We've gone through the registration and first login, we've talked about getting oriented on this site, so let's talk a little more about how to post and start new topics.
For the rest of this text I'm assuming you're logged in, without that you can't post anything!
The first step is to decide whether we want to reply in an existing topic, or start a new topic.
To start a new topic, we first need to go to the section that matches the content. Again, to make it easier, if you just need to ask a question, we have a Wars - Discussion section, or a Questions and Answers section. If you want to create new post about tech, personalities, etc., it's a good idea to go through the tree structure to the appropriate section by nationality, country of origin, etc. Each section has its own rules, and we recommend you first look at the system surrounding topics are based on, how they are named, etc. Of course we are happy to help and moderate and monitor topics and posts, but it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with how we do things here. The system is addictive and the staff culture is important to us.
Once we are in the section we want to start a topic in, just switch to the Topics tab and use the New Topic button there.
Next, we need to fill in a title, at least the Czech version, ideally the English version as well. The remaining fields for the original and Slovak title are used in topics devoted to weapons, units, personalities, where there is both a non-Czech and non-English title, so that we always have the German, Russian, Japanese, etc., available for search and linking purposes (the Slovak subtitle is also used for this purpose, as it makes it easier to work with Slovak texts and their linking).
From here on, the procedure is the same as for replying in an existing topic.
Find the topic you want to reply to. Ask a question, add clarifying information, correct a mistake, add a table, images, text ...
At the end of the existing posts is the editor, a large editing area used to insert a post. This area is either editor only or still has template tabs. Templates are separate forms used to insert structured data, create tables of technical details of techniques, personality cards, unit overview, and more. See below.
So choose the way you want to insert the post.
Editor is similar to the word processor application you know from your computer, tablet or phone. Whether it's Word or similar tools. So even in our editor you have the possibility to type, insert basic formatting (bold, italic, etc.), insert images, links, tables, smileys and many other objects, which are extensions created specifically for this site and which I recommend to use only after getting more familiar with the functioning of this site and its logic.
Editor is limited to a certain set of formatting, we do not allow different colors, font sizes or font types and similar things. The goal is to be as uniform as possible and to guarantee it works across all devices (PC, tablet, phone and other forms of browsing), operating systems, light and dark modes and so on. So you can't insert absolutely anything, the editor simply deletes or changes it to an acceptable format automatically when you insert "forbidden" content.
The editor works with HTML, the formatting language in which all pages on the internet are written. The basis of this format is a set of tags that indicate, simplistically, that the text within those tags is to be both formatted in some way (as bold, striped, headings, bulleted lists, etc.), but also positioned within its parent object (tables, centering to center or right, position locked at a certain point on the page, etc.) And you won't see most of these tags because they are in the background of the page. I mention this because if you copy any text on another page, and paste it here into an editor (or copy your data in excel or word or similar programs and paste it into an editor), much of the formatting will carry over. I don't recommend this practice, as it can unnecessarily copy ballast into the editor, or introduce formatting/appearance errors that are difficult for beginners to fix. Somewhere your text will bounce to the next line, be highlighted differently, individual cells in the table will be wrong, etc. This is easy to solve, just paste the text into Notepad / Notepad (in Windows) before pasting it into our editor, mark it all up again, copy it and then paste it into our editor. This deletes any formatting that would be invisible in the text in the background.
Otherwise, the editor works as in Word, except that if we want to apply a format to text we have already written, we just select it and click on the appropriate format button (B for bold / bold, etc.) at the top of the editor menu. Each button has a small explanatory note on it, which appears after hovering the mouse and waiting about half a second. It is also possible to turn the format on and then just start typing, turning the format off is then achieved by simply clicking on the button again. So I press bold, I type in bold, I press bold again, and I type in normal font.
If we insert an active element into the editor, such as a tweet, youtube video, image or link, when we select this element by clicking the mouse on it, an EDIT button appears in the editor menu, which allows us to change the parameters of the object, change the link, address, size, centering and all kinds of other things. The same applies to specific elements of our website, such as rank lists, awards, photo galleries, etc., i.e. elements inserted using the INSERT menu.
Elements can also be combined, i.e., for example, you can first insert an image, then click to select it and insert a link that the user goes to when he clicks on the image.
If you want to create links to other content on our site, I recommend using a tool I call Linkator. Just select the text to be used as a link, invoke the Linkator (using the Pause button on the keyboard or the button in the editor, the "dice with chain" icon, the first icon in the second row of the editor menu. A window with links corresponding to the selected text will appear, and clicking on the selected link will transfer it to the text you selected in the editor. You can then close the Linkator or just move it out of your field of view, as you can just mark more text and use the already loaded data to link again, or invoke the Linkator again. The advantages are many, the disadvantages are almost none.
First of all, the link will always have the correct form - the user does not have to copy the link anywhere, does not have to worry whether it leads to the Czech or English version of the site, has the correct format that is machine readable and allows other functionality that is specific to our site. And at the same time, if Linkator doesn't find anything for you, it is of course possible that such content or such a topic is not yet based here, but often it is also an indicator that you have a poorly written title. For example, unit name translations, "public" weapon name spellings vs. its correct manufacturing designation, etc. We're really pedantic, we have a system of translations and methodologies worked out for each country, and we try not to accept amateurism in translations and technical terminology. The linkator is really an essential tool in this case, and it also makes a lot of work easier. It also explains why we need those Czech, English, original and Slovak topic headings - this is where Linkator looks for a match with the marked text!
Below the editor there is an area where you can add attachments (mostly images) along with a short description of what they are. There can be up to 50 attachments in a post (but if you're adding larger photo galleries, I recommend using the Create a new photo gallery feature directly). The images will shrink to a size suitable for display within the topic when uploaded, and also link from them to the full/original size of the attachment. It is also possible to insert some non-image attachments. Videos should be embedded via youtube or other systems, our platform is not built to process and stream video.
If you are embedding text that is not just a question or discussion, but is a resume, technical description, etc., i.e. of lasting value, please embed the English version as well, it is simple and "one click". More in the description of the dual language version of our site
Once I'm happy with my post, just click on the Save button above or below the editor, both have the same function.
If a template is set up in a given section, it will appear as another tab in the editor area. There is usually one template in a section, but in some cases there may be more, in which case there is a main template (personalities, decorations) and then a detail template, or a system overview (weapons, missile launchers, etc.) and then detail templates for individual components (carrier, missile, logistic support, radar, etc.).
Templates are bilingual, i.e. they contain a Czech column and an English column.
Even Slovak colleagues are requested to fill in the main fields (except of course notes, sources, etc.) in Czech, so that automatic checks can be made for matches with topic names and interlinking of topics.
The Czech column of values, if it contains measurements and weights, are given in the metric system, kilograms, etc. While the English column is used to record measurements and weights of the imperial system, i.e. feet, inches, pounds, knots, etc. Let's try to fill BOTH columns, because in the Czech version of the site the Czech column is predominantly displayed, and in the English version the English column is predominant, so even if the values in both fields are the same (for example in the name of the weapon or personality), you need to fill it in both fields, Czech and English. For easy conversion between Czech and English values, there are arrows that allow either to copy the text from one column to the other or vice versa, or, where units of measure are involved, to automatically convert from metric to imperial and vice versa. Alternatively, arrows are available with the letter D, in which case only the dates are copied, but not the other values (usually because the names are different in the English and Czech columns).
The templates allow for a number of specific tasks, additional fields can be added (for example, for a list of commanders of a given unit, a new line can be easily added by clicking on the white-green "+" button), both at the end of the list and at the position preceding it in an existing list). Specific images can be inserted, a rank and city name whisperer works. The template guides the user through the filling, specifies the format of the entry and clearly explains where what value is needed. Where the value is not known, just fill in nothing, a question mark or a dash will automatically be filled in when saving as an indicator of the unknown.
Once the entire template is filled in, one must either use the Transfer to Editor button, which will make the template the final post, and then click Save, or click the Save button directly (which will do the same procedure in the background, only without the need to click twice)
For the rest of this text I'm assuming you're logged in, without that you can't post anything!
The first step is to decide whether we want to reply in an existing topic, or start a new topic.
Starting a new topic
To start a new topic, we first need to go to the section that matches the content. Again, to make it easier, if you just need to ask a question, we have a Wars - Discussion section, or a Questions and Answers section. If you want to create new post about tech, personalities, etc., it's a good idea to go through the tree structure to the appropriate section by nationality, country of origin, etc. Each section has its own rules, and we recommend you first look at the system surrounding topics are based on, how they are named, etc. Of course we are happy to help and moderate and monitor topics and posts, but it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with how we do things here. The system is addictive and the staff culture is important to us.
Once we are in the section we want to start a topic in, just switch to the Topics tab and use the New Topic button there.
Next, we need to fill in a title, at least the Czech version, ideally the English version as well. The remaining fields for the original and Slovak title are used in topics devoted to weapons, units, personalities, where there is both a non-Czech and non-English title, so that we always have the German, Russian, Japanese, etc., available for search and linking purposes (the Slovak subtitle is also used for this purpose, as it makes it easier to work with Slovak texts and their linking).
From here on, the procedure is the same as for replying in an existing topic.
Replying in an existing topic
Find the topic you want to reply to. Ask a question, add clarifying information, correct a mistake, add a table, images, text ...
At the end of the existing posts is the editor, a large editing area used to insert a post. This area is either editor only or still has template tabs. Templates are separate forms used to insert structured data, create tables of technical details of techniques, personality cards, unit overview, and more. See below.
So choose the way you want to insert the post.
Editor
Editor is similar to the word processor application you know from your computer, tablet or phone. Whether it's Word or similar tools. So even in our editor you have the possibility to type, insert basic formatting (bold, italic, etc.), insert images, links, tables, smileys and many other objects, which are extensions created specifically for this site and which I recommend to use only after getting more familiar with the functioning of this site and its logic.
Editor is limited to a certain set of formatting, we do not allow different colors, font sizes or font types and similar things. The goal is to be as uniform as possible and to guarantee it works across all devices (PC, tablet, phone and other forms of browsing), operating systems, light and dark modes and so on. So you can't insert absolutely anything, the editor simply deletes or changes it to an acceptable format automatically when you insert "forbidden" content.
The editor works with HTML, the formatting language in which all pages on the internet are written. The basis of this format is a set of tags that indicate, simplistically, that the text within those tags is to be both formatted in some way (as bold, striped, headings, bulleted lists, etc.), but also positioned within its parent object (tables, centering to center or right, position locked at a certain point on the page, etc.) And you won't see most of these tags because they are in the background of the page. I mention this because if you copy any text on another page, and paste it here into an editor (or copy your data in excel or word or similar programs and paste it into an editor), much of the formatting will carry over. I don't recommend this practice, as it can unnecessarily copy ballast into the editor, or introduce formatting/appearance errors that are difficult for beginners to fix. Somewhere your text will bounce to the next line, be highlighted differently, individual cells in the table will be wrong, etc. This is easy to solve, just paste the text into Notepad / Notepad (in Windows) before pasting it into our editor, mark it all up again, copy it and then paste it into our editor. This deletes any formatting that would be invisible in the text in the background.
Otherwise, the editor works as in Word, except that if we want to apply a format to text we have already written, we just select it and click on the appropriate format button (B for bold / bold, etc.) at the top of the editor menu. Each button has a small explanatory note on it, which appears after hovering the mouse and waiting about half a second. It is also possible to turn the format on and then just start typing, turning the format off is then achieved by simply clicking on the button again. So I press bold, I type in bold, I press bold again, and I type in normal font.
If we insert an active element into the editor, such as a tweet, youtube video, image or link, when we select this element by clicking the mouse on it, an EDIT button appears in the editor menu, which allows us to change the parameters of the object, change the link, address, size, centering and all kinds of other things. The same applies to specific elements of our website, such as rank lists, awards, photo galleries, etc., i.e. elements inserted using the INSERT menu.
Elements can also be combined, i.e., for example, you can first insert an image, then click to select it and insert a link that the user goes to when he clicks on the image.
If you want to create links to other content on our site, I recommend using a tool I call Linkator. Just select the text to be used as a link, invoke the Linkator (using the Pause button on the keyboard or the button in the editor, the "dice with chain" icon, the first icon in the second row of the editor menu. A window with links corresponding to the selected text will appear, and clicking on the selected link will transfer it to the text you selected in the editor. You can then close the Linkator or just move it out of your field of view, as you can just mark more text and use the already loaded data to link again, or invoke the Linkator again. The advantages are many, the disadvantages are almost none.
First of all, the link will always have the correct form - the user does not have to copy the link anywhere, does not have to worry whether it leads to the Czech or English version of the site, has the correct format that is machine readable and allows other functionality that is specific to our site. And at the same time, if Linkator doesn't find anything for you, it is of course possible that such content or such a topic is not yet based here, but often it is also an indicator that you have a poorly written title. For example, unit name translations, "public" weapon name spellings vs. its correct manufacturing designation, etc. We're really pedantic, we have a system of translations and methodologies worked out for each country, and we try not to accept amateurism in translations and technical terminology. The linkator is really an essential tool in this case, and it also makes a lot of work easier. It also explains why we need those Czech, English, original and Slovak topic headings - this is where Linkator looks for a match with the marked text!
Below the editor there is an area where you can add attachments (mostly images) along with a short description of what they are. There can be up to 50 attachments in a post (but if you're adding larger photo galleries, I recommend using the Create a new photo gallery feature directly). The images will shrink to a size suitable for display within the topic when uploaded, and also link from them to the full/original size of the attachment. It is also possible to insert some non-image attachments. Videos should be embedded via youtube or other systems, our platform is not built to process and stream video.
If you are embedding text that is not just a question or discussion, but is a resume, technical description, etc., i.e. of lasting value, please embed the English version as well, it is simple and "one click". More in the description of the dual language version of our site
Once I'm happy with my post, just click on the Save button above or below the editor, both have the same function.
Templates
If a template is set up in a given section, it will appear as another tab in the editor area. There is usually one template in a section, but in some cases there may be more, in which case there is a main template (personalities, decorations) and then a detail template, or a system overview (weapons, missile launchers, etc.) and then detail templates for individual components (carrier, missile, logistic support, radar, etc.).
Templates are bilingual, i.e. they contain a Czech column and an English column.
Even Slovak colleagues are requested to fill in the main fields (except of course notes, sources, etc.) in Czech, so that automatic checks can be made for matches with topic names and interlinking of topics.
The Czech column of values, if it contains measurements and weights, are given in the metric system, kilograms, etc. While the English column is used to record measurements and weights of the imperial system, i.e. feet, inches, pounds, knots, etc. Let's try to fill BOTH columns, because in the Czech version of the site the Czech column is predominantly displayed, and in the English version the English column is predominant, so even if the values in both fields are the same (for example in the name of the weapon or personality), you need to fill it in both fields, Czech and English. For easy conversion between Czech and English values, there are arrows that allow either to copy the text from one column to the other or vice versa, or, where units of measure are involved, to automatically convert from metric to imperial and vice versa. Alternatively, arrows are available with the letter D, in which case only the dates are copied, but not the other values (usually because the names are different in the English and Czech columns).
The templates allow for a number of specific tasks, additional fields can be added (for example, for a list of commanders of a given unit, a new line can be easily added by clicking on the white-green "+" button), both at the end of the list and at the position preceding it in an existing list). Specific images can be inserted, a rank and city name whisperer works. The template guides the user through the filling, specifies the format of the entry and clearly explains where what value is needed. Where the value is not known, just fill in nothing, a question mark or a dash will automatically be filled in when saving as an indicator of the unknown.
Once the entire template is filled in, one must either use the Transfer to Editor button, which will make the template the final post, and then click Save, or click the Save button directly (which will do the same procedure in the background, only without the need to click twice)
