# Getting Started: New User Tips and Tricks **URL:** \ **Category:** Getting Started Guide\ **Created:** [July 8, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/getting-started-new-user-tips-and-tricks/145 "2021-07-08T07:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GreenYourLab](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/network.greenyourlab.org/greenyourlab/32/517_2.png) [@GreenYourLab](https://network.greenyourlab.org/u/GreenYourLab)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/getting-started-new-user-tips-and-tricks/145/1 "2021-07-08T07:00:00Z")
# Welcome to the Green Your Lab Network! **We’re so happy to have you join our initiative** **Here’s a quick start video to get you started:** [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/591f0a47eee86c8bb44f049410cc682b7a94cee2.jpeg "Green Your Lab Quick Start Guide") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ujQxpwbn8) # More tips: ## Reading Selecting a title from the **topic list** will always take you to your **last read post** in the topic. To enter at the top or bottom instead, select the reply count or last reply date. Topics above the light red line are new or updated since your last visit. If you have read all the way to the end of a topic, its title will be light grey instead of black. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/ef84d48c4c66e5d81ac53db89cfc162069efffe5.png) ## Navigation For search, the menu, or your user page, use the **icon buttons at the upper right**. ![search, menu, and notifications in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/99d30cd383865275d0b22a445bb96d2a830af312.png) While reading a topic, use the timeline on the right side to jump to the top, bottom, or your last read position. On smaller screens, select the bottom progress bar to expand it. (If you have a physical keyboard, you can also press ? for a list of keyboard shortcuts.) # Starting a New Topic Starting a new thread is easy. Just click ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/69f4012e8579b0b592984d11a414f970ec97bdcd.png) In some categories or if you are a new user, your new topic might need to be aproved by Admins. This is just to ensure we keep everything clean. ## Templates In some categories, you might see that there’s a template already outlined when you click the “New Topic” button. If possible, please keep to the template for easy viewing. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/6cd8e1a8fb106ed5427dbd76d1569a685bb8eb0c.png) # Replying Press any ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/513ae3a14e9b360605ca874aef3c2b28c884b89b.png) **Reply** button to open the editor panel at the bottom of your browser. Continue reading (and even navigate to different topics) while you compose your reply; minimize the editor for more room. Drafts will automatically be saved as you write. ![collapsing and expanding the editor in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/463c8651eb42233d820710bc775143ad43708d59.gif) ## Quoting To insert a quote, select the text you wish to quote, then press the Quote button that pops up. Repeat for multiple quotes. ![selecting a quote in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/0cdb098a4dab2dc490593161a10b52c62b0fc91e.gif) ## Mentioning To notify someone about your reply, mention their name. Type `@` to begin selecting a username. ![mentioning a username in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/9c41ed7b4d0e6bbf6ed41e21733a51e4b037eca6.gif) # Formatting Your reply can be formatted using simple HTML, BBCode, or [Markdown](http://commonmark.org/help/): ```auto This is bold. This is [b]bold[/b]. This is **bold**. ``` For more formatting tips, [try our 10 minute tutorial](http://commonmark.org/help/tutorial/). ## Emoji To use [standard Emoji](http://www.emoji.codes/), just type `:` to match by name, or traditional smileys `;)` ![completing Emoji in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/58cf78a6f6799d092a0a39a5241646df5689c722.gif) ## Oneboxes To generate a summary for a link, paste it on a line by itself. To start a topic with a link, paste the link into the title field. ![pasting link to onebox in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/e599a5a09d30d580e7ed24e2baed4c6b988966d0.gif) ## Dates The toolbar has a date/time function ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/ed5c70205778cafdea6041b5798b207d12ae4b29.png) . Please try to use it whenever possible. We have members from all over the world in various time zones. Using this allows all dates and times to appear in the correct timezone for each user. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/45ea9fbf2b58c56563afa97dc9a9e20306cb597b.png) # Links To add links, highlight the key words and then press ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/50c4c550a7d5cf25be4d477c6489df2cfbe53057.png) in the editing bar. Then put the URL it should link to. # PDFs We do We allow files up to 5MB. Most papers fit, but in some rare instances where they dont, use the [Official Adobe PDF Compressor](https://www.adobe.com/ca/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html). Just drag and drop the file where you want it to go in your post. # Actions There are action buttons at the bottom of each post: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/1ae400c1261302bc93927460e50f20f51e43a776.png) - To let someone know that you enjoyed and appreciated their post, use the **like** button. Share the love! - Grab a copy-pasteable link to any reply or topic via the **link** button. - Use the … button to reveal more actions. **Flag** to privately let the author, or the site staff, know about a problem. **Bookmark** to find this post later on your profile page. # Notifications When someone is **talking directly to you** – by replying to you, quoting your post, mentioning your `@username` , or even linking to your post, a number will immediately appear over your profile picture at the top right. Select it to access your **notifications**. ![notification in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/dae96fb7d6102427559ec4add42f0e76e56b83cd.png) Don’t worry about missing a reply – you’ll be emailed any notifications that arrive when you are away. # Indicators All topics less than **two days old** are considered new, and will show a new indicator. ![new topic indicator in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/3f53e05ce8be179b0897d4b27843d4f478f052f4.png) Any topic you’ve **actively participated in** – by creating it, replying to it, or reading it for an extended period – will be automatically tracked on your behalf, and will show an unread post count indicator. ![unread topic indicator in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/fbdd474a8549f875a0fa9072016bbb50aef8b5e0.png) You can change your notification level for any topic via the notification control at the bottom, and right hand side, of each topic. (Notification level can also be set per category, look for the notification control on the upper right of each category page.) ![topic notification control in Discourse](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/8b1cf0715893eb87d67aa2799cfe7494708f76d8.png) # Preferences You can adapt your experience by going to the “Preferences” section. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/87fc6689c2ae8d365859440dd732813a0fb80130.png) This is where you can update your profile (and tell us more about you), reset your password, chance your notification and email frequencies, and even change the text size for easier reading. # Inviting New Users Feel free to invite people you think would be a great part of our community. Got to your profile image in the top right corner → Profile icon ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/04e2338de5f3f59d283495a1d1bd1ca87d8c5801.png) → ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/7473b3c14f63895ac42e7c0be5cb1565a0886c52.png) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/dc366fc68f475d1954c1e4af10d6543c02ae66a8.png) Click ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/9ec2b8299ee846e00fcd694bf17fc68576023221.png). You can either copy and send the link to your invitee, or your can choose “Invite just one email address” and type in the person’s email. You have the option to add a personal message in the advanced options. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/greenyourlab/original/1X/e238845d3b7bb43273b1dbb0c133d822c239894f.png)