# Normal Mode vs. Enhanced Mode

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [August 30, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238 "2002-08-30T04:44:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Savaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Savaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savaka)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238/1 "2002-08-30T04:44:01Z")

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On the left side of the reply page, there is a box with “Normal Mode” and “Enhanced Mode,” the difference being that Enhanced Mode allows “complex nesting of tags.” I haven’t been able to find any information about this on the site; what does “complex nesting of tags” mean, and where can I learn more about how to use this feature?

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**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238/2 "2002-08-30T13:25:01Z")

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From the FAQ:

> [@](#):
>
> When using enhanced mode, pressing a button will insert the appropriate STARTING tag for the code, leaving you to enter text into the message area. When you have finished the text and want to close the tag, simply press the Close Current Tag button (alt+c). You may also nest tags in enhanced mode, and then use the Close All Tags button (alt+x) to close all open markup. Please note that the ‘close tag’ buttons only close tags that have been entered using the code buttons.

But I think it’s a feature that’s not turned on right now.

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**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238/3 "2002-08-30T13:25:36Z")

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In Normal Mode, the drop-down menus above the reply box produce a java pop-up where you can input your text. In enhanced mode, the menus input opening tags into the reply box, allowing for multiple tags, resulting in stuff like:

**THIS**

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**Author:** ![Savaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Savaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savaka)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238/4 "2002-08-30T15:16:04Z")

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Got it.

I had only read the FAQs in ATMB. I didn’t realize there was a general board FAQ for vBulletin usage.

Thank you both for clearing that up.

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**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2002, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/normal-mode-vs-enhanced-mode/126238/5 "2002-08-30T15:19:12Z")

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We’re here to help. Actually, **Coldfire** is here to help; I’m just here to fart around.