Forum complaints / problems to fix master list

[Handruin]

1. Make list of new features
2. Develop a new "skin" for more efficient screen usage
3. Enhance how the forum displays new/old threads for easier management
4. Reduce font size to reduce wasted space
5. Upload previous avatars - fixed 9/5/06
6. Fix Red "X"'s on front page - fixed 7/7/06
   
7. Add navigation to the bottom of the page
8. Add spell-check functionality
9. Keep/Remove "Similar Thread" feature - removed 7/8/06
10. Troubleshoot the "mark forums as read" functionality and why it isn't working as expected.
11. Make the Reply or Quick Reply Message textareas flow with screen resolution.
12. Add a prominent FAH stats link button on the forum main page
13. Add a skin that makes use of darker colors
14. Add a skin which permanently close, remove, or re-locate space-wasters like the Posting Rules, Post Icons or Similar Threads.
15. Extra navigation box at top of screen with redundant forum location information - removed 7/8/06
16. Move forum jump above the quick reply box
17. Add button/link to mark a forum as read in one click
18. Resolve missing arrow images for mubs.
19. Resolve issue with being invisible not actually being invisible
20. Fix the need to click a button in order to use "quick reply" - fixed 7/11/06
21. Add a skin with darker background and lighter font color (green for example).
22. Positions of the "Submit reply" and "Preview Post" buttons should be switched.
23. Change the tabbing order so that the password is the field after the username, with the "remember me?" button after that.
24. Revise front page completly

I'll add to the list as I'm made aware of the things that bother folks. Please post your ideas in this thread and I'll add them to the master list. As I fix each item I'll mark them complete so you can see progress.

 

[P5-133XL]

I would like a "mark remaining threads as read" button/link from the new posts screen. There are certain popular threads, that I never bother reading but because the new BBS lists all threads with unread posts in the new posts screen, they never go away.

Thanks

 

[Handruin]

There already is an option to mark the threads as "read". See the screen capture attachment and let me know if that is what you were expecting.

 

[Mercutio]

New Posts seem to be tracked via a cookie that's set per computer, not per user. I visit SF from maybe six or eight computers over an average day and, for example I checked SF before I left for work this morning and caught up on new posts, but when I came into work and sat down to the PC on my desk, the forum showed me 12-hour-old posts as new.

 

[Mercutio]

Also, is there a way to permanently close, remove, or re-locate space-wasters like the Posting Rules, Post Icons or Similar Threads?

Could the Reply or Quick Reply Message textareas be made to flow with screen resolution? I'm looking at the fixed-width Message window right now and on the monitor I'm looking at, there's probably 3 inches of blank space on either side of it.

 

[timwhit]

I vote to remove the Similar Threads box. It is useless in my opinion.

I would also like one of the new skins to use darker colors. I'm not exactly sure what skin I used on the old board, but it used dark blues and was much easier on my eyes and brain.

 

[mubs]

There already is an option to mark the threads as "read". See the screen capture attachment and let me know if that is what you were expecting.

For me, what this does is mark the forums as read on the forum main page: http://www.storageforum.net/forum/

The individual threads inside each of these forums (Computers, Tech Support, etc.) still show up as unread.

AFAIT, I've read all threads in all forums, but after the conversion, all pre-conversion threads in each of the forums is marked unread.

 

[Groltz]

[REQ:] A prominent FAH stats link button on the forum main page.

(...Or is the SF FAH effort discontinued??)

 

[Handruin]

I've added onto the master list with your feedback. Let me know if I've missed anything. I will work to meet your needs, I know they are valid concerns.

 

[P5-133XL]

There already is an option to mark the threads as "read". See the screen capture attachment and let me know if that is what you were expecting.

Thanks,

I didn't know it was there. That solves my issue.

 

[timwhit]

How does everyone feel about the "quick reply" box?

I think there might be a bit more opposition involved in removing this.

However, I still vote to remove it.

 

[LunarMist]

Is there a way to move the Forum Jump to the top or am I the only one not liking it on the lower right?

 

[Handruin]

The forum jump could possibly be moved. Note that it was also at the bottom in the old forum, but on the bottom left where as now it is at the bottom right.

See screen capture for old forum jump box on phpbb.

 

[Handruin]

How does everyone feel about the "quick reply" box?

I think there might be a bit more opposition involved in removing this.

However, I still vote to remove it.

I am indifferent on the "quick reply" only because you can minimize that box to get it out of your way if you click on the "upward facing arrows". I can start a new poll for this feature.

Best case would be to keep it, but I could create a template that removes it completely.

 

[Handruin]

Also, take a look at the revised post template. I've moved the header bar down a level just like it was in phpbb. I still need to work out a small formatting issue for small posts (the bar becomes thicker). Otherwise the change I made saves a bit of screen space compared to the original.

To change your skin: look at the bottom left corner of the forum and use the drop down box to change your skin to the "storageforum revised". I still need to do some more work, but let me know if it's heading in the right direction.

 

[timwhit]

I am indifferent on the "quick reply" only because you can minimize that box to get it out of your way if you click on the "upward facing arrows". I can start a new poll for this feature.

Best case would be to keep it, but I could create a template that removes it completely.

I didn't know I could minimize it. In that case I don't really care too much.

 

[mubs]

handruin, sorry for the delay in responding to your question. I had to install a screen cap proggie first.

After conversion, the main forum page had the icons for each individual forum lit up (i.e., red) to indicate new posts in each. I visited each forum, read all the new posts, and noticed that all the old posts from weeks ago had the icons lit up (red), indicating they hadn't been read (but they had been before conversion).

I saw your comment about marking forums read, went to the main forums page and used the "Quick Links" pull down menu to "Mark Forums Read". The icons for the forums changed to indicate no new posts (not red), looking like this:

But when I immediately go into a forum, say, The Storage Forum Pub & Brewery, it will look like this, indicating most old threads have not been read (red) :

This is true of all the different forums. I did these screen caps a few minutes before this post, after reading all the new posts in each forum; then selecting "Mark as read" from the Quick links menu; then going into each forum. I have the screen caps for the other forums as well, but the point is made with the second screen cap shown in this post.

I hope I am not causing too much of a problem. I can live with this situation; no biggie.

Thanks for giving us a home and for all your effort in making it happen.

 

[Handruin]

mubs, things are actually working correctly, the problem is that the new template change made things confusing. The red icon you are seeing actually means that a given thread is very active, not unread.

When a thread has new posts it will look like this on the main page (as you've probably seen the orange icon):

And when there are new posts in any thread, you will see this (look at the area I highlighted in yellow):

Notice how the font is bold and there is a blue downward facing arrow to the left of the text. I realize this isn't the same as before and it isn't perfect, so I'm working on making a new skin to make it clearer to everyone when there are new posts. Let me know if that solves the issue for now. I'll let you know when I have a new skin that can be selected which will hopefully solve some of these issues.

 

[ddrueding]

I like the "revisited" skin except you got rid of the quickreply button! I know this is in direct dissagreement with other forum members, but I like the quickreply. 90% of all posts on this forum I'm sure would fit in the space provided in the quickreply window, and most of the posts I've made since the change have been in this window. I really like having it there. If I could impose upon you a bit more, I'd be great if there was just a single quickreply button next to the quickreply windo on the bottom that enabled it.

 

[Handruin]

No worries. I can add another revised template with a quick reply. There is no limit on the number of skins I can make. I can't do it right now, but maybe later tonight I'll put the button back on.

 

[mubs]

Thanks Handruin :crucified:

 

[mubs]

I am indifferent on the "quick reply" only because you can minimize that box to get it out of your way if you click on the "upward facing arrows".

I do see a small double arrow within a circle for the "Posting Rules", clicking which does minimize the posting rules box.

But for the Quick Reply box, I don't see no arrows in Firefox other than the "decrease size" and "increase size" ones, which appear to be for changing the font size in the quick reply box. :bow:

Thanks.

 

[LunarMist]

The forum jump could possibly be moved. Note that it was also at the bottom in the old forum, but on the bottom left where as now it is at the bottom right.

See screen capture for old forum jump box on phpbb.

Yes, but it was not as necessary then when the forum structure was only one level. It is too complicated to navigate now without the jump.

 

[fb]

I don't know, but maybe you could put the forum jump above the quick reply box? Maybe in the same level as the post reply button, but still on the right side?

I also like the idea of having a minimize/expand button on the quick reply box.

 

[ddrueding]

I don't know, but maybe you could put the forum jump above the quick reply box? Maybe in the same level as the post reply button, but still on the right side?

I also like the idea of having a minimize/expand button on the quick reply box.

This is a good idea. Seconded.

 

[Bozo]

This is a good idea. Seconded.

Great Idea!

Bozo :joker:

 

[Handruin]

I do see a small double arrow within a circle for the "Posting Rules", clicking which does minimize the posting rules box.

But for the Quick Reply box, I don't see no arrows in Firefox other than the "decrease size" and "increase size" ones, which appear to be for changing the font size in the quick reply box. :bow:

Thanks.

The quick reply box has the same arrows in the far right corner. See attached screen capture.

 

[Handruin]

Yes, but it was not as necessary then when the forum structure was only one level. It is too complicated to navigate now without the jump.

I'm confused about the structure being more complex? This forum has the same nested levels and layout (aside from two small changes as sub forums...the news section and the tool box, both of which are low traffic and shouldn't cause any more pain).

How is the layout much different? One click brings you to a forum, a second click takes you to the thread. Thats how I navigated in the old forum.

 

[mubs]

The quick reply box has the same arrows in the far right corner. See attached screen capture.

Thanks for the pic, Handy. But those arrows don't exist for me. I even tried turning off Flashblock, but still doesn't show up. Mousing over didn't do anything, and neither did clicking where I think the arrows are.

It's no big deal, but I do worry that advancing age has diminished my perceptive abilities!

 

[sechs]

Make it so that I can mark a forum as read in one click, rather than two.

Make it so that I can quick reply without having to click on a non-sugestive icon.

 

[Sol]

Make it so that I can quick reply without having to click on a non-sugestive icon.

Perhaps you could create a proxy script that automatically replaces innocuous button images with more, suggestive, fare... I'm sure you could reuse a lot of code from some readily available porn/ad filter scripts, you just need to swap the input and output around...

 

[ddrueding]

Perhaps you could create a proxy script that automatically replaces innocuous button images with more, suggestive, fare... I'm sure you could reuse a lot of code from some readily available porn/ad filter scripts, you just need to swap the input and output around...

I'm just confused why quick reply requires a button push at all. I should be able to read a thread, scroll to the bottom, then type in a response and hit "post". I don't understand the extra button.

 

[ddrueding]

Thanks for the pic, Handy. But those arrows don't exist for me. I even tried turning off Flashblock, but still doesn't show up. Mousing over didn't do anything, and neither did clicking where I think the arrows are.

It's no big deal, but I do worry that advancing age has diminished my perceptive abilities!

They are there for me, and work quite well. I think mubs is going off the deep end... :council: :council:

 

[Handruin]

I'm just confused why quick reply requires a button push at all. I should be able to read a thread, scroll to the bottom, then type in a response and hit "post". I don't understand the extra button.

The quick reply required a click so that the forum knows to which post you were replying to. This is for the threaded and list views (if you happen to like that format). If you use those formats and there is no requirement to click on a post prior to using quick reply, then your posts will display out of order. I doubt anyone uses those views anyways so I've disabled the requirement to click on a post before using the quick reply.

 

[mubs]

Awright, DD, glad I made your day! If I'm losing it, then so is my old pal, Mr. Stinkpad-23. Check this out. And no, I didn't photoshop it.

Warning: 205 kb pic ahead. My lappy runs at 1400x1050, so the pic is nearly as large so DD can believe its authenticity.

No Arrows

 

[Mercutio]

I wanna be invisible again. I show up on the list of recent visitors. I don't see a way to turn that off. I am omnipresent. I don't need to be on the list.

And also, how often is that list updated? phpBB's was every five minutes, right?
Either there's a lot of "registered lurkers" hitting the site, or Clocker and a few other users must be hitting refresh/reload on this site every 10 minutes.

 

[sechs]

The quick reply required a click so that the forum knows to which post you were replying to. This is for the threaded and list views (if you happen to like that format). If you use those formats and there is no requirement to click on a post prior to using quick reply, then your posts will display out of order. I doubt anyone uses those views anyways so I've disabled the requirement to click on a post before using the quick reply.

Perhaps you should disable those views, as well.

 

[sechs]

I wanna be invisible again. I show up on the list of recent visitors. I don't see a way to turn that off. I am omnipresent. I don't need to be on the list.

Isn't it the first thing under edit options in the user control panel?

 

[sechs]

Exchange the vBulletin logo on pages.

 

[Mercutio]

Isn't it the first thing under edit options in the user control panel?

It's checked. I'm still visible.