General Instructions For Using This Site

Purpose and goals of the site and the discussion groups

Knowledge, friendship and networking are the basic goals. This all started as a few web pages tacked on my site over two years ago, which showed some fellow metalshapers' shops and information on my favorite engine -- the Chrysler Hemi. The guys listed on the pages and a few others joined a group that we all formed on e-Groups (e-Groups was subsequently purchased by Yahoo) and it has grown to over 1,500 members including the Metalshapers, Auto Restoration, Blacksmithing and other groups. Future plans are to expand the web site to encompass other shop related communities, such as auto racing, aircraft, wood working and many others.

Once the discussion groups got rolling, I set up this web site devoted to the groups, mostly to showcase the members' shops. Then events were added as well as an events registration page. The web site has evolved into a "community" style site complete with member photo albums and web pages (web pages are not ready for use yet). There are also web forums available and a chat room.

It is a learning network of caring, decent people who do not want to see the trade die and if possible would like to expand the trade to as many eager minds as possible.

Liability Disclaimer

Some of the equipment and methods shown on this site can cause SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH. The display of equipment or methods here does not constitute endorsement or insure suitability for any particular use. The user is entirely responsible for their own actions, and assumes any and all risks associated. Don't try to sue us or any contributors to this site if you hurt or kill yourself.

Posting Photos in the Discussion groups:

To send a photo... you compose your e-mail addressed to metalshapers@yahoogroups.com and then click on the attachment button which opens the windows file. Then  navigate through the files until you get to your picture of choice, and then double click on it. You should see the selected file show as an attachment in your e-mail. Then send the e-mail. Just make sure the photo is reduced in size -- so the size of the file doesn't bog down some of the slow connections.

A good idea is to practice this whole process before sending anything to the group. You can get some practice by just e-mailing yourself. Place your e-mail address as the recipient and attach the picture and send. That way you get to see if you have done all the steps correctly. Once you get the steps down it is very easy to send pictures.

Albums

Currently this is the most used feature on the web site. Several of the others are being refined or need more work.

You may view the albums without being a member. However, you must be a paid member in order to post your own albums.

To view albums -- simply click on "Photo Albums" which will bring you to a page that lists all the major categories, such as metalshaping, metal spinning, machine shops, the CycleKart phenomenon, auto restoration, etc. The number in parentheses is the number of albums that have been posted within that category.

When you click on the major category you are interested in -- you will be taken to a list of sub-categories. There can even be sub-categories within sub-categories.

To Load Photos:

Login in first. Click on "Photos Albums". When the page loads click on "Create/edit your albums". You should then see a block with the following buttons; "create", "delete", and "edit". Click "create".  Once the page loads, type in the album name, then description.  Be sure to check the box "public" or no one will be able to see the album.

Then scan down and highlight the proper category and click on the "create" button. Then you will see a table that will house all your albums. Click on the album's name.

Click on "Upload photos". Then a box labeled "Upload images" will load and it will have 30 image loading options. Click the word "Browse" each time you wish to load a photo. Then browse your drive and select the photo you wish to load. Continue until you have loaded all your photos, then click "upload files" at the bottom of the page. About 30 photos per page is as many as you should have. Any more will take too long to load for some viewer's connections.

To Get the Photos in Correct Order.

The photos are ordered by the name of the file first. but if you don't name the files properly ahead of time -- you can change them. Naming them 1 through 15 doesn't work. However, if you will name them 0-01, 0-02, 0-03 -- that will work fine. You can name them something such as 0-01 new piece of metal, 0-02 shaping, 0-03 scrap metal and that will work also.

Adding Text

If your album is already open, click on the photo title to add text. The short description will appear under the thumbnail version of the photo and is limited to just a few lines of text. The "long description" will be displayed under the enlarged version of the photo that pops up when the thumbnail is clicked. If you are familiar with HTML -- you can insert it here. If your album is no longer open -- log in, go to the albums and click the "create/edit your albums " button. When your list of albums comes up click on the name of the album to open the album. Then click on the photo title to edit the text.

To Select an Album Cover

You can select a photo to be your album cover. When anyone clicks to view all your albums -- the cover photo will appear as a small "thumbnail" photo.

Log in, go to the albums and click the "create/edit your albums" button. When your list of albums comes up click on the name of the album to open the album. Then click on the photo title of the photo you want as the album cover. Then check the box for "album cover". You can only select one photo as a cover.

What if you set up an album and it doesn't appear?

If your album doesn't appear -- then you probably forgot to check the "public" box. Or possibly you selected the wrong category. You can easily correct that.

You need to go back and edit your album. Log in, go to the albums and click the  "create/edit your albums" button.

When your list of albums comes up -- instead of clicking on the album name (which is how you edit the photos and their descriptions) -- check the box on the left and select "edit". Then you can check the "public" box or change or edit categories and the description.

How do I go back and edit the photos and descriptions?

Log in, go to the albums and click the "create/edit your albums" button. When your list of albums comes up click on the name of the album to open the album. Then click on the photo title to edit the text.