This is a brief 'Walk Through' in Registering in the Elsmar Cove forum.

When you first arrive at the main page in the Elsmar Cove forum, you see the screen below. Just click on the 'Register' link.

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Registration%20Link_600.jpg

You will be taken to the 'TOS' (Terms of Service) screen. Please scroll down and read the TOS as you scroll. Then, click the 'I Agree' box. To proceed to the next page, click on the 'Register' box.

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20TOS%20Page_600.jpg


You will then be shown the following screen. There are several screen shots here which you will see as you scroll down the screen.

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Page%201_600.jpg


http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Page%202_600.jpg


http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Page%203_600.jpg


http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Page%205_600.jpg

When you click the 'Complete Registration' button, the following screen will appear.

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Registration%20Data%20Sent%20Acknowledgement_600.jpg

You will receive an email within a few minutes. This server sends the email immediately. When you receive it, it will look something like the following:

From: The Elsmar Cove Discussion Forums <ElsmarForum@Elsmar.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:31:55 -0500 (CDT)
To: <marc.smith@spamcop.net>
Subject: The Elsmar Cove Discussion Forums Registration Activation

Hello $username!

Thank you for registering for the Elsmar Cove forums.

To Activate your registration, please visit this url:
http://Elsmar.com/register.php?a=act&u=$userid&i=$activateid

If the above url does not work, please use your Web browser to go to:
http://Elsmar.com/register.php?a=ver

Please to be sure not to add extra spaces. You will need to type in your forum username and activation number on the page that appears when you visit the url.

Your Forum Username is: $username

Your **Activation ID** is: 84856473 (there will be a random number here)

**NOTE: Your Activation ID is *NOT* your Password! It is a one-time, expiring number.

If you are still having problems activating your registration please contact Marc at http://Elsmar.com/Forums/sendmessage.php

Welcome to the Elsmar Cove!!!

Marc Smith

--------------------
To stop receiving this email, please visit this url:
$vboptions[bburl]/register.php?a=act&u=$userid&i=$activateid

--> *** NOTE: This e-mail message was automatically generated by the Elsmar Cove forum software. Do not Reply to this message.


All you do is click on the link in the email. You many not even notice the activation process take place.

If you do NOT receive an email within 1 to 20 minutes, check your spam box.

In some cases company email servers will screen out email with a filter before it reaches your mail box. Ask your IT person to 'white list' email from Elsmar.com. Or, consider registering with your home/personal email address.

More often, it is a case where the email address was entered incorrectly, or if your mailbox is Full and will not accept any more emails.

If you have problems, such as not receiving the Registration Activation email, I'll be glad to help if I can. Just Contact Marc (http://Elsmar.com/Forums/sendmessage.php) if you have problems. But remember, if your mailbox is full, if you enter an incorrect email address, or something like that, I will not be able to contact you to help you.

If you are in immediate need, you can try calling me in the US at 513 777-3394.

I figure this is appropriate at this hour where we have a lot of readers and not many posters.

1. Updated all process graphics and activation email content.

2. Switched from Image to Question - Answer screen to stop what I *think* are bots which have been registering recently. I know this imposes a language issue on registering (this is related to Registrations, not to bots registering and posting). I will watch for a week or two and if the change appears to be an undue hardship, I can change it back.

Reason for change: Question - Answer screening is typically more effective in screening out bots.

I don't think this will be a big issue as most people who register here probably read/write English to some degree, and the Questions and Answers are basic so even using a translator it shouldn't be a problem.

I entertain your feedback on this change.