New to SMF - Trying to keep postings expanded and locked

[RCCI-richard]

New to SMF admin, tried a new install.  All seems well, except I am trying to:
1. Keep all posts expanded.
2. Keep certain posts at the top of each BOARD.
3. Post a rules posting into each CATEGORY, having it stay at the top.

I made my posts 'sticky this topic' and 'lock this topic' hoping that would keep the post at the top of the list and expanded.  Needless to say, I'm not doing it right.
What do I need to do to make it do that?????????

HELP!!!

[RCCI-richard]

I don't know if you intended to it or not, but when I clicked on the link you sent (I would think to a solution), it simply brought me back to my post.

Still looking for a solution.

[codenaught]

What exactly do you mean by "expanded"?

Stickying a topic should keep them at the top of the list.

[RCCI-richard]

That's what I thought and expected.

But it didn't work that way.  I 'stickied' them, yet when a new post is done, the new post goes to the top of the list.  I use the first post as a reminder of a basic rule, and want it to stay at the top for all visitors.  Just doesn't seem to be working.  That's why I was thinking I missed a setting the set-up or config settings.  Help!

I also wanted to have all categories, boards and posts expanded by default.