Update My Forum Name" from the Forum pull-down menu. Close that window. 4) Check the session preview window to make sure that the Forum tile is active and that "Update My Forum Name" is listed in the tasks to be run, then run the session. TapCIS 1) While offline, at the Main Menu of the TapCIS program and Forum selected. 2) Type, A 3) Type, U 4) When prompted for Forum, enter the number that is listed above Forum, which can be seen in the lower portion of the screen. 5) Enter the following command, OPT;NAM;John Doe;P 6) Press Enter. OzCIS 1) While offline, at Main Screen, with the Forum highlighted, click on "Pass Options". 2) Enter your name in the provided area. 3) Click on F-10. 4) With forum "active", click on "Online ", then "Online Tools" and finally click on "Profile Config", which will cause system to go online and set forum options. NavCIS 1) Double click on the Forum's icon. 2) Click on SETTINGS. 3) Click on the ALIAS option. 4) Enter your name. 5) Click on 'update forum information'. 6) On your next session, NavCIS will visit the forum and change your name. INTERACTIVE To change your forum name, several programs require that the change be done online, in what is called "INTERACTIVE MODE". Check the documentation for details on the technique to either stay online following an auto pass or to log onto CompuServe and enter the Forum in a manual or terminal mode. Once you are online and in the Forum at the Forum! prompt.... 1) Type, OPT 2) Type, Nam;Jane Doe;P 3) Press Enter. 4) Log off ===================================================================