Some New Forum Software Updates and Wish List...

[earthling177]

Glen,

My understanding is that people are complaining about a situation that happened to me a few times.

You see a thread with the Wash button lit, implying it's a New Thread, or, at least, that the user has never read it. One clicks to load the thread. It's several years old. You may even remember having read it.

It happens because the old thread was marked "Wash"/Unread/New/whatever you want to call it, it was resting peacefully somewhere 50 pages back in time, but some (typically new) user came and put a new comment on it. Other people may have replied too.

People are just confused about it. It's OK, it's not a big deal, but it happens and given that we were asked what could be new features to work on or stuff to fix, well, this situation is going on. If it can be fixed then yay!

 

[DADoES]

 
Ahh.  I see one of those in Imperial, # 35870 originated 8/4/2011, has 239 posts, last new dated 3/18/2014.

The first post is flagged as 967 days old.  The color scheme notwithstanding, only old posts have that extra text ... and it's a long thread which I notice quickly enough and hit the End key then a few Page Ups until the header background changes from yellow (or the age flag is gone) to anchor myself at the newest point.

Everyone has their own needs but it's not a problem or irritation for me.    Reading through an old thread can be an interesting refresh.

I'm not in the habit of using the green arrow ... in fact I hadn't noticed it until a few minutes *before* Robert brought it to attention ... but I may make use of it now.

 

[yogitunes]

maybe resurrected threads that have gone into the archives and brought back should have their own listing such as "SOAK"......they are kinda in a SOAK until they are RE-Washed!

but then, where should it land, at the very beginning, or where you may have left off from the last time you read this thread, or at the beginning of the latest post?....

 

[jeffg]

Robert, I was referring to a profile option to read threads in reverse order. Sort of a permanent green arrow.

Any feedback on the request about embed codes? From the lack of response I sense you'd rather see fewer external links in your forum posts rather than more. If so just say the word. But as it is, links to Youtube work, links to Archive.org and other public domain video sites don't.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Any feedback on the request about embed codes?

Hi Jeff, please forgive me, I did think about that and meant to respond to that as well. I totally agree with you and the https issue I really want to address soon. In the interim just put the link in the link box and it shouldn't convert it. I'll let you all know when I believe I have solution for that.

 

[arbilab]

Is there a flag that a user has made a post to a thread? Being on W98/FF2 I don't always see every feature, specially with jv-scrpt turned off. If not and it wouldn't bog anything down, might be nice.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Is there a flag that a user has made a post to a thread?

Hi Rick, I'm not sure exactly what you mean. The Wash/Rinse/Spin are the best indicators to see if a thread has been replied to and they work with Java-Script turned as (as far as I can tell). Do you mean sometime else by chance that I'm not getting?

Turning off JS will limit you especially in the future as more and more sites wont work at all with JS off. In the old days developers tried to make sites work with JS on or off, but in the last five years or so that has gone out the window so to speak.

 

[DADoES]

 
arbilab,

If you're not seeing them, the indicators work thusly:

Wash = Red for 1) a current thread not yet visited; 2) an archive thread bought up by a fresh post.

---> Rinse = Yellow to indicate a new post in a thread already visited.

Spin = Blue to indicate a visited thread with no new posts.

I checked with both Java and Java-Script turned off, they still work for me ... but that's on FF 28.0 and Win XP.

The indicators on the 200 current threads (Page 1 & Page 2) in each section ... not on archive threads.  They appear only for upgraded members, when logged-in.

 

[jeffg]

Robert, thanks for the info. Please never, ever apologize to me again. We just bought two toothbrushes and it cost more than twelve bucks.

Just remembered one other wish for AW.. I've always wished the MyPosts icon could be highlighted when new activity exists (new discussions, and/or new responses to existing ones). It would save checking for red and yellow buttons on five or six different pages.

EDIT: My other half suggested highlighted or annotated forum icons at the top, for when new content exists. Users would know at a glance which forums to check.[this post was last edited: 3/29/2014-17:16]

 

[arbilab]

Yes I notice some data entry (billpay) and dropdowns are Jscpt. It works but slows everything way down.

Wash-Rinse-Spin work as described w or wo Jscpt. But I mean a flag in the regular indexes showing if I have a post in a particular thread. Like phpbb, simplemachines, vbulletin, seems like most except IMDB.

There's always "my posts" which shows latest ones I have posted in. A way to put "my posts" flags into the regular indexes without overburdening either end? So I only have to look in one place?

 

[mrboilwash]

Hi Robert, we see a lot of information about a member in the turquoise head line above each post.
Would be nice to see the age of a member, maybe even the sex of a member without having to click onto their profile.
No idea if it would be possible software wise and I found the forum just perfect in it`s charming simplicity back then when I joined here 8 years ago but since you asked for suggestions...

 

[Unimatic1140]

But I mean a flag in the regular indexes showing if I have a post in a particular thread.

Now I understand what you mean Rick, thanks. That's not a bad idea either, something to think about for sure!

Thanks again everyone for the great ideas!

 

[sudsmaster]

Just noticed (and used) the Post without Previewing feature and I LIKE IT!

Thanks for that change.

 

[jetcone]

We could change the

"ressurected" threads to RED and MARK THEM DANGER WILL ROBINSON before you dig into them.

 

I find the MY POSTS button to be one of my favorites it gives a good synopses of recent posts on topics I've dug into.

 

I too like the PWP button!

 

 

[nurdlinger]

Because this is the Wish List...

Something I want from time to time is the ability to change the password I use for site login. If there already is a way, I have never been able to find it.

 

[washer111]

*Oh My God!*

THANK-YOU Robert for implementing my wish above!

 

Such a wicked and easy way to view a thread

 

What a great site, and what a great webmaster we have. 

 

[supersuds]

A very, very minor suggestion, Robert.

I choose to disable scroll highlighting. The system logs us out every so often. When logging back in, I have to re-disable scroll highlighting every time. Since I use more than one device, it's a little repetitive. Is there a way to save this preference so we don't have to keep doing it?

Not a big deal at all, just thought I'd ask.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thanks guys for the new suggestions, I certainly will make a note of them and as I have time I will introduce the ones that I believe will be very beneficial.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

How about,,,

We already have a method to 'ignore' someone you don't like. How about the opposite? I have several members here who I really enjoy what they post. Can we "favorite" a member so we can see what they've posted and in what thread?

Of course, the Web Master would be the first and most important favorite I'd make! ;^)

RCD

 

[jeffg]

I respectfully cast one vote against the last suggestion. It's one of my least favorite features on a bulletin board. Robert, if you like Andrew's idea and are going to add these searches, please give users a profile option to disallow them if desired.

When I call someone on the phone, it doesn't mean I wish them to have a list of everyone I've ever called. And if I mail someone a letter it doesn't mean I want them to know everyone I've ever sent a letter to. Etc. I'm sure many or probably most users won't have a problem with it, but please give those of us who do an option other than to create bogus accounts for posting.[this post was last edited: 4/3/2014-20:17]