Composr Tutorial: The Composr emoticon system

Written by Chris Graham (ocProducts)
Emoticons (also known as smilies) are little images used to convey 'emotion' within text. These are an important part of informal communication on the Internet, as body language and tone are not available to (sub-consciously) transmit the same information.

Without use of emoticons, it can be impossible (unless the writer took great care to express themselves fully) to gauge unwritten details, such as the importance of what is being written, or the writer's emotional perspective on it.

If you are using a third-party forum, that forum will be responsible for management of emoticons, and Composr will use those from the forum.

If you are using the Composr forum, Conversr, emoticon management features are provided, as well as a very large set of emoticons.


Conversr emoticons

Image

Adding an emoticon

Adding an emoticon

(Click to enlarge)

Conversr emoticons are tied into the theme image system, although you are unlikely to need to know this as the images may be manipulated using direct features (Admin Zone > Style > Emoticons). You'll find links to add or edit emoticons. You can delete an emoticon from the bottom of its edit form.

Images are associated with the 'code' that is typed to place the emoticon. You may have multiple codes per image, by using a single image in multiple emoticons: the interface allows you to select from existing images when you add. It is possible to bulk import emoticons from ZIP files.

Emoticons are given a relevancy level, which determines which areas they are listed for use in. The relevancy levels are described in the interface.
You can also determine whether an emoticon can be used as a 'topic emoticon' (an emoticon placed next to a topic on the forum). It is best to only use standard sized emoticons as topic emoticons.

Code Image Code Image Code Image Code Image
:reallybadday: :reallybadday: :constipated: :constipated: :upsidedown: :upsidedown: :depressed: :depressed:
:puppyeyes: :puppyeyes: :christmas: :christmas: :offtopic: :offtopic: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
:birthday: :birthday: :whistle: :whistle: :goodbye: :goodbye: :fishing: :fishing:
:thumbs: :thumbs: :shutup: :shutup: :cyborg: :cyborg: :hippie: :hippie:
:ninja2: :ninja2: :rockon: :rockon: :sinner: :sinner: :guitar: :guitar:
:cowboy: :cowboy: :ninja: :ninja: :shake: :shake: :drool: :drool:
:devil: :devil: :party: :party: :sarcy: :sarcy: :angel: :angel:
:fight: :fight: :cool: :cool: :hand: :hand: :sick: :sick:
:nerd: :nerd: :king: :king: :idea: :idea: :boat: :boat:
:dry: :dry: :wub: :wub: :lol: :lol: :zzz: :zzz:
:nod: :nod: :'( :'( O_o O_o ^_^ ^_^
(K) (K) :P :P :$ :$ ;) ;)
:( :( :) :) :| :| :o :o
:D :D :S :S :@ :@

Concepts

Emoticon
A small graphical of a facial expression placed into the flow of text by typing a special symbol that often resembles the face as laid sideways; provides emotional sub-text
Smiley
A synonym for emoticon

See also


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