Big change's a comin' - SOON

[ubeaut]

Big change coming to the forum's format. Keep an eye out for it in the next few days. It'll be different I promise you.

Don't freak out just give it time to sink in. It should give everyone what they want.... Hopefully with no teething problems.

Cheers - Neil :U

[ubeaut]

New Tabbed Forums - Wotchyareckon? Well I've done it......

If you haven't already noticed the change, go to the home page on any skin and have a look. You may need to refresh the screen but shouldn't have to.

Have a bit of a play and tell me your opinions. should anything be moved or added or changed, or what?

Phew....:sweat:

[Big Shed]

Woohoo!:2tsup:

That makes things HEAPS easier to find, well done:brava:brava

One minor suggestion if I may?

You have HelpDesk and Free Prize Draws under Woodwork Main, perhaps they should go under another heading, don't really relate to Woodwork Main.
Maybe My Other Loves should be renamed Miscellaneous and they can go there?

[ubeaut]

Thanks for that Big Shed - Still shifting stuff around so there will be some more chances as to where some forums end up.

Help Desk stuff needs to be at the top of the main page ie Announcements this forum, etc but that has just been pruned as well.

For now the free stuff will also remain here.

Cheers - Neil :)

[echnidna]

the tabs overlap so much on opera that some can't be selected

same thing on firefox

[Al B]

Cool :2tsup: Really like the tabs well done. Easy to use!!

[RufflyRustic]

I LOVE the Tabs :2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

[DJ’s Timber]

the tabs overlap so much on opera that some can't be selected

same thing on firefox

Bob, I'm using Firefox and they're fine here, can you take a screenshot showing yours?

[Pat]

Neil, the Tabs work well on my version of Firefox. Maybe Bob has a different version.

Blast, DJ was quicker.

[ubeaut]

Bob it will be your screen resolution, most likely.

If you're using a screen res. of 800 x 600 pixels or 1020 x 768 you will have a problem set screen to 1152 x 862 and all will be fine.

If you're set at 1020 x 768 you can press Ctrl- to decrease the font size and this will also work.

In Opera you can go to View and Zoom down to 90% and it will also work.

Cheers :)

[echnidna]

I have my screen resolution set so its easy to read, if I go to higher res the text starts to get too fine for me.

[wheelinround]

Like the tabs also bit more flare in them would look better to match or stand out as the rest does

[wheelinround]

I have my screen resolution set so its easy to read, if I go to higher res the text starts to get too fine for me.

Bob you can alter the text size to suit you in Firefox and IE
if your eyes are real bad use the Magnifier Wizard in Accessories

[Burnsy]

Tabs are a great idea Neil:2tsup: Much quicker than scrolling.

Is Ispy coming back or is that gone?

[Big Shed]

Tabs are a great idea Neil:2tsup: Much quicker than scrolling.

Is Ispy coming back or is that gone?

I haven't lost it, iSpy that is:oo:

[Groggy]

Noice one :2tsup:

Much quickerer.

[Groggy]

iSpy seems to still be there :?.

[Burnsy]

I haven't los tit, iSpy that is:oo:

Ispy is definitely not on my screen my tabs don't fit like echidnas, could it be hanging off the screen where I cant see it? I am running IE but don't want to change resolution as it messes with other formats.

Edit : Just tried changing my screen format and it did not help Ispy, still not there. I logged onto the renovation forum last night and there was no Ispy there either, should there have been. I had Ispy this morning before the tabs showed up.

[DJ’s Timber]

The Renovate forums does not have the iSpy feature.

As for your missing iSpy Burnsy, try one of the other skins, the wiki-blog default skin is missing it for some reason, will let Neil know.

[Burnsy]

The Renovate forums does not have the iSpy feature.

As for your missing iSpy Burnsy, try one of the other skins, the wiki-blog default skin is missing it for some reason, will let Neil know.

Thanks DJ, problem solved:2tsup:

[ubeaut]

Already know. Wiki and iSpy are both missing from wiki-blog skin, will send out a search party but for the mean time all other skins have it on. Skins are in the drop down bottom left of all pages.

iSpy will go onto the Reno forum some time in the future. Not sure when but should be in the next few days with luck.

I am trying to get a floating version of the tabs so they fit on all screen sizes but for now they will stay as they are as the majority of users now have resolutions set at 1152 x 826.

It's new - There will be teething problems hopefully not too many.

[philf]

Good onya Neil, always good to see people trying to improve things:2tsup:

Rgds,
Phil.

[echnidna]

searching has now become very convoluted
I just tried to find a thread I started "Free House Heating" using the google at the bottom of the page and I get a directory listing but can't connect to the thread

[DJ’s Timber]

searching has now become very convoluted
I just tried to find a thread I started "Free House Heating" using the google at the bottom of the page and I get a directory listing but can't connect to the thread

This the thread (http://www.renovateforum.com/showthread.php?t=70976) you're looking for Bob?

[ubeaut]

Bob - we moved this entire site over to the new one just so we could get the Reno Form off here and onto there.

There are more than 69,650 posts, in over 7,900 threads in the Reno section alone. To get each one to be found in a search would have meant putting a link to each. As it is the google search engine is searching the Archives for the old threads then woodwork forums and then sending you to the new site and into the forum but not the exact thread. Without many thousands of hour work this will not be fixed. None of us unpaid volunrteers are going to do that. In the next week or so the entire site will again have been spidered and the searches should be more precise.

But for now..... Like I said above It's new - there will be teething problems and all will be ironed out in the fullness of time.

I found it alright by using the forums Advanced Search and the key word heating and Echnidna in username.

:U

[Daddles]

I like the concept. The old front page was waaaay overdone to the point where it was a problem. However, I too get the tabs overlapping (just the end one wrapping around onto the first one). No, I do NOT consider changing my settings to suit your forum an appropriate answer and would suggest that you keep the experts working on the problem. Having said that, I realise that you are working on it (as you always do), I'm just responding to some of the posts above.

I'm a little concerned that things could get lost - for example, it took a while to find 'Nothing to do with Woodwork' - but that's more a product of the number of forums you're running now. I do wonder if all the non-woodwork sections are necessary, regardless of the amount of traffic they get. Anyways, that's for you to consider.

I do like the tabbed concept though.

Richard

[Daddles]

However, I too get the tabs overlapping (just the end one wrapping around onto the first one).

Oooo Fixed. :D

Interestingly, the tabs are far clearer too. Not sure why, maybe because they are slightly smaller, but they look very sharp now :2tsup:

Richard

[Cruzi]

Like the tabs, good solution :2tsup:

Having a problem with closed forum sections not staying that way though and the buttons to do it are red x's, prob with my settings?

[ubeaut]

G'day Cruzi - You've got me with the closed forums bit. Can't say I know what you mean.

Are you talking about the http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif image that compresses and expands the forum sections or the locked threads. A screen shot may help. What browser are you using? What skin are you using? Does it happen in all skins? Any other info?

If it's the http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif there are none on any of the front page forums that I can see any more. Dunno where they went but they sure did went.

Cheers - Neil :?

[Cruzi]

G'day Cruzi - You've got me with the closed forums bit. Can't say I know what you mean.

Are you talking about the http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif image that compresses and expands the forum sections or the locked threads. A screen shot may help. What browser are you using? What skin are you using? Does it happen in all skins? Any other info?

If it's the http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif there are none on any of the front page forums that I can see any more. Dunno where they went but they sure did went.

Cheers - Neil :?

That's the button that is missing, using www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au) domain, tried wiki skin and ubeaut skin with same result.

When red x is pressed to compress forum section, it only stays compressed for that page view, when you navigate back or reload the section has expanded again.

Using IE6. something with cookies enabled.

Must say that tab system means that forum sections not staying compressed is not as big a prob as it could be now.

Edit: tried all the skins, no button for any of them.

[echnidna]

Bob you can alter the text size to suit you in Firefox and IE
if your eyes are real bad use the Magnifier Wizard in Accessories

I can read every website ok, If I change settings just to read ubeaut every other site I visit is going to be affected.

[Burnsy]

I can read every website ok, If I change settings just to read ubeaut every other site I visit is going to be affected.

Bob, I think it has been fixed as I can now see all the tabs and I changed my screen resolution back to what it was when they did not fit.

[ubeaut]

Bob - In Firefox Ctrl+ (Cntrl and plus) and Ctrl- (Ctrl and minus)will take the font size up or down whenever you want and it takes about a second to do.

Ctrl 0 (Ctrl and zero) will take the view to normal. Give it a try. You really don't have anything to lose and it really is very quick and easy. Not only that but you can use it on any website anywhere on the net any time you like. Unfortunately it only works for text and not for pictures.

Cheers - Neil :cool:

[billym]

It is great :2tsup::2tsup::2tsup::2tsup: and ,,so far easy to find everything, faster.Larger print is tops:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup: :2tsup:

[Waldo]

:yes: I like it :2tsup:

The only criticism I'd have is that when you leave the main page to read a particular thread, wherever it may be, you lose the tabs and only gain them back by going back to the home page.

[DvdHntr]

Where is the Structural Renovation Forums?

[DJ’s Timber]

Where is the Structural Renovation Forums?

Over in the Brand new Renovate Forum (http://www.renovateforum.com/index.php) :2tsup:

[John H]

Took me a couple of seconds of "What!!!, where are the forums"

Makes it a lot easier to find the individual forums now... I like it!

[montiee]

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of the changes. It just makes searching for the right subforum difficult. This problem is compounded by the fact that a new "renovators forum" opened up and it's not obvious. Took me a while to find this thread and realise it. You could of at least left links to the renovators forum from the woodworking one in the categories you created.

New layout = yuk. Confusing and all over the place. If I was a new member I'd probably give up thinking there was nothing here for me (since I'm into renovating). I think you are going to lose potential users in this mess but whatever.

[m2c1Iw]

:2tsup: for the change.
Just need to let the Graphics Dept have a go at the tabs.:rolleyes:

I'll go now:wink:

Mike

[BobL]

I gave up chasing new posts on the main site a while back and have become a currency (as in "only new news is worthy") junkie and now operate almost entire in the New post window. :D

[ubeaut]

montiee - I would have thought the big Announcement at the top of all forums would have been enough to tell people that the New Renovate Forum was open for business but I guess not. Can't have been obvious enough. So I have put the announcement at the bottom of the woodwork Forums main page and if it can't be found there then I have no idea what else I can do.

I guess you found it easier with the old style massive page that took 5 minutes to scroll down.


New layout = yuk. Confusing and all over the place. If I was a new member I'd probably give up thinking there was nothing here for me (since I'm into renovating). I think you are going to lose potential users in this mess but whatever.If I was a new member I would think I'd found a goldmine of info and be absolutely ecstatic. Especially when it's set out in a reasonably easy to find format as it is now. As for losing potential new members for the renovation site we won't lose a one as most come from Google or other search and they are taken directly to the new site. The rest come of the woodwork and other stuff.

________________________________


Waldo - The new tabbed pages basically act as an individual forum with each tab being that forums home page so you don't need to go back to the original home page. We are working on a dynamic tab set that can theoretically be accessed from anywhere. Also a set of tabs for the bottom of the page as well as the top. That will take some time though.

________________________________


m2c1Iw - The graphics department (that's me) is working on the look of the tabs, but size and time constraints have put that on hold for the moment few issues need to be cleared up over the next week or so before they get to looking good.

________________________________


Thanks to all for the comments and constructive criticism.

Cheers - Neil :)

[montiee]

montiee - I would have thought the big Announcement at the top of all forums would have been enough to tell people that the New Renovate Forum was open for business but I guess not. Can't have been obvious enough. So I have put the announcement at the bottom of the woodwork Forums main page and if it can't be found there then I have no idea what else I can do.

Actually after carefully scanning the "others" tab I found the renovators like right at the bottom hidden away. Given that renovators has it's own forum and is quite a big deal I'm surprised it's stashed under "others". It would have been nice to just have another tab/button called "renovators forum" added which linked all the subsections to the new forum or at least just took you there when pressed. You naturally start looking at these tabs once you realise the change occurred. Putting things where ads usually are makes them easy to miss when one is looking where as another separate tab in the menu imho would be cleaner and more obvious. Anyway that's my 5c worth.

[Strungout]

I reckon the changes are great.The only thing is I have to get use to the seperate reno forum-but thats just a matter of time.

Great work and thanks heaps for a great informative forum:)