Welcome to Orange Frog Productions Answerbag User Guide (FAQ) Section [Banner]

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Page last updated September 25, 2008
Links last verified September 25, 2008

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When you first pull up Answerbag, before you have signed up or signed in, the page-top will look like this.

Answerbag Top of Page - Not signed up or logged in

The top, beside the logo, is the Answerbag banner and slogan. Following this are the "Expert Buttons". (See "Heading/Buttons" for more on these. And, to the right of these are buttons with which you can Sign In (if you are a member), or Sign Up (if you wish to become one). (See "Login/User Info Box" for more.) And, if you are not a member, why not? It's FREE!

Most Answerbag page-tops (once you are logged in) look like the following:

Answerbag Standard Top of Page

There are three sections in this page top...

  1. Heading/Buttons
  2. Query Box
  3. Login/User Info Box
  4. Bottom

 

Heading/Buttons AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Top of Page - AB Logo

On most, if not all, pages, you can click this logo in the heading to return to the home page.

Expert Buttons AB FAQ Permalink

The four large buttons across the top of the page allow a user to look at specific categories, subdivided by the names found on the Button.

You can click the headings or categories to go directly to them in Answerbag, or click the "New Window" button, immediately following a heading, to open a new window with the correct location in it.

Social Q&A Button New Window AB FAQ Permalink

When you need an opinion, or you just want to chat

  • Relationship advice
  • Brain teasers, trivia & jokes
  • Random questions
  • and much more!

Categories

 

Expert Q&A Button New Window AB FAQ Permalink

When you need a factual answer to a serious question

  • Ask a medical question
  • Ask a gardening question
  • Find interview questions
  • And much more!

Categories

 

Local Q&A Button New Window AB FAQ Permalink

When you want to learn about a place, whether it's where you are, where you're going, or where you really want to be

  • Planning a trip?
  • Need restaurant recommendations?
  • Local government questions?
  • And much more!

Categories

 

Shopping Q&A Button New Window AB FAQ Permalink

When you want to know about what you're buying, or talk about what you've already bought

  • Car questions
  • Laptop questions
  • Home buying questions
  • And much more!

Categories

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Query Box AB FAQ Permalink

The Query Box is one of the workhorses of Answerbag.

NOTES:

  1. The small "arrow", below the chosen option, pointing DOWN into the query box, shows the option with which you are working.
  2. The GO! button at the right end of the query box is the same color as the selected option from the menu above the box.
  3. The "grayed out" wording, inside the box (blanks out when you place the cursor there), is different for each, and also helps indicate the chosen option.
  4. Immediately below the Query Box is a "timer" of sorts, telling you when the last question was answered before the page was brought up or refreshed.

This is where you will:

  1. Search for Answers
  2. Ask a Question
  3. Search for Members

 

Search for Answers AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Top of Page - Query Box - Search for Answers

The default setting for the page-top query box is to Search for Answers. Note that the GO! Button is blue, and the "grayed-out words" in the box are "Enter keywords (diet, gardening, etc.)".

When you enter keywords, and press <ENTER> or click the GO! button, it will take you to a Search Results Page, which contains questions whose questions or answers contain your keywords.

NOTE: Click Search Results Page to be taken to it's description.

Ask a Question AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Top of Page - Query Box - Ask a Question

When you click the "Ask a Question" option, the box opens, and the GO! button changes to orange. The "grayed out words" in the box change to "Enter your question (Why is the sky blue?)".

PLEASE don't ask "Why is the sky blue?" It's been asked hundreds of times before. 1) You will perturb long-time AB members; 2) The question is a duplicate, and many members will downrate you for asking it; 3) Because it's a duplicate, it will be merged into the earliest version of the question, and you will no longer receive points for it; 4) It's just bad form to ask an example question, when you know for a fact that it's already been asked, whether it appears in the similar questions list or not.

When you enter keywords, and press <ENTER> or click the GO! button, it will take you to a Search Results Page, which contains questions whose questions and answers contain keywords associated with yours. Remember that Answerbag does not allow duplicate questions. Please note that this search is not perfect. In other words, you need to make sure that your question hasn't already been asked.

NOTE: Click Search Results Page to be taken to it's description.

Search for Members AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Top of Page - Query Box - Search for Members

When you click the "Search for Members" option, the GO! button changes to gray. The "grayed out words" in the box change to "Enter member name".

When you enter at least PART of a user's name, and press <ENTER> or click the GO! button, it will take you to a Member Search Results Page, which contains a listing of all members with that word in their names. If there are spaces, it will show those with a space. For example: "BigDaddy" does NOT equal "Big Daddy". It will first find those names that start with what you enter, then include names with that word in them. questions whose questions and answers contain keywords associated with yours. Please note that this search is not perfect.

NOTE: Click Member Search Results page to be taken to it's description.

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Login/User Info Box AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Login/User Box - Sign In or Sign up     Answerbag Standard Login/User Box - User Info

At the top right of every page is what I call the Login/User Info Box.

  • If you are not a member of Answerbag, or are not signed in, you will see the box on the left, above.
  • If you are a member and are signed in, you will see the box on the right, above.

 

Sign In/Sign Up AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Login/User Box - Sign In or Sign up    

If you are not a member of Answerbag, simply click the Sign Up (blue) button. It will take you to a Sign Up page where you will enter information specific to you (all that's necessary is your "nickname" (username), email address (used to sign in), a password (so only you can access your account), your typing in a security code from a picture displayed, and checking that you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for the site. (See Sign Up Page for more.)

If you are a member of Answerbag and signed out, click the Sign In button. The "Login/User Info box" will change to the one on the right, above. Enter your profile's email address, and your password. If you want Answerbag to remember you (this puts a cookie on your machine, with your sign-in info in it), click to box so it's checked, and click Sign In. If your login information is correct, the page will refresh, and you will see the Profile/User Information box, below.

If you clicked the Sign In button before, and you are NOT a member (or you wish to create another account - see glossary definition of Sockpuppets for more), click the "Sign up now!" link.

If you remember your email address, but forgot your password, click the "Forgot Password" link. It will be emailed to you, to the email address you provide, also listed in your profile.

Profile/User Information AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Login/User Info Box - User Info #1 Answerbag Standard Login/User Info Box - User Info #2

The first box, above, shows how your Profile/User Info box appears normally.

The second box, above, shows it with all "lights on" and a New Friend Request.

  1. Username (Sign out)
    1. Your user-/nick-name (or the first few letters of it, if it's long), is a link. It will take you to your own My Summary page, where you can view your Feedback, Watch List, and your own Activity. (See Answerbag User Guide - Profile Pages for more.) NOTE: This link goes to ansewrbag.com/profile, or the default (your) profile.
    2. "Sign out" will simply log you off of AB. It's not strictly necessary if you are the only person who uses the computer. However, for your own security reasons, or if you are at work, you may wish to.
  2. Level Info
    This shows you your current level number, level name, and badge. (See Points, Levels, and "Ratings Power" for more.)
  3. Avatar
    Your avatar is a link. It will take you to your own Public Profile's Summary page, (where your "About Me" will display, where you can view your Feedback, Watch List, and your own Activity. (See Answerbag User Guide - Profile Pages for more.) NOTE: This link goes to ansewrbag.com/profile/?id=999999, where "999999" is your user id.
  4. Answers & Answers "Light"
    1. "Answers" is a link. It takes you to your Feedback page.
    2. The Answers "Light" changes from gray to orange when you have new answers. (In the images, above, the first one shows the light "off" - no new answers - and the second shows the light "on" - there are new answers available.)
      This way, you can "bag", knowing you don't have answers until the light comes on.(*)
  5. Comments & Comments "Light"
    1. "Comments" is a link. It takes you to your Feedback page.
    2. The Comments "Light" changes from gray to orange when you have new comments.
      (In the images, above, the first one shows the light "off" - no new comments - and the second shows the light "on" - there are new comments available.)
      This way, you can "bag", knowing you don't have answers until the light comes on.(*)
  6. Friends Q&A
    "Friends Q&A" is a link. It will take you to your Profile's My Q&A tab, with the Friends submenu highlighted. This shows all new questions and answers of those on your Friends list.
  7. New Friend Requests
    Note that this only appears on the right image, above. It will only appear when someone has clicked the "Add to friends" link, just below your name and above your avatar on your Public Profile page. It is a link. It will take you to your Profile's My Friends tab, to a menu item called "Requests" when a request is pending.
  8. View my Profile & Activity "button"
    This "button" is a link. It will take you to your Profile's My Summary tab, where you may view new Feedback, your Watch List, or your own Activity.

(*) NOTE: There have been numerous complaints and noting of a "lag time" between when one of the lights appears, and when a new Answer or Comment appear on your your Profile's My Summary  or Feedback page. Because there are so many users at any given time on Answerbag, they have programmed this "lag time" in, so when many members attempt to view their Profile pages, it doesn't all happen at the same time.

There is a lot of work that goes on behind-the-scenes to display each Profile page. And, to mitigate complaints about how long it sometimes takes for pages all over Answerbag to appear, this was an "elegant" solution to the problem - Slowing down how often you are allowed to refresh your Profile information.

I believe that each member's "renewal time" is started when they log (or logged) in. I also believe the delay is between two and three minutes.

My Links AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Login/User Info Box - My Links/Closed     Answerbag Standard Login/User Info Box - My Links/Open

Directly under the Profile/User Info box is a gray bar entitled "my links" with an arrow pointing down on it. (Left image, above.) When you click it, it "opens" to reveal a couple of dropdown menu boxes and a search box. (Right image, above.) Note the bar now has an up-arrow. Clicking the bar again will re-close it. These should all be considered "quick links", or "quick access links"..

The first dropdown menu ("see Q&A) in:") shows 1) the categories you are watching, and 2) the most recent categories you have visited.

Selecting a category will switch immediately to that category.

NOTE: To "watch a category," you must currently answer a question within the category, and set a check box to do so. The check box is immediately above the Answer Submit button, below the "Send me answers to this question" check box. You MUST select the check box(es) before you click the Submit.

The second dropdown menu ("explore") allows you to see 1) the latest questions, 2) unanswered questions (only), or 3) new arrivals (takes you to the New Arrivals page).

"Latest Questions" is the default. I couldn't get it to work by selecting it, but all others seem to go to the "latest questions" within the category or type selected.

"Unanswered Questions" takes you to the same page as if you clicked the grayed out "unanswered" menu item under the "Latest Q&A" tab on the Home Page.

"New Arrivals" takes you to the "New Arrivals" page, as if you clicked the menu item that appears to the right of the "Latest Q&A" and "Needs Answers" tabs on the Home Page.

The "Search my questions" gives you the same search results page as if you or someone else went to your Public Profile, and entered (a) keyword(s) in the "Search my questions". If the keyword(s) appear(s) in your question, the question should appear on the search results.

I believe these options should work together. I should be able to select a category from the first dropdown, and which questions I would like to see in the second dropdown. If they have to work separately, then I should be able to select a category, then, when the page changes, I should be able to select the question types. And, if both category and new arrivals is selected, then a version of the New Arrivals page, limited to my selected category should be shown.

And, I believe that I should also be able to search my answers with keywords, not only here, but wherever the "Search my/user questions" appears.

I also believe there should also be an easier way to "watch" a given category. I shouldn't have to answer a question in it to do so. (Same with specific questions, actually.)

 

In some of the above, there are a number of words and phrases that appear to be blue links. I'm sorry, but they aren't at the moment. Most of them will be made into a standard link (green underlined) when those pages described are added to this User Guide. Stay tuned!

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Bottom AB FAQ Permalink

Answerbag Standard Page Bottom Links

The bottom of every page on Answerbag contains links and copyright information.

The first line contains Answerbag link:

The second line contains the Copyright and Additional Answerbag links:

And, the third line contains Answerbag "sister sites", all owned by Demand Media:

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