Initial setup
From PluginWiki
Contents |
Backing up!
Before you start configuring, think about how tedious it would be to lose all the configuration. So you should take steps to make sure you don't. See backing up for suggestions.
What you always get
There's some stuff which the plugin always adds, without you having to configure it; generally things that don't slow it down too much, and don't use up too much screen space. You don't have to read the details of this just yet - though you can if you like - but you should do at some point, so you understand the new stuff that's showing up on your screen.
- Loading %
- Search Icon
- Bulk Operations
- Status
- Related Messages
- Message Categorisation (for Freegle groups using the republisher only)
The very first time you access a Freecycle group, the plugin will need to download information about recent messages in it. This will take a while, but thereafter it should keep up to date much more quickly. However if you access a group after a few days, you may notice it being slow as it catches up.
For the rest of the features, you need to decide whether you want them or not. That's what the following sections talk you through.
What is this configuration thing?
Your configuration (or preferences) is how you personalise the way in which the plugin works on your group.
When you first install the plugin, there is very little in the way of configuration already in place. If you look in the Files section of the ModPlugin group, you'll find a file called something like basicprefs.txt - this is an extremely basic set of preferences which you can use to get you going. How you get it onto your computer is in the next section.
Finding your configuration
First of all, you need to know how to get to your configuration. There are two ways.
- Via the Taskbar icon.
- Via the Firefox menu.
You also need to know that initially, the plugin hides more advanced configuration from you.
- This is so you can get to grips with the basic stuff.
- If you want to explore further, or you see a reference in a page to some function you'd like but can't see on your screen, then click the Show Advanced Features checkbox on the Features tab.
- Once you do this, you'll see more stuff on the various configuration pages.
So how do I get the basic set of preferences on the Files section of the ModPlugin group onto my computer?
Go to the file on the group (as described in the What is this configuration thing? section above), open it and then do File, Save Page As, and save it to your desktop with the file name it offers you and the save file type as text document.
Now
- Access your existing configuration. Make sure the Features tab is coloured blue.
- You'll see a box which says Load Preferences. Click that.
- Browse to the file you've just saved on your desktop and click Open.
The plugin then works behind the scenes and a message comes up saying Preferences Imported.
Now you can start to look at the things mentioned in the Basic Features section.
Basic Features
To ease yourself gently into using the plugin, the things to start off with are:
For what this means in practice, see Using the plugin. Take a while to get used to those, then move on to More Features and Bulk Operations.
If you're not moderating a Freecycle group, you'll need to Configure groups to monitor.
