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The official "Features we would like to see implemented on the new platform'' List - Page 3  

post #61 of 226
7/7/09 at 10:02am

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

When I click on "Forums" and get taken to the main index page of sub-forums, each cluster has a +/- sign next to it to expand/collapse the list of sub-forums within the index.  I have collapsed a number of those sections on at least a half-dozen occasions since the switchover and that selection keeps coming undone.

Shouldn't that "stick" once done?  The top three sub-forums are places I never go (Insiders/HE Magazine/DIY) and I would like for them to stay collapsed (along with the archives section at the bottom).

It should indeed be remembered.  However, this functionality is both tied to your user account and to your cookie.  If you delete your cookies (or switch browsers), it will get reset.  If you do not clear your cookies, it should remember your settings both whether you're logged in or logged out.
post #62 of 226
7/7/09 at 10:10am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post


Quote:
Originally Posted by nolesrule View Post
It takes you straight to the reply box from any reply button on the page. A convenient shorcut.

I guess I'm alone on this :) I don't find it useful or needed; just GUI clutter. The "end" key, space key, or mousewheel do a fine job.

So leave the Reply button alone. But revise the multi / quote system.

post #63 of 226
7/7/09 at 10:42am

Quote:
Originally Posted by stins View Post



It should indeed be remembered.  However, this functionality is both tied to your user account and to your cookie.  If you delete your cookies (or switch browsers), it will get reset.  If you do not clear your cookies, it should remember your settings both whether you're logged in or logged out.
That would also mean an inconsistent behavior when browsing from different computers, not just browsers. Is there a reason for doing that? A lot of us switch back and forth between work and home computers. I know it's a little more complimicated, but I consider constant state for a user across multiple platforms to be a necessary feature.

post #64 of 226
7/7/09 at 10:55am

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

The "end" key, space key, or mousewheel do a fine job.
 

Not really.

The END key only shows the bottom half of the reply window and doesn't provide cursor focus on the reply box.

The SPACE key requires multiple key, and might not align well depending on where you start from in the thread. It also does not provide focus on the posting window.

I'm trying to find the scroll wheel on my notebook computer.

Seriously though, while it does work if you have one, it too does not provide simple page alignment and focus on the reply box text area.
post #65 of 226
7/7/09 at 10:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stins View Post



It should indeed be remembered.  However, this functionality is both tied to your user account and to your cookie.  If you delete your cookies (or switch browsers), it will get reset.  If you do not clear your cookies, it should remember your settings both whether you're logged in or logged out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by nolesrule View Post


That would also mean an inconsistent behavior when browsing from different computers, not just browsers. Is there a reason for doing that? A lot of us switch back and forth between work and home computers. I know it's a little more complimicated, but I consider constant state for a user across multiple platforms to be a necessary feature.
 
As best as I can recollect, I set the index page the same way at both home and work (making me, indeed, wonder at the time why I had to do it at both places). 

I have not cleared my cache or cookies and only use Firefox on both machines. 

So I shouldn't have to keep resetting things.  Yet I do. 


Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

I guess I'm alone on this :) I don't find it useful or needed; just GUI clutter. The "end" key, space key, or mousewheel do a fine job.

So leave the Reply button alone.
 

My laughter was directed, Dave, more at the idea of "what good is a forum if people cannot respond?"  As Dudley Moore's character noted in the film Arthur, "sometimes I just think funny things!"

Now that I look more closely at what you are saying, I see the "reply" button at the bottom of each post and am now wondering why it is there. 


post #66 of 226
7/7/09 at 11:48am

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

You're very welcome.

Hope you all had a nice weekend and took the opportunity to watch one of the HTF's favorite films:  1776. 

I abstained.  Courteously!
post #67 of 226
7/7/09 at 12:20pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon View Post

Which prompts me:  wouldn't it be cool if we could re-order the index page to put our "favorite" forums at the top of the main index page?  That would be a very cool bit of functionality.  Doable?

I like the function in the old forum where I could choose what forums I wanted to see. The forums that I did not want to see, never showed at all. This way I did not have to page through the whole list to find what I am looking for. As mentioned before, I work in an open office environment and can not have the forum taking up my whole computer screen. Currently I am typing in a small 4 x 5 box in the lower corner. Not showing the forums that I am not interested in makes it easier.
post #68 of 226
7/7/09 at 1:26pm
Can we have an option to eliminate the animation effect of the sidebar sliding into place? I don't mind the sidebar being there and it has its uses. But, I'd prefer the sidebar to just pop into place immediately. I don't see the need for the sliding effect. As you're scrolling up/down a lot it's a little distracting. I'd rather it just be there.

If there is anyway in favor of the sliding effect, then leave it as an option, otherwise just eliminate the effect.
post #69 of 226
7/7/09 at 1:55pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by drobbins View Post

I like the function in the old forum where I could choose what forums I wanted to see. The forums that I did not want to see, never showed at all. This way I did not have to page through the whole list to find what I am looking for.

Yes!  I had forgotten about that!  That was awesome when Parker implemented that piece of business.  That would be the way to go and it would eliminate even the headers. 
post #70 of 226
7/7/09 at 3:12pm
Thread Starter 
I think I can help you both out.
Quote:
Can we have an option to eliminate the animation effect of the sidebar sliding into place?
Yes.  Click on the DON'T FOLLOW ME option in the sidebar box.  It will stop stalking you.

Quote:
I like the function in the old forum where I could choose what forums I wanted to see.

Still there.  There is a button on the right of each forum category.  Click it to hide.
post #71 of 226
7/7/09 at 3:55pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein View Post

I think I can help you both out.
 

Yes.  Click on the DON'T FOLLOW ME option in the sidebar box.  It will stop stalking you.
 

Not quite what I meant. That simply keeps the sidebar locked into its original position. What I meant was have it still be visible on the side at all times, but without using a slide-in animation approach to make it visible again; just have it appear in its new position immediately.

post #72 of 226
7/7/09 at 4:51pm

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein View Post

Still there.  There is a button on the right of each forum category.  Click it to hide.
That helps, but is still just for the main categories. For example "Other Diversions" has 7 forums, but I usually visit only 3 of them,

"Entertainment and Media" has 5 forums, but I follow 2 or 3, etc...

Also it didn't remember the hidden forums when I logged in again.



Edited by drobbins - 7/8/2009 at 01:11 am GMT
post #73 of 226
7/7/09 at 6:09pm
After using the "new improved" editor... throw it out.  I'd rather have the old one.  It's faster, easier to use, has more "smilies", doesn't rely on yahooapis.  So far I've not found anything the new one will do better, much less faster.
post #74 of 226
7/7/09 at 8:15pm
I think you are going to need to add the year to the dates used to chronicle the "Recent Activity" listed on a member's home page.  Tonight I went to see how long it had been since a former member (Ernest Rister) had posted here.  It said he had posted many times recently on June 10, 11 & 12 (among other dates).  I got all excited that Ernest was back on the HTF and clicked on his most recent post.  Alas, it was made June 12, 2005. 
post #75 of 226
7/8/09 at 2:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nolesrule View Post

Browsers have tabs now, and I like to use them. It sorta breaks Back functionality, but not really because you never actually left the page. It's still there on the tabs.But there are just some types of sites where it makes sense to keep the user on the site while they go to a different site. News aggregators and message boards are 2 of them.

Maybe Firefox has a plugin that would do what I want. If not, I'd write it myself, but that's too advanced for me. 
Not sure what you mean. Can't you right-click on a link and "Open in New Tab"? Or even shorter, middle-click; either a middle mouse button if you have one, or directly on the scroll wheel/ball/gizmo. Or hold down Ctrl or Command when you click.


Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post

Better, remove the Multi-quote button and make the Quote button serve all functions. Click it once, as now, and the quote is in the Reply box. Click it again in a different post, and that quote is added to the Reply as well. This is easy to understand and matches user expectations. 

Yeah, the "open and close quote" vs "just the open quote" icons don't really work. If you combined the quote buttons into a single toggle button (with the tooltip like "Quote this post when Replying"), then the Reply button is the one you always click and it becomes more useful.
post #76 of 226
7/8/09 at 4:28am
Make the Search box accept a mouse click along the full length . It's a long featureless input box that only accepts input along an unmarked portion. I naturally try to click next to the "Submit" button and nothing happens. If the box doesn't accept input along its full length, it should be shortened.

http://screencast.com/t/Q1x3cpeVMG
post #77 of 226
7/8/09 at 4:31am
Fix the back-button behavior. After posting comment above on the search box, I followed my link to make sure the image was there. I click the back button to return and the page looks like this link. This is constant for HTF, not an erratic bug:
http://screencast.com/t/rM6toemVb
post #78 of 226
7/8/09 at 5:57am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Chan View Post

Not sure what you mean. Can't you right-click on a link and "Open in New Tab"? Or even shorter, middle-click; either a middle mouse button if you have one, or directly on the scroll wheel/ball/gizmo. Or hold down Ctrl or Command when you click.
 
Still looking for the scroll wheel, and now a middle-click button, on my notebook computer.

I'd prefer the behavior of every other message board software package on the internet. There's just something about behavioral consistency across a platform. That's how BBCode/emoticon-to-smilies became universal as well, although that's been dropped here in favor of the WYSIWYG FCKeditor-like functionality. There's a reason so many people keep stating "but this is how vBulletin did it".

Thing is, it's not just vBulletin. Most major forum packages out there have very similar functionality across the board, even on the little things. vBulletin just happens to be king of the hill. One of the things that makes forums work so well on the Internet is that you don't have to learn how to use them for every different site you visit because they all pretty much behave the same, whether it's vBulletin, phpBB or some other package.

Like I said, I'm just asking for a behavior that is consistent with other forum platforms. If others don't want it, fine. Make it a user preference.

post #79 of 226
7/8/09 at 9:46am


Quote:
Originally Posted by nolesrule View Post
Still looking for the scroll wheel, and now a middle-click button, on my notebook computer.
On mine it's two-finger drag for scroll and two-finger tap for right click. Most PC laptops have scroll regions on the side of the trackpad. Many have options for multi-click. Perhaps you're not looking hard enough

But I'm with ya on the desire for useful consistency.

post #80 of 226
7/8/09 at 11:29am
You may want to consider doing something about this phenomenon.  Today was the first time I stumbled upon it (or one of Jack's posts in the new forum). 

I doubt this applies too often, but it appears as if some User Names are a bit too long for the space provided in the left-hand column. 

I guess options would be limits on name-length, different font size or some kind of wrap-around. 


post #81 of 226
7/8/09 at 2:00pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by BobO'Link View Post

After using the "new improved" editor... throw it out.  I'd rather have the old one.  It's faster, easier to use, has more "smilies", doesn't rely on yahooapis.  So far I've not found anything the new one will do better, much less faster.

:thumbsup  (woops, that doesnt work either!)  Hehe.

Also, new to this thread:  As we discovered in my 'stickies' post, Stickies are both unsupported in this forum software and contrary to the Huddler philosophy.  Regardless of the usefulness of Wikis, which I believe in, I still maintain that stickies are an important part of the HTF experience, particularly as they are used in the Mac forum, as the 'good sellers list' in the sales forums, and the Bargains threads.  It would be entirely unwieldy to do the bargain thread or the good sellers using Wiki Tech, where they 'just work' as stickies.

post #82 of 226
7/8/09 at 4:30pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Posten View Post

Also, new to this thread:  As we discovered in my 'stickies' post, Stickies are both unsupported in this forum software and contrary to the Huddler philosophy.
I found stickies lingered too long, outliving their relevance oftentimes. There needs to be a method for important messages and easy to find notices, but I think "stickies" can be rethought.
post #83 of 226
7/8/09 at 4:44pm
I suggest the layout of the thread page, especially with wikis, be re-examined. See the picture linked for a screenshot of the Apple / Mac forum.
http://screencast.com/t/7lhuVnFe


On my computer there's about 665 pixels of, what is to me, empty space before I see the first thread. I use a 15" laptop and this is my entire screen height; my browser is full height. The first thread is almost off the page for me. I have to scroll a full page length to bring the forum into view.

Consider the regular member: the most important aspect of the forum is the forum. Threads, discussions is where it's at. Wikis, breadcrumb navigation, even the search bar are secondary to the core use. But the fundamental aspect of the forum -- the raison d'etre -- is "below the fold".

I'm not a designer, and I don't know the fix. But this feels unbalanced, counter to the actual user desires. I'm interested in how other members perceive this, if they agree or not.
post #84 of 226
7/8/09 at 10:09pm
Compressed to about half the size:


^^^^ look at all that lovely free space! :-)
post #85 of 226
7/8/09 at 11:15pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post



I found stickies lingered too long, outliving their relevance oftentimes. There needs to be a method for important messages and easy to find notices, but I think "stickies" can be rethought.

While I agree that stickies can be rethought and that there might be some better way, Sam is right about the fact that they just worked.  At the moment, there doesn't seem to be a viable candidate to replace stickies under the current forum configuration.


post #86 of 226
7/9/09 at 1:01pm
would like:
- increased font size for thread titles (as listed on the forum pages, not inside the threads themselves)
- bigger reply button
- bigger submit button, and since other forums have gotten my fingers used to clicking on a button on the left to submit, would like it moved from the far right side
- forum page links available at bottom of forum in addition to the top

agree with these previously made suggestions:
- use the white space
- less crap to scroll past at top of forum
- author name/date tag under thread titles

I can appreciate the new design for what it is, but somehow my eyes are working harder to read the forum. Can't put my finger on why, though.
post #87 of 226
7/9/09 at 5:24pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF View Post
On my computer there's about 665 pixels of, what is to me, empty space before I see the first thread. I use a 15" laptop and this is my entire screen height; my browser is full height. The first thread is almost off the page for me. I have to scroll a full page length to bring the forum into view.

It's even worse on an iPod/iPhone:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kadath/3704663925/sizes/o/

Both width and length are disastrous.


post #88 of 226
7/9/09 at 5:50pm
I was wondering if there was a custom iPhone view. It must be challenging to design for screens ranging from 3" @ 320x480 to 30" @ 2560 x 1600
post #89 of 226
7/9/09 at 6:07pm
Another suggestion:

Currently the "Stuff You Care About" section on our personalized home pages only holds a finite number of threads.  While there is an option to show more threads, it would be nice if the software would show ALL threads we "care about" which have new posts. 

For example, I was away from the HTF for the entire day and when I checked back tonight, I had to click the "show more threads" link twice before I could see all my subscribed threads which had new posts.  And, if I hit the back button to go back to the home page, I have to hit the "show more threads" link each time. 

I don't see the harm in showing all threads which have new posts in them. 

=======================

EDIT**  In a weird bit of business, the forum shows 10 threads by default.  When you click the "show more threads" link once, it shows 16 total threads.  When you click the link again, you see a total of 21 threads. 

I had 18 threads with new posts in them.  This is going to get old to keep clicking those links to see the threads which I want to check out.

As many have been emphasizing since this transition, this is a discussion forum and should be user-friendly for those people who want to engage in discussions.

post #90 of 226
7/9/09 at 8:43pm
Is there a one-click way to PM someone in response to a thread post? If so, it should be more obvious. If not, that would be a good feature to add.
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