Thanks so much to you all for your good advice, as always lots of it.
I suspect I would be better to have a go at one of the projects given on this site. http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/ (or one of the other good sites), first. This would at least let me make something simple, but playable, cheaply without worrying about spoiling too much if (When!) I go wrong.
By clicking on the User Name, you will requery the forum for that user. You will see everything that he or she has posted with that Mudcat name.
By clicking on the Thread Name, you will be sent to the Forum on that thread as if you selected it from the main Mudcat Forum page.
By clicking on the Subject, you will also go to the thread as if you selected it from the original Forum page, but also go directly to that particular message.
By clicking on the Date (Posted), you will dig out every message posted that day.
sj