IMPORTANT
Always make certain that the WIDTH of your photograph does not exceed 800 pixels.
 
USING THE ATTACHMENT BOX
 
If you only want to include one (1) photograph in your post you MAY  do so by using the Attachment Box that is located immediately below the Message Box.  Just use the browse botton to locate and upload the photograph from your computer.  Its that simple.  When you use this method, your one (1) photograph will always appear at the very bottom of your post.  If your photograph exceeds 800 pixels in width, a gray scroll bar will appear along both the right side and the bottom of your photograph and viewers will have to scroll to view the entire photograph.
 
USING 'INSERT IMAGE' BRACKETS
 
The best and recommended way to include photographs in your post is to do so by using the 'Insert Image' brackets (the third button from the left on the top row of the tool bar).  In order to use this method, your photographs must be hosted somewhere on the web (ie. Photo Bucket, your personal web site, etc).  Once again be certain that your photographs do not exceed 800 pixels in width.  Using this method will allow you to post multiple photographs in your post and allow you to position your photograph(s) wherever you want them to be placed in the body of your post.  To use this method, just type in the complete URL for your photograph wherever you want it to appear in the body of your post.  Then highlight the URL and click on the 'Insert Image' button  located on the tool bar.  That is all there is to it.
 
CHECK YOUR WORK BEFORE POSTING
 
Always use the "Preview" button (located below the Message Box) to check your work before posting it.  By doing so you can always tweek how your photographs will appear before you actually make the post.
 
If you notice an error or problem AFTER you have made the post, you can always click on the "Modify" button and make the necessary corrections.
 
POSTING LARGE NUMBERS OF PHOTOS IN THE SAME POST OR THREAD
 
If you are posting a very large number of photographs (more than about 25), please consider breaking your post into several totally separate smaller posts (ie. "Herping Southern Arizona - Part 1" and "Herping Southern Arizona - Part 2", etc.)  If you are posting more than about 25 photos and you choose to put them all together in a single post, the forum script will accept them and IF you are on a high-speed Internet connection of some type you will be able to view them without a problem.  But please try to remember that  some of our members and visitors  are still operating on dial-up Internet accounts.  When those users who are on dial-up accounts attempt to view your post containing 97 images, most likely their computers are going to lock up by the time the first 25 to 30 photos have opened.  Breaking up a post that contains a very large number of photos into several smaller posts will allow more dial-up users to view and enjoy your photos.
 
IN SUMMARY
 
In summary, adding photographs is really not all that difficult.  Once you have done it a time or two you will get the hang of it. The most common problems encountered are using images that exceed the maximum size (remember to keep the image width under 800 pixels) and making errors when entering the url of the image. And for the benefit of our dial-up users, please do not post more than about 25 photos in a single post or thread.
 
 
Gerald Keown
SWCHR Forums Administrator