Message Board Suggestions

[Webmaster 20]

Here's your chance to comment on our new look for the message boards!  Let me know what you would like to see changed here.  Are certain aspects of the board too hard to read?  Don't like some of the graphics?  Or should I just retire from web design?

 

Below is a list of things I'm already aware of and plan to address:

 

    - Login error for those using Netscape browsers

    - The new post indicator () is too light when compared to the no new posts button

    - Smileys (such as  :D   :(   :D) are showing with a white border

    - Post icons (such as ) are showing with a white border

    - Existing posts made on the board are showing in black text

    - Member offline indicator is too dark (the part next to a member's name on the post )

 

If there is anything else you think I should be addressing here on the boards, please reply below and let me know.

 

Thanks!

[Guest LtCdr Dacotah]

- Member offline indicator is too dark (the part next to a member's name on the post )

 

 

So that's what that little light bulb is for!  :(

 

Dac

[Guest]

If there is anything else you think I should be addressing here on the boards, please reply below and let me know.

When you quote someone (like I'm doing with the Webmaster now), it is presented in a dark grey.  Can this be lightened up so the "quote" stands out a bit more?

 

-A9

[Webmaster 20]

I've made some temp changes to the quoting system until I have time to work on it more.  Simply what will happen now is that the background color of quoted text will be in a light grey color and the text itself will remain black.

 

Also in the mean time I've fixed the login error netscape users were getting.  You can now login to the boards (or change board usernames) simply by entering your username/password at the top of the page.  :(

[Webmaster 20]

Board Update:

November 19, 2002 - 3:25 AM CST

 

Here's an update on my progress...

 

FIXED ISSUES:

• Quoting text - this is not a PERFECT fix, but one that should work as I continue to play around with the board code.  
   
  
• Smilies - They're new...  what else can I say?   :wink:  :D
   
  
• Netscape login bug - Consider it history.  When you visit the page, you can now log in without any errors.  If you have multiple names here on the boards, you can also now easily switch identities without any hassle.  Just enter the new name/password and go!  
  

NEW FEATURES

(I could not help myself...  I figured since ya'll have suffered through all of these changes with me, I would be nice and introduce a few new changes to ya earlier than I planned.)

 

• Quick Reply - Now at the bottom of every message will be a box you can type a responce into without even having to click the reply button.  The quick reply feature is nothing fancy...  it's designed for posts that don't want a lot of formating and such.  For those, you still have to click the reply button.  :(
   
  
• New reply engine - This has been in the works for a while now...  and it's finally here!  Besides everyone's favorite features such as Bold and Underline...  you can now have:
   
  Moving text
  Text with a shadow
  Stikethrough text
  Glowing text
  Text with a drop shadow
  Backwards text(backwards text)
   
  Upside down text (Upside down text)
   
  Blured text
   
  SPOILERS text!  We've all had times when we've wanted to talk about spoilers, but have been afraid of ruining it for others who have not seen the episode and don't want to be told.  Now you can just click the spoilers button, and it will automatically make the text and the background a black color.  Then if you want to read the spoiler, you can just highlight it with your mouse!
   
  

  Spoiler (Highlight to Read):

  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  If you can read this, you can see what I am refering to in regards to spoiler text.  Isn't it great?  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!  SPOILER TEXT!

  
   
  Text with lists in it.  (such as the list you're reading now)
   
  Personal actions - you can use a command similar to the ::: :::'s we use in SIMs to indicate action.  This will show a person doing something: Webmaster pulls his hair out after typing all of this
   
  You can also easily change your text's color, size and font easily.
  And one last feature...  you can also control alignment of text easier now.
   
  

  Text can be aligned to the left.

  
  

  Text can be aligned centered.

  
  

  Text can be aligned to the right.

  
  

 

I've also made some of the tags a little smarter.  Now you can click on the bold tag and actually have it insert the correct tag for it JUST before wherever you mouse is.  When you click it again, it will insert it RIGHT after where your mouse is.  It should not default it to the end of your post now, making you have to move it if you have already typed your message.

 

Hopefully some of these additions will have made the hassle of the past few days worth it.   :wink:

[Garnoopy 0]

AWEASOME JOB!!!!!!!!!!

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

Oh, great and magnificent Webmaster, wouldst thou deign to answer one itty-bitty question?  

 

::puzzles::  What the heck does "Pinned" mean, where the topics are concerned?

 

I love the improvements!

[Webmaster 20]

Pinned means the topic will ALWAYS be at the top of the list no matter how old it is or how many other posts are made after this one.  It's a way for me to be able to keep important announcements available without having to "bump" them (or reply to them just to move it to the top of the list).

 

This message will always be at the top of the list until I "unpin" it or delete it.  

 

(The Webmaster has spoken  :laugh:)

[Cmdr Laura Issia 0]

Pinned means the topic will ALWAYS be at the top of the list no matter how old it is or how many other posts are made after this one.

 

 

Ah, I see.   Lovely idea!!!  Useful!!

 

 

...but... why such a random mix of "pinned" posts?  just testing?

 

~Laura

[Webmaster 20]

It was not done by me.  lol

 

This is the first message I've pinned.  BUT...  anyone on the GM Council has the power to edit/delete/pin/unpin topics.  They may be have been testing their tools.

 

If there is still pinned messages out there floating about, drop me a note (Private Message here on the boards or via e-mail).  I'll have them fixed.

 

Also...  if anyone has their OLD posts showing as black, they can edit their own posts just by clicking on the post's edit button and just submitting it again.  That will fix it while you wait for me to finish working on the stuff for the board.

 

Thanks for all of your help and support.

[Webmaster 20]

Someone has suggested that I lighten the color on signatures to make them not so dark.  This is a reminder note to myself to check on that and to expiriment on that.  :(

[HyperDrive 0]

I was wondering how come even after I hit "Mark this forum's topics as being old", there are still messages in that area unread. Such as: When I read "The "5" in 50211.22", I hit the BACK button and then hit "Mark this forum's topics as being old". After that, the post "The "5" in 50211.22" was marked as 'No New Messages', but "USS Hood in TNG", in the same forum area, was marked as having new messages. Do you have to open the post first before the forum will even try marking it as 'No New Messages"?

 

Also, is there any way to, after I hit "Mark this forum's topics as being old", to have it automatically send me back to the main 'Message Boards' screen?

 

Well,  I suppose I have ranted on long enough. I was just curious! :(

[Webmaster 20]

Hummm...  when you click mark the forum as read...  it should mark them all read.  I will have to check some of the cookie settings and play around a bit more.

 

And as far as being redirected back to the main board after marking forum as read... I'll see what I can do.  That will require some changes to the back end of the system.

[Webmaster 20]

UPDATE:  Now when you click on the "Mark forum as read" link or "Mark all post as old" or whatever...  you will now be taken back to the main board index.  :)

[Garnoopy 0]

Cool, I like that feature.

 

One thing, when I come to the forum, I like to just click on "New Posts" and then read them all. Can you put "Mark all posts as old" on the bottom of that page? That way I don't have to visit every forum the posts are in to do that.

[Atragon9 0]

I like to just click on "New Posts" and then read them all. Can you put "Mark all posts as old" on the bottom of that page? That way I don't have to visit every forum the posts are in to do that.

What I usually do is the search for new posts, read them, then click on the link for "Message Boards" which takes me back to the overview display of all boards.  Then, when I click the "Mark as Old" at the bottom, it marks every board with the one command.  It may be one more step after reading the new mail, but you don't have to use the "Mark as Old" in each sub-board/forum.

 

Just my 2¢

[Garnoopy 0]

Cool, thanks A9, didn't know you could even do that.

[HyperDrive 0]

Thanks, Webmaster. I think that is all that I wanted..... :o

 

I say 'Feel free to make any changes you want', as long as the change is cool and usable. I like new.... New is good. :)

 

HD

[HyperDrive 0]

:: feels like he is the only person who posts in this topic ::

 

How about a "Profiles" Section of the web board? I have noticed that the only way to view peoples profiles is to find a message they have posted, or click on it when they are online. Is there any way to make a section in the web board that you can click on to view everyones Profile in a list?

 

Just wondering...... :)

 

Good 'ol HD

[Vex Xiang 0]

:: feels like he is the only person who posts in this topic ::

 

How about a "Profiles" Section of the web board? I have noticed that the only way to view peoples profiles is to find a message they have posted, or click on it when they are online. Is there any way to make a section in the web board that you can click on to view everyones Profile in a list?

 

Just wondering...... ;)

 

Good 'ol HD

I also like this idea! PS: How do you like my new avatar?

[Webmaster 20]

Hello...  at one point the board had this.  There was a link to be able to view all members who registered and be able to see their profiles.  

 

I never thought of it as a high priority thing...  and it was taking up all-valuable screen space, so I removed it.  I also removed the search from the boards from now as we don't really have a high amount of traffic/posts to our boards where topics are easily lost.    It helped to speed up the boards just slightly as it used fewer queries on the database in order to render the page.

 

But if it's something that the majority of people feel they want...  I can add it back.  I will just have to find a way of working it into the board "skin".

 

Best regards,

[STSF Jami 0]

PS: How do you like my new avatar?

::snicker:::

 

Good to have you aboard, Vexie  ;)

 

J

[LoAmi 0]

It's not *that* important, but it would be nice to be able to edit message board posting subjects ...

 

Waiting, with anticipation, to see the new redesign of the main site   :o

[Webmaster 20]

I'll see what I can do for editing subject information.  As it stands now...  that is only able to be done by someone who has "tools" to the individual board.  So anyone on the GM Council can edit a subject..  but as far as building it into the actual member levels...  that will require some big underlaying changes to the code base.  

 

But I'll look into it as I get time and keep it under consideration!

 

Thanks for your feedback.

[Captain Huff 0]