Pretty Posts Sticky

Wondering how to blockquote? Don't know how to embed videos? This sticky is your go-to thread for help with making your comment or thread look as good as the most computer literate users here, hopefully in steps simple enough for [rival joke here] to understand. Before we get to it, there have been helpful threads in the past, such as this one from ShockFX (which goes into more plain text detail than I will here). I'm not promising anything revolutionary as much as providing a link for "one stop shopping" to help people with common problems.

How do I get a quote to show up in the fancy yellow box?

1. Click "switch to plain text editor". This is a link at the bottom of the text box for either a comment or post/diary.
2. Write out <blockquote></blockquote>
3. Paste your quote between ><
4. Switch back to rich text editor. This button is in the same spot at the bottom of the text box as plain text editor.
5. Format as needed: this is just trial and error. If you're really stuck it's not the end of the world, it sometimes takes practice.

How do I embed a video?

1. Click "switch to plain text editor". This is a link at the bottom of the text box for either a comment or post/diary.
2. On YouTube, click "share" and "embed".
3. Copy the link that appears.
4. Paste the link into the text box.
5. Switch back to rich text editor. This button is in the same spot at the bottom of the text box as plain text editor.
6. Look for a box. It should have a red outline and say either "flash" or "iframe". If you see this, you've succeeded; congrats.

How do I embed a video in a forum topic or diary?

Follow the instructions immediately above, but after clicking "share" on YouTube, you need to check the box below it that says "use old embed code".

I don't know how to embed a picture in my comment or post/diary.

• The easiest way to do this is to drag the picture from a site hosting it (such as Google Images, Facebook, ect.). You can left click your mouse on the picture and select "view" in Firefox or "open in new tab" in Chrome. Make the window smaller and drag the image into the text box.
• When commenting on a thread, story or diary, the comment box has a line of options at the top, with options like bold, italics, ect. On the far right is a little picture. Click this picture and paste the URL of the picture you would like included. You can obtain the URL by left clicking the image and selecting "copy image location".

Note: .gifs work the same way as pictures. Either of these instructions will work for GIFs.

I want to embed a Tweet in a comment.

1. Click "switch to plain text editor". This is a link at the bottom of the text box for either a comment or post/diary.
2. On the tweet you want to embed, click where it says "More"
3. On the drop-down, select "Embed Tweet"
4. Copy the code that appears
5. Paste the code into the post
6. Switch back to rich text editor. This button is in the same spot at the bottom of the text box as plain text editor.

Note: I'm told this does not work for forum topics or diaries. Sorry.

I've seen some posts use a fancy link that's part of the text. I want to do that too.

1. Highlight the text you want to turn into a blue link.
2. Click the blue globe on the top of the text box.
3. Paste the URL you'd like to link to.
4. Click "OK".

I want to get fancier than that.

To make the link open in a new window or tab:

• After clicking the globe and pasting the URL, click "target" and switch to "New Window (_blank)"

To underline links:

• While the text is highlighted, hit "ctrl" (Command for Apple users) and then "u" on your keyboard.

I need to create a table and copy/paste from Excel looks messy.

1. Go to this link.
2. Paste the table you have into the box and "Tableize It!"
3. Click "switch to plain text editor". This is a link at the bottom of the text box for either a comment or post/diary.
4. Paste the information the website spits out as "your table"
5. Switch back to rich text editor. This button is in the same spot at the bottom of the text box as plain text editor.
6. Format as needed. This usually means (for me) making sure there aren't a bunch of lines between the text and the table.

I still need help; the sticky isn't covering my problem.

Leave a comment here. We're fortunate to have a lot of knowledgeable and friendly posters here on the board, and someone will have an answer for you.

Notes:

• Thanks to Raoul, Seth and MGoShoe for their work in the suggestions thread, and Michigan Shirt for the ShockFX link; some of the work above is yours and this is my way of giving you credit.
• Thank you everyone who made suggestions in the prior thread.
• Irrelevant comments made while this is on the front board will be deleted after it's off, this space should be kept clean for Q&A's.
• Questions, other tips not accounted for here or pointing out something I've done wrong in the OP are all highly encouraged.