MessageBase Help Guide
Learn how to use all the features of MessageBase.net
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Creating an Account
To participate in discussions, you'll need to create an account. Click Sign Up in the navigation menu and fill out the registration form. You'll need to confirm your email address before you can start posting.
Logging In
If you already have an account, click Log in in the navigation menu. Enter your email and password to access your account.
Guest Browsing
You can browse and read messages without logging in. However, you'll need to be logged in to post messages, reply to discussions, rate content, or use the chat feature.
Browsing Messages
Home Page
The home page displays the latest messages across all topics. Messages are shown with their subject, author, posting time, and basic statistics like read count and ratings.
Topic Selector
On mobile devices, you'll see a dropdown menu to quickly navigate to different topics. On desktop screens, a sidebar with topic links is displayed instead.
Message Lists
Message lists show key information for each message:
- Subject: The title of the message (click to read)
- Posted By: The author's name (click to view their profile)
- Posted: When the message was posted
- Times Read: How many times the message has been viewed
- Likes/Dislikes: Community ratings for the message
Topics & Discussions
What are Topics?
Topics are categories that organize discussions. Each topic has a name and description that tells you what kind of content belongs there (e.g., News, Humor, Science, Music, etc.).
Viewing a Topic
Click on a topic name to see all messages in that topic. The topic page shows:
- The topic title and description
- A Start New Discussion button to create a new message in this topic
- A search box to search within the current topic
- A list of all messages in the topic
Starting a New Discussion
When viewing a topic, click the Start New Discussion button to create a new message. You'll need to be logged in to do this.
Reading Messages
Message View
Click on any message subject to read the full message. The message page shows:
- The complete message content with formatting and images
- Author information (click the author's name to view their profile)
- The topic the message belongs to
- Times read and current ratings
- Rating buttons to like or dislike the message
- Reply button to respond to the message
Message Threads
Messages can have replies, creating discussion threads. If a message has a parent message, you'll see a Parent Message link to navigate up the thread. Replies to the current message are shown below it.
Viewing Modes: Flat vs. Threaded
When viewing messages with replies, you can choose between two display modes:
- Flat View: Shows all messages and replies in chronological order, regardless of their parent-child relationships. This makes it easy to read conversations in the order they were posted.
- Threaded View: Displays messages in a hierarchical structure where replies are indented under their parent messages. This makes it easier to follow individual conversation branches and see the relationship between messages.
Use the view toggle buttons to switch between Flat and Threaded modes based on your preference.
Sticky Messages
Some important messages may be marked as "sticky" by administrators. These messages are pinned to the top of topic lists and display a special icon.
Posting & Replying
Creating a New Post
To start a new discussion:
- Navigate to the topic where you want to post
- Click the Start New Discussion button
- Enter a subject for your message
- Write your message using the rich text editor
- Optionally check "Show as Anonymous" to hide your username
- Click Post Message
Replying to a Message
To reply to an existing message:
- Read the message you want to reply to
- Click the Reply button
- The original message is shown for reference (read-only)
- Enter your reply subject and content
- Optionally check "Show as Anonymous"
- Click Post Reply
The Rich Text Editor
The message editor supports formatting including:
- Bold, italic, and underline text
- Lists (bulleted and numbered)
- Links and images
- Image uploads (click the image button in the toolbar)
- Markdown format for quick text formatting
You can use the toolbar buttons for formatting or enter markdown syntax directly for a faster editing experience.
Anonymous Posting
If you check "Show as Anonymous" when posting, your username will not be displayed on the message. This is useful when you want to share something without revealing your identity.
Rating Messages
How Ratings Work
Each message can be rated by logged-in users. You can give a message a "like" (positive rating) or a "dislike" (negative rating).
Rating a Message
When reading a message, you'll see rating buttons:
- + (green button): Click to like the message
- - (red button): Click to dislike the message
The current like and dislike counts are shown on each button.
Highest Rated Messages
Access the Highest Rated feature from the navigation menu to see messages with the best ratings from the community.
Searching
Global Search
Use the search box on the home page to search across all messages on the site. Enter your search terms and click the search icon or press Enter.
Topic Search
When viewing a specific topic, use the "Search this Topic" box to search only within that topic's messages.
Search Results
Search results show matching messages with their subjects, authors, and other details. Click on any result to read the full message.
Your Profile
Viewing Your Profile
Click My Profile in the navigation menu to view and edit your profile.
Editing Your Profile
On your profile page, you can use the rich text editor to create and update your profile content. Add information about yourself, your interests, or anything you'd like other users to know. Click Update Profile to save your changes.
Viewing Other Profiles
Click on any user's name (on messages or elsewhere) to view their profile. You can see their profile content but cannot edit other users' profiles.
Account Settings
To manage your account settings (change password, email, etc.), access your account management pages through the account menu.
Chat
Accessing Chat
Click Chat in the navigation menu to access the real-time chat feature. You must be logged in to use chat.
Using Chat
The chat window shows recent messages from other users. To send a message:
- Type your message in the text box at the bottom
- Click Add Message or press Enter
Chat Help
Click the Chat Help button on the chat page for additional information about chat commands and features.
Game Zone
About the Game Zone
MessageBase features a collection of games you can play. Click Game Zone in the navigation menu to access them.
Available Games
- Wild Frontiers 1888: An exploration, trading, and battle game set in late 1800s frontier Nebraska after a massive tornado.
- Quadrillation: A strategic puzzle game combining logic and skill.
- Raid on the Forest of Horrors: A medieval fantasy game where you fight monsters and compete with other players.
Click on any game card to learn more and start playing!
Display Settings
Dark/Light Mode
MessageBase supports both dark and light display modes. When logged in, you can toggle between modes by clicking the sun/moon icon on the home page. Your preference is saved to your account.
RSS Feed
Stay updated with new content by subscribing to the RSS feed. Click the RSS icon on the home page to access the feed URL, which you can add to your favorite RSS reader.
Need More Help?
If you have questions that aren't answered here, you can:
- Post a question in the MessageBase Help topic on the message board
- Ask other users in the Chat room
- Check the About page for more information about MessageBase