# Reference to Format Topics on the PurpleAir Forum **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [January 10, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/reference-to-format-topics-on-the-purpleair-forum/191 "2022-01-10T21:24:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleAir](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/32/176_2.png) [@PurpleAir](https://community.purpleair.com/u/PurpleAir)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2022, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/reference-to-format-topics-on-the-purpleair-forum/191/1 "2022-01-10T21:24:11Z")
This reference will help you understand how to use built-in formatting techniques to improve the look and functionality of your topics published on the PurpleAir Community Forums. * * * ## Links Links can be quickly added into a post to direct users from your post to other URLs. Click or tap on the _Hyperlink_ button in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut to access the _Insert Hyperlink_ menu (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+K** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+K** ). Basic formatting for a link will look like this: [link text](link URL). Script example: > [Link Example](https://community.purpleair.com/t/guide-to-format-topics-on-the-purpleair-forums/191#links-1) Example result: > [Link Example](https://community.purpleair.com/t/guide-to-format-topics-on-the-purpleair-forums/191#links-1) * * * ## Images Images can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _Upload_ button in the toolbar, select the file you wish to upload, and click or tap “Open”. Afterwards, the selected image will appear visible within your post. Script example: > ![PA\_Cloud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user\_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/120/176\_2.png) Example result: > ![PA_Cloud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/120/176_2.png) * * * ## Format Text ### Font Style You are able to format text within your post. Boldface and Italics font can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _ **B** _ or _ **I** _ button, respectively, in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut to create Boldface or Italics font (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+B** or **Ctrl+I** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+B** or **Cmd+I** ). The following examples will demonstrate how to make text appear in **boldface** , _italics_, _ **boldface and italics** _, ~~struck-through~~ , and underlined. Script example: > \*\*Boldface\*\* or \_\_Boldface\_\_ or [b]Boldface[/b] > \*Italics\* or \_Italics\_ or [i]Italics[/i] > \*\*\*Boldface & Italics\*\*\* or \_\_\_Boldface & Italics\_\_\_ or [i][b]Boldface & Italics[/b][/i] > ~~Strike-through~~ > [u]Underlined[/u] > `Monospace` Example result: > **Boldface** or **Boldface** or Boldface > _Italics_ or _Italics_ or Italics > _ **Boldface & Italics** _ or _ **Boldface & Italics** _ or Boldface & Italics > ~~Strike-through~~ > Underlined > `Monospace` ### Font Size The size of text is able to be modified within your post. This can be done by using simple HTML tags. Script example: > \Small Text\ > Normal Text > \Big Text\ Example result: > Small Text > Normal Text > Big Text * * * ## Headings Placing one to six number signs (#) and a space before a line of text will create a heading. Headings will become more nested as the amount of number signs (#) used increases. Script example: > # H1 > ## H2 > ### H3 > #### H4 > ##### H5 > ###### H6 Example result: > H1 > > H2 > > H3 > > H4 > > H5 > > H6 * * * ## Horizontal Rule A Horizontal Rule can be used to separate text within your post. It can be added by either writing three consecutive asterisks (\*), three consecutive hyphens (-), or the HTML tag `
`. Either method must be utilized alone within a single line of script. Script example: > --- > or > \*\*\* > or > \ Example result: > * * * > > or > > * * * > > or > > * * * * * * ## Lists Lists can be used to organize items inside of a post. Indentation is taken into account when creating a list. For Bulleted List, every two spaces will create a new nested item. For Numbered List, every three spaces will create a new nested item. ### Bulleted List Bulleted Lists are used when the items they include do not need to be displayed in any specific order. Bulleted Lists can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _Bulleted List_ button in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+Shift+8** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+Shift+8** ). Script example: - List Item - Nested List Item - Nested List Item or \* List Item \* Nested List Item \* Nested List Item Example result: > - List Item > - Nested List Item > - Nested List Item > > or > > - List Item > - Nested List Item > - Nested List Item ### Numbered Lists Numbered Lists are used when the items within a list need to be displayed in a specific order. The list items will be numbered. Numbered Lists can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _Numbered List_ button in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+Shift+7** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+Shift+7** ). Script example: > 1. List Item > > 1. Nested List Item > > 2. Nested List Item > > 3. Nested List Item > > 2. List Item > > 3. List Item Example result: > 1. List Item > 1. Nested List Item > 2. Nested List Item > 3. Nested List Item > > 2. List Item > 3. List Item * * * ## Code Block Code blocks can be used to show code in a more user-friendly and easy-to-read way. Code blocks can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _Preformatted text_ button in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+E** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+E** ). Alternatively, surround the text that you would like to be contained in a code block with groups of three backticks (`). You can also specify the language of the script inside of a code block by writing the name of the language to the right of the first group of backticks. Script example: > ``` javascript > > while(true) { > > do.something(); > > console.log("Something has been done!"); > > } > ``` Example result: ```javascript while(true) { do.something(); console.log("Something has been done!"); } ``` * * * ## Escape Characters Escape characters are used to show other characters that normally would be hidden within the text. Characters could be hidden if they are used to perform a function, such as how surrounding asterisks are used to make text in italics. To use an escape character, place a backslash (\) immediately before the character that you would like to be revealed. Script example: > \\ > \*Italics\* > \*Not Italics\* Example result: > \ > _Italics_ > \*Not Italics\* * * * ## Tables Tables can be created to visually organize data within your posts. This is done by creating columns and rows, where columns are separated by a pipe symbol (|) and rows are denoted by each subsequent line of script. The first line of script (the table header) must be followed by a _row_ of _columns_ containing a single hyphen (-). Script example: > |Col 1|Col 2|Col 3| > |-|-|-| > |A 1|A 2|A 3| > |B 1|B 2|B 3| > |C 1|C 2|C 3| Example Result: | Col 1 | Col 2 | Col 3 | | --- | --- | --- | | A 1 | A 2 | A 3 | | B 1 | B 2 | B 3 | | C 1 | C 2 | C 3 | * * * ## Blockquotes Blockquotes can be quickly added into a post to separate groups of text into easily noticeable blocks that are commonly used to display quotes, notes, and examples. Click or tap on the _Blockquotes_ button in the toolbar or use the keyboard shortcut (on Windows computers use the hotkey **Ctrl+Shift+9** , on Apple computers use the hotkey **Cmd+Shift+9** ). Script example: > \> Text to include in a blockquote. > A second line of text to include in a blockquote. > > A break in the blockquote > > \>\> Text to include in a nested blockquote. Example result: > > Text to include in a blockquote. > > A second line of text to include in a blockquote. > > A break in the blockquote. > > > > Text to include in a nested blockquote. * * * ## Emojis Emojis can be quickly added in-line with the text of your post. Click or tap on the _Emoji_ button in the toolbar. Alternatively, surround the name of an emoji within colon symbols (:). PurpleAir has Emojis specific to these community forums; checkbox :checkbox:, community :community:, community\_left :community_left:, community\_right :community_right:, configuration\_menu :configuration_menu:, hotspot :hotspot:, lightbulb :lightbulb:, message :message:, red\_marker :red_marker:, wifi :wifi:. Script example: :smiley: Example result: > 😃 * * * ## Hide Details A Hide Details interactive tool can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _gear_ button in the toolbar, and click or tap “Hide Details”. Afterwards, the text will remain hidden within your post until you click or tap it. Script example: > [details=“Summary”] > This text will be hidden > [/details] Example result: > **Summary** > > This text will be hidden * * * ## Blur Spoiler A Blur Spoiler interactive tool can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _gear_ button in the toolbar, and click or tap “Blur Spoiler”. Afterwards, the text will remain blurred within your post until you click or tap it. Script example: > [spoiler]This text will be blurred[/spoiler] Example result: > This text will be blurred * * * ## Poll A Poll interactive tool can be quickly added into a post. Click or tap on the _gear_ button in the toolbar, and click or tap “Build Poll”. Afterwards, follow the resulting instructions. Script example: > [poll type=regular results=always chartType=bar] > \* Option 1 > \* Option 2 > \* Option 3 > [/poll] Example result: _Poll ([view on site](https://community.purpleair.com/t/reference-to-format-topics-on-the-purpleair-forum/191/1))_ * * * ## Table of Contents A table of contents can be quickly added to your post to make it more easily navigable. Click or tap on the _gear_ button in the toolbar, and click or tap “Insert table of contents”. The following script will be placed at the location of your text cursor: `
` Headers are needed to create a table of contents. The hierarchy of the table of contents is portrayed by its indentation and order. Higher ordered headers will appear further indented within lower ordered headers above them. An example of this can be found on this post by exploring the table of contents to the right. * * * ## Alignment Simple HTML tags can be used to align elements within your post. The following example will demonstrate how to align elements to the left, center, and right of your post. Script example: > \
Left Aligned\ > \
Center Aligned\ > \
Right Aligned\ Example result: > Left Aligned > > Center Aligned > > Right Aligned * * * ## Float A custom CSS class specific to these forums can be used to float elements around the text of your post. Elements can float to the left or right. Script example: > \
> > ![PA\_Cloud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user\_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/120/176\_2.png) > > \ > > The image will float around the text. Example result: ![PA_Cloud](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/120/176_2.png) The image will float around the text. * * * ## LaTeX Math The \LaTeX{} Project has published official [Core Documentation](https://www.latex-project.org/help/documentation/) that will prove useful. The following is a common example: \begin{align} E\_0 &= mc^2 \\ E &= \frac{mc^2}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}} \end{align} * * * ## Learn More [Air Quality Index](https://community.purpleair.com/t/air-quality-index-aqi/111) [PurpleAir Map Guide](https://community.purpleair.com/t/purpleair-map-guide/90) [Which AQI Data Layer to Choose](https://community.purpleair.com/t/which-aqi-data-layer-to-choose/5202)