' CONTACT US ' actually means ' CONTACT ME ', Mark (Tiny) Foulsham the Site Administrator, and can be used to let me know just about anything you want. You can ask me questions, make suggestions or ask me to add your name to the list of Classmates to enable you to join the site. Just complete the Message box at the bottom of this page and click on SEND MESSAGE and, if you are asking me to add your name to the Classmates' list, please also include the years you attended the school - so that I can verify that you are who you say you are - and any other relevant school information that will help convince me.
As a REGISTERED CLASSMATE you'll be able to participate in the USER FORUMS, have access to the information others have entered on their PROFILES and, by clicking on their name on the CLASSMATE PROFILES page, you'll be able to send them a message. BEFORE YOU DO THAT, AND TO ENSURE YOU RECEIVE E-MAILS FROM THE SITE, please ensure that you 'whitelist' postmaster@classcreator.net so that your own e-mail program doesn't classify mail from that address as 'spam'.
If you are making contact to ask a question because you are unsure about how to register with, or use, the site, please read the details on this page first as you may find the answer here.
THIS PAGE WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REGISTERING FOR THE SITE, HOW TO USE IT, WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU WHEN YOU DO USE IT AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS YOU MIGHT BE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ENCOUNTER.
HOW TO JOIN UP AND USE THE SITE:-
This should be simple. After all, you went to a good school.
REGISTER FOR A FREE ACCOUNT in order to view and contribute to all available pages:-
1) Enter your name, e-mail address and the word "REGISTER" in the relevant boxes at the foot of this page. Add some details relating to your time at the School, including the years you attended, that will help convince me of your eligibility to join the site. Click on SEND MESSAGE.
2)WHEN I'VE APPROVED YOUR APPLICATION you'll receive a confirmation e-mail from me that will include instructions for completing your PROFILE.
3) CREATE YOUR PROFILE by entering as much information as you can, especially that which is school-specific, as it will assist me when confirming you are who you say you are.
You MUST include your PREFERRED FIRST NAME & SURNAME, your FULL ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER (IF YOU HAVE ONE), the E-MAIL ADDRESS you wish to use for all site correspondence, the YEARS YOU WERE AT SLOANE and a PASSWORD you will easily remember. You will need to enter the E-MAIL ADDRESS and PASSWORD each time you LOG ON to the site.
You must also TRY TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS PRECEDED BY AN ASTERISK (*) before you can be registered. I appreciate this may be difficult for some of you so I will use my discretion when approving your application.
In addition, before I can allow you access to the password-protected areas of the site I WILL NEED TO VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY. This could take a little while so please be patient as it's designed to protect all Classmates from potential 'hijackers' who have been known to gain access to potentially sensitive information by passing themselves off as someone else.
It's also recommended that you CHECK THE PROFILE VISIBILTY box as this will prevent anyone, other than known registered Classmates and approved Guests, from viewing your details, but the choice to do this or not remains yours. GUESTS will include masters and others with a school connection, who are not, strictly, Classmates but have been approved to join the site. Leave the CONTACT DETAILS box unchecked if you don't want anyone else, other than me, to see them. Once you've entered all you want to enter, please remember to click on SAVE CHANGES at the bottom of the page.
Additional questions may be added to your Profile page from time to time to make it more interesting, so it's worth checking it on a regular basis in case there's something else you'd like to add.
WHEN YOU'VE REGISTERED:-
A) LOG ON each time you visit the site by ENTERING YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS AND PASSWORD on the HOME PAGE then CLICKING THE GREEN LOG ON button. IF YOU'VE FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSWORD, click on the FORGOT PASSWORD link, enter the e-mail address you registered, click SUBMIT and a reminder will be sent to you.
B) THE FIRST TIME YOU LOG ON - CHECK THE 'REMEMBER ME' box. This will need doing on each individual computer you use.
C) NAVIGATE THE SITE by CLICKING ON THE HEADINGS IN THE COLUMN TO YOUR LEFT AS YOU LOOK. They will be there whichever page you visit. You will find a fuller explanation on each page of what that page is intended for and what you might need to do to add something to it but, briefly, this is what you'll find:-
1) CLASSMATE PROFILES:- Lists names of all Classmates who have made contact or been contacted. CHECK THE SYMBOLS against their names to see who has actually registered a PROFILE and CLICK ON A NAME TO VIEW IT. Names with no symbols appearing alongside them belong to boys who are remembered as being at the School, but who have not yet registered. SEND MESSAGES to others on the site by CLICKING ON THEIR NAME here. If you try to access CLASSMATE PROFILES before you have logged on you will notice a padlock symbol next to the majority of names. This tells you that they have checked the PROFILE VISIBILITY box on their Profile and their information isn't visible to anyone other than Classmates and you'll need to LOG ON before you can view it.
2) CLASSMATE GALLERIES:- Allows you to create your own image galleries under different subject headings. Includes an image editing feature.
2) USER FORUMS:- An ongoing dialogue where you can put up topics for discussion in three different Forums and respond to others by clicking on the REPLY button, or the QUOTED REPLY button if you want to include what it is you're replying to as a reference. Whatever you enter will appear on the page after you've clicked on the SAVE button. If I think anything is inappropriate I have the option to Edit or Delete it.
4) LIVE CHAT:- Allows you to hold a typed 'conversation' with all the other Classmates whose names will appear, along with your own, once they've entered the LIVE CHAT page. Start a conversation, or respond to what someone else has already said, by typing what you want to say in the small box at the bottom of the Chat Screen that you'll see, then clicking 'Submit'. The text will then move to the main screen. Wait awhile to see if you get a response before typing anything else.
3) CONTACT US:- Use to contact me, Tiny Foulsham, the Sloane Arranger and Site Administrator to say or ask anything you like. You can also refer to this page for information about navigating the site.
4) IN MEMORY:- Shows a list of deceased classmates. Click on a name to view, correct, or add details to an obituary. Let me know about any deceased Classmates by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page or by using CONTACT US.
5) HOME PAGE:- Takes you back to the HOME PAGE. This is where you'll find all the important information, ANNOUNCEMENTS and any other items that can't be categorised under any of the other page headings. On this page you'll also find a Donate button which, when clicked on, will allow you to make voluntary donations to help with the upkeep of the site, should you feel so inclined.
Here you'll also find buttons for all current site pages, which will be subject to change, and ONCE YOU'VE REGISTERED you'll also see:-
6) MESSAGE CENTRE:- Where you can view all messages you've been sent via the site, and from where you can send messages to other site members. The 'Threaded' message system allows you to keep track of 'conversations' on a specific topic.
7) EDIT CONTACT INFO:- Use this to change your home address, e-mail address and phone number.
8) EDIT PROFILE:- Change or add details about yourself.
9) EDIT / UPLOAD PHOTOS:- Add, delete, title, tidy up and re-arrange photos on your Profile using the Image Editor.
10) POST ANNOUNCEMENT:- If you think you've got something important enough for a HOME PAGE mention, enter it here, but it will come to me for approval first before it goes 'live'.
11) PROFILE SUBSCRIPTIONS:- Choose Classmates you'd like to be notified about if they update their Profiles. Don't worry that everyone looks as if they joined Sloane in 1963. That was all the site was originally intended for, as that was my intake year, and it would cause other problems if I were to change it now.
12) CHANGE PASSWORD:- Gives you the option of changing the site entry password you created.
13) LOG OUT:- Should be used whenever you leave the site.
SOME PAGES ARE PASSWORD PROTECTED to prevent anything being added or deleted without my knowledge, so use the CONTACT US button, which appears in the left-hand column on, each page, to let me know what it is you'd like to say and what page it's intended for. General information pages, like the HOME PAGE can be seen by anyone just browsing the Internet but the CLASSMATE PROFILES, USER FORUMS, MISSING CLASSMATES, IN MEMORY and CHEYNEAN CHAT pages are password protected to restrict any sensitive information being accessed by unauthorised people. All pages are available to site members once they LOG ON. The POST ANNOUNCEMENT page is where important announcements can be made by any REGISTERED MEMBER for placement on the HOME PAGE. I am still notified when you try to do this so will decide whether it's suitable for the HOME PAGE or elsewhere. This also applies to the USER FORUMS. I have the final say on all site content.
CONTACTING OTHER SITE MEMBERS (sending messages):-
There are two main ways of contacting other Classmates via the website:-
1) Click on the MESSAGE CENTRE heading you see in the left hand column under MEMBER FUNCTIONS. Click on COMPOSE MESSAGE, then on DISPLAY ALL CLASSMATES to select the recipient. Give the message a title in the SUBJECT box, enter the message details in the main box, click SEND MESSAGE. To continue an already started 'conversation' on a particular subject, search for the subject title in your INBOX or OUTBOX and click on it.
2) By clicking on a name in the CLASSMATE PROFILES box, in the column to the left of any page, you will be taken to a page showing details that person has entered about himself and from where you will be able to SEND THEM A MESSAGE. Clicking on the PROFILE UPDATES heading on the right of the HOME PAGE does much the same but also indicates whether someone has recently updated their PROFILE.
In addition:-
3) If you know the e-mail address of a former pupil who might enjoy the site you can let him know about it by entering the address in the MISSING CLASSMATES box on the HOME PAGE and clicking SEND INVITE. An automatic message will be sent to the e-mail address you entered, inviting them to join us.
4) Clicking on a name in the UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS box on the HOME PAGE will enable you to send that person a birthday message or any other message you wish.
IMPORTANT!!:-
Ensure your own e-mail set-up allows mail from postmaster@classcreator.net and that it isn't classed as Spam by any Spam blocker you are using. If you do experience any problems, are not sure about something or have any thoughts or ideas, please feel free to contact me, the Sloane Arranger ( aka Tiny Foulsham ), using CONTACT US and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As I'm a Classmate as well as the Site Administrator you can also send me mail by clicking on my name in CLASSMATE PROFILES. Before contacting me about site problems check your Internet Security, Firewall and Anti-virus program settings first. Any advertising or 'pop-up' ads that suddenly appear won't be the fault of the site or the program. Most likely it will be 'spyware' that has infiltrated your own system. On rare occasions you might find that text on a page appears out of alignment. This can be due to the browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Opera etc;) that you are using as, if I edit pages in one of those browsers and am satisfied with it, the appearance can still look different in one of the others. It's one of the idiosyncrasies of web design. Please let me know if you spot any text / layout problems that I may have missed. If at any time you are unable to Log On to the site it may be because work is going on to improve or update the site capabilities. Usually you will see a message indicating that this is what's happening or I will have been given advance notification myself and will e-mail you letting you know what to expect.
ALSO REMEMBER to SCROLL DOWN ALL PAGES for further items and to LOG OUT when you leave, using the button on your left.
ACTIVATE VIDEOS that appear on some pages by clicking on the arrow in the centre of the screen. If they are YOU TUBE videos, click on it again to go to the YOU TUBE site where you can view it in a larger format. Occasionally, these videos may 'disappear' for any number of reasons, as might the tunes on the MUSIC PLAYLIST. Please let me know if you notice this happen.
The HOME PAGE MUSIC PLAYER will start playing as soon as you come to the site and continue to play randomly. If you don't like the tune you're hearing just highlight another using the side bar to scroll down the list. If you don't want music at all click the PLAY / PAUSE BUTTON or turn your computer volume down. To continue to hear music when you move away from the HOME PAGE, use the PLAY / PAUSE BUTTON to stop the music then click on POP-OUT PLAYER and a new window will open. Highlight the piece you want to start with then click the PLAY / PAUSE button. MINIMISE THIS NEW WINDOW and continue to use minimised POP-OUT PLAYER playlist if you want to change the music. Music should now follow you wherever you go but if you re-visit the HOME PAGE you'll have to PAUSE THAT PLAYER to prevent two tunes playing simultaneously. At Christmas, you might see two players on the same page to allow you to choose between standard and Christmas related tunes. Whichever one you choose, make sure you put the other one on pause.
I'm sure I don't really need to say this as we're all grown up now, but please remember, this site may be free to use but it's not free to abuse. I'll tell you if I consider anything to be unsuitable for publication and as the IN MEMORY page is the one with the most potential for misuse, no names can be entered there until I have done my best to verify that the person in question is no longer alive. Apologies in advance to anyone who sees a name they weren't expecting to see but there's no other way to do it. If you can add to the details, if any, or would like to correct the details that already appear against a deceased's name, please do so using the POST COMMENT option you'll find when you click on a name on the IN MEMORY page.
Treat the IN MEMORY page with the respect the departed deserve but approach all other aspects of this site with as much humour as you can. Above all, make it fun to visit - but not at the expense of others - unless you've cleared it with them first of course!
PHOTOS:-
Upload photos to your profile like this:- Click on EDIT / UPLOAD PHOTOS, UPLOAD NEW PHOTO, ADD FILES. Find the file / files you want to use, click UPLOAD FILES. If you want to add more than one photo they can all be uploaded at once by clicking on the first one, holding down the shift key, highlighting all the others you want to use then clicking on UPLOAD FILES. Click SAVE CHANGES and your photos will appear on the page. If you decide to add a caption in the box click SAVE CHANGES again after you've added it. Click on photos to enlarge them when viewing. RESET FORM lets you clear what you've written and REMOVE & CLEAR FILES lets you do just that.
If you would like one of your photos to appear in MESSAGES YOU SEND TO OTHER CLASSMATES and USER FORUM entries:- Go into EDIT/UPLOAD PHOTOS and use the MAKE THIS MY MASTER PHOTO option.
Consider the site a work in progress so, until I get it the way we all want it, you may notice changes when you log in and, occasionally, may not be able to log in at all, though I'll do my best to avoid that. The program's creators are constantly working on innovations to expand the site's capabilities so the changes could be ongoing. I want the site to be interesting and useful and welcome suggestions as to what it might contain and reaction, whether good or bad, to what you see. Space is limited so I need to make best use of what is available and your views are therefore very important to me.
AND FINALLY:- Please respect the privacy of your Classmates and don't allow anyone else to view Classmate Details and Profiles by sharing your Password with others. Also, please do not pass on any of the information you have been privileged to read to a third party without the consent of the Classmate that information concerns.
Photos and other site contributions:-
If anyone has better copies of the photos you see on the School Photos Slideshow, please let me have them. Get them to the best resolution you can and send them to me in JPEG format, via e-mail, to tinyf@blueyonder.co.uk. If you've any others that you'd like to see displayed, please do the same.
Any contributions to any of the site pages will always be welcome. Use CONTACT US to let me know what it is you'd like me to add, or send them to me direct, without logging onto the site, at the same e-mail address.
Classmate Profiles and Articles:-
Please take a minute to look at the Profiles that site members have created. Even if you didn't know the person, what they have to say can be interesting, illuminating and fun.
It's also worth re-reading the articles that you may think you've already seen as I tend to add things rather than create a whole new piece.
Slow loading of the site pages on your computer:-
If you ever experience slow loading of some of the pages you try to view on the site, it's almost certainly due to the number of videos and other add-ons that I've put there to enhance your viewing pleasure. Rest assured, they should appear after a matter of seconds rather than minutes, but if they don't, try refreshing the page using the Refresh button on your browser toolbar or the F5 key on your keyboard.
Using different browsers to view the site:-
I've talked about it before but hadn't realised how big a problem it could be. The majority of you will, I'm sure, be using Internet Explorer as your browser but some might prefer Firefox or even Safari. There are many other lesser known ones as well and a lot of them will display the website in a different way to the way in which I designed it. I use Internet Explorer 7 to get it looking the way I want it to but view it in Firefox and it can look completely different.
I've found a useful website, called www.browsershots.org, which lets me see how the finished article looks in different browsers. If you want to see how other users might be seeing the site please log onto that site, follow instructions and take a look. Until I experiment and get it looking the same on all the browsers, my apologies if it looks odd on yours.
For the record, the Home Page text is meant to start where you'd expect, at the top of the page, but with some versions of Firefox and earlier versions of Internet Explorer, it's not starting until after the modules you can see in the right hand column as you look. IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW and also let me know if you don't see anything at all, as some earlier versions of Internet Explorer are doing this.
Update your Internet Explorer version to the latest one available for your operating system.
If your browser displays the site layout in a way that looks untidy, unprofessional or not what you'd expect, please be sure to tell me and give me a good description of what you think the problem is.
