FTD - Adding new posts
Binaries4all QuickJumpThis chapter explains how to add new posts to FTD. I will discuss adding and managing your posts. Because besides adding your posts in a correct way it is even so important to maintain them, for example by answering questions of people who downloaded your post, changing the post status in time and maybe filling some PAR2 requests.
Important: posting is NOT compulsory. Many people get the feeling that they have to give something in return for all the posts they download, but this is just not necessary. You should only post if you have something interesting which would please someone, not because you have the feeling you are expected to.
A window where we have to give the information about our post appears. First we start with the tab Basis Info (General information).
Always give as much information as possible, try to fill in as many fields as you can. The English translation of the fields is found between brackets. (You should at least try to fill in the fields in bold)
| Titel (title) | Enter the title of your post. Use the original title so everyone immediately knows what the post is about. |
| URL | Enter a link to a website on the internet with more information about your post. |
| Plaatje op het web (link to picture) | If you have a link to a picture of your post, enter it here. The picture will be shown next to the post information. |
| Categorie (category) | Choose the category your post belongs to. You can choose from: Beeld (Movies & Pictures), Geluid (Sound), Spelletjes (Games), Applicaties (Software). |
| Formaat (format) |
This is the most important field that has to be entered. For the categories Beeld and Geluid this is the format, for Spelletjes and Applicaties this is the platform. |
| Tag | Enter this field to use a tag in your title. People can search and filter using these tags. |
| Bron (Source) | Give the source of your post. (This part is only for the category Beeld.) |
| Ondertitels (Subtitles) |
Are there any subtitles supplied with your post? (This part is only for the category Beeld.) |
| Genre | Give the genre of your movie. (This part is only for the category Beeld.) |
Click on Verder (next) when have completed this form. The next tab is Bestandsinformatie (File information).
In this tab we have to fill in some information about the files we are about to post. We have to fill in things about RAR files as well as PAR2 files (if used).
| Extensie (extension) | Enter the file extension of your files. |
| Bestandsnaam (filename) |
Enter the exact filename of the files. Do not enter an extension. |
| Aantal (number) |
Enter the number of files. |
| Start | Optional: enter the number of the first RAR file. |
| The radio buttons and the checkbox | Geen pars = I do not post PAR2 files PAR1 = I post PAR1 repair files PAR2 = I post PAR2 repair files (recommended) |
| Aantal blocks (number of blocks) |
If you chose PAR2, enter the number of blocks you are about to post. If you choose PAR1, enter the number of files. |
| Blocksize | Enter the block size of the PAR2 blocks you use. Make sure this information is correct! |
If we click on Verder (next) we see that the tab MP3 info is skipped and we are sent to the tab Postinfo. If we had chosen for .mp3 in the extension field of the previous tab, we would have been sent to the MP3 info tab. Then we had to give a .m3u playlist of our post so it could be placed directly in FTD.
We continue with the tab Postinfo.
This tab gives the opportunity to give some extra information about your post. Enter as much useful information about your post.
| Poststatus (status) |
Choose the status your post should have when it's added to FTD. A spot means you're not actually the poster of this post. Choose aankondiging (announcement) if you didn't start posting already, otherwise choose bezig met uploaden (uploading). |
| Aankondiging (announcement) | If you chose aankondiging you can enter some information about when you are going to post etc. (If you chose another option than aankondiging, you can fill in this field but it won't be show in FTD.) |
| Omschrijving (description) |
Give a clear description of what your post is about. For example information about the content and quality of your post. |
When you are done, click on Verder (next) again. This brings us to the last tab, Nieuwsgroepen (newsgroups).
Again a short description of the various fields:
| Repostbeleid (repost policy) | Give your policy about reposts. Some posters use this field to give some rules regarding their post or in which way a request for a repost can be made. (Click the right mouse button in this field for extra options.) |
| Nieuwsgroepen (newsgroups) |
Select the newsgroups in which your post can be found. If you have the group filter activated, you can use it by turning on the checkbox saying 'Groepsfilter actief'. Although the description op the field says 'maximum of 3 groups', be aware that cross posting is not appreciated in most newsgroups and isn't supported by some (dutch) providers. |
When you are done filling in this last tab, click on Versturen (send). After this there are two possibilities depending on your status as a poster:
- Moderated poster: When you just started posting, you're always a moderated poster. Posts added by a moderated poster are always checked by a FTD moderator before they are added to FTD. You will lose this status automatically when you do a number of successful posts in a row.
- Authenticated poster: This is the status you receive after you do a number of successful posts in a row. Posts of authenticated posters are added to FTD directly without interference of a FTD moderator.
A short descript of what we see here. Left to right:
- Delete – Click this button to delete your post.
- Current status – This is the status your post currently has.
- Date – Date and time on which you added your post.
- Rating – This gives the rating of your post.
- Title – The title of your post.
- Kudos – The number of kudos you received for this post. Click on the number to see an overview.
- Change status – Click this button to change the status of your post. (If this button says MOD, your post still has to be accepted by a FTD moderator)
- Open fill request – The number of fills (PAR2 blocks) that is still requested.
- Number of PAR2 blocks reposted – Number ofPAR2 blocks being posted or already reposted.
- Number of messages – The number of messages added to your post by users.
When you actually start posting, change the status of your post to uploading by clicking the "change status icon”
. This way you let other people know that you started posting.
Confirm that you indeed want to change the status of your post. (Notice: when the status of your post is changed, you can't reverse it. The only ones who can, are the FTD moderators. If you really need your revoke your change, you could send them a FTD mail.)
Notice that the "current status icon” has changed to uploading and the "change status icon” now shows the "posting complete” status.
Obviously it is clear that you give your post the status "complete” when you're done posting. Furthermore you give your post the status 'no longer supported' if you don't want to give any support anymore. When you take this final step is up to you, but keep in mind that there are also people who try to download your post after a few days. They could have questions about your post as well.
Last but not least it is important that you check the messages of your post regularly. Often there will be users with questions or users that just want some more information about your post.
To the next chapter: Categories and Filters
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