What should I know before I post?

TEK-TIP forums are not newsgroups. The 'threads' do not go on forever (or at least they shouldn't). Here are some suggested Rules of Posting:

Unlike most newsgroups, the person who created the thread can 'tag' it to get email notifications that someone has responded. The poster probably doesn't want to get notifications a year later when someone else decides to use the thread for their own query.

So #1 - start your own thread. You can always link to a similar thread. Linking to another thread shows that you took time to find similar problems and solutions. You can link to a thread or faq by typing the word followed immediately by the forum and the thread/faq number. Where can you find this information? Under the topic header when you open the thread/faq. for example FAQ481-4875. (That is the link to this FAQ-go ahead and try it.) You can do the same thing with a thread, just replace FAQ with THREAD.

In the computer world, all upper case denotes YELLING.
#2 - Please don't yell. Use proper upper and lowercase.

We aren't all native English speakers/writers,
#3 - Do your best to be understood and don't get upset if someone lets you know they don't understand you. Don't 'pick on' someone if they have poor/broken English. If you don't understand a question/comment, please let the person know WHY you don't understand them.

What does HELP mean? Not much....
#4 - Use a good topic. The majority of posters need help with something or they wouldn't be posting. If someone wants to do a search to see if someone else has their problems, a topic of Help doesn't help. Personally, I tend to skip over those type of topics and go to ones where the poster knows what they need help with. Then if I have time I go back to the ones that I have no idea what they need.

Did you get the answer you needed?
#5 - Let us know you got your answer. Make a final post saying what solved your issue. If it was really helpful, give the poster a star. At the bottom of each post there's a place to click "Let .... know this was a helpful/expert post" (or something like that). Use it if the post really was helpful.

Lastly, we were all beginners at one time. So you might be amazed how many times the same question comes up.
#6 - do a search and also check the FAQs. Your question may already have been asked and answered.

-SQLBill