Explanation of Some of the Features of Vacuumland

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unimatic1140

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Hi Everyone, I want to take some time and go over some of the more unique features that are available to Vacummlanders with either an Upgraded or Junior Upgraded Memberships.

I'll post screen captures and highlight different features to make sure everyone understands what they are used for and how to use them.

Let's start with the SHAG, PLUSH and LOW indicator lights on the index pages...

FeatureExplanation1.jpg


#1 on the image above is the SHAG light
Shag-on.gif
. If the SHAG light is lighted RED this means that you have never clicked into this thread before. So for what ever reason you haven't read that thread yet. It could be a brand new thread, one you haven't noticed before or one that didn't interest you. Once you click in that thread the Red SHAG indicator turns off forever on that thread. If you click on the RED SHAG button it will take you to the top of the thread so you can read it from the beginning. Again RED means haven't read it.

#2 on the image above is the PLUSH light
Plush-on.gif
. This is probably the most important light of the three. When the PLUSH light is activated it is lit up in YELLOW. What this means is that you have been inside this thread before, but since the last time you've look at this thread other Vacuumlanders have added new posts to it and you haven't read those new posts yet. So if you click on the yellow PLUSH button the site will bring you into that thread and then it will automatically bring you down to the first post you haven't read in that thread. So when you see the PLUSH button is lit in YELLOW, please click on it, it will take you to where you last left off reading the thread.

#3 on the image above is the LOW light
Low-on.gif
. If the LOW indicator is lit up in BLUE this means that you've been in this thread before and nothing new has been posted to it since the last time you looked at it. If you click on the LOW indicator when it's BLUE it will take you to the very bottom of the thread because nothing new is in there since you last read it.


Now there are two things I should mention. First the SHAG-PLUSH-LOW lights are updating all the time on a busy website like Vacuumland. If you click into a thread and then use your BACK ARROW to come back to the index page the lights will have not updated. To make sure you see the current lights be sure to hit your refresh/reload button in your browser.

So now I'm sure there are questions, please try this out and let me know. I'll post more screen shots with other features in a bit.
 
The Latest Posts Button...

FeatureExplanation2.jpg


This is another very useful feature. I read both aw.org and Vacuumland mainly by using the Latest Posts button. It is just like clicking on the Vintage or Contemporary Button, or any other of the Forum lists buttons at the top, but it combines all five forums into one big list.

It sorts the posts by the date and time of the last reply, just like the other forum lists. But you only need to view one screen, not five different screens (one for each of the forums). I like that convenience. The color bar around the Thread shows you what forum it is posted in. Give it a try.
 
The LIKE Button

FeatureExplanation-checkrate.jpg


Someone the other day asked if I could implement a facebook style "LIKE" button. So I want to let you all in on a big secret, we've had this feature for about three years now. It's called the CheckRate button. If you like a post in anyway or simply agree with it, click the individual post's red check mark the upper right hand of that post. What happens then is the number of likes move up one and the checkmark turns blue for you. If you see the checkmark is blue it means you've personally clicked on that CheckRate button. If you make a mistake and accidently click it, simply click it again to turn off your "liking" of that particular post. Try it on this post, click the red checkmark. The number of likes goes up by one. Everyone see's this number, but they can't see who liked the post, that is kept a secret.

A few years ago I wanted to add a like button to aw.org and Vacuumland, but I didn't want to simply copy Facebook's idea, I wanted to be creative and come up with something that has something to do with the subject matter of our websites. So I decided on a CheckRate button. Back in the 1950's and 1960's when Consumer Reports liked a particular product they Checkrated it by placing a checkmark next to the rating of the product. That is where Checkrating posts initialed.

So again, try it and please do use it. It makes the person who wrote the post feel good and that's what the CheckRate button is all about, a feel good, thumbs up button.

Feeling good is what I hope Vacuumland will be all about, always.
 
The LIKE Button

FeatureExplanation-checkrate.jpg




Someone the other day asked if I could implement a facebook style "LIKE" button. So I want to let you all in on a big secret, we've had this feature for about three years now. It's called the CheckRate button. If you like a post in any way or simply agree with it, click the individual post's red check mark the upper right hand of that post. What happens then is the number of likes move up one and the checkmark turns blue for you. If you see the checkmark is blue it means you've personally clicked on that CheckRate button. If you make a mistake and accidently click it, simply click it again to turn off your "liking" of that particular post.



Give it a try it on this post, click the red checkmark at the top (not the ones in the picture above, that is just an image of the screen, but the one right under the green bar of this post). The number of likes goes up by one. Everyone see's this number, but they can't see who liked the post, that is kept a secret.



A few years ago I wanted to add a like button to aw.org and Vacuumland, but I didn't want to simply copy Facebook's idea, I wanted to be creative and come up with something that has something to do with the subject matter of our websites. So I decided on a CheckRate button. Back in the 1950's and 1960's when Consumer Reports liked a particular product they Checkrated it by placing a checkmark next to the rating of the product. That is where Checkrating posts initiated.



So again, try it and please do use it. It makes the person who wrote the post feel good and that's what the CheckRate button is all about, a feel good, thumbs up button.



Feeling good is what I hope Vacuumland will be all about, always.
 

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