The new forum design and features

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The new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:05 am

I'm working on a new look for the forum and also adding additional features... here's how you can test it out:

1. Go to your 'user control panel' by clicking "My Profile"
2. Click "Board Preferences"
3. On the option 'My board style' choose "we_clearblue"

Some of the main differences, besides an updated design/layout, are:
- multiple RSS feed options (RSS feeds allow you to follow content in various ways without actually visiting the site)
- facebook "like" option
- email button (to send an email to a friend suggesting they read a particular post on the forum)
- print button (printer friendly page in case you want to print out a discussion)
- Quick Reply

EDIT: This new design is now the default style.

Be sure to provide feedback regarding what you like, what you don't like, what else you might want to see, etc...
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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The new forum design and features

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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby MercynGrace » Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:09 am

Love it! It looks much cleaner without all the lines and boxes separating everything. Much easier on the eyes.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby kgrigio » Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:57 pm

I like it a lot. I have one suggestion though. I like to be able to see the newest thread in each category on the index page, similar to the way it is now. Now I must go into each category to be reminded of the latest thread.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby pritchet1 » Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:10 pm

I agree with kgrigio. Otherwise, nicely done, Brian!!
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby iamse7en » Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:30 am

RSS?? Fantastic.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby NoGreaterLove » Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:22 pm

Is there a shortcut available for embedding videos? If not then I would suggest a link near the place where we embed them going to an explanation of how to do it.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby Like » Wed Dec 08, 2010 7:31 pm

I like the old style better...

It is easier for me to get around the site and the easier on my eyes. I like the location of the view active topic link with the old style... The new lay out is not idea for me. I tried the new style for a couple of weeks and I just changed back to the old style.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby shadow » Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:57 am

I like the old style too but it might be because of my hesitation for "change" :wink:
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby NoGreaterLove » Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:30 pm

When we go into an area such as LDS prep then choose a thread, at the top of the page of the thread, the link should be a link bringing us back to the LDS prep page again. Currently the top of the page has a link that does nothing.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby NoGreaterLove » Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:51 pm

I love the "print view". Great tool.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:43 am

Thanks for all the suggestions... the new style is still a work in progress - and there are still some things I want to add to it - I'll keep all your suggestions in mind.
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:12 am

Thanks for your feedback... I've finally updated the new design with the features you've requested. I've made the new design the default for the forum with the option to switch back to the old style if preferred. I recommend you try getting used to the new design, especially considering some of the new features it has that the old design won't ever have.

Be sure to post feedback, suggestions...
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

The Matrix is real...
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby patriotsaint » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:12 am

I like the new design Brian, it looks sharp. Great work!
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby clarkkent14 » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:49 am

My only gripe... The "View Active Topics" link used to be at the top of every thread, and almost any page. I live off of that link. Now I have to click board index, then view active topics... that's all. Wouldn't mind the ads going away either...
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby clarkkent14 » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:20 am

Also... each post had an arrow next to it... it would take you to the first unread post. I used that all the time too. Now I can only go to the most recent post or the first post of the thread.
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby keeprunning » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:37 am

That's the only thing I miss, too. I need the 'first unread post' for each thread button again!
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Re: Test out the new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:42 am

clarkkent14 wrote:My only gripe... The "View Active Topics" link used to be at the top of every thread, and almost any page. I live off of that link. Now I have to click board index, then view active topics... that's all. Wouldn't mind the ads going away either...

Or you could click "Latest Posts" in the main navigation at the top... it's the same link. :)
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby Like » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:04 pm

I like how in the old SimpleLightBlue format in the active topics link the topics were describe in a way which you knew which forum the topic is posted in.
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby An Eye Single » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:27 pm

I'm really missing the old design! I was always able to glance at recent topics on my smartphone and now it is taking FOREVER to load a page. Time where I am actually tied down to a computer is almost non-existent. What ever shall I do? Someone please tell me that there is a way to change preferences back!
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:48 pm

I have kept the option to switch back to the the old style... just go to "user control panel" -- "Board Preferences" and change the "my board style" to "SimpleLightBlue".

I don't notice any different in speed to load pages on my smartphone... anyone else using a smartphone and notice a difference?
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby pjbrownie » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:44 pm

Very glad you kept the view active topics link.
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:50 pm

pjbrownie wrote:Very glad you kept the view active topics link.

Yes, and just in case you didn't notice... "Latest Posts" takes you to the same place.
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby Like » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:54 pm

Mazal wrote:I like how in the old SimpleLightBlue format in the active topics link the topics were describe in a way which you knew which forum the topic is posted in.



can you get this feature back?
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby ChemtrailWatcher » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:55 pm

One thing I'm finding since the change is that I'm continually being logged out after maybe 10 minutes or so (?) of browsing. Is that supposed to be happening?
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:09 pm

ChemtrailWatcher wrote:One thing I'm finding since the change is that I'm continually being logged out after maybe 10 minutes or so (?) of browsing. Is that supposed to be happening?

It shouldn't keep happening, but for it to have been happening earlier today and yesterday is normal due to the changes I was making at the time to the forum. Also, try logging out and then when you log in it helps to check "Log me on automatically each visit".
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby Quill » Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:32 am

I think the new design is great. I was wondering why there were no ads before. I hope it's enough to help you with the time you spend on your sites. Thanks.
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby BrianM » Tue Jan 25, 2011 4:18 pm

Mazal wrote:I like how in the old SimpleLightBlue format in the active topics link the topics were describe in a way which you knew which forum the topic is posted in.

Done: search.php?search_id=active_topics - I agree, it's better that way.
All my opinions are tentative pending further data...

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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby Like » Sat Jan 29, 2011 1:07 pm

I like all the fine tuning you have done .
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby Squally » Sat Jan 29, 2011 5:01 pm

I like the new design. I have one recommendation. Is there any way you could add "go to first unread" post when you click on the thread instead of having to click and enter into the thread, and then click on the go to first unread post. The old design allowed us to go the first unread post from the thread title in one click.
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Re: The new forum design and features

Postby larsenb » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:16 pm

Brian, I would like to see a little more contrast between successive posts in a given thread. The very light blue is not quite enough to easily distinguish them. Maybe just my rheumy eyes or something, but one shouldn't have to strain even a little to separate them.
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