| Questions and Answers |
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| Contributors |
| What
does a 'Verified' user get? |
Verified users have access to additional
content (if it exists) on the site itself. For example, an
realms or gallery's restricted to adults would require
verification in order to continue.
Verified users also
have access to a different series of gummies and the ability
to remove gummies altogether from a users handle.
Verified users will also never expire from the system
itself. This allows the users to ensure their accounts will
last, even if their ability to return to the site is severely
reduced. |
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| What
is a 'Verified' user? |
| Users who have donated to Ethereal
Realms via Pay Pal have been verified as adults, therefore
allowing them access to our adult realms. This is our way of
ensuring minors cannot access inappropriate material. Verified
users have a 'tick' beside their login in their Privileged
portal. Those who have access to the Privileged portal, but
are not verified, have a 'denied' symbol. |
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| Where's the keywords field? |
Some sites require you to select certain
keywords which would play out in a search for the work in
particular. Ethereal Realms instead uses the title,
description and text body of works to produce
keywords.
This process is first started when you update
a work. The site will take process your works and generate a
wider set of keywords allowing for more generalized searches
to work! |
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| Why do
my works not show up in search? |
In order for works to show up in a
search they need to have been updated at least once. For image
galleries in particular this allows the search engine to avoid
entire galleries which exist as image farms.
In order
to correct this, simply update the work, putting in a
description will only help matters and the search engine will
pick it up when the appropriate criteria is met! |
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| General |
| Can we
make a donation to Ethereal Realms? |
| All donations to Ethereal Realms are
welcome and gratefully received. Follow the Donate link in the
top right menu to peruse our donation options. Please note,
you need a Pay Pal account in order to donate to Ethereal
Realms. |
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| What
is Ethereal Realms? |
Ethereal Realms is a concept web-based
chat system, originally based on two chat sites which are now
both defunct. This system emulates what features and
functionality those sites possessed while adding to the
initial design and scope as time progressed. Over time the
code base has picked up message boards, internal messaging,
image/prose galleries and a social network
interface.
Released under the GNU General Public
License (GPL), this project also has the secondary aim of
creating an advanced role-play and gallery environment that
will can be shared and modified freely throughout the
community.
Ethereal Realms has also moved well beyond
the original mandate of offering chat capabilities. This
includes the addition of threaded message boards, web polls,
homepage management, collaborative galleries and social
networking profiles with geographical searching. While these
additions are not necessarily core to the role-play aspect of
the site, they do compliment the existing feature set and
provides communities a method of remaining self-sufficient.
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| Who
manages Ethereal Realms? |
| Ethereal Realms was created by Martin
Foster, who continues to maintain the site at his own expense.
It is run by a body of people known as the Council, who
anonymously donate their time to managing it on his behalf.
Both Martin and the Council are contactable via the Contact
page found in the top right menu. |
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| Hosts |
| Can I
be a mod and host? |
In versions prior to 3.7.0 of Ethereal
Realms hosts could not be a moderator in another realm. This
was restricted at the code level in other to prevent a
conflict of interest.
With 3.7.0 and the addition of
roles for moderation staff, this restriction has been
lifted. |
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| How do
I use the weather generator? |
| The weather generate is automatic once
you have selected a weather station with which to track. In
order to do this visit the National Weather Service and find an
appropriate station. With that information, input the ICAO
number which is 4 characters in length and the system will
automatically post that information to your splash page! |
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| Why
can't I ignore a user in my realm? |
By default no host can ignore a user in
their own realms. This would reduce their capabilities of
actually being able to monitor a scene since information is
missing.
However, this can be overridden in the 'User
Details' area available through the Portal. |
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| Why
won't Tab-Enter work? |
Check your Comm Panel and make sure that
the TAB INDEX attributes for the buttons and links are not in
conflict with one another.
If this is a recent change
in which even the default realms will not work, then chances
are an upgrade of a module has resulted in this failure. This
can only be corrected by moving to version 3.7.0+ of Ethereal
Realms. |
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| Realms |
| Are
there 'Quick Keys' in realms? |
There are quick keys in realms and by
using the key combinations listed below, specific actions will
be completed.
Note: Based on your browser the
behavior may differ.
Alt+P: Sends off a post.
Alt+T: Selects the text box.
Alt+R:
Refreshes the frame / restarts stream.
Alt+Z:
Brings up the post zoom window.
Alt+G: Brings up
the color selection chart.
When posting however, the
classical TAB-Enter combination will still be available.
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| How do
I create a realm? |
| For information in this matter, see
'Hosting Guidelines' in the 'Information' menu at the top of
this page. |
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| How do
I protect a private room? |
Password protecting a private room means
added security from uninvited guests. If you intend to protect
a private room called 'Secret' with the password 'safe' you
enter 'safe@Secret' in the Private Room field.
This
will create the room 'Secret', and allow only those with the
password to enter. Note that you cannot password protect a
private realm that already exists. Private realms linger on
the system for 24 hours after last use, then expires. You can
keep your private room indefinitely private by not allowing it
to expire. |
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| What
is the [Attach/Detach] link for? |
For those who make use of Javascript and
Internet Explorer. There exists the ability to detach the Comm
Panel from the browser itself.
Visually, it creates a
new window, which is separate from the main post viewing area.
This does not reduce functionality in any way shape or form
and it can be reversed as the user sees fit.
In order
to enable this option, simply click on the [Detach/Attach]
link located at the bottom of the Comm Panel itself. In order
to reverse the effect, simply press again on that the same
link.
Note: This feature is only available for
Internet Explorer. |
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| What
is the 'Post Zoom?' |
The 'Post Zoom' allow your to increase
the size of your posting window in order to compose larger
posts are your ease. This feature also allows you to check for
spelling mistakes and insert various HTML formatting from the
click of a button.
In certain browsers, it is even
possible to transfer a post to the post zoom in order to
quickly post a reply and multi-task in
realm.
Note: This option requires javascript in
order to function properly. |
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| Users |
| Can I
stop getting private messages? |
| Yes you can! This option is available
through the 'User Details' portion of the site itself,
available from the Portal. Simply look up 'Privacy Options'
for more details. |
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| Help I
get an error when selecting a realm! |
Certain personal and/or corporate
firewalls filter out Javascript or cripple the code in such a
way that it will behave differently then expected. 'EZ
Firewall version 4.5' for example, will disable the virtual
links used and result in a file listing instead.
The
simplest way to correct this issue is to simply disable the
sites use of generating Javascript. This can be done through
the 'User Details' section of the site. |
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| How
can I post emoticons? |
Visit the current listing of usable emoticons. In order to use
them simply copy the descriptor next to the image and your
done!
Note: Emoticons are not available for use
everywhere. If they fail to show up, it simply means that
script does not support the capability. |
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| How do
I hide the date time tag? |
The DATETIME tag works the same was the
NAME macros works in the title field of your Puppet
Configuration panel. You can alter its appearance as you like
with appropriate HTML or CSS attributes.
To conceal it
against a black background, simply set the font to black and
size one.
To conceal it against a background image,
select the dominant color in the image as the font color for
the tag. |
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| How do
I remove my gummy? |
Removing gummies is a bonus for verified
users, along with access to an assortment of contributor
gummies. Verified users are patrons who have made a donation
to Ethereal Realms via Pay Pal.
If you have made a
donation to Ethereal Realms you will find a --none-- option at
the bottom of the drop down menu for gummies in your Puppet
Details panel.
Removing the gummy will place your user
details in a link under your puppet handle instead. |
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| My
login does not work. What do I do? |
There are a few reasons why your account
may not be working as expected:
The first is related
to an account going idle. Any account that has not seen
activity within the last 90 days will in fact be removed from
the system. In order to correct this, the user simply needs to
register a new account with Ethereal Realms.
The
second can be due to a lost password. Ethereal Realms does
offer a reset
ability for password, but must have a valid and current Email
address for the new password to be sent to.
If you are
having problems continued with your log-in please contact
us and we will assist you with your account. Be sure to
include your log-in name and the email address that you used
to sign up for your account. We will get back to you as soon
as possible. |
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| What
are chat preferences? |
Chat preferences are different methods
in which the user plays in a realm. The following modes are
outlined below:
Basic Mode is the simplest chat
interface avialable. It will work under a myriad of browsers
even some which do not support images!
Framed
Mode is the second generation of chat interfaces. This one
features a posting frame and viewing frame, allowing you to
type up a post and check for new posts manually from time to
time.
Stream Mode is similiar in many ways to
Framed, however the posts arrive automatically and require no
manual request.
Autoscrolling Mode is an
upgrade to Stream in which a user can opt to have the posts
move into focus for them without any use of the scrollbars.
The speed is entirely controlled by the user. |
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| What
do gummies do? |
| Gummies provide a link to all your user
information you choose to make available, including E-Mail,
Homepage, Instant Message Services, and an image. Gummies also
allow for private messaging and ignoring. |
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| Why
are posts slow in stream? |
There will always be a bit of lag in
between a post and its appearance to the screen. First of all
even in the busiest of sites the script will only query for
new posts ever few seconds, so a wait is expected in that
regard.
However in realms that have less activity
Ethereal Realms will pull back and increase the time as to
ease strain on the system. While this lag may be noticeable in
such instances, generally the critical nature of posts being
instant will not exist. |
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| Why
can't I select a handle? |
| You used to be able to select handles,
manage them and that option is no longer available or hidden
from you? Chances are that the staff of the site has
implemented lock-down mode which prevents that sort of
activity. Speak to them about your problem and see if that is
the case. |
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| Why
can't I view a profile? |
Before you can search for a user's
profile, you must first have your own. Details from your own
profile will be used directly in the searching ability for the
site.
You can create a new profile through the 'User
Details' section of the site. |
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| Why
does the site think I am in X city? |
The system users your IP address to
determine where you are from. Now this technology is not
exactly perfect so it may be picking up invalid information or
reflecting the network you are on.
There is no need to
worry, simply change the information to reflect proper
information and use the map to pinpoint your proper location.
While you can specify location like Antarctica, you would be
best to avoid such places because you will not be able to find
people close to you as a result!
Note: Sites
such as Ethereal Realms use debugging keys to lock people into
a specific location. This is due to the fact that the site
proper is non-functional and is not meant to be used live.
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| Why
don't I get Emails? |
Ethereal Realms gives the user options
on where to send notices to. If a user has opted to keep it
internally, no notices will be sent through Email, instead
they will be stored locally.
On the other hand, you can
also opt to have it sent directly to your inbox. A useful
feature if you do not check your internal mail regularly and
want to know when something new arrives to the
inbox.
This option can be adjusted at any time through
the User Details panel. |
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| Why is
my profile not visible? |
Profiles on Ethereal Realms require a
certain amount of information to function. First and foremost
location information is required else you will not be able to
continue to other steps for registration until that step is
complete.
In addition you will have to provide a
default handle. These can be selected from the Puppet
Management screen and will become your default avatar for
social networking once you establish it as
default.
Note: All new users will have a default
handle created at registration time. This problem only applies
to established users. |
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» Frequently Asked Questions
