<h1>Welcome to AROUNDMe</h1>
<p>
	You are in a web site which connects people together around shared activities and interests. The site is made using a piece of free social software called 'AROUNDMe' which has been developed by a non for profit organisation called 'Barnraiser'. These help pages answer questions and provide tips on how to best use AROUNDMe and gives you information about Barnraiser and how to contact us.<br />
</p>

<toc>AROUNDMe help contents</toc>



<h2>Using this help guide</h2>
<p>
	This help section openned in a new window. You can drag the window around and resize it to suite you. At the top you will find a drop down box which lists each section of this help guide. Select a section and press 'GO' to jump directly to that section.<br />
</p>


<h2>Navigational overview</h2>
<p>
	AROUNDMe has three central navigation areas, the top menu (where it says 'log off'), the main menu and the sub menu which sits under it.<br />
</p>

<p>
	You will find all the information about the top menu and the sections called 'Me' and 'Structure' in the main menu in this help page. If you would like to know more about an other item in the main menu select the help section drop down menu above to navigate to the appropriate help section for that item.<br />
</p>

<h2>Policy</h2>
<p>
	The sites policy is listed under the 'structure' main menu item. This page contains information about the sites rules and regulations which you have agreed to adhere to. This page also lists the people who can help you should you have a problem or a question regarding the sites policy.<br />
</p>

<h2>Account</h2>
<p>
	Under the 'Me' section is 'account' This page contains all your login and account management options. The only information revealed to anyone else in this page is your location. Your email address is only used to send you information that you request.<br />
</p>

<h3>Editing your account</h3>
<p>
	When you registered you gave us some information including your name, location and languages spoken. YOu can update those here and press 'update account' to save that information. The options are:<br />
</p>

<ul>
	<li><b>first name</b>: We use this when we email you. Your real name is revealed to maintainers whom look after the site (you can see who they are in the policy section).</li>
	<li><b>surname</b>: Your real name is revealed to maintainers whom look after the site (you can see who they are in the policy section).</li>
	<li><b>date of birth</b>: We record this and should you loose your password we ask you to confirm your date of birth. If you forget your passord and this date you will not be able to log in!</li>
	<li><b>location</b>: Where you live or where you are staying. Information in the site (such as search requests) can reveal content that is localised to this location.</li>
	<li><b>languages</b>: You will only see this on a multi-lingual site. Check the boxes of the languages you can read and we'll only present content in those languages to you.</li>
	<li><b>preferred</b>: You will only see this on a multi-lingual site. Which language would you like this user interface to be in?</li>
	<li><b>template</b>: The template is the theme or look of the site. You will conly see this if the site has more than one theme. Select the one you like best.</li>
	<li><b>start page</b>: When you log in what page would you like us to present you with?</li>
</ul>

<h3>Changing your password</h3>
<p>
	Type in and confirm your new password. You will be logged off as soon as your password is changed. Log in again with your new password to continue. Your password has to be at least 5 characters long. <br />
</p>

<h3>Changing your email</h3>
<p>
	Type in your new email address and confirm it. You will be logged off and directed to an account re-activation screen as soon as your email is changed. You will be prompted to enter your date of birth and new email to log back in.<br />
</p>

<h3>Making your account dormant</h3>
<p>
	If you wish to stop all email correspondence temporarily (like if you go on holiday) you can make your account dormant with us. Upon login will be prompted to enter your date of birth and email address to re-activate your account.<br />
</p>


<h2>Files</h2>
<p>
	Under the 'Me' section of the main menu you will find 'files'. When you save something on a computer the computer saves your work into a file. Your documents and pictures stored on your computer are all files. You can upload a file to AROUNDMe. You may for example wish to upload your CV so that people can download it or upload a photograph of yourself to attach to your profile so that people can see your picture.<br />
</p>

<p>
	There are different types of files. AROUNDMe only lets you upload certain types of file. These include:

	<ul>
		<li>JPG: Joint Photographic Experts Group<br />
		A standardized image compression mechanism designed for compressing either full-colour or grayscale photographic images, often for use on the Web. JPG is "lossy," meaning that the decompressed image is not quite of the same quality as the original image.<br /><br /></li>

		<li>GIF: Graphics Interchange Format<br />

		Format is a commonly used graphics file format for image files on the Internet. We recommend that you use PNG format which has superseded GIF.<br /><br /></li>

		<li>PNG: Portable Network Graphics bitmap<br />

		Designed to be a patent-free successor to the GIF format. Though not designed specifically for the Web, PNG offers particular benefits in this environment such as improved image compression ( 10 to 30 percent smaller than GIFs), two dimensional interlacing, storage of text with the an image making it possible for search engines to gather information and offer subject searching for images in a standard way.<br /><br /></li>

		<li>TXT: ASCII text file<br />

		File extension that is associated with digital documents created as "text only". Text only documents have no formatting saved with them (ie, no tabs, centring, etc.), but preserve all ASCII-based characters.<br /><br /></li>

		<li>PDF: Portable Document Format<br />

		A file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDFs can be read by any computer without platform conflicts.</li>
	</ul>

<p>
	You can press 'browse' select a file from your computer and upload it. Be sure to add a name that describes the file as you will use that name to apply the file to pages.<br />
</p>


<h2>Identity</h2>
<p>
	Your identity is a combination of who you are and what you like. In the context of AROUNDMe it is a presentation of your identity that you choose to reveal to people who are either registered at this site (members) or not (the public).<br />
</p>

<p>
	A default public and membership identity was created on your behalf when you registered. They contain your nic name and location. You can edit and add identities which you can then select when you start collaborating on activites throughout this site.<br />
</p>

<h2>Editing your identities</h2>
<p>
	Under the 'Me' section select 'identities'. Listed are your current identities. Note the 'public identity' is shown to the world wide web.<br />
</p>

<p>
	<b>DO NOT place any personal information such as passport numbers in your identities. </b><br />
</p>

<p>
	Press 'edit this card' under your membership card. This card is shown by default to anyone registered in this web site. A form will present itself with the following options:<br />
</p>

<ul>
	<li><b>name</b>: This is the name of the identity card. Call it something you will recognise as this card name is used when you need to select your card. No one else sees this card name except you.</li>
	<li><b>nic</b>: Your nickname. You can use *^~other~^* characters if you want - be creative;)</li>
	<li><b>customised fields</b>: The people who implemented this site will ask you for other things. Remember you are under no obligation to fill in these fields!</li>
	<li><b>gender</b>: You can choose to reveal yourself as male or female. If you do not want to select 'undisclosed'.</li>
	<li><b>signature</b>: This is a short text that appears under your identity.</li>
	<li><b>picture</b>: If you have uploaded a picture to your files page then you can select it here and it will be shown against your identity.</li>
</ul>

<p>
	Once complete select 'update identity' to save your identity card.<br />
</p>

<h2>Adding an identity</h2>
<p>
	As well as having your two standard identites you can add other custom ones. You may for instance want a presentation about your role in your local club for a specific group. Press 'add a card'. Follow the same steps as we have documented in 'editing your identies' then once your've finished press 'update identity' to save your new identity card.<br />
</p>
	

<h2>Searching for people</h2>
<p>
	Under the 'Me' section select 'people'. Here you can search on people, their location and their identity search criteria (called 'metadata'). To do this you must first allow others to search on one of your identities. Simply go into your identities page, edit one of your identities and check the 'allow people to search on this identity card' option. Then fill in some metadata about yourself. Examples include interests or professional abilities. You can enter many interests all of which people can then search on to find you.<br />
</p>


<h2>Ties</h2>
<p>
	Select 'Ties' from the help guide dropdown menu above 
</p>

<h2>Testimonials</h2>
<p>
	A testimonials is a written declaration certifying to a person's character, conduct, or qualifications. You can write testimonials to other people or receive testimonials from people.<br />
</p>

<p>
	To write a testominal to someone visit their profile page and press 'write a testimonial'.<br />
</p>


<h2>Blocking a person</h2>
<p>
	By blocking someone you stop them from the following things:<br />
</p>

<ul>
	<li>Seeing you as 'online'</li>
	<li>Messaging you</li>
	<li>Seeing any identity except your public identity card</li>
</ul>


<h2>Messaging</h2>
<p>
	Messaging is like email except that it only works within this site. You can send people messages (when they allow it in their identity preferences) and you can receive messages from them (when you allow it in your identity preferences).<br />
</p>

<h2>Sending a message</h2>
to write

<h2>Receiving a message</h2>
to write (inc email option)



<h2>Contacting the site maintainers</h2>
to write

<h3>reporting abuse</h3>
to write





