Forum updates

[steven]

Hi guys

From approx 2pm today, the forum will be down for 30-45 minutes. The changes are mostly cosmetic, so I don't expect any surprises :cool:

thanks

[Mulgabill]

Hi guys

From approx 2pm today, the forum will be down for 30-45 minutes. The changes are mostly cosmetic, so I don't expect any surprises :cool:

thanks

:2tsup:

[enelef]

nice new look :2tsup:

[Cliff Rogers]

No surprises? :think:

[steven]

Hi there

No doubt there will be a few little bugs or oversights, if you notice any please let us know.

Please note; If you don't like the new homepage layout, you can switch back to a single column view by selecting 'Single Column Style' at the bottom left of your screen.

[Sturdee]

Hi guys

The changes are mostly cosmetic, so I don't expect any surprises :cool:

thanks

Well the new look really surprised me and IMO the appearance has gone about 10 steps backwards. The screen is now really cluttered with all kinds of extras I don't need to see.

Let's hope common sense prevails and we go back to the previous screen type.


Peter.

[Chesand]

Minor details, I know, but in the advertisers column there at least 2 spelling mistakes.
Carrolls should have 2 "r" s and engineering under McJings is missing a "e"

[steven]

Minor details, I know, but in the advertisers column there at least 2 spelling mistakes.
Carrolls should have 2 "r" s and engineering under McJings is missing a "e"

Thanks Neil will have to fix those :)

[enelef]

Please note; If you don't like the new homepage layout, you can switch back to a single column view by selecting 'Single Column Style' at the bottom left of your screen.

Good to see there is an option for those hard -o- changing:U

Minor functional issue. - Not sure i am comfortable with the a centre jsutified top menu followed by a left justified second menu - seem to be cross grained.
In this layout i think the centre style works - so why not both the same?

Just a thought

[steve-37]

Minor detail,

I cant read the last post time when viewing New Posts, the time is clipped.
Using Firefox 17.0.1 on Win 7 64 bit.

243782

Also similar using Internet Explorer 9 64 bit.

Regards Steve Jones

[springwater]

MARKET PLACE (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f220/)
Library (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f210/)
Wooden Boats (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f29/)
Metalwork (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f66/)
Musical Instruments (http://www.woodworkforums.com/f97/)


Look I can live with it Ok, I imagine it's been a bugger to remove, buried in code somewhere or such, but by why the first menu bar still contains the above items beats me and now they're out of orange :oo: It's shaping up nicely though :2tsup:

[Bushmiller]

There looks like a layout issue with Activity Stream and New Posts sitting virtually over Metalwork and Musical Instruments. It appears worse on some pages.

Just a comment on the advertisers now automatically appearing down the right hand side of the page. I suppose it had to happen. Although I'm led to believe they don't pay huge sums for the privelidge they have a right to get value for money and it does enable us to have a forum for free.

As a seller of advertisement space in a previous life I understand that most media gives the public a product either way below cost or for free. I have a continual battle with SWMBO as she wishes all TV stations to be like the ABC.

I point out she should be saying "thank you, thank you, thank you" everytime one of those nauseating commercials appears, because it is those idiots who are paying for your TV enjoyment. Without them it would cost or be non-existent.

So it is here, that the advertisers (sponsors if you prefer) allow us the luxury of chating, criticising, offering opinion, diseminating, crucifying (as long as it is not defamatory - see forum rules and check bank balance's ability to pay court costs and awards) and of course laughter: ALL FOR FREE.

Enjoy.

Regards
Paul

[Fuzzie]

The new column layout squeezes the screen realestate available to the thread view. I'm using a netbook with screen resolution of 1024x768 and the new layout takes up 1/4 of the screen width with the Forum sponsors and New Forum Posts column cutting down the thread view and leading to such issues as spingwaters column width issue on last post time. All I see for last post is the day information and no way to change the column width.

Changing to the single column style doesn't seem to fix this.

[steven]

There looks like a layout issue with Activity Stream and New Posts sitting virtually over Metalwork and Musical Instruments. It appears worse on some pages.


Hi there

Can you please post a screenshot or email one to me steven @ cyanide.com.au (remove the spaces).

regards
steve

[DJ’s Timber]

Screenshot from my iPad, try hitting New Posts and I get metalwork forum instead.

[Big Shed]

Looks exactly the same on my Android Tablet

[DJ’s Timber]

Library link does not work, goes to search instead.

Laptop is same as well but has Musical Instruments instead of Library under search box.

[DJ’s Timber]

Single column style is bad on iPad as well. Search box completely overlaps Musical Instruments.

[Ueee]

Single Column and default are the same for me. I was just getting used to the look of the last upgrade and now this, i understand the advertising, but why the new posts and tag cloud? I'd rather see them at the top of the screen and have full width posts.
I am finding the thread colours harder to read and that orange is not nice at all.
Why the change?????

[dabbler]

Screenshot from my iPad, try hitting New Posts and I get metalwork forum instead.

Similar problem with my Android tablet. A workaround is to make the default font size smaller but that affects all websites visited (and wwf is the only one that needs it, so that means others are annoyingly small too). I've changed mine back and I'll live with the overlaid menus for now.

As others have mentioned, part way down, after the right hand side content ends, all the screen real estate is still lost. The threads and posts are still crammed in and each webpage is now longer than necessary.

Alternate "full site" styles don't seem any different on my tablet. Don't talk to me about mobile styles - they're just a crippled browser experience as far as I'm concerned.

I'd rather have the sponsor info across the screen instead of down.

[A Duke]

22 inch screen
Latest Firefox with Adblock plus enabled
:2tsup:
Thanks

[Jonzjob]

Hi there

No doubt there will be a few little bugs or oversights, if you notice any please let us know.

Please note; If you don't like the new homepage layout, you can switch back to a single column view by selecting 'Single Column Style' at the bottom left of your screen.

Sorry Steve, but I can't find the selection for the single column. I use a 13" MacBook and the main screen is busy to say the very least and difficult to navigate..

[Mulgabill]

22 inch screen
Latest Firefox with Adblock plus enabled
:2tsup:
Thanks
Well lucky for you!!:~ Not everyone (the majority) is fortunate enough to have that much real estate, especially when using a tablet.

What's the point in having the New Forum Posts (On the right) when you are also viewing New Posts from the menu???:no: And as for the position of the Tag Cloud???

[Jonzjob]

Well lucky for you!!:~ Not everyone (the majority) is fortunate enough to have that much real estate, especially when using a tablet.

What's the point in having the New Forum Posts (On the right) when you are also viewing New Posts from the menu???:no: And as for the position of the Tag Cloud???

Sorry mate, but I for one have no idea as to what you are saying here?

What is a Tag cloud? and can you put the rest into English please? I'm not being alkward, I just have no idea as to what you are saying? Just a thick awd git I suppose?

[A Duke]

Well lucky for you!!:~ Not everyone (the majority) is fortunate enough to have that much real estate, especially when using a tablet.

What's the point in having the New Forum Posts (On the right) when you are also viewing New Posts from the menu???:no: And as for the position of the Tag Cloud???
That cuts both ways, some of us are tied to our desk tops because we don't have a tablet ,smart phone, i'pod or any of the other "In" gadgetry.
On the other hand you are properly right because I don't want any of it or I would likely have it. But I still don't see why I should wast too much sympathy on you hard done by types.
[I won't say my heart pumps custard for you because last time I did the funny side was missed and the thread got closed.:wink:]
Regards

[dabbler]

After you generate a list of "New Posts", how do you navigate past the first page of that list ?

At the moment my list is less than 50 so maybe there isn't enough to generate the navigation control. However, my generated list tells me it's displaying 1 to 39 of 41, then after I read a thread from that list, regenerate a new list it then tells me it's displaying 1 to 38 of 40, repeating becomes 1 to 37 of 39 and so on. I just counted the displayed list and when it says 1 to 37 of 39 there are actually 37 headings shown.

If the count is accurate, that means there seems to be no way to read the oldest of "New Posts" (at least wben it's under 50).

[ubeaut]

Couple of things More than a couple of things:



It wasn't broken so why fix it... It was broken. We needed to change from the last skin because it was not able to be easily upgraded with vBulletin security fixes and other upgrades which have to be done from time to time. It needed a lot of extra back room work and code changes every time there was a new upgrade and even then it threw up it's own problems.
Right hand column didn't just appear it has been on the main page ever since the last upgrade, the one with the coloured skin that many said they hated.... Sound familiar?
Right hand column is now viewable on all pages as was the left hand columm on the old site.
Right hand column is 30px (10mm) narrower than the left hand column that was on the old forum for around 6 years.
Depending on your screen size... Home page is now between 15 & 20 screens shorter than it was before the last upgradeand shorter by another 6 - 10 screens than it was a day ago (depending on the skin being using).
White background has be changed to a softer colour. Just waiting for the complaints on that.
The search bar will be moved to where it was on the last skin above the tab bar. This will fix the squish problems with the tabs.
The Sponsors Banners are essential to keeping these forums free and will stay on the side bar.
For anyone with 100 posts or more the side bar will not show. With a bit of luck this will be implemented some time over the weekend.
What works on the test site doesn't always work when you go live. So things have to be changed on the fly. This isn't always possible to do at the drop of a hat and sometimes may take a few hours to a couple of days. Remember that we who fix this stuff aren't paid and have jobs and families to tend to as well as keeping the forum members happy.
Open your eyes, look at the big picture and maybe you will see that this is a better way and not a step(s) backwards.
Be patient and all will be fine.

There is one Google block ad at the bottom of each page for all but new members and visitors and this doesn't go anywhere near helping to pay for the forums. Meaning those who use the forums the most, basically contribute nothing financially to the running of the forums as it is all done by visitors and sponsors.

In the past the Sponsors banners have only been seen on the main page and in the forum they sponsored. Now with the implementation of the smaller banners and the side column they might actually get their moneys worth and continue to support the forums so you the members can enjoy a free site that continues to grow.

As I have said before I never take a backwards step with the forums. It isn't a worthwhile proposition to do anything other than take forward steps. Steven, and I have heard the same "I hate it, step backward, members will leave, etc, coments before.

With every upgrade and every change that has ever been implemented since May 1999 there has been an outcry and complaints. Yet funnily enough the forums continue to grow and when the next upgrade comes people will complain again because it has changed.

Sorry but things have to change and without knowledge of what is occurring in the background members have no idea of what adversely affects these forums, nor of the many, many, countless and thankless hours of back-room work that goes into keeping them running smoothly. So suck it up. Report any problems you find and get on with the business of enjoying the forums.

I've said this before and no doubt will say it again:
These forums are free to everyone, free for you to take part in, free for you to enjoy, free for you to make friends, free for you to meet with like minded people, free for you to disagree with, and free for you to leave if you are not happy.

I hope this has addressed some problems/complaints/concerns.

Cheers - Neil :U

[A Duke]

I don't know if this is what you did but if you hit "mark forum read." it starts the "new posts" list from zero again. If you don't it just keeps adding to the list and you get the usual page 1 2 3 4 > list.
Hope that's some help.

[dabbler]

Thanks for the post (and the forum !) Neil. It 's good to get a measure of the similarities after we get tied up in the differences.

In many ways I appreciatea quick and easy way to see the sponsor listings. Is it possible to add a "sponsor list" submenu to the Community menu or another menu that both registered users and guests ?

[jimbur]

Minor details, I know, but in the advertisers column there at least 2 spelling mistakes.
Carrolls should have 2 "r" s
Also I don't think they would be happy to provide, "Woodwraft suplies".

[DJ’s Timber]

Seems to be a problem with screen sizing. On both Laptops, one with 15" and the other with a 19" screen with windows open at Maximum I'm getting the bottom scroll bar.

Two screens shots with screen scrolled to the left and the right from my 19" screen which is 1440 x 900.

243866 243867

[steven]

Seems to be a problem with screen sizing. On both Laptops, one with 15" and the other with a 19" screen with windows open at Maximum I'm getting the bottom scroll bar.

Two screens shots with screen scrolled to the left and the right from my 19" screen which is 1440 x 900.

243866 243867

Hi there

The navigation isn't displaying correct for you, i'll have a squiz in a sec.

[DJ’s Timber]

Sorry Steve, but I can't find the selection for the single column. I use a 13" MacBook and the main screen is busy to say the very least and difficult to navigate..


Here is a screenshot showing the Quick Style Chooser, you should have the same, is also available on my iPad, so it should work on your MacBook

243868

[Fuzzie]

The latest update fixes the right and column issue for me on the new posts page on a netbook and I can hide it on other pages if desired. Thanks to Steve and !

Maybe the sponsors panel could be decoupled somehow from the New Forum Posts scrolling panel and Tag Cloud, I personally cannot find any value in those panels and will default to always have them on hide.

[RETIRED]

The latest update fixes the right and column issue for me on the new posts page on a netbook and I can hide it on other pages if desired. Thanks to Steve and !

Maybe the sponsors panel could be decoupled somehow from the New Forum Posts scrolling panel and Tag Cloud, I personally cannot find any value in those panels and will default to always have them on hide.Not I. Steve and Neil are doing all this, I just criticise and check every now and again.

[Mulgabill]

Thanks Neil and Steve (and others)!
The tweaks have much improved the usability of the Forum:2tsup:

[Ueee]

A big thanks Neil and team, especially now i can hide the advertising....

I know you cannot please everyone, but i find the colours really bad on my eyes and cannot look at the site for as long as i could. I have tried in vain to bring up an old version of the site (from history working offline) just to see what the differences are. Could a screenshot of a thread be put up?

I just noticed the "topic review" has changed to black on white, much better than the brown? on beige? it was :2tsup:

oh, and still no difference between single column and default for me (latest firefox)

another afterthought, is the Google advertising paid per click?......i'm sure we can help with that :D click click click......

[Jonzjob]

Well DJ. I don't care what anyone else says, I reckon yer a gentleman mate. Cracked it and I can now see the single column forum main page. Much easier to read and I found how to put the page full width too sans publicity. I know that the publicity is the reason that we have the forum free, but with almost all of it neing on the other side of the world it int a lot of good for me..