jcokos
Staff
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 171
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Posted: 2003-Jan-02 07:59
Let me explain just a bit about some of the new things you will be seeing with the new forum software, and some of the things that I expect to have some minor problems with as we transition into it.
New and Cool stuff .....
1. You can elect, when you start OR REPLY to any post to get reply emails so that you know to come back to the forums to check the thread for new replies. Previously, only a topic starter had this option.
2. On any thread screen, you can "subscribe" to a topic, which will add that topic to the "Subscribed Threads" dropdown list at the top of each forum page. This is like a built-in "bookmark" system for you.
3. You have your own personal "inbox" now. Members can "email" each other from thread screens, messages are private and can be read only by using the inbox link within the forum. Your email address is NO LONGER AVAILABLE anywhere in the system, so spammers will not be able to hammer your real inboxes anymore.
4. The edit button is back ! In a few days, I'll update the database allowing all non-banned accounts to edit their message. This is a feature that can be turned on and off on a per-user basis by the Administrators, so that when one bonehead goes crazy with it, we don't have to turn all of you off, as was the case before.
5. Moderators will have the ability to make "sticky" posts in their forums. These are special threads that never go away, and always appear at the top of the forum pages.
6. Posting has changed just a bit. Previously, you had to click on a "Post new topic" link to start a new thread, and then click on a "Reply" link within the thread to reply to a going topic. On those forms, you had to re-enter your id and password. Now, once you login, you're done ... no need to re-enter that information to make a post. The new post form is now right at the bottom of the forum main page, so if you want to start a new thread, just start typing. Same goes for replying ... get into a thread, and reply right on that same page. After a post, you won't have to wait for the forum to do it's thing and then redirect you, you'll immediately see your post.
7. Searching is much improved, and much faster 
8. Over the next few weeks, you'll start seeing what look to be scumware links throughout the posts. This is the new "Living Glossary". Words and Acronyms that are frequently used by our members will be seen in the forums as links. When you mouse-over them, the definition will pop-up for you.
9. Theres a bunch of other stuff ... but my brain hurts right now. As I remember things, I'll mention them here.
Known issues / bugs....
1. Smilies and "UBB Code" have not been implemented as of yet. For no other reason other than with all the DNS and server issues I have not had the time to get them all in the database yet. It is a very simple thing to add, and I will likely get to it this week.
[ Message was edited by: jcokos 01/02/2003 ]
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nuthin
Joined: Oct 31, 2001
# Posts: 345
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 08:26
cool, looks alright
good job.
[ Message was edited by: jcokos 01/03/2003 ]
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nuthin
Joined: Oct 31, 2001
# Posts: 345
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 08:27
hmmm, weird.. enter button got caught by the looks
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 11:12
Hi all, well done john!
Do you want us all to post bugs etc?
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 14:13
Well I am going to start the comments already
Could we pump up the text size please or get rid of the css I am finding it almost impossible to read the forums.
The link over there on the left to http://www.jimworldlounge.com/
is that correct?
This site is in bad need of optimisation.. is that being attended to?
Is the "active topics" link going to work eventually over all forums? or is it going to be restricted to the individual forum (which is a little pointless)?
John this is not meant to be criticism,, but feedback and by no means should you feel pressure from this..
I am sure that there are many members that would be willing to assist you in your tasks should you require it.
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 14:38
oh heck.. sorry all.. no idea how all that got there.. !
errm
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yellowwing
Joined: May 21, 2002
# Posts: 2526
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 16:08
I kind of like! We lost a few post to threads but it must have been a gargantuan effort to switch it all over.
Thank you jcokos!
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richmc
Joined: Oct 16, 2002
# Posts: 71
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 16:47
interesting.
i wonder how many people will have lost their passwords though? i used to keep mine in a cookie and had to scavenge around the depths of my emails to find my account stuff.
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crash
Staff
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
# Posts: 10626
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:01
Looks nice I don't envy you having to work out all the bugs!
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crash
Staff
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
# Posts: 10626
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:03
excell, wasn't 'jimworldlounge.com' supposed to be where all the lounges migrated to so that there were no longer seperate member lounges for GHF and SEF? Been awhile but that's what I recall.
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:26
crash.. I don't think we are seeing a lot of the stuff come out as discussed i.e. forums / topics etc..
It's more a spreading than a coming together.. with 3 or more forums to handle now..
and no real fasttrack and links to hold it together.
I also feel that jimworld branding is a little lost.. with the new iweb push.
None of my business of course, but every little thought helps I have learnt.
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whynot???
Joined: Mar 29, 2001
# Posts: 219
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:26
as always John - Great job!!!
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jcokos
Staff
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 171
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:35
Excel:
>> Could we pump up the text size please or get rid of the css I am finding it almost impossible to read the forums.
I'll make some css changes  ... or at the very least, I'll add a few new themes. You know that you can edit your profile and change the skin, right ?
>> The link over there on the left to http://www.jimworldlounge.com/ is that correct?
It will be. I'm going to move the staff and members lounges to their own domain at some point.
>> This site is in bad need of optimisation.. is that being attended to?
It will be. We needed to be functional first
>> Is the "active topics" link going to work eventually over all forums? or is it going to be restricted to the individual forum (which is a little pointless)?
Yes, it will, as will the orphans.
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jcokos
Staff
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 171
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:44
>> crash.. I don't think we are seeing a lot of the stuff come out as discussed i.e. forums / topics etc..
Again ... being so under the gun, all I could do was do the actual data import, and not any of the reorganizations that we'd all been talking about.
>> It's more a spreading than a coming together.. with 3 or more forums to handle now..
True, but it'll be more logical.
>> and no real fasttrack and links to hold it together.
Open to suggestions.
>> I also feel that jimworld branding is a little lost.. with the new iweb push.
Previously, there was no branding on the forums ... they were quite a mishmosh. When you see the new direction that Jim and I are going in, you'll begin to see how all of the different domains that we have will tie into one another. We're trying to get back the community feel that we used to have, by combining services that are centric to what our members (webmasters) want and need. Things like the freelancers service, the roi tracking, etc.....all were on the iWeb docket, but they make so much sense for Jimworld, that we thought it best to incorporate things both by linking back and forth, and by having some common design elements.
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:46
Most excellent John,
Re skins, no I don't have time for such stuff and work on the assumption that a site should meet the needs of the lowest denominator first and then go to options for enhancement to suit the individual..
Thanks for the answers it seems good to me!
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excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 17:52
oh ack..
that double post is coming because I did refresh the window.. sorry.. I will try not to do it anymore.
John take the gun away from thine head, you are doing good
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crash
Staff
Joined: Dec 02, 2003
# Posts: 10626
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 18:04
LOL! Text is fine on my end I haven't changed a thing.. I think it's yer eyes girl - stop squinting! :p
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jcokos
Staff
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 171
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 18:07
Here's the CSS for it:
11px should be fine, unless you have your monitor set to 1500 x whatever
[ Message was edited by: jcokos 01/03/2003 ]
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philh
Joined: Sep 14, 2001
# Posts: 3050
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 19:38
Hi John
You need to look at this on a Mac - I'm on a G4 running system 9.2
In Netscape 4.77 the reply/thread text is white on pale grey - virtually unreadable - in IE 5.1 I have to scroll sideways to read replies - only a third of screen is immediately visible
HTH
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jcokos
Staff
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 171
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Posted: 2003-Jan-03 19:54
I knew i forgot something
I have a separate .css setup for old netscape that I have forgotten to upload and account for within the templates.
I'll try and get it done by days end for you.
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