What I Like, What I Don't about new format

[bobreeves]

I thought this might be a good place to document what users like and don't like about the new format, and a place for administrators to review comments and possibly 'fix' what user don't like if possible.

I'll start off with "No more tables."

Chime in skiffers *thumbsup*

[Tom's 68]

I will put this thread up with a sticky
thanks Bob
I am not sure what you mean about the tables, but I am sure Harry or Don can help on this one.

[Shakespeare]

Bob,

I've looked into the subject because it appeals to me also. I'd like to straighten out the motor/prop database thread because the formatting didn't translate over to the new vBulletin environment. What I gather is this (table creation) is not an intrinsic feature of bbCode. HTML is not a solution either because of enornous security risks. Unless vBulletin comes up with a plugin that makes table creation safe and bullet proof then for now it simply is not available.

Mike C.

[Harry]

This is the place for this Bob and this is a DON question .... ;D

I will see he gets the link to this post.

Can you be a little more speific please ?

[Don]

Well, as far as members listing what they like and dislike about the new format is great. I like that Idea because then we will know what changes we can make to help. But we have to remember that no mater what we do or what software we sure there will alway be something someone does not like and we will fixing all the time.

As far as tables, I am totally lost. There is many different forms of tables,lol.... I am not trying to be funny but can to be more specific about what you mean?


Thanks

[Shakespeare]

Don,

The old site had a way to organize items (text or pictures) in tabular format similar to a spreadsheet or table with columns and rows. I think there's way to do this (see my posting above) here with vBulletin but I haven't had time to explore it.

Mike C.

[Don]

Thanks Mike. I understand a little better what you are talking about. I will see what I can do. I can not guarantee anythings. Because smf was its own little monster...lol

[Harry]

Don,
Also you can check my profile and Bob posted about it there with some code explainations.

[bobreeves]

Web-Gods:

If I were permitted to use HTML in posts, then I could do tables or anything else. I've been hand coding HTML for about 10 years. I hate automated tools like MS FrontPage. I'm too much of a control freak, I guess. Plus when I was hired as a web administrator I didn't even know what HTML stood for, so felt a need to learn it from scratch. Just another scripting language, but different enough from what the bbs uses that it's a PITA to do some things that are trivial with HTML *001*

[Harry]

BOB,
I just sent you a PM about 2 minutes before you posted this. I'll see what I can do.

[Herfnwolf]

I use Macintosh and now with the new format when posting pictures in a post, the review button lets me actually see the entire post with the pictures. Before the change, the review button only showed the top 4 lines of the post.

DJ

[Harry]

I use Macintosh and now with the new format when posting pictures in a post, the review button lets me actually see the entire post with the pictures. Before the change, the review button only showed the top 4 lines of the post.

DJ

So is that good or bad ? ;D

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

Everything works good for me, i like the new set up, the only thing today i loged in and click on "new posts", like i always do, and instead of only the new posts, i got about 11 or so pages full of old threads.Anything wrong here by me or is it a honey do also? *006*

[Harry]

No the refresh page wasn't working since we switched. We fooled with it today and is now working properly.

Just hit mark posts as read towards the bottom of the page and you should be all set, Unless of course you want to re-read all those posts again ... *ROTFLMAO*

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

No the refresh page wasn't working since we switched. We fooled with it today and is now working properly.

Just hit mark posts as read towards the bottom of the page and you should be all set, Unless of course you want to re-read all those posts again ... *ROTFLMAO*


:secret:*004*
I started, and noticed those were from 1976 ;D

[brevoortia]

Well, you had to expect I would chime in on this thread. So far, I can't say I have any major complaints, I'm familiar with vBulletin from other forums. I have 2 items to work on though.

First, the CSO banner at the top is pretty lame, who thought a full size image shrunk to banner size would look good?

Second, when you're in a thread, or any part of the forum, you should be able to click on the base link in the navigation section (at the top, parallel with the "Welcome Username" box), and it should bring you to the top forum page, not the website frontpage. If I'm in the forums already, clicking on that should take me back to the base forum page. For an example of what I mean, go to SOL and see what that does when you click on it.

Otherwise, good job guys.

-brevoortia

[Harry]

Well, you had to expect I would chime in on this thread. So far, I can't say I have any major complaints, I'm familiar with vBulletin from other forums. I have 2 items to work on though.

First, the CSO banner at the top is pretty lame, who thought a full size image shrunk to banner size would look good?

LOL,
Nobody, but it was just thrown in there for the time being

Second, when you're in a thread, or any part of the forum, you should be able to click on the base link in the navigation section (at the top, parallel with the "Welcome Username" box), and it should bring you to the top forum page, not the website frontpage. If I'm in the forums already, clicking on that should take me back to the base forum page. For an example of what I mean, go to SOL and see what that does when you click on it.

you mean this?

http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?t=2229&page=2#) carolinaskiffowner.com (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php) > Main (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5) > Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_finallink_ltr.gif What I Like, What I Don't about new format

This is at the top of this page, if you click on the support/suggestions it will take you back out not to the home page.
Click on the Main and it takes you to the "Main" catagory, not the home page. the .com takes you to the homepage. At least for me. Anyone else ?

Otherwise, good job guys.
Thanks setting up a forum from the get got on eiether VB,SMF, PhP or any other format is fairly easy, the trick is switching over to a new format while not losing any data, which I think went fairly painless
-brevoortia


Glad you decided to follow us over ... *thumbsup*

[workinprogress]

I liked the "most recent posts" section with the old format. It displayed more threads, where as this new format only shows 5. I think it is easier to catch up on the new stuff when you can see more of the latest activity. This is a minor point, and one I don't know if anything can (or should) be done about with this new system. All in all this setup seems fine to me, although I still haven't figured out everything.

[Harry]

I liked the "most recent posts" section with the old format. It displayed more threads, where as this new format only shows 5. I think it is easier to catch up on the new stuff when you can see more of the latest activity. This is a minor point, and one I don't know if anything can (or should) be done about with this new system. All in all this setup seems fine to me, although I still haven't figured out everything.

On the homepage under your user new it will say "new posts" and show a number . If you click on that number ALL the new post show up.


OR
Once in the forums, look for the propellers, if there silver, they have new post since you last visted. If you go into that forum the new posts are highlighted.

If the props are gold , no new post since you've been here last.

[Wilky]

Hey Harry, great job to all involved great format

[workinprogress]

Thanks Harry--problem solved. Good job on the switchover.

[brevoortia]

you mean this?

carolinaskiffowner.com > Main > Support l Suggestions What I Like, What I Don't about new format

This is at the top of this page, if you click on the support/suggestions it will take you back out not to the home page.
Click on the Main and it takes you to the "Main" catagory, not the home page. the .com takes you to the homepage. At least for me. Anyone else ?


Yes, but it should not point to carolinaskiffowner.com, rather to the top level of the forum - or carolinaskiffowner.com/forum.php?. Think of it this way, each level of that hierarchy is a parent of the level below it. But the way you have it setup, you never get to the top level, in your example the furthest I can go is "Main"...which isn't the top, but the second tier of the hierarchy. You're missing the very top level, which allows me to view the "Main" section, the "CSO Supporters" section, the "Skiff Models" section etc.

That's how every other vBulletin website I've ever encountered is configured.

[bullet1114]

I think that the photo posting is much easier in this format (or it could be that I just never took enough time to figure out the old format). Thanks mods for your work. BTW, is the bouncing girl icon gone?!?

[Willie]

"Second, when you're in a thread, or any part of the forum, you should be able to click on the base link in the navigation section (at the top, parallel with the "Welcome Username" box), and it should bring you to the top forum page, not the website frontpage. If I'm in the forums already, clicking on that should take me back to the base forum page. For an example of what I mean, go to SOL and see what that does when you click on it.

you mean this?

http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?t=2229&page=2#) carolinaskiffowner.com (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php) > Main (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5) > Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_finallink_ltr.gif What I Like, What I Don't about new format

This is at the top of this page, if you click on the support/suggestions it will take you back out not to the home page.
Click on the Main and it takes you to the "Main" catagory, not the home page. the .com takes you to the homepage. At least for me. Anyone else ?"

I pointed out the same thing days ago........... in the staff forum under things THINGS TO FIX....guess it still isn't fixed huh..

[Shakespeare]

BTW, is the bouncing girl icon gone?!?


*003* Just click on the [More] link in the smilies window.


Mike C.

[bullet1114]

*003* thanks, I missed her.

[Tom's 68]

"Second, when you're in a thread, or any part of the forum, you should be able to click on the base link in the navigation section (at the top, parallel with the "Welcome Username" box), and it should bring you to the top forum page, not the website frontpage. If I'm in the forums already, clicking on that should take me back to the base forum page. For an example of what I mean, go to SOL and see what that does when you click on it.

you mean this?

http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?t=2229&page=2#) carolinaskiffowner.com (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php) > Main (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5) > Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_finallink_ltr.gif What I Like, What I Don't about new format

This is at the top of this page, if you click on the support/suggestions it will take you back out not to the home page.
Click on the Main and it takes you to the "Main" catagory, not the home page. the .com takes you to the homepage. At least for me. Anyone else ?"

I pointed out the same thing days ago........... in the staff forum under things THINGS TO FIX....guess it still isn't fixed huh..
I am not exactly sure what you mean. as I click onto each of the individual parts of the data line, it takes me to the parts that are listed.
so I am figuring that what you guys are saying, and what I am understanding, are two different animals.
I would be glad to try to figure this out, but my abnormally small coconut brain is not understanding the depth of the situation.*clonk*;D
also, we are picking off bits and pieces of the problems throughout the board. it is all coming together, but their is still a few things that need to be addressed.
this is next on my agenda though, so I really need to get a grip on the issue here. even if you have to walk me through with some baby steps.
either way, I am going to have to figure out this problem.

[al_e._gator]

Go to the forums page. See those white titles with the blue background (Main, CSO sponsors, Skiff Models, etc) Now, come back here and select each level of your levels line (carolinaskiffowner.com > Main > Support l Suggestions > What I Like, What I Don't about new format) When you are on main and click the next level up it takes you to the HOME page not to the FORUM page. The FORUM page should be between the HOME page and the MAIN page. Like this; carolinaskiffowner.com > FORUM > Main > Support l Suggestions > What I Like, What I Don't about new format. Do you see what the problem is now?

[Don]

If you want to go into the main forum, There is a Forum button just above were you are looking. So I don't see a problem....

[Harry]

Ok,
Here's the deal.
I know what you guys are saying but this is how this VB board is set up and works.

First the You have Catagories.

Main

CSO Sponsors

Skiff models and so on.

Inside those "Catagories" are "Sub forums"

Example: in the Main catagory we have the "Sub forum" called Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) There are others such as the Welcome, Deck Party ,,etc

But we are now in the Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) "Sub forum" of the "Main Catagory"

Now inside that "sub forum" there are threads, this one we are all in now is What I Like, What I Don't about new format (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=20203#post20203)


This is no different than if your opening folders while running windows under "my computer" . Not sure how the MAC's work.

Anyway it should look like this.

http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/misc/navbits_start.gif (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=20203#) carolinaskiffowner.com (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/index.php) > Main (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5) > Support l Suggestions (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21) > What I Like, What I Don't about new format (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=20203#post20203)


The carolinaskiffowner.com is the "homepage".
Main is the "Catagory"
Support/ suggestions is the "subforum"
What I Like, What I Don't about new format. is the Thread or topic we are in, right now.

If you want to stay in the Support/Suggestions and read additional topics or threads, click on Support/Suggestions.

If you want back to the "Main" catagory from here to view the Main , subforums, click on Main.

To get back to the Homepage click on carolinaskiffowner.com

If you want to get to the CSO Forum page with all the Catagories, & Sub forums Just click on "Forum" tab on the hearder bar, between the Home tab & the Chat room tab.......


Were not trying to re-invent the wheel here, and if this is what you DON'T like about the new CSO, were doing good.....

[Willie]

If you want to go into the main forum, There is a Forum button just above were you are looking. So I don't see a problem....

thats true, but and I am not busting anyone, and if I knew how to do half of the things you have done for this transition, I would be able to fix it myself, it is just a minor glich that should be fixed sometime........kinda like an itch you just can't quite reach...........*006*...

[Harry]

thats true, but and I am not busting anyone, and if I knew how to do half of the things you have done for this transition, I would be able to fix it myself, it is just a minor glich that should be fixed sometime........kinda like an itch you just can't quite reach...........*006*...

Where's the clitch? I just layed it all out, In my previous post.

[bobreeves]

Not sure how the MAC's work

They don't ;D

[brevoortia]

This is no different than if your opening folders while running windows under "my computer" .


Then using your own analogy, removing the top level folder is like asking someone to use Windows without a way to get to the C: drive except to reboot. You can go to C:/My Documents, but never to C: itself.



If you want back to the "Main" catagory from here to view the Main , subforums, click on Main.



Yes, but when I'm in Main, and have read everything I want to read there, I may want to go to Skiff Models next without going to the front page first.

And yes, I understand I can click on the Forum link in the header above this area, but good design principles should lead us to understand how user interfaces need to be consistent and intuitive. I was lost the first time I saw this after the redesign, how would a new user react. You lose this consistency here.



To get back to the Homepage click on carolinaskiffowner.com


I can't imagine why someone would want to do that. The usefulness of this website is entirely contained in the forums. While that usefulness is very valuable, the main page is vestigial and unnecessary. Go to SOL and tell me their front page is useful. It has content over 3 years old billed as 'new'. This website will eventually get that way too, as do all popular forums. The administrator will end up spending all their time moderating and babysitting the users, and things get forgotten. Not trying to knock you Harry, just my opinion and based on my experience with some web design and administration I've done in the past.

[Don]

What is so funny about this whole conversation is that the forum button is right above this area everyone in chatting about. I do not see a reason for this conversation.
I mean, I commend Harry and all his mods for all the work they have done on this site, When I put this site together a yr ago,I didn't think it would go any place like it has.
What I am not understanding is why make an issue out of something that is not there? The solution is only a 1/4th inch away.

[Willie]

*thumbsup**thumbsup**thumbsup**thumbsup**thumbsup*

[Harry]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Harry http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com//images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.carolinaskiffowner.com/showthread.php?p=20227#post20227)
Ok,
To get back to the Homepage click on carolinaskiffowner.com





I can't imagine why someone would want to do that. The usefulness of this website is entirely contained in the forums.



Thought maybe you would want to visit our sponsors.

Again this is how THIS VB site is set up.

And are you saying we will become a popular forum ?? *yay*
And speaking of babysitting users, I've spent too much time replying to this topic already.
I'm sure you can find your way around, as can everyone else.

[1test]

my brain is beginning to hurt.
why do you need a part that says forums and a part that says main, if they are both going to take you to the same place?

posted by Toms68

[dlvphyllis258]

Harry and the Gang, I know I've not been a regular lately. But I thought I'd been locked out when I tried to get back on line with CSO. Thank goodness it's just an upgrade and improvement for everybody. I couldn't help but get a little paranoid. I do like the new format. Once you get used to it, it's very user friendly. Phyllis

[bobreeves]

Once you get used to it, it's very user friendly

I agree - some of us old farts aren't particularly fond of change, so some griping is inevitable. Glad to see we didn't scare you off, Phyllis. We might seem like a bunch of old cranky insensitive males, but there's really a great bunch of people here with lots of patience and knowledge.

Good to see you back! Now when do we get a picture of you a and your rig?