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The BBcode

The BBcode is a very simple language understandable by anyone, created by the team which programmed phpBB, a well-known forum script used by the webmasters. This language established itself on many websites via phpBB success. I chose it for its fame to enable the chatbox and guestbook messages personalization on PC Conviction.

In concrete terms, the BBcode enables, on the platforms which allow it (forums, MSN, chatbox and guestbook of this website), among others, to color the text we write, more generally to format it, to insert a link to a website, or also some pictures and, by extension, smileys.

What is the BBcode syntax like ?

The BBcode must be written like this : [parameter(=option)]text[/parameter], the text situated between brackets being optionnal, and depending of the parameter type (it's normal that it looks like being vague on the first appearance, we will see it in depth after).

Now, let's talk about the various types of parameters and their options (you will also learn the meaning of those two words in this context).

Put some text into bold

The parameter "b" enables to put the text into bold : [b]bold text[/b] will produce : bold text.

The parameter doesn't admit any option.

Put some text into italic

The parameter "i" put the text into italic : [i]italic text[/i] will produce : italic text.

The parameter doesn't admit any option either.

Underline some texte

The parameter "u" underline the text : [u]underlined text[/u] will produce : underlined text.

The parameter doesn't admit any option either.

Color some text

The parameter "c", or "color" color the text. However, the parameter isn't enough there. We also have to precise the color we want as the option. Then the syntax will be : [c=coolor]colored text[/c] ou [color=color]colored text[/color].

There are three ways to summon a color :

[c=0]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=1]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=2]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=3]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=4]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=5]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=6]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=7]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=8]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=9]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=10]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=11]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=12]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=13]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=14]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=15]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=16]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=17]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=18]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=19]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=20]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=21]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=22]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=23]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=24]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=25]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=26]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=27]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=28]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=29]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=30]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=31]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=32]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=33]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=34]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=35]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=36]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=37]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=38]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=39]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=40]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=41]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=42]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=43]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=44]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=45]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=46]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=47]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=48]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=49]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=50]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=51]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=52]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=53]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=54]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=55]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=56]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=57]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=58]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=59]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=60]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=61]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=62]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=63]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=64]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=65]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=66]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=67]text[/c] will produce : text
[c=68]text[/c] will produce : text

Overline a text

The parameter "a" overline the text with a color defined as option, like when we color the text (the English name of the color, the color's hexadecimal notation, or a number between 0 and 68). Here are some examples with the notation by a number between 0 and 68 :

[a=0]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=1]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=2]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=3]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=4]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=5]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=6]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=7]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=8]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=9]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=10]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=11]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=12]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=13]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=14]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=15]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=16]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=17]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=18]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=19]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=20]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=21]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=22]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=23]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=24]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=25]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=26]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=27]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=28]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=29]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=30]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=31]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=32]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=33]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=34]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=35]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=36]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=37]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=38]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=39]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=40]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=41]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=42]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=43]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=44]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=45]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=46]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=47]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=48]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=49]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=50]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=51]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=52]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=53]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=54]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=55]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=56]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=57]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=58]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=59]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=60]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=61]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=62]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=63]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=64]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=65]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=66]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=67]text[/a] will produce : text
[a=68]text[/a] will produce : text

The little tip : how to create a simple flag (like the french or the italian one) thanks to the BBcode, using the overline and the texte color ? We just have to put as many [a=] as there are colors in the flag. But this is not enough, we also have to define contents for the overline to display it. Well OK, a flag with some text over, it's not that great, but so, let's use our brain, how could we avoid it ? Very simple : we just have to color the text with the overline color ! Then we simply have to fiddle with the text so as to make the color bands being as longer as they should be. Thus,
[a=12][c=12]FR[/c][/a][a=1][c=1]An[/c][/a][a=5][c=5]CE[/c][/a] will produce FRAnCE
et [a=3][c=3]IT[/c][/a][a=16][c=16]AL[/c][/a][a=4][c=4]IA[/c][/a] : ITALIA ! =)

On my website, This kind of code doesn't display itself well in the message insight, but well when it is regitered. So, don't worry. ;)

Modify the text size

The parameter "size" modify the text size, which is indicated as an option.

[size=16]text[/size] will produce text

On PC Conviction, this parameter is just allowed on the forum.

Composed code

You can, without any problem, compose your codes. Thus, [b][i][u][a=8][c=11]text[/c][/a][/u][/i][/b] will produce text.

Of course, something like : [c=12][c=11]text[/c][/c] will just produce : text, the same parameter being redefined.

Insert smileys

On PC Conviction, you can insert smileys via their shortcuts :

"^^" will produce ^^
"-_-" will produce -_-
"=P", "=p", ":P" ou ":p" will produce =P
";)" will produce ;)
"=)" ou ":)" will produce =)
"=(", ":(", "=@" ou ":@" will produce =(
"=D", ":D", "=d" ou ":d" will produce :D
"Oo" will produce Oo
":$" ou "=$" will produce =$
":siffle:" will produce Siffle l'air de rien
":censure:" will produce Censuré

If necessary, I will add new smileys later.

Insert pictures

The parameter "img" enables to insert a picture which path is defined by the text out of the square brackets.

Thus, [img]http://www.pcconviction.com/image_a_afficher.jpg[/img] will display the picture which web address is http://www.pcconviction.com/picture_to_display.jpg.

On PC Conviction, this code is allowed on the forum only.

Create a list

The parameters "list" and "*" enable to create a listing.

The syntax, relatively special, is :
[list]
[*]text number 1
[*]text number 2
[/list]

This will result into that :

PC Conviction only allows it on its forum.

Quote some text

The parameter "quote" enables to quote some text, which will be displayed differently from some normal text.

It doesn't admit any option.

On PC Conviction, this parameter is just taken into account by the forum.

Insert some code

In like manner, the parameter "code" enables a display, different again, of some text to precise its code status (a program, for example).

It doesn't admit any option neither.

Furthermore, PC Conviction only takes it into account on the forum.

Insert a link

The parameter "url" enables to insert a link.

It c an be written without option ([url]http://www.pcconviction.com[/url] will produce : http://www.pcconviction.com), or with one : [url=http://www.pcconviction.com]link[/url] will produce : link.

On PC Conviction, this parameter is taken into account by the forum, but on the chatbox and the guestbook, you just have to write the link to create it : http://www.pcconviction.com will produce : http://www.pcconviction.com.

Let's get it over with this class

The BBcode is used on various plateforms. Everything you just learned there can be of use for MSN, like for the most of the Web forums, one of which is PC Conviction's one, or either on the website's chatbox and guestbook.

On PC Conviction's chatbox (in the left menu), some pop-up box enable you to insert some BBcode as easily as it is fast.

I hope that you liked this class and that you got the best of it.

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