Are you a pro at the trading module? Win a prize!

Here's the deal
The trade module can be quite overwhelming to a newbie. I'd like for there to be an easy to follow guide to using the module, preferably with screenshots.

The person who submits the best tutorial/walkthrough/guide will not only have it posted in the module with credit to their name, but also receive two days link time on the main page or forums for a link of their choice.

I prefer for it to be written in html, but I can deal with converting it from bbcode. It should PROBABLY have one or more screenshots and quick answers to common questions/tasks like "How do I initiate a trade" and "What do different statuses mean?" and "How do I get credit for the trade?", etc.

Feel free to post here if you have any questions. I'll let this run until I get a good one )

Here's the first submission, from Batman (thanks!).

Feel free to offer constructive criticism, update it, change it, add to it, or whatever.

====================================
Some things to note before beginning any trade
- If you have a lower TR (Trade Record), you must complete your side of the agreement first.
- TR will only be credited if one of the users is at least TR 2+.
- Scamming or shady behaviour will NOT be tolerated and WILL result in a ban.
- Although we do our best to operate trades as safely as possible, all trades are done at your own risk!

You can either initiate a trade or have another user initiate the trade. If the latter is true, you can just skip down to step 3. With that being said, here is a walkthrough on how to complete a trade using the Trade Module

1) The first step in initiating a trade through the trade module is to click on [b4d8a570906]Initiate a trade with this user[/b4d8a570906] in the profile of the user whom you wish to trade with as shown below

http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/8438/trade11zc.jpg[" alt=""/img4d8a570906]

2) This will bring up a Command Prompt, which will quite simply ask you to [b4d8a570906]provide a subject for the trade[/b4d8a570906] (eg. PVPs4Free for FreePSPs).

3) After completing this, you can click on the [b4d8a570906]Trades[/b4d8a570906] section at the top of the page as shown here

[img="4d8a570906]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/5607/trade24rx.jpg[" alt=""/img4d8a570906]

4) Here you will be able to see all of your current trades in an easy to view manner. This is where you will be dealing with every aspect of the trade. You can view whether or not the trade has been confirmed by the other user or yourself (1), the trade subject (2), who is involved (3), any notes or contact information (4), as well as the [b4d8a570906]Requester and Receiver Status[/b4d8a570906] (5). This is very important, as you will be updating every aspect of the trade here! You can view the other user’s status here as well. The Trade Module layout and options for updating your status are as shown below

[img="4d8a570906]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/6232/trade4b0rp.jpg[" alt=""/img4d8a570906]


5) After both sides of the agreement have been met and updated accordingly, you can now [b4d8a570906]Request TR[/b4d8a570906]. This is credit granted to a user for successful trades to gain credibility. To request TR, you simply update your status accordingly.

6) After the request has been granted, you will now see a TR rating underneath your name. You will update you status in the Trade Module accordingly to [b4d8a570906]TR Credited[/b4d8a570906].

[img="4d8a570906]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/4462/trade56bz.jpg[" alt=""/img4d8a570906]

And there you have it, a completed trade!

Good guide.
I would add several things though

A) If you didn`t initiate the trade, you have to go to the trades module anyway and confirm the trade. This should be stated somewhere around point #3

B) The trade subject should be something a bit more informative - the user might think it can be whatever he choses, but it is highly recommended that the subject clearly states what the trade is for

C) It might be a good idea to state that you can either be the Requester or the Receiver of the trade - it depends on who initiated the trade

D) It's a good idea to update the status often, not just from Negotiating/Waiting to Request TR. Good idea especially when one of the traders is going first.

Optional E) After [bd72785d6ab]TR Credited[/bd72785d6ab] you can either change the status to Request Deletion, or click the [bd72785d6ab]Hide[/bd72785d6ab] button in column #1, otherwise your trades module might be too cluttered

My Guide, First Draft

http//www.freewebs.com/gregcool/TM.htm

I'm very impressed so far. Hard to pick a winner )

If you two, or even more of you, would like to combine or work together, feel free. I don't mind giving out multiples of the prize.

[quote1f954764d6="Admin"]I'm very impressed so far. Hard to pick a winner )

If you two, or even more of you, would like to combine or work together, feel free. I don't mind giving out multiples of the prize.[/quote1f954764d6]

Maybe set a time limit the poll on the submissions so far...

I am an Application Specialist/ Technical Writer. I do this all day and thought, "I can make a really good one..." But I am really lazy. sorry.

That's OK, peksim. I wont hold it against you.

Lets say I'll pick a winner within the next 5 days?

[quote4f5d07fe27="Admin"]Here's the first submission, from Batman (thanks!).

Feel free to offer constructive criticism, update it, change it, add to it, or whatever.

6) After the request has been granted, you will now see a TR rating underneath your name. You will update you status in the Trade Module accordingly to [b4f5d07fe27]TR Credited[/b4f5d07fe27].
[/quote4f5d07fe27]

This should be changed to show that it automatically gets updated to TR Credited by the mod when it is actually credited.

Here's the updated version, thanks to Phbs83 and Peinecone!

Some things to note before beginning any trade
- If you have a lower TR (Trade Record), you must complete your side of the agreement first.
- TR will only be credited if one of the users is at least TR 2+.
- Scamming or shady behaviour will NOT be tolerated and WILL result in a ban.
- Although we do our best to operate trades as safely as possible, all trades are done at your own risk!

You can either initiate a trade (being the [b2afc6f731e]Requester[/b2afc6f731e]) or have another user initiate the trade (being the [b2afc6f731e]Receiver[/b2afc6f731e]). If the latter is true, you can just skip down to step 3. With that being said, here is a walkthrough on how to complete a trade using the Trade Module

1) The first step in initiating a trade through the trade module is to click on [b2afc6f731e]Initiate a trade with this user[/b2afc6f731e] in the profile of the user whom you wish to trade with as shown below

http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/8438/trade11zc.jpg[" alt=""/img2afc6f731e]

2) This will bring up a Command Prompt, which will quite simply ask you to [b2afc6f731e]provide a subject for the trade[/b2afc6f731e] (eg. PVPs4Free for FreePSPs). The trade subject should be something informative, not something made-up and useless. It is highly recommended that the subject clearly states what the trade is for.

3) After completing this, you can click on the [b2afc6f731e]Trades[/b2afc6f731e] section at the top of the page. If you did not initiate the trade, you have to go to the trade module anyway and confirm the trade by [b2afc6f731e]clicking “Yes” under the “Conf?” heading[/b2afc6f731e]. This is not necessary if you are the one who has initiated the trade. The trade module can be found here

[img="2afc6f731e]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/5607/trade24rx.jpg[" alt=""/img2afc6f731e]

4) Here you will be able to see all of your current trades in an easy to view manner. This is where you will be dealing with every aspect of the trade. You can view whether or not the trade has been confirmed by the other user or yourself (1), the trade subject (2), who is involved (3), any notes or contact information (4), as well as the [b2afc6f731e]Requester and Receiver Status[/b2afc6f731e] (5). This is very important, as you will be updating every aspect of the trade here! It is a good idea to update the status often, not just from Negotiating/Waiting to Request TR. This is especially important if one of the traders is going first as it keeps the other user up-to-date. You can view the other user’s status here as well. The Trade Module layout and options for updating your status are as shown below

[img="2afc6f731e]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/6232/trade4b0rp.jpg[" alt=""/img2afc6f731e]


5) After both sides of the agreement have been met and updated accordingly, you can now [b2afc6f731e]Request TR[/b2afc6f731e]. This is credit granted to a user for successful trades to gain credibility. To request TR, you simply update your status accordingly.

6) After the request has been granted, you will now see a TR rating underneath your name. You status in the Trade Module will automatically be changed to [b2afc6f731e]TR Credited[/b2afc6f731e] by the Admin/Mod who grants your request. You may now change your status to [b2afc6f731e]Request Deletion[/b2afc6f731e] to remove the trade permanently, or you can click [b2afc6f731e]Hide[/b2afc6f731e] under the first column to hide it but make it accessible later. This is optional and is just to keep your trade module from becoming too cluttered.

[img="2afc6f731e]http/" alt=""/img137.echo.cx/img="137/4462/trade56bz.jpg[" alt=""/img2afc6f731e]

And there you have it, a completed trade!

I also took into account the recommendations by others, and sent an updated version of mine (couple of posts up) to the admin. Haven't updated the site though. Just wanted to give credit to everyone for using their posts to add a few things to my guide )

[quote6dcdbd622c="Admin"]That's OK, peksim. I wont hold it against you.

Lets say I'll pick a winner within the next 5 days?[/quote6dcdbd622c]

Ok those are fighting words!! If you don't think I can do it why don't you just come out and say it?

Ah! I can tell by your silence that you think you are better than me!! You might be but I wont stand for that... I will just have a seat.

Let me know what you think
Warning[/color6dcdbd622c] I am long winded.
http//gmonkey.net/ipodguide/trmod.htm

[mumbling to himself] [/size6dcdbd622c]
A sure sign that there is something wrong that the doctors have not found medication for yet...[=http//gmonkey.net/story.htm]A sure sign that there is something wrong that the doctors have not found medication for yet... Meant for fun but there is access my ref links... please ignore them.

Nice one pek!!!

I really like Peksim's. I think I'm going to use his.

I edited it a bit
http//forum.freeipodguide.com/tmodtutorial/

Comments? Suggestions?

Also, just editing it was a lot of work. I'm really impressed and thankful to everyone who took the time to make a submission. For that reason, everyone who submitted one wins the prize )

Congrats Peksim! i liked yours and everybody else's as well.and congrats to all for putting in the work and getting the prize.

Thanks!

Someday I will get my grammer compliant with the official standards of my native tongue, but for now I remain job security for the editing profession.

[quote9c8af8c06c="Peksim"]Thanks!

Someday I will get my grammer compliant with the official standards of my native tongue, but for now I remain job security for the editing profession.[/quote9c8af8c06c]

Very nice job! I just used your guide to start using the trade module!
+KARMA for you. What is your native toungue, your English is very articulate.

-Jeff Reinstein

English is my "native tongue", but I have never been able to objectively read my own work for grammer mistakes. Mainly lack of interest, and the knowledge that the editor is really good.

[quote1da90d5349="Admin"]I really like Peksim's. I think I'm going to use his.

I edited it a bit
http//forum.freeipodguide.com/tmodtutorial/

Comments? Suggestions?

Also, just editing it was a lot of work. I'm really impressed and thankful to everyone who took the time to make a submission. For that reason, everyone who submitted one wins the prize )[/quote1da90d5349]

) Thanks. I spent 4 of my "work" hours to do it ) Was just monitoring a database at work, so I had spare time. Just not the HTML knowledge and organization like peksim to do all that )

Okay.

It's finally done and posted. I'm pretty happy with it.

Let me mention one thing
This whole firefox/IE standards noncompliance is SO goddamned annoying. I just spent a good hour tweaking it to display the same in both browsers. IE is a piece of shit when it comes to standards.

I have absolutely retarded stuff like
[code149ad7b6990]
.topLinkurl==http://=http:///url {
float: right;
<? if ($b != "IE") echo "position: relative; top: -17px;"; ?>
}
[/code149ad7b6990]
in my css definitions. Fucking retarded. Gah.

Anyway, anyone who submitted and wants their prize, PM me your link and other pertinent info (eg. url + msg if its a forum ad) and I'll take care of it.

Nice job Peksim! I wish I had the 1337 html skillz like you do. ) Also a thanks to everyone for their help and comments about my guide, and of course to the Admin for his generous offer. D