I'm sure you have some questions. Hopefully, they are addressed here. If not, feel free to send a PM to an admin, and it will be added to the list.

General Site Information

What are TheConstructs?

TheConstructs is a website design to facilitate the sharing of ideas and information among people in the design profession.

Who Started this?

The site was started by Jeff Alexander, a landscape architect living and working in the Boston area.

Why?

It just seemed like a good idea!

What sets TheConstructs apart from other similar sites?

TheConstructs are completely open. That means that not only can you add to the discussion forums, but you can create a wiki page, write an article, upload images and files to the galleries, and much more. In addition, TheConstructs is licensed under a Creative Commons copyright, making it easier to share content while protecting the content creator.

Copyright Information

What Copyright is this site licensed under?

The site is licensed under a Creative Commons license. For more information, check the bottom of any page. There you can find links to a brief description of the license (human readable) as well as the full legal text (lawyer speak)

Site Functionality

How do I create/edit a page?

You can create any page by going to that section and selecting the appropriate option. For example, go to Wiki>Create Page to create a Wiki page. To edit a page, you must select the "Edit" option in the upper right corner of the page. (hover over the icons for a description of each option) You must be logged in to create or edit pages.

How do I use the text editor?

When you are creating or editing a page, you can simply click in the text field and use the buttons above it to edit any page. They are very similar to text editors like Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org. By hovering over any button, a description will appear.

How do I create web links?

After you have typed the text you wish to use as the link, select it by highlighting it. Next, click on the Insert/Edit Link button. This button looks like a chain link. A window will pop up. Here, you select the Link Type, Protocol. and URL. If you are simply linking to another website, all you have to do is cut and past the address into the URL field in the pop up box.

What's a Tag?

a "Tag" is a description assigned to content. For example, on a wiki page containing graphics resources might be tagged with words like "graphics", "resources", and/or "downloads". You can edit this information when you are editing a page. By tagging content, it makes organizing the content easier and more efficient.

What's a "Cloud Tag"?

A "Cloud Tag" lists all the Tags on the site and displays them according to their popularity. So the most common tags will display as the largest text. Additionally, the number displayed after a tag is the number of pages that are tagged with that particular tag.

So what's the point of Catagories?

Tagging makes it easier for active searching of site content, but catagorizing makes passive searching of site information easier. For example, if you are looking for information about construction materials but don't know exactly what you are looking for, you can browse the construction material catagories. In order to organize site information in the most effective and efficient manner, please use both tagging and categorizing.

What are Gmaps?

Gmaps will allow you to create maps for your content using the Google Maps interface, a rather convenient feature for a community that deals with sites and places. Gmaps are not currently available as they are still being implemented, but they should be ready soon. 

What kind of files can I upload to the File Galleries?

Currently, only jpg and png files should be uploaded to the File Galleries. Additional file types are coming soon.

Is there a file size limit?

Yes, files must be kept under 2 MB.

Site Sections

File Galleries

What are seamless textures/materials?

Seamless images remove the edges from textures and materials that will be tiled in a rendering or image. These types of images can be repeated indefinitely without showing an edge.