# How To Format Messages in This Discussion Forum **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [January 27, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277 "2018-01-27T12:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/eric/32/13553_2.png) [@eric](https://community.tempest.earth/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277/1 "2018-01-27T12:34:23Z")
Formatting messages in this forum (discourse) is different from other systems, and many members are not aware of it. For quick reference Suggested further reading: 1. [Markdown Code Reference](http://commonmark.org/help/) 2. [Markdown 10 minutes interactive tutorial](http://commonmark.org/help/tutorial/) . ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/02c877c1fede8ff6f39352f9a3724e08c99febdc.png) ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/32c752bc1829d2729da3c72316a3b5a5c9f7b694.png) . **Some more formatting tips…** ![24](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/17f016307a3892189a4dd5c6a28ab6c99d0bd233.png) For proper formatting of code: 3 backticks ``` above the code, AND 3 backticks ``` below the code are required as shown in last item of above list. The backtick (grave-accent) key is left of number 1 key on US keyboard, as shown in image below. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/9e1b6dcb6d69743ace979bce4a801c46f0d8f65b.jpg) for Mac Qwerty ![07](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/cc72bfe90a4efcbf1738f8351ac5335a97ac1b64.png) for Mac Azerty ![14](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/sws/original/1X/2ce9ae4c3d667361d8e99cf467dba07bb5416be4.png) ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/eric/32/13553_2.png) [@eric](https://community.tempest.earth/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277/2 "2018-01-27T12:41:15Z")
# Markdown Table Syntax Markdown does NOT allow putting multi-line text in a cell. It also does NOT allow row or cell merging (colSpan & rowSpan of html table). The first row is always the header followed by an extra line with dashes "|-------|------|-------|" **HOW TO TYPE** ``` | Itm | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT | |----------|---------------|---------| | 1 | Ras Pi 3 | $45.00 | | 2 |DC Power adaptor 5V | $10.00 | | 3 | Flightaware Pro Stick | $21.00 | | 4 | Flightaware Filter| $15.00 | | 5 | Flightaware 26" Antenna| $45.00 | ``` **HOW IT WILL APPEAR AFTER POSTING** | Itm | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Ras Pi 3 | $45.00 | | 2 | DC Power adaptor 5V | $10.00 | | 3 | Flightaware Pro Stick | $21.00 | | 4 | Flightaware Filter | $15.00 | | 5 | Flightaware 26" Antenna | $45.00 | **Text Alignment** Alignment of text in Individual cells is NOT available Alignment of text in columns is possible. Below the first row (header) is an extra line with dashes “|----|”. Putting colons “:” at both right & left forces column alignment to center “|:----:|”. Putting colon “:” at left forces column alignment to left “|:----|”. Putting colon “:” at right forces column alignment to left “|----:|”. **HOW TO TYPE** ``` | Itm | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT | |:----------:|:---------------|---------:| | centered | Left-aligned | Right-aligned | | 1 | Ras Pi 3 | $45.00 | | 2 |DC Power adaptor 5V | $10.00 | | 3 | Flightaware Pro Stick | $21.00 | | 4 | Flightaware Filter| $15.00 | | 5 | Flightaware 26" Antenna| $45.00 | ``` **HOW IT WILL APPEAR AFTER POSTING** | Itm | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT | | --- | --- | --- | | centered | Left-aligned | Right-aligned | | 1 | Ras Pi 3 | $45.00 | | 2 | DC Power adaptor 5V | $10.00 | | 3 | Flightaware Pro Stick | $21.00 | | 4 | Flightaware Filter | $15.00 | | 5 | Flightaware 26" Antenna | $45.00 | ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/eric/32/13553_2.png) [@eric](https://community.tempest.earth/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277/3 "2018-01-27T12:42:31Z")
# Using HTML **How to Type** ```
TITLE - List of Hardware
Ras Pi 3
DC Power adaptor 5V
microSD card, Class 10, 8Gb
Flightaware Pro Stick
Flightaware Filter
Flightaware 26" Antenna
LMR240 coax 30 ft N-male , SMA-male
``` **How it Will Appear After Posting** **TITLE - List of Hardware** Ras Pi 3DC Power adaptor 5VmicroSD card, Class 10, 8GbFlightaware Pro StickFlightaware FilterFlightaware 26" AntennaLMR240 coax 30 ft N-male , SMA-male ---
**Author:** ![eric](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/eric/32/13553_2.png) [@eric](https://community.tempest.earth/u/eric)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277/4 "2018-01-27T12:45:30Z")
---
**Author:** ![samb375](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.tempest.earth/samb375/32/115_2.png) [@samb375](https://community.tempest.earth/u/samb375)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 9:35am UTC](https://community.tempest.earth/t/how-to-format-messages-in-this-discussion-forum/277/5 "2018-01-29T09:35:45Z")
Thank you @eric for putting this together! 🙂