Front Page Update all but completed

[ubeaut]

The front page reconstruction/update has been completed for now. It may need a bit of fine tuning down the track in a week or so but for now it's up and running and ready for use.

I have deleted 15 Forum Headers which in itself saves almost 1 full screen of scrolling. Because of this a number of forums have been put under different headers, so you may have to look around a little bit before telling us your favorite forum has been deleted. A couple of lesser used forums along with Open Slather and Drivel Forum have been put into sub forums but aren't too hard to find.

The new page is set up so that it can be compressed as you wish using the Chevron buttons on the right side of all forum headers. The button will collapse the Forums under that header, whilst the button will expand them.

You can now compress out large sections of the forums but still leave pretty well all of the Woodwork Forums viewable. You can now, also see at a glance, what sub forums are available under the compressed header and go directly to them by clicking on the link or expanding the header

This somewhat takes away the out of sight out of mind feeling and will help make it easier to find other forums without the need to expand them all just to find one or two others you might want to visit.

I'm sure this new set up won't be everyones cup of tea initially, but give it a try for a little while and if you have any thoughts and constructive criticism on improving it please put them in this thread.

The idea behind the new front page is to make it easier to scroll down through the forums to the one you want. The sub headings under each Forum Header are set horizontally (not vertical as has previously been suggested) because it saves many pages of space.

Constructive criticism is most welcomed, whinging and complaining isn't. All suggestions will certainly be looked at and acted on, if feasible and doable.

Cheers - Neil

[Big Shed]

I think that looks very good and is also extremly useable.

About the only comment I would make, and it is by no means meant as a criticism, is that it would have been nice to see the sub-forums in a drop-down box. But I assume that is not an option with the vBulletin software? It would give it a more "Windows" look and feel.

Having said that, the current set-up is a huge improvement on the old one. I have collapsed all the forums, I assume the vBulletin will remember this and come up that way the next time I log on?

Great job, thanks for your efforts

Edit:

Just closed down the forum (didn't log off) and came back again. All forums still collapsed

[Groggy]

Just to add to Neil's burst, how about everyone give it a week to get used to it, then post anything still bugging you next week. In the mean time only post what are obviously errors or lost bits.

For me - I love it! Great job admins

[DJ’s Timber]

For me - I love it! Great job admins

[Neil]

Big Shed - I have a feeling that it won't revert as there is no default for the collapsed or expanded Forums. However it is still better not to log off as this kills your cookies that hold other info like forum skin colour. etc.

As soon as you leave the forums you are automatically logged off by the program. However physically logging off makes everything run slower when you return as the program has to start everything from scratch again.

Or something like that.

As for the drop downs unfortunately that isn't available. Would be a really great add on and there is probably a hack for it but Jetsoft (vBulletin) won't support forums that contain hacks.

Cheers - Neil

[Calm]

Mentioned it at Scooters today but thought i would ask the question anyway.

With the option to have the subforum's drop down (exposed) or rolled up is there any way that the changes could incorporate some way of choosing which ones have dropped down ie - some down some up
eg in woodworking have the general woodwork and wood turning down and the penturning and ornamental turning up??

Just trying to be positive and suggest things.

cheers - keep up the good work, we will get used to whatever is decided.

[Cruzi]

With the option to have the subforum's drop down (exposed) or rolled up is there any way that the changes could incorporate some way of choosing which ones have dropped down ie - some down some up
eg in woodworking have the general woodwork and wood turning down and the penturning and ornamental turning up??

Just trying to be positive and suggest things.

If you dont mean to be picky then dont say it!!!!!

I'm sure the gripeing and whinging is no encouragement to anyone.

I'm in favour of have a bit different screen to look at for a couple of days then giving comment when it is asked for.

[Neil]

We are very, very, very limited, as to what can be done without it becoming extremely messy with sub forums and even sub, sub forums.

You will see that Woodturning - Ornamental is now a sub forum of Woodturning - General and this might be another way to go in the future. But it really doesn't save much extra space and makes it a little harder to find things as the sub forums aren't always obvious at first glance.

Also Green Woodworking is a sub of Woodworking - General, there are some others like that and may be more as we go on but for now it is the less used and less popular forums that I have subbed.

With all pages expanded and the addition of 3 or 4 new forums we still have around 2 - 3 full screens less scrolling from top to bottom.

Cheers