When you log into earthsports.com, your landing page is the Home page. Think of it as your dashboard. This is where all of your modules are features are visible. It is also where you can see the wall containing activities by all of your network of friends, guides, manufacturers, etc. From this page you and search for and add guides, invite friends, see your events, post messages and manage each module's availability. Modules can be set to be seen by the public, just members, just your friends, or just you (private). This is done by clicking the small icon located to the left of the module's header.
The See My Profile link presents your information as it has been setup in the Home page. This is the page that is seen by the public, members and friends depending on the availability status you have selected in the Home page. Based on those settings visitors can see the information you are allowing and submit requests to be your friend. When you check out other people or visit another member, you see their profile. Also, note that the Wall on a Profile page only shows the activities of that person, not their entire network.
The Administer Account link gives you access to the back-end account setup information for changing things like your nickname, email, password, fishing styles, profile picture, etc.
Your Profile Picture is used throughout the site to identify you along with your activities in the site. Its also the image that represents you in the top left-hand corner of your My Profile page. To create your own profile image, be sure the photo you would like to use is located on your computer, log into the site, select Administer Site and then choose the Edit My Profile Picture tab.
On this page, click the Browse button and search your computer for the file to upload. Once selected, choose Open and you will then have the opportunity to crop the photo to the shape that will be used throuhout the site. Click + hold on the center of the box, then move the mouse to repositing it over your photo. Click and hold on the corners to scale the box in and out so you get a good cropping on the area you want to be viewed. Once the box is position the way you want it, choose the Add button at the bottom of the page, and you now have a Profile Photo.
Place your mouse over the PHOTOS link in the main navigation located at the top of your HOME or PROFILE page. You must be logged in to see this link. A sub, or fly-out, navigation will open below PHOTOS. Choose MY PHOTO GALLERY by clicking on it. You will then be taken to the PHOTOS page with the My Album module visible in the body area. At top-right, choose the Add album button and fill in the form's Title, Location and Description fields. Note that Title is the only required field and is marked with a red asterisk for this reason.
The "Allow viewing album to:" option is critical in that it determines who you want to give access to the photo album
Once an Album is created, select the album by clicking it and you will be taken to a page with a module called Photos Of This Album. At top right is a button you click called "Add Photos." A new window comes up with the Add Photos module. In there, you will have several uploader options (Flash, Regular, Record and Embed):
- Flash and Regular are just two different tools that both allow you to navigation your computer hard drive and select photos to post to the site.
- Shoot is a web cam recording ap for capturing a photo using the computer you are on as long as it has a web cam.
- Embed allows you to copy and paste a Flickr photo link and present a photo from there
In all of the above options, you will need to select the check box that states you have the right to distribute the photos and that they do not have vulgarity, profanity or pornographic content. Once this is done, select the"Continue" button to post your video.
Place your mouse over the VIDEOS link in the main navigation located at the top of your HOME or PROFILE page. You must be logged in to see this link. A sub, or fly-out, navigation will open below VIDEOS. Choose MY VIDEO GALLERY by clicking on it. You will then be taken to the ALBUMS page with the My Albums module visible in the body area. At top-right, choose the Add album button and fill in the form's Title, Location and Description fields. Note that Title is the only required field and is marked with a red asterisk for this reason.
The "Allow viewing album to:" option is critical in that it determines who you want to give access to the photo album
Once an Album is created, select the album by clicking it and you will be taken to a page with a module called Videos Of This Album. At top right is a button you click called "Add Videos." A new window comes up with the Add Videos module. In there, you will have several uploader options (Flash, Regular, Record and Embed):
- Flash and Regular - Two different tools that both allow you to navigation your computer hard drive and select a video to post to the site.
- Record - Web cam recording ap for recording a video using the computer you are on as long as it has a web cam.
- Embed - Allows you to copy and paste a YouTube video link and present a video from there
In all of the above options, you will need to select the check box that states you have the right to distribute the videos and that they do not have vulgarity, profanity or pornographic content. Once this is done, select the"Continue" button to post your video.
Adding and following a guide is a key component to this site as it gives you insight from professionals who are out there every day. They give you access to written and phone in reports, booking information, blogs, forums area attractions and a host of other useful pieces of information. To get started, from your Home page, select the "Find a Guide" banner in the left column. A shadow box window will open with several options to refine your search and a country map. Selecting a Style, Species and Zone before choosing a state will refine your Guide search to more accurately reflect who you are looking for. Leaving them blank will present a wider area of Guides to view. After choosing from those fields, click the state where you are looking for a Guide. A Google Map comes up with thumbtacks representing a guide and his/her service location. Blue thumbtacks are free Guide listings and only give the guides basic information. Green thumbtacks are registered Earth Sports Member Guides and you are given more options to connect with this guide:
- Rate Me - Allows you to rate your experience with this guide if you have used him/her previously
- View Feedback - Allows you to see testimonials written about this guide
- Track Guide - Adds the guide to your Home and Profile page and connects you and the guide in such a way that you are updated whenever he/she posts new information. Unless removed, his/her thumbnail will be listed in your My Guides banner from this point on.
- View Guide - Takes you to the guide's profile page where you can view details about the guide and interact with him/her in a number of ways.
The cropping tool is necessary to the site design and functionality. It allows you to crop your profile photo to dimensional requirements of the site so it can be used consistently throughout the site. When you browse to and add your photo, you will see it in the tool with the crop edges showing on top. Here's what you can do:
- Place your cursor over the center of the crop box, click+hold then drag the box around to center it over the area of the photo you want to use
- Place yoru cursor over the corners of the crop box, click+hold then drag the corners diagonally in or out to scale the box dimensions
With these tools, you should be able to frame in a usable area of the photo. If the image is too tall or wide, it may not work as a square shape is required.