How to publish a build thread properly

[GecKo]

Ok, so you've got a project that you're going to undertake that you also want to share/bounce ideas off with our community, that's sweet, we're all for it, all we ask is that you make it easier for us to browse, as lets face it, these are the sorts of things that we start out doing thinking we'll finish in 2 weeks, but actually end up taking 2 years, and over that period of time, a thread can become a bit of a nightmare to navigate.. So..

How to write up a build thread

Start your first post off as normal, let us know what you've got, and what your intentions are, this is going to give people an idea if this is something they should be subscribing to. Make the topic as brief but as descriptive as possible, this isn't always that easy, but just remember to leave room for editing later.

When you go to make your first update to your thread, again, just do what you normally would, but rather than editing your first post, make a new reply in your thread. When you're finished posting that, you want to get the url of the permalink of the post you've just made:



This varies depending on your browser, but generally you can just right click on permalink and select Copy Link Location or Copy Shortcut. With this link, you'll be returning back to the first post of your thread to create a Table of Contents.

To do this, edit your thread and enter the following at the top:

PHP Code:

[url=http://permalink.url]Update Label[/url] 


This will create a link called Update Label to the url http://permalink.url - So, replace http://permalink.url with what ever the permalink is that you have, and replace Update Label with what ever it is that you've done. You should also add the Update Label onto the end of your thread title, so people who are browsing the Build Threads forum will immediately see if you've made a major change, or if someone has just made a post to your thread.

With each and every update after that, do the same thing, adding to the Table of Contents you made.

Examples
http://nzhondas.com/forum/build-thre...-finished.html
http://nzhondas.com/forum/build-thre...-assembly.html

Image Hosting
We would prefer that you attach any images that you have to upload to the post you're making, rather than use external hosting. If you have to attach more images than we allow in the one post, then simply make another, you're also able to use your Galleries that are part of your User Profile.

If you would rather use off site image hosting, that's also fine, just make sure you check your thread often for broken links, as there's nothing worse than reading parts of a thread that are talking about a certain image that doesn't seem to exist any more.

[Hayce]

There's a potential problem with those permalinks's though. They take into account the thread title. I know at the moment we can't change that if the threads more than a year old but if we can it'll break the link obviously so it's either one or the other. Which one should we do?

[doo0T!doo0T!]

Hey thanks for this James, I was wondering how to make my all-over-the-place build thread more readable, was considering ditching it and starting again.
Now all i need is a spare 4 hours to do it.

[americ_ian]

right... all that humbo jumbo up the top confused me james

how do i fix my table of contents... all links are dead, same with lance

[Hayce]

You need to click the permalink link in the top right of the post you want to link to sweet Charlie.
Click that and check out the address bar in your browser, see it has the thread title in it? Not sure what yours is but mine also has the last update in it "bottom end assembly". Soo I need to wait until someone changes that title for me otherwise the permalinks will have that in it, copy?

[americ_ian]

Project "Wek-sos" AE+f20c *1/10/8 new suspension

wtf, i copied the permalink from ur post and copy pasted it into a message, and now i get a link back to the last page of my build thread... wat am i doing wrong

and now why when i type, its nothing but the same link?>

[GecKo]

Shit sorry guys, I didn't see these replies...

Originally Posted by Hayce

There's a potential problem with those permalinks's though. They take into account the thread title. I know at the moment we can't change that if the threads more than a year old but if we can it'll break the link obviously so it's either one or the other. Which one should we do?

The thread title is purely there for human/search engine goodness, it actually means nothing at all, all that matters are the numbers in the url, so it doesn't matter if you change the thread title.

Personally, if I was baller enough to do a build thread, I would never change it. Google will rank your page higher because the URL would never change, and there's more chance of people stumbling across it, making you feel more awesome, and getting the club more exposure

Originally Posted by doo0T!doo0T!

Hey thanks for this James, I was wondering how to make my all-over-the-place build thread more readable, was considering ditching it and starting again.
Now all i need is a spare 4 hours to do it.

Originally Posted by americ_ian

Project "Wek-sos" AE+f20c *1/10/8 new suspension

wtf, i copied the permalink from ur post and copy pasted it into a message, and now i get a link back to the last page of my build thread... wat am i doing wrong

and now why when i type, its nothing but the same link?>

I've helped Ian on MSN, but the easiest thing to do really is probably disable the WYSIWYG editor, you can do that in your UserCP, or just click this button:

[americ_ian]

el presidente comes thru!

[Hayce]

Originally Posted by teh boardz

1. 1. You have included 86 images in your message. You are limited to using 25 images so please go back and correct the problem and then continue again.
      
      Images include use of smilies, the BB code [img] tag and HTML <img> tags. The use of these is all subject to them being enabled by the administrator.

Can't edit and save 1st page with TOC in it because of this...

[GecKo]

Fixed..