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For SpaceNut ....
There did not seem to be a topic set up for Howto advice for members
This #1 post can be updated with pointers to collections of tips we may have already in place ...
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Howto deliver a drawing to members ...
FluxBB does not support delivery of images directly.
As an experiment, today I made a drawing on paper.
I used a smart phone to take a picture of the drawing (any device with a camera can do the same)
I then uploaded the image to imgur.com, which provides a BBCODE link after the image is accepted.
Finally, I added the BBCODE link to a post in the forum.
In my case, I used email to send the image from the smart phone to a desktop computer, and from there uploaded to imgur.com
My guess is that the same operation could be performed directly from a smart phone, but someone else can add a post about that if they would care to do so.
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This post is about how to show images on the NewMars.com/forums site, using other sites to host the files:
Procedure to Link Images for Display on NewMars.com
There are several web sites that offer free hosting for images.
One of these is imgur.com. Another is: https://postimages.org/
The instructions in this document are for those who might prefer to use the phpBB3 site which was set up for testing during the FluxBB software upgrade, and remains available.
1) Request an account on the phpBB3 server.
You will use the same ID and password as the NewMars site.
2) Login and open a post for your new image
A topic is available: Images for FluxBB and use Post Reply
Note: You can add as many images to a post as you like
3) Select the Attachment tab
4) Drag and Drop a file or use the Add Files button
Either way, select [Place inline] to add the file to the post.
5) Submit the post
6) Right click on the image and select Copy Image Address
7) Paste that link into a post on NewMars.com/forums
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hint on images
https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=2617276
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How to use the new phpBB3 web site to display images (png or jpg) on NewMars...
***
http://40.75.112.55/phpBB3/search.php?s … ive_topics
Log in and click on Images for FluxBB
click on post reply
click on Additions
Use the file selector to select the png or jpg
Then! Be sure to click on the button to put the file inline in the message
Finally, submit
After that, right click on the image and copy the address.
Then! log into NewMars and paste the link into a post.
I realize this could be simpler, but I honestly don't know how to make it easier.
You can use the same password as you use here to keep things simple.
There is no charge for the service. There is no advertising. It will be available as long as I pay the modest bill.
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The technique below can be used to discover the IP address you are using:
Per ChatGPT5:
Heads-up about member IPs
Many home/office ISPs change IPs. If someone suddenly can’t reach the site:
Ask them to visit https://api.ipify.org to get their current IP and add it.
For frequent changers, consider a VPN/mesh option (WireGuard/Tailscale) or an SSH tunnel for them (keeps the NSG small).
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This post is about the procedure to generate a plot of thrust after a run of OpenFOAM.
This procedure uses gnuplot
To set up the CSV file for input to gnuplot, use thrustCalc
To set up for gnuplot, set variables first and last with the corresponding times shown in foamListTimes
first=$(
foamListTimes 2>/dev/null |
while IFS= read -r t; do
if [[ -f "$t/U" && -f "$t/p" && ( -f "$t/rho" || -f "$t/rho.gz" ) ]]; then
printf '%s' "$t"
break
fi
done
)last=$(foamListTimes | tail -n1)To generate thrust data, run thrustCalc
thrustCalc -time ${first}:${last}Above puts data in postProcessing as thrust.dat
Now generate the CSV from the thrust data...
awk 'BEGIN{
FS="[[:space:]]+";
OFS=",";
print "timeDir,t_s,VehicleFx_N,VehicleFy_N,VehicleFz_N,VehicleThrust_N,VehicleThrust_kN,VehicleThrust_tonnes"
}
$1 !~ /^#/ {
# thrust.dat columns: timeDir, t, Fx[N], Fy[N], Fz[N], |F|[N] (force on fluid)
# Vehicle force = negative of on-fluid components; magnitude is same.
print $1, $2, -$3, -$4, -$5, $6, $6/1000.0, $6/9806.65
}' postProcessing/thrustCalc/outlet/thrust.dat > thrust_series.csvOutput looks like this:
timeDir,t_s,VehicleFx_N,VehicleFy_N,VehicleFz_N,VehicleThrust_N,VehicleThrust_kN,VehicleThrust_tonnes
0.649999614,6.4999961400e-01,-17504.1,-36.1764,1.18576e-19,1.7504185140e+04,17.5042,1.78493
History of several runs .... In the end, the best procedure was to open gnuplot and enter commands one at a time.
From ChatGPT5
cat > thrust.plot << 'EOF'
set term pngcairo size 1200,600
set output 'thrust_over_time.png'
set datafile separator ","
set grid
set xlabel "Time, t [s]"
set ylabel "Vehicle thrust [kN]"
plot "thrust_series.csv" using 2:7 with lines lw 2 title "Thrust (kN)"
EOF
# gnuplot thrust.plotThe cat command may deliver all commands to thrust.plot in a stream. I was able to create the plot by entering the commands manually.
In that case, the closing line was not needed.
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This post is about how to move tabs in the Chrome browser...
It turns out to be easy to move tabs on the tab bar of a Chrome browser... just click on the tab and slide it to the new location.
There is also a feature called Tab Groups that allows related tabs to be collected under a single group tab.
There must be a great number of similar features that are available but not known to the average browser user.
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This post is about how to override the search engine when entering an address in the address bar of the browser.
I just learned today (2025/12/24) that the search engine can be over ruled by entering a slash at the end of a URL.
I was trying to reach a web site using it's URL entered into the address bar of my browser, but the search engine kept taking over and providing information I did not want.
I asked it to tell me how to prevent that behavior, and it suggested adding a forward slash at the end of the URL. It said it would honor that signal, and it did.
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This post is about how to set up a group purchase plan at Amazon. I tried and failed, and a relative tried and came close, but neither of us succeeded in setting up a group purchase plan. I decided to ask Gemini, and to my amazement it understood the question and provided what looks like the right answer. Here is the transcript:
Conversation with Gemini
Amazon Gift Setup - Hi Gemini! This is a ** really ** challenging request, so I won't be surprised if it is not something you can help with. I tried to set up an Amazon account so friends could help pay for an expensive item, but so far I have not succeeded. I am actually trying to help a relative. We want his son to be able receive items when relatives contribute to pay for them, but his first attempt did not send the items to the family. Instead, Amazon insisted in sending the items to the funder, so obviously that is not right. I thought I'd try to set up a plan on my account so I know how to do it, but so far I have not succeeded. Is this something you can help with?
***
Helping a family member coordinate a large purchase is a wonderful gesture, but you've hit on one of Amazon's most confusing technical "quirks."The reason your previous attempt failed is that standard Amazon Wish Lists do not support group contributions. If someone buys an item from a regular Wish List, they are buying the whole thing, and Amazon’s default behavior for standard lists often defaults the shipping address back to the buyer unless the recipient has manually enabled "Third-Party Shipping Sharing."
To do this correctly so that multiple people can chip in for one expensive item and have it shipped to the son, you must use a Registry (specifically a Wedding or Baby Registry), even if the occasion is just a birthday or a holiday.The Solution: Use a "Wedding" Registry
Amazon's "Wedding Registry" is actually a versatile tool that many people use for "General Gift Lists" because it is the only list type that allows Group Gifting.Here is the step-by-step to set this up so it works perfectly:
Create the Registry: Go to Amazon and search for "Wedding Registry." Click Create a new Registry. (You can name it "Son's Big Gift Fund" or something similar; it doesn't have to be for a real wedding).
Set the Shipping Address: During setup, you will be asked for a shipping address. Enter the son’s address here.
Crucial: Check the box that says "Share my shipping address with sellers to ship gift fulfillment items." If this isn't checked, items from third-party sellers will ship to the funders instead.
Add the Expensive Item: Find the item you want and select "Add to Registry."
Enable "Group Gifting": This is the "secret sauce."
Go to the Registry page and click on the item.
Look for a checkbox or toggle that says "Enable Group Gifting." * Once enabled, people can contribute any amount (e.g., $25, $50) toward that specific item.
How the Shipping Works: * If the item is fully funded: Amazon doesn't always ship it automatically. Instead, they usually convert the contributions into an Amazon Gift Card balance specifically for the registry owner to "redeem" and purchase the item.
The Benefit: This ensures the son (the registry owner) gets the item at his address, and the funders never have to worry about where it’s going.
Why your first attempt likely failed
In a standard Wish List, Amazon hides the recipient's address for privacy. If the funder doesn't specifically see and click "Recipient's Name's Gift Registry Address" during the final checkout screen, Amazon defaults to the funder's own saved address. Using the Registry method mentioned above removes this friction.Would you like me to walk you through how to convert an existing Wish List into a Registry, or help you find the specific "Group Gifting" toggle on your screen?
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Thank you for your ** most ** welcome (and surprising!) solution. The key information is that we customers have to accept the "wedding" label for the group purchase feature. I find it a bit unsettling to be setting up an account for a "wedding", for myself or for anyone else. However, if that is the only way to achieve the objective, I'll just have to swallow my pride and use it. I can easily imagine that my relative chose not to use that system for the very same reason. It would (obviously) send the wrong message. Thanks for your clarification of the Gift Card idea! That is a solution that would avoid the inappropriate "wedding" association. For my immediate needs, I think that is the better answer. After re-reading your advice, I see that the account title can be different from the wedding association. Perhaps that will work after all.
***
** Thank ** you for helping to make sense of a seriously confusing situation !!!
***
I am so glad that helped! You are spot on—it feels a bit "clunky" to use a Wedding Registry for a non-wedding event, but in the world of Amazon's software, it is simply the only "bucket" they have built that allows multiple people to put money toward a single item.Think of it less as a "Wedding" and more as an "Escrow Account" with a fancy name. << or a "GoFundMe" equivalent
Why the Registry is actually "Safer" than a Gift Card
While sending a standard Gift Card is the simplest route, the Registry/Group Gifting method offers two major psychological benefits for your family:Transparency: When relatives contribute, they can see a "progress bar" (e.g., "$350 of $1,000 raised"). This makes them feel like they are actually helping buy the item rather than just sending cash.
The Intent: It ensures the money is "earmarked" for that specific gift. If you send a standard Gift Card, it just sits in the son’s general Amazon balance and might accidentally get spent on household groceries or smaller items.
A Quick Tip for "Swallowing the Pride"
When you set up the Registry, you can usually set the "Privacy" to Shared/Private. This means it won't show up in Google searches or even in Amazon’s public search unless someone has the exact link you send them.You can also name the Registry something entirely different in the settings, like:
"John's High School Graduation Fund"
"Family Tech Gift Pool"
"The Big Birthday Surprise"
Once people click the link, they’ll see the title you chose, and the "Wedding" branding becomes much less prominent.
Would you like me to help you draft a short, clear message you can send to the relatives explaining how the link works so they don't get confused when they see the "Registry" layout?
Let's pause here for a moment... I'll share the advice you've provided, and if there are remaining questions we can pick up the conversation. Thanks again for your (to me most remarkable) assistance!
That sounds like a perfect plan! Taking it one step at a time is usually the best way to handle Amazon's technical quirks.
I’m glad I could help demystify the process for you. It really is a "hidden" workaround, but it’s the most reliable way to make sure the family’s generosity actually lands at the right front door.
Whenever you or your relative are ready to move forward—whether that’s drafting the instructions for the family or troubleshooting the setup—I’ll be right here.
Would you like me to leave this chat open
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This is a follow up to #10
I discovered that it is necessary to set the event date to after today's date, in order to add items to the registry.
I ** also ** learned that the icon to create a link to send to someone is a tiny little icon in the upper right of the screen for a particular registry. There is nothing distinctive about the icon, and there is no text to explain what it is. I ** did ** find that by hovering over the icon, the word "share" appears. Click that and there is a link generated that you can send to someone.
We can use this system to fund purchases among members of the forum, if an occasion should arrive.
There is a more powerful feature that I have not yet explored. That would permit a shared purchase for an expensive item.
Gemini explained that we must use the Wedding Registry to gain access to that feature.
The feature I've activated for testing is a simple purchase the entire item capability.
I sent the link to a couple of relatives, so they can test the link if they are so inclined. The requested item was a felt tip pen. It just occurred to me to wonder if shipping expense is included. I'll report here if there is anything to report.
The expiration date for the wish list gift item is January 1st, 2026, so I presume it will not be available after that date.
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