The Sim Shack • Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the Shack!

Frequently Asked Questions

Login and Registration Issues: Why can’t I login?; Why do I need to register?; Why do I get logged off automatically?; How do I prevent my username appearing in the online user listings?; I’ve lost my password!; I registered but cannot login!; I registered in the past but cannot login any more?!; What is COPPA?; Why can’t I register?; What does the “Delete all board cookies” do?

User Preferences and settings: How do I change my settings?; The times are not correct!; I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!; My language is not in the list!; How do I show an image below my username?; What is my rank and how do I change it?

Posting Issues: How do I post a topic in a forum?; How do I edit or delete a post?; How do I add a signature to my post?; How do I create a poll?; Why can’t I add more poll options?; How do I edit or delete a poll?; Why can’t I add attachments?; Why did I receive a warning?; How can I report posts to a moderator?; What is the “Save” button for in topic posting?; Why does my post need to be approved?; How do I bump my topic?

Formatting and Topic Types: What is BBCode?; Can I use HTML?; What are Smilies?; Can I post images?; What are global announcements?; What are announcements?; What are sticky topics?; What are locked topics?

User Levels and Groups: What are Administrators?; What are Moderators?; What are usergroups?; Where are the usergroups and how do I join one?; How do I become a usergroup leader?; Why do some usergroups appear in a different colour?; What is a “Default usergroup”?; What is “The team” link?

Private Messaging: I cannot send private messages!; I keep getting unwanted private messages!; I have received a spamming or abusive e-mail from someone on this board!

Friends and Foes: What are my Friends and Foes lists?; How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?

Searching the Forums: How can I search a forum or forums?; Why does my search return no results?; Why does my search return a blank page!?; How do I search for members?; How can I find my own posts and topics?

Topic Subscriptions and Bookmarks: What is the difference between bookmarking and subscribing?; How do I subscribe to specific forums or topics?; How do I remove my subscriptions?

Attachments: What attachments are allowed on this board?; How do I find all my attachments?

phpBB 3 Issues: Who wrote this bulletin board?; Why isn’t X feature available?; Who do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?

Login and Registration Issues

Why can’t I login?: There are several reasons why this could occur. First, ensure your username and password are correct. If they are, contact support@thesimshack.com to make sure you haven’t been banned, and to check that there is not an error on our servers.; Top

Why do I need to register?: Although you can browse the boards and use the Sim Randomiser as a guest, you must register to join in with the fun! After you register, you can post, and after you've made 10 posts you can download attachments. Registration is quick and simple, and will also disable advertisements throughout the board.; Top

Why do I get logged off automatically?: If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you login, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. This is not recommended if you access the board from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university computer lab, etc.; Top

How do I prevent my username appearing in the online user listings?: Within your User Control Panel, under “Board preferences”, you will find the option Hide your online status. Enable this option with Yes and you will only appear to our administrators, moderators and yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.; Top

I’ve lost my password!: Don’t panic! While your password cannot be retrieved, it can easily be reset. Visit the login page and click I’ve forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be able to log in again shortly.; Top

I registered but cannot login!: First, check your username and password. If those are correct you may not have activated your account. You should have been sent an email to the email address you provided when you registered. If you did not receive an e-mail, you may have provided an incorrect e-mail address or the e-mail may have been picked up by a spam filer. If you are sure the e-mail address you provided is correct, and you have checked your spam folders, please email support@thesimshack.com from the email address you registered with, and we will activate your account for you.; Top

I registered in the past but cannot login any more?!: Attempt to locate the e-mail sent to you when you first registered, check your username and password and try again. If these are correct, it is possible your account has been deactivated or deleted, as we periodically deactivate or remove accounts which have never made a post. Please email support@thesimshack.com to have your account reactivated or to find out if your account was deleted (in which case you may create a new account).; Top

What is COPPA?: COPPA, or the Child Online Privacy and Protection Act of 1998, is a law in the United States requiring websites which can potentially collect information from minors under the age of 13 to have written parental consent or some other method of legal guardian acknowledgment, allowing the collection of personally identifiable information from a minor under the age of 13. Because of this law, we are unable to accept registrations from minors under the age of 13 in any circumstances. If you create an account and we find that you are under the age of 13, we will ban your account and remove any information you have given us from our records to comply.; Top

Why can’t I register?: It is possible that we have banned your IP address or email address, or disallowed the username you are attempting to register. Please contact support@thesimshack.com for further information.; Top

What does the “Delete all board cookies” do?: “Delete all board cookies” deletes the cookies created by phpBB which keep you authenticated and logged into the board. It also provides functions such as read tracking (in other words, it enables the forum to tell you which posts you have and have not read). If you are having login or logout problems, deleting board cookies may help.; Top

User Preferences and settings

How do I change my settings?: If you are a registered user, all your settings are stored in the board database. To alter them, visit your User Control Panel; a link can usually be found at the top of board pages. This system will allow you to change all your settings and preferences.; Top

The times are not correct!: Our server is located on the west coast of the USA, so if you are not in the same time zone as the server, times on the board may appear incorrectly. If this is the case, visit your User Control Panel and change your timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. If you have not registered, this is a good time to do so.; Top

I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!: If you are sure you have set the timezone and Summer Time/DST correctly and the time is still incorrect, then the time stored on the server clock is incorrect. Please contact support@thesimshack.com if this is the case.; Top

My language is not in the list!: The Sim Shack is an English-speaking community and as such the board is in English. If English is not your first language, and you need some assistance with changing your account settings or navigating the board, please post in the "Help Desk" area.; Top

How do I show an image below my username?: There are two images that may appear below a username when viewing posts. The first, usually a larger image, is known as an avatar and is generally unique or personal to each user. The smallest allowed size is 20px by 20px, and the largest is 150px by 150px. Also, the file size must be smaller than 75000 bytes.
The second image you may see under a username is a user rank button. These are given to moderators and administrators so you can identify them around the boards by looking for this button.; Top

What is my rank and how do I change it?: Ranks, which appear below your username, indicate the number of posts you have made or identify certain users, e.g. moderators and administrators. Please do not spam the boards to increase your rank as this may lead to a ban. Posting ranks are as follows:
0 = Bob Newbie
25 = Nervous Subject
50 = Darren Dreamer
100 = Benjamin Long
250 = Don Lothario
500 = Nina Caliente
1000 = Mortimer Goth
2500 = Pollination Technician
6666 = The Grim Reaper
10000 = Bella Goth
25000 = Social Bunny
Note that with the release of The Sims 3 on the horizon, we may be changing some of these posting ranks soon!; Top

Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?: To post a new topic in a forum, click the "new topic" while browsing the forum you wish to add a topic to. You will need to register before you can post a message, and some forums can only be posted in by staff. A list of your permissions in each forum is available at the bottom of the forum and topic screens. Example: You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc.; Top

How do I edit or delete a post?: Unless you are a board administrator or moderator, you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the edit button for the relevant post, up to half an hour after the original post was made. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic which lists the number of times you edited it along with the date and time. This will only appear if someone has made a reply; it will not appear if a moderator or administrator edited the post, though they may leave a note as to why they’ve edited the post. Please note that users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.
If you can no longer edit or delete your own post, but really need it changing or deleting, you can report your own post by using the "report post" button. Then, just write in the box explaining to the moderators what needs to be done, and they will deal with it as soon as possible.; Top

How do I add a signature to my post?: To add a signature to a post you must first create one via your User Control Panel. Once created, you can check the Attach a signature box on the posting form to add your signature (this is usually checked by default). Please note certain rules apply to your signature, you can find those here.; Top

How do I create a poll?: When posting a new topic or editing the first post of a topic, click the “Poll creation” tab below the main posting form; if you cannot see this, you do not have appropriate permissions to create polls, but you can always request that a moderator adds a poll to the thread for you!
If you do have permission to create a poll, enter a title and at least two options in the appropriate fields, making sure each option is on a separate line in the text area. You can also set the number of options users may select during voting under “Options per user”, a time limit in days for the poll (0 for infinite duration) and lastly the option to allow users to amend their votes.; Top

Why can’t I add more poll options?: The maximum number of poll options is 10. If you feel you need to add more options to your poll then the allowed amount, PM BlackGarden.; Top

How do I edit or delete a poll?: As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator or an administrator. To edit a poll, click to edit the first post in the topic; this always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote, users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if members have already placed votes, only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it. This prevents the poll’s options from being changed mid-way through a poll.; Top

Why can’t I add attachments?: Attachment permissions are granted on a per forum, per group, or per user basis. Contact the BlackGarden via PM or by emailing support@thesimshack.com if you are unsure about why you are unable to add attachments.; Top

Why did I receive a warning?: The Sim Shack has certain rules which it expects all users to abide by. Breaking these rules may result in a warning, and you will usually receive a PM when you get a warning explaining what the warning is for. You can find all our rules here. If you are still not sure why you received a warning, please PM a moderator.; Top

How can I report posts to a moderator?: You should see a button for reporting posts next to the post you wish to report. Clicking this will walk you through the steps necessary to report the post.; Top

What is the “Save” button for in topic posting?: This allows you to save passages to be completed and submitted at a later date. To reload a saved passage, visit the User Control Panel.; Top

Why does my post need to be approved?: All new posts in the downloads area need to be approved before they are posted. This is to ensure that downloads are not posted without a list of requirements, a picture, and a link to actually get the download. Responses in this area must also be approved.; Top

How do I bump my topic?: If your topic has not been replied to in at least a day, and has fallen down the list of posts so that it is not in the first 20 posts listed in that forum, you may reply to it again to bump it back up the list. Bumping topics unnecessarily, or too early, may result in a warning.; Top

Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?: BBCode is a special implementation of HTML, offering great formatting control on particular objects in a post. The use of BBCode can be disabled on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML, but tags are enclosed in square brackets [ and ] rather than < and >. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.; Top

Can I use HTML?: No. It is not possible to post HTML on this board and have it rendered as HTML. Most formatting which can be carried out using HTML can be applied using BBCode instead.; Top

What are Smilies?: Smilies, or Emoticons, are small images which can be used to express a feeling using a short code, e.g. :) denotes happy, while :( denotes sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen in the posting form. Try not to overuse smilies, however, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may edit them out or remove the post altogether. The board administrator may also have set a limit to the number of smilies you may use within a post.; Top

Can I post images?: Yes, images can be shown in your posts. There are instructions on how to do this here.; Top

What are global announcements?: Global announcements contain important information posted by moderators and administrators and you should read them. They will appear at the top of every forum and within your User Control Panel.; Top

What are announcements?: Announcements often contain important information posted by moderators and administrators for the forum you are currently reading and you should read them whenever possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted.; Top

What are sticky topics?: Sticky topics within the forum appear below announcements and only on the first page. They are often quite important, or may contain useful information, so you should read them whenever possible. Only moderators and administrators can decide to "sticky" a post, although if you see a post you think should be "stickied" you are welcome to suggest this.; Top

What are locked topics?: Locked topics are topics where users can no longer reply and any poll it contained was automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons, but if a topic has been locked you should check the last post made in that thread, as the moderator who locked it may have given a reason for locking it.; Top

User Levels and Groups

What are Administrators?: Administrators are members assigned with the highest level of control over the entire board. These members can control all facets of board operation, including setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or moderators, etc., dependent upon the board founder and what permissions he or she has given the other administrators. They also have full moderator capabilities in all forums, depending on the settings put forth by the board founder.; Top

What are Moderators?: Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) who look after the forums from day to day. They have the authority to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics. Moderators are present to prevent users from going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material, and to ensure that the The Sim Shack remains a safe and friendly environment for all.; Top

What are usergroups?: Usergroups are groups of users that divide the community into manageable sections board administrators can work with. Each user can belong to several groups and each group can be assigned individual permissions.; Top

Where are the usergroups and how do I join one?: You can view all usergroups via the “Usergroups” link within your User Control Panel. If you would like to join one, proceed by clicking the appropriate button. Not all groups have open access, however. Some may require approval to join, some may be closed and some may even have hidden memberships. If the group is open, you can join it by clicking the appropriate button. If a group requires approval to join you may request to join by clicking the appropriate button. The user group leader will need to approve your request and may ask why you want to join the group. Please do not harass a group leader if they reject your request; they will have their reasons.; Top

How do I become a usergroup leader?: A usergroup leader is usually assigned when usergroups are initially created. We do not accept applications for leading usergroups unless otherwise specified.; Top

Why do some usergroups appear in a different colour?: Some usergroups are assigned a colour to make it easy to identify the members of this group.; Top

What is a “Default usergroup”?: If you are a member of more than one usergroup, your default is used to determine which group colour and group rank should be shown for you by default. This will be set by the administrators and moderators.; Top

What is “The team” link?: This page provides you with a list of board staff, including board administrators and moderators and other details such as the forums they moderate.; Top

Private Messaging

I cannot send private messages!: There are three reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, we have disabled private messaging for the entire board, or we have prevented you from sending messages. Contact support@thesimshack.com for more information.; Top

I keep getting unwanted private messages!: You can block a user from sending you private messages by using message rules within your User Control Panel. If you are receiving abusive private messages from a particular user, or are being bullied via private message please inform a moderator via PM or by emailing support@thesimshack.com. If you do not delete the messages from your inbox, we can look into the matter for you.; Top

I have received a spamming or abusive e-mail from someone on this board!: We are sorry to hear that. The e-mail form feature of this board includes safeguards to try and track users who send such posts, so e-mail support@thesimshack.com with a full copy of the e-mail you received. It is very important that this includes the headers that contain the details of the user that sent the e-mail. We can then use this information to take action.; Top

Friends and Foes

What are my Friends and Foes lists?: You can use these lists to organise other members of the board. Members added to your friends list will be listed within your User Control Panel for quick access to see their online status and to send them private messages. Subject to template support, posts from these users may also be highlighted. If you add a user to your foes list, any posts they make will be hidden by default.; Top

How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?: You can add users to your list in two ways. Within each user’s profile, there is a link to add them to either your Friend or Foe list. Alternatively, from your User Control Panel, you can directly add users by entering their member name. You may also remove users from your list using the same page.; Top

Searching the Forums

How can I search a forum or forums?: Enter a search term in the search box located on the index, forum or topic pages. Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the “Advanced Search” link which is available on all pages on the forum.; Top

Why does my search return no results?: Your search was probably too vague and included many common terms which are not indexed by phpBB3. Be more specific and use the options available within Advanced search.; Top

Why does my search return a blank page!?: Your search returned too many results for the webserver to handle. Use “Advanced search” and be more specific in the terms used and forums that are to be searched.; Top

How do I search for members?: Visit to the “Members” page and click the “Find a member” link.; Top

How can I find my own posts and topics?: Your own posts can be retrieved either by clicking the “Search user’s posts” within the User Control Panel or via your own profile page. To search for your topics, use the Advanced search page and fill in the various options appropriately.; Top

Topic Subscriptions and Bookmarks

What is the difference between bookmarking and subscribing?: Bookmarking in phpBB3 is much like bookmarking in your web browser. You aren’t alerted when there’s an update, but you can come back to the topic later. Subscribing, however, will notify you when there is an update to the topic or forum on the board via your preferred method or methods.; Top

How do I subscribe to specific forums or topics?: To subscribe to a specific forum, click the “Subscribe forum” link upon entering the forum. To subscribe to a topic, reply to the topic with the subscribe checkbox checked or click the “Subscribe topic” link within the topic itself.; Top

How do I remove my subscriptions?: To remove your subscriptions, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to your subscriptions.; Top

Attachments

What attachments are allowed on this board?: You can upload many types of attachment, including .Sims2Pack, .package, and .zip files, and a variety of image types. If you find you are unable to upload a particular type of file, please PM BlackGarden and we may be able to enabled that file type for upload.; Top

How do I find all my attachments?: To find your list of attachments that you have uploaded, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to the attachments section.; Top

phpBB 3 Issues

Who wrote this bulletin board?: This software (in its unmodified form) is produced, released and is copyright phpBB Group. It is made available under the GNU General Public License and may be freely distributed. See the link for more details.; Top

Why isn’t X feature available?: This software was written by and licensed through phpBB Group. If you believe a feature needs to be added, please visit the phpbb.com website and see what phpBB Group have to say. Please do not post feature requests to the board at phpbb.com, the group uses SourceForge to handle tasking of new features. Please read through the forums and see what, if any, our position may already be for a feature and then follow the procedure given there.; Top

Who do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?: Any of the administrators listed on the “The team” page should be an appropriate point of contact for your complaints. If this still gets no response then you should contact the owner of the domain (do a whois lookup) or, if this is running on a free service (e.g. Yahoo!, free.fr, f2s.com, etc.), the management or abuse department of that service. Please note that the phpBB Group has absolutely no jurisdiction and cannot in any way be held liable over how, where or by whom this board is used. Do not contact the phpBB Group in relation to any legal (cease and desist, liable, defamatory comment, etc.) matter not directly related to the phpBB.com website or the discrete software of phpBB itself. If you do e-mail phpBB Group about any third party use of this software then you should expect a terse response or no response at all.; Top