Using Quotes in Your Message Reply

Started by MountainDon, December 31, 2007, 04:05:08 PM

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MountainDon

I have noticed some members having problems with quoting a message they wish to make a reply to. Here's some information I hope will help make this easier. Note that there is also a Help Topic built in to the forum software. Click the Help Tab at upper left for all Help Topics. This link will transport you to the built in quote help.

METHOD A:
Here is a standard read message window. To use a simple one click quotation in a reply click the Quote link as shown below...



The "Post Reply" window displays, with the full quoted message appearing as below.



You may then insert your reply below the quoted text as shown in the next image. Be certain the cursor is placed after the final "]" of the quoted message. Hitting the Enter key once will introduce one blank line between the quote and your response.



A portion of the quoted text may also be highlighted, as shown below, and deleted if it is not pertinent to your reply. Highlighting and pressing the 'Del' or 'Delete' key is one simple method to delete the highlighted text.



METHOD B:
There is a second method to utilize a quoted remark in a reply message. Start again at the standard read message window. Use your mouse to highlight the text you wish to use as a quote. Right-click the mouse and then click on the Copy command, as shown below.



Then click on the normal Reply button. The normal 'Post Reply' window opens. Click on the 'Insert Quote' button as shown.



The plain quote code will appear in the message window as shown below. Your cursor will be in between the leading and trailing codes. Do NOT click your mouse anywhere on this screen yet.



The easiest way to paste the text you copied is to simply press and hold down the "Ctrl" key and then press the "V" key. (a shortcut usually denoted as "Ctrl+V"). The text will then be pasted between the leading and trailing code.  You may also add your reply below the quoted text as you did in the first example.  This is shown below.



Click the Post button to record your reply.  METHOD A and METHOD B produce different output in the final message screen. These difference are shown below. Along with the quoted message METHOD A records who the quote is from and the date/time stamp of the original message, whereas METHOD B simply indicates it is a quote, no author, no date/time reference.





There is a third method suitable for those with touch typing fingers. You may simply type the quote code yourself. Use the 'square' brackets and note that the "/" must be inserted in the trailing code as shown.



The leading and trailing code must be entered precisely as shown otherwise it will not work. 

DO NOT type any of your reply within the leading and trailing quote code. If you do your text will commingle with the quoted text in the blue quoted message area. This can be confusing to readers of the post.
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

glenn kangiser

Great explanation, Don. 

I have one more thing on this -- If you have Quick Reply turned on, the quote will be pasted in the quick reply box by the program.  If you want to use smileys, etc, you can highlight the text in the quick reply box, copy or cut it then hit the reply button at the bottom of the last post and paste your quote text into the reply box with use of the smileys and other features.

Hope that's not too confusing.
"Always work from the general to the specific." J. Raabe

Glenn's Underground Cabin  http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=151.0

Please put your area in your sig line so we can assist with location specific answers.


MountainDon

Quote from: glenn kangiser on December 31, 2007, 08:55:32 PM
-- If you have Quick Reply turned on...
For those who haven't yet discovered 'Quick Reply' it is found at the bottom of the page, just under the last message. See below image...



Quick Reply settings are found under your 'Profile', in the 'Look and Layout Preferences' section. Scroll down to near the bottom.

I used it for a while, but missed having the smilies and other choices right there, & don't use it any more. YMMV.  :)
Just because something has been done and has not failed, doesn't mean it is good design.

liumingzhu

#3
I have one more thing on this -- If you have Quick Reply turned on, the quote will be pasted in the quick reply box by the program.  If you want to use smileys, etc, you can highlight the text in the quick reply box, copy or cut it then hit the reply button at the bottom of the last post and paste your quote text into the reply box with use of the smileys and other features.



EDIT: A useful tip. Advert removed. The user knows their way around SMF forum software. Big history of spamming forums too