Avatars

[french frank]

Currently a problem at my (personal) end. I can see Russ and Karafan's avatars in their profiles and everything is enabled to allow them to be used. However, the file Generic Avatars appears to contain nothing so there will be a period of intense scratching of head until I've worked out how to get them into the proper file.

At least, that's my analysis of the matter.

[Russ]

I've no idea how this place works, but the pictures currently uploaded by Karafan and me are loaded as 'profile pictures' rather than 'avatars'. I suspect you probably need to enable avatars in the general settings.

Russ

[Uncle Monty]

Yes, I've put a profile picture up too, but it's of me, heaven help us, and not the one I would want to use as an avatar. Good luck with finding the right switch! There has clearly been some very hard work put into this, for which I and all the other refugees and Displaced Persons will be hugely grateful!

[french frank]

Well, behind the scenes 'Profile pictures' are described as 'small images (although usually larger than avatars) that users can upload to their profile pages'.

I will investigate how you upload avatars. They are certainly enabled.

Edit: Were you using the Edit Avatar option, not Edit Profile Picture? Your image must not exceed 80 x 80 pixels.Then choose the Custom avatar button and upload from your computer or wherever. See if that works.

Well, I seem to have an avatar. Only thing that was sitting on my desktop ...

[Uncle Monty]

I've found the Edit Avatar screen, Frank, though it isn't part of the Edit Profile page -- I had to get to it through the Help FAQs.

All it says, though, is this:

"Your Current Avatar
No Avatar Specified

Avatars are small graphics that are displayed under your username whenever you post.
O Do not use an avatar

Note: if you have a custom avatar selecting this option will delete it."

The "O" before the "Do not use" is just my representation of a clickable button, but it isn't possible to uncheck it to allow one's avatar.

Is it possible that while avatars are allowed, you still have to do something to actually enable us to upload them?

[french frank]

I had exactly the same. But if you click on .... wait a minute ....

... if you click on the button below Use Custom Avatar the blue button above will disappear (I mean the blue bit and the dot will disappear). You will then need to upload your image again, if you're using the same one as your profile pic. I don't think that will delete the profile image because the blue button means you don't have a current avatar., so you can't delete it. If you have your image on your desktop, check it's the right size as specified, then Browse to find it. Double click on it to enter the correct path - and Save.

[Russ]

... if you click on the button below Use Custom Avatar

I can't find a page with 'Use Custom Avatar'.

Russ

[Uncle Monty]

Nor I

[Lars Porsenna]

Okay - to the rescue (this is me, by the way - my account for seeing what non administrators see).

More to follow.

Edit: Hmmmm. Now what's going on here?

Settings > My Settings/My Profile/Edit Avatar > You then see -

A red band: Edit Avatar

Just below, a grey band: Your current Avatar, with a radio button Do Not Use Avatar

Just below that, another grey band: Custom Avatar, with a radio button Use Custom Avatar choose this option.

Just below, two options

1 Option 1 - Enter the URL to the Image on Another Website:

2 Option 2 - Upload Image From Your Computer: Browse

Choose the appropriate Option, depending on where the picture is.


[Testing edit function - please ignore]

[Lars Porsenna]

Bryn seems to have cracked it too ...

[Bryn]

Only thanks to your very clear guidance, Lars.

[french frank]

Only thanks to your very clear guidance, Lars.

Well, and look at that - a member since March 2007 and I've made my first posts! (And I've never had an avatar in my life before now!)

Edit: Oops, I'm not Lars, am I?

[Bryn]

Of course you're not, Laurie.

[french frank]

Of course you're not, Laurie.

Smart guy, huh! Yes, there was a connection

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

thanks!