The UCP is separated into six tabs: Overview, Profile, Board preferences, Private messages, Usergroups, and Friends and foes. Within each tab are several sub pages, accessed by clicking the desired link on the left side of the UCP interface. Some of these areas may not be available depending on the permissions set for you by the administrator.
A list of the most popular areas are below:
Manage Subscriptions
User Control Panel > Overview > Manage subscriptions
Subscriptions are forums or individual topics that you have elected to watch for any new posts. Whenever a new post is made inside an area you have subscribed to, an e-mail will be sent you to informing you of the new addition. To create a subscription, visit the forum or topic you would like to subscribe to and click the 'Subscribe' link located at the bottom of the page.
To remove a subscription, check the box next to the subscription you would like to remove and click the 'Unsubscribe' button.
Manage Bookmarks
User Control Panel > Overview > Manage bookmarks
Bookmarks, much like subscriptions, are topics you've chosen to watch. However, there are two key differences: 1) only individual topics may be bookmarked, and 2) an e-mail will not be sent to inform you of new posts.
To create a bookmark, visit the topic you would like to watch and click the 'Bookmark Topic' link located at the bottom of the page.
To remove a bookmark, check the box next to the bookmark you would like to remove and click the 'Remove marked bookmarks' button.
Update Your Profile
User Control Panel > Profile > Edit profile
This section lets you set your profile information. Your profile information contains general information that other users on the board will able to see. Think of your profile as a sign of your public presence. This section is separated from your preferences. (Preferences are the individual settings that you set and manage on your own, and control your forum experience. Thus, this is separated from your profile settings.)
Change Your Signature
User Control Panel > Profile > Edit signature
Your signature appears, at your option, below every post you make. Signatures may be formatted using BBCode. The board administrator may specifiy a maximum length for signatures. You can check this limit by noting the line There is a x character limit. above the signature editing textbox, where x is the currently set limit.
Change Your Avatar
User Control Panel > Profile > Edit avatar
Your avatar is an image the displays with every post you make. You may specify the URL of an existing image. This will not cause the image to be hosted on the board's server, but rather hotlinked to its current location.
Change Your Username, Email, or Password
User Control Panel > Profile > Edit account settings
You can change your email address or password at any time through this section. Please note that for security purposes, you must confirm your current password if you wish to change your email address or password.
Change Your Board Settings
User Control Panel > Board preferences > Edit global settings
Preferences allow you to dictate various behaviors of the forum in regards to your interaction with it, including:
- Allowing other members to contact by e-mail
- Allowing other members to send you private messages
- Hiding your online status from other members
- Changing your timezone or date format
Private Messages
User Control Panel > Private messages
This forum allows you to communicate privately with other members by using private messages. Depending on your board settings, there are 3 ways of being notified that a new private message has arrived:
- By receiving an e-mail or Jabber message
- While browsing the forum a notification window will pop up
- The [X new messages] link will show the number of currently unread messages
You can choose to not receive private messages by other users in your Board preferences. Note, that moderators and administrators will still be able send you private messages, even if you have disabled them.
Just like in your email client, all private messages are stored in folders. Working with folders is similar to working with forums. The Inbox is your default incoming message folder. All messages you receive will appear in here.
Sent messages will appear in either the Outbox or the Sent messages folder. As long as the recipient(s) have not yet read the message, it will stay in the Outbox. As soon as someone reads the message it will be archived to the Sent messages folder.
Text at the top of each folder displays the current number of allowed messages and the current percentage of space your messages are using.
