Member Information - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

[Carl]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

   Updated: June. 2022 - Edited By: Staff

You can find answers to these questions around the forum. But wanted to make a list for all members to learn or refresh themselves on how to use forum features. Please see the quick links below for the index of questions.

If you have any forum related questions feel free to post in this thread.

If you experience any problems with the forum or site, or have questions please feel free to contact Carl by email or any of his social media sites:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlsSimGuides
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlssimguides/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlsTheSimsGuides
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carlssims4guide
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlssims4/

You may want to share your IP Address and/or error message given if any.

Thank you!!


Quick Links:


 ✽ - Can We Donate to Get Rid of Ads?
 ✽ - Does Carl Have a Discord Server for His Sites/Channel?
 ✽ - How Do I Edit My Profile/Account Settings?
 ✽ - How do I change my password on this forum?
 ✽ - How do I cancel my membership/delete account
 ✽ - Where do I post an Introduction?
 ✽ - Where to post new topic?
 ✽ - Error When Posting: Message body was left empty.
 ✽ - Where Can Start a Sim Story?
 ✽ - Where did my post go and why was it moved?!
 ✽ - Where Do I Post Forum Related Questions?
 ✽ - Sharing Photos on the Forum
 ✽ - How To: Create Links on the Forum and with text.
 ✽ - Sharing YT Channel or Website/Blog Links?
 ✽ - Share My Own Challenges or Projects?
 ✽ - Can I Become a Moderator or part of the staff?
 ✽ - How Many Posts Do X Rank Require
 ✽ - Can I Use Mention/Tag System Here?
 ✽ - Is There a Way to Search The Sims 4 Forums/Discussions?
 ✽ - How Does This Forum Work? - A List of HowTos for Nooboos
 ✽ - Carl and Pam's The Sims Community - Forum Index



Can We Donate to Get Rid of Ads?

Question: If I donate to the site, will that get rid of ads for me?

Answer: To get rid of ads, all that needs to be done is to register on the forum. However, this will only get rid of ads for the forum.

The guide is a different part of the site. The ads cannot be disabled by donation, unfortunately. It is not set up to be done that way. Ads are placed to help support Carl's Guides.

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How Do I Edit My Profile/Account Settings?

Go to the Home Menu - as seen in the photo below: (This is the menu that's a little under your username on the top left of the screen.)

Click image to see larger view:


Click the word Profile and select Forum Profile to edit your profile, add an an avatar or signature. Select Account Settings, if you need to change your email address.

Please pm MrsFlynn or Carl to change your username (the name you login with) and/or displayed name (the name shown in your profile) in Account Settings.

----

New members need to have 5 posts before they can edited their profile, this is to help curb spamming. The Profile option will not show up until a new member has 5 posts.

If you need help editing your profile/account settings, please pm MrsFlynn or Carl.

Please see link below to learn how to PM someone
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,23920.msg415423.html#msg415423

How To Change "Local Time"
Go to Profile > Look and Layout > Time Offset. Set it to -3 hours to change to PST, for example.

Read Posts From Newest to Oldest?
Go to Profile and mouse over the word Forum Profile and select Look and Layout. Look for Show most recent posts at the top and checkmark it.

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Where Do I Post an Introduction?

If you'd like to post an introduction, go here to do so.
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=28.0.html

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Sharing Photos on the Forum

There's a couple of ways you can share your photos on the forum.

1. You can attach and insert the photos in .jpg format directly to a post, via the attachment system. - Click here to learn more.

2. Upload the photos, in .jpg format to you choice of photo sharing sites and share the photo links. - Click here to learn more.

Screenshots: Only Use JPEG Format [PNG Format Vs. JPG Format]
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29606.msg476855#msg476855

Just to note - Photos cannot be attached to private messages (pms). Our forum software (Simple Machines Forums) does not support this feature. -- See link here, for an alternative solution.

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Where Do I Post Forum Related Questions?

You can either post them in this specific thread or on our Member Zone Board.

Member Zone Board
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php/board,84.0.html

If you want to post off-topic - topics not Sims related, you can post them on the Babble Board.

Babble Board - Our Off-Topic Board
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php/board,50.0.html

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Sharing My Own Challenges or Projects?

You may share your own player-made challenge rules. If you would like your ruleset added to the list, please submit a PM to MrsFlynn. The purpose of the list is to make it easy for players to find challenges submitted by members.

When submitting a challenge or project, be sure to write out all the rules as as clearly as possible for other players who may wish to attempt to play under those rules.

You can find the Player Made Challenges List and Rulesets for the Sims 4 here:
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=26304.msg439232#msg439232

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Can I Become a Moderator or Part of the Staff?

Anyone of any rank could become part of our staff, however a Watcher is a more likely candidate due to being around the forum for a long period of time.

If we feel like the forum needs more staff, we'll choose someone who we feel would be a good candidate. Those who contributes frequently and follows the rules are good candidates.

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How Many Posts Do X Rank Require
How many Posts do X rank require, along with "star" (gold square) counts:

Rank      Post Count   "Stars"
NPC              0      1
Nooboo      5      1
Llama Wrangler   25      2
Townie      100      3
Occult      250      4
Immortal      500      5
Watcher      1000      6

Gold boxes are for Members, Blue boxes designate Global Moderators, and Red Administrators.

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Can I Use Mention/Tag System Here?

Yes, a mention/tag system has been added to the forum.

Please see the post linked below to learn how to use it and other information on this feature:
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=23920.msg415587#msg415587

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Is There a Way to Search The Sims 4 Forums/Discussions?

Yes, however, it's been suggested to use Google or other search engine to get better results.

Please see the link below for more details:
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,22202.msg397100.html#msg397100

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[MrsFlynn]

I was wondering if there was away to organize my bookmarks in the forum? Like say the more important ones go towards the top of the list, and the others go below?

MrsFlynn

[Pam]

I was wondering if there was away to organize my bookmarks in the forum? Like say the more important ones go towards the top of the list, and the others go below?

MrsFlynn

I don't think we can do that.  As far as I can tell, the bookmarks sort themselves in order of the most recent post, just like the boards do.

[smartburn]

I was wondering if there was away to organize my bookmarks in the forum? Like say the more important ones go towards the top of the list, and the others go below?

MrsFlynn

Ha, I didn't even know this feature existed! I think I'll be using this one frequently, I had been clicking "Show unread posts" to get around on the site.

*bookmarks thread*

[MrsFlynn]

Do PMs take up a whole lot of webspace, like they do regular email?  If so, it's probably a good idea to clean out your In-Box and Sent Items folders every now and again.

MrsFlynn

[Pam]

Do PMs take up a whole lot of webspace, like they do regular email?  If so, it's probably a good idea to clean out your In-Box and Sent Items folders every now and again.

MrsFlynn

I don't think they take up any significant space, but I'll ask Carl to come by and explain.

[Carl]

PMs are mainly simple text so no, they only take up significant space in large number. Considering that I have a year's worth of PMs in my inbox, I must have given up caring during one of those server upgrades. Space isn't as big a concern as it once was. Once upon a time i only backed up to my own hard drive and was terrified of too big an upload to the server. I'm all grown up now

Now, pictures on the gallery..those take up space, but people shouldn't go about deleting them as they would be clearing images from their own topics, obviously. So, we try to ask people to be responsible and upload pictures there that they will actually use on the forum.

[PlatnumDymnd]

Will we get informed if we have too many? I try my best to clean up shots I don't use after I post but sometimes I am guilty of being a pack rat. 

In fact I have an old Dynasty attempt of screenshots I have no need to keep now that I think about it.

[chetanhaobijam]

Hi, I am new to the forum. Just after registering, when i click the profile it only said 'delete account'. So I thought it must be a problem in activation. But now I know why I can't edit my profile. Thanks for the information.

[doxxielover]

Sorry if this has been asked before. But what is a guest. How are they posting without an account. Sorry I was just wondering. It usually says guest under there name. Thanks

[Twinmum]

Sorry if this has been asked before. But what is a guest. How are they posting without an account. Sorry I was just wondering. It usually says guest under there name. Thanks

Guests are former members that have closed their account (or in some cases had their account closed by admin) Their posts would have been made while they were an active member.

[doxxielover]

Ok. Thanks

[Ganja]

Can Watchers become Global Moderators? If yes, how?
Thanks!

Ganja

[samoht04]

Can Watchers become Global Moderators? If yes, how?
Thanks!

Ganja

Anyone of any rank could become a Global Moderator, however a Watcher is a more likely candidate due to being around the forum for a long period of time. If Carl and Pam feel like the forum needs more Moderators they will choose a member who they feel will make a good moderator, who contributes to the forum and follows all forum rules.

[Pam]

I'm moving this to the Announcements and Rules board.

[Lyubasha]

Hello I just joined today. My husband give me Sims 3 and Pet Extention for birthday. I am learning the game and having fun. I just made house for 4 Sims and will ask more questions.

Thank you.

[Schipperke]

Hello I just joined today. My husband give me Sims 3 and Pet Extention for birthday. I am learning the game and having fun. I just made house for 4 Sims and will ask more questions.

Thank you.

Welcome to the forum, Lyubasha.  I hope you'll enjoy your time here. 

[Lyubasha]

Thanks

[Lyubasha]

Hello!

I would like to know how do I add a signature to my posts? I want to use this one:



Can I use avatar, too? How to do this?

[Carl]

Hello!

I would like to know how do I add a signature to my posts? I want to use this one:



Can I use avatar, too? How to do this?

While it's obvious that you got it, for any future members who may wonder you go to Profile > Forum Profile to modify signature settings.

[Drguyks]

Hello,

I was wondering if there is anyway I can deactivate e-mail notifications? I use tapatalk to keep up with all posts, and I am bothered by the redundant notifications to my e-mail. If this can't be done, I understand.

[Carl]

I went in your profile to the notifications area and changed notify to weekly. What you can do is go there and select all topics, then click unnotify. This should stop emails from the Forum entirely.

Sadly, some mark us as spam rather than control their accounts and it results in New members not getting activation emails when using the same provider. Thank you for asking rather than doing that.

Hopefully some will see this and realize it's under their control. I realize the problem for you was needing five posts in order to modify your profile. I think you hit that with this question.

[Drguyks]

Hopefully some will see this and realize it's under their control. I realize the problem for you was needing five posts in order to modify your profile. I think you hit that with this question.

Ok so I can change this now that I have access to my profile?

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Drguyks,

Yes, you may change things in your profile now. If you're unsure how to get to your profile page. Go to the "Home" menu and look for the word Profile.

Let us know if there's anything else we may be able to help you with.

Welcome to the forum,

MrsFlynn

[lindsaysoderberg]

If I reply to someone's post and type "@" and then their username, such as "@Pam," does that mean that they will more easily see my question for them? I saw someone else do it so I tried it, but I don't want to do it if it doesn't really serve a purpose.

@Pam, maybe you can answer my question if this works. 

[Danielle Haydis]

@lindsaysoderberg: No, it doesn't, as demonstrated here. It's mostly to clarify who your comment is directed to, to avoid confusion.

[pithenia]

Hi, I was trying to post my Sims 4 challenges but can't upload my screenshots. Is that because I am a new member? Or do I just not know how to do it?

Please Help,
Pithenia

[Trip]

You should be able to post images from the start, but you need an external image host to upload them to.

I recommend Imgur, but there are plenty of hosts out there to choose from. Then you use the [*img](image URL)[/*img] format to insert them into posts, but without the asterisks.

[pithenia]

Got it! Thank you, Thank You, Thank you!!! I've never posted in a forum before, I am soooo excited! 

[Castiel.]

I must be blind or something but I can't find Profile.

[MarianT]

@Castiel. Profile is up on the left, in the same line as Home. Or you can just click on your name in your post.

[Castiel.]

@Castiel. Profile is up on the left, in the same line as Home. Or you can just click on your name in your post.

I noticed now that I need to make 5 posts before I can edit my profile.

[CiaraCarter]

Hello, I admit i am a complete noob to this forum, at least as far as sharing and posting goes, but I'm trying to figure out how some people can hyperlink their chapters seperately on the same post. Not sure if this is the right place to even ask but I figure I'd give it a shot. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction, anyway? I got chapter one ok, but everytime I try to list a link to chapter two it is all on the same post. Am I making any sense to anyone? LOL

[Nancy01905]

are we allowed to post youtube channel in the siggy?

[Carl]

@Nancy01905 Yep, so long as it doesn't contain anything against our rules (mainly vulgarity). Thanks for asking first and welcome to the Forum.

[Nancy01905]

thanks

[Kaatje Van der Zee]

Goedemorgen! Hello!

I'm Kaatje Murakami and new to Sims 4. My wife bought this for me. I am a big gamer and love to learn new things and create things in the game. I am at the place where I am learning how to create a Sim. I hope to learn from the forums and return the favour once I know more about the Sims.

Bedankt - Thanks

Kaatje Murakami.

[Nancy01905]

I am doing a video legacy that I just started and I am wondering if I am allowed to post the video embedded or just a link to it?

[MrsFlynn]

Hi Nancy,

I pmed Carl and Pam about your question - If you could embed your Youtube links or just share the links to videos. He said it would be best to link to them.

MrsFlynn

Yeah, you have to link it. Only mods/admins are able to use html, and embedding requires that.

Carl

[Nancy01905]

Ok thanks, I wanted to be on the safe side by asking first

[Katala]

Hi I can't figure out how to quote. Every time I click on Quote or Insert Quote, it quotes the entire thing, is there an easier way?

[Playalot]

Hi I can't figure out how to quote...is there an easier way?

@Katala  once you click Quote and the quote actually appears on the post... as long as you leave the square brackets at each end of the quote intact you can delete whatever is not relevant from the middle.

[Katala]

Thanks @Playalot

[margikins]

Ok, 5 posts to change my email. I guess I should have done something besides read posts all these years Hahah..

[Stepluv56]

How do I click to go to my profile?

Oh I understand now

[Tygresa]

This New Member info is EXTREMELY helpful.  Thanks.  I have added this to my Bookmarks for future reference.

[MrsFlynn]

Any active member who has a Youtube channel or website/blog may add their channel or site links to their signature line.

What we consider an active member is someone who is actively participating in challenges, answering questions and commenting on stories or other threads of interest on the forum. If not, posting such links is considered spam and will be removed.

Please keep in mind, links that are shared need to have content that is family-friendly.

Please refresh yourself on the forum rules before sharing links.

Forum Rules
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=74.msg822#msg822

If you are a new member, you will need to have 5 posts in order to edit your profile and edit your signature line.

How To: Edit Your Profile/Upload an Avatar to the Forum
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=23920.msg415419#msg415419

How To: Create Links on the Forum and with Text.
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=1318.msg22791#msg22791

[MrsFlynn]

Noting this for informational purposes:

If you get the error - Message body was left empty, make sure you have your story text and photos backed up. Close the browser, clear your browser cache and restart your computer.

How to Clear Your Browser's Cache (wikihow.com)
https://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache#

Login and try posting your story again. If that doesn't help, let us know, we'll contact Carl to see if it's something on the server side.

Read more in the thread linked below:

Error in trying to post update in story (The message body was left empty.)
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=29358.msg473580#msg473580