Thread for constructive change requests
Perhaps it would help Mark and Tim is we use this folder to post change requests that will make the new forum more intuitive, user friendly, fun, valuable (you get the picture) here. To the best of your ability try to explain what the change should be and be sure to tell why. Understanding the “why” will help Mark and Tim better understand the need and how to fulfill it (if they can / choose to).
Also, referring back to the old forum can be useful to the extent that it provides context to what the need is or how to fill the gap, BUT, try to be patient with the new forum and the opportunities that it presents and not just try to get everything back to exactly the way it was unless it really needs to be for specific aspects of the forum.
Mark & Tim, I hope this unsolicited help is just that help, and to a problem.
Will
- When going into a thread that you have already been in you should return to the last message that you viewed, not the first message that you haven’t viewed. This will give us the ability to orient ourselves to the discussion instead of having us have to hit “previous” to understand what the new message is talking about when it refers to a previous post
- We should enter the forum automatically logged in like the previous board – it saves us some time and the steps of logging in add not value
- We should be able to collapse and expand the folders on the left by drilling into each folder icon. This will enable us to better manage how much is going on on our screens and reduce confusion / improve our orientation
- The site should automatically (automagicly as a friend of mine says) update the order of the threads in the folders as new posts are added so that the threads with the newest posts will be on top
- When creating a new post in an existing thread we should be able to view the current posts that are in the thread. This will help us when we need to refer to individuals and comments / facts / details of earlier posts
- When I post a message it should not look like there is a new message that I have not read. This is in the thread folders on the left. This will keep me from opening threads that actually have no new content for me to read because I wrote the new post
Replies
Will,
That's very much appreciated. Thanks.
Tim
Wouldn't it be more appropriate if this kinda of stuff went into the Feedback bucket instead?
Steve Schefer
It'll be seen either way!____________Tim SamsAssociate Editor, Fine WoodworkingKnots Moderator
When you scroll down a thread the name of the thread should remain visible above the thread. This will help with navigaing
When you drill into an attachment (like a picture) there should be a return button to bring you back to the thread, or have the picture pop up in a seperate box like the "poll results"
I would like to see who created a new thread.
also would like it if my email notifications of a new message in a thread would tell me what thread it was related to and who posted the reply, aka , the old way. the new one just has a pretty clinical, .......'message from breaktime' sort of thing. no relevant info at all. Ummm, WHY???
I agree with all of Will's recommendations, and with those of ajinnz -- y'all have covered a lot of territory with those recommendations! I'd guess that the perfunctory email notices conserve server resources, but I do miss getting the text of the new comment(s) directly in the email notices.
It'll be a challenge to come up with additional well-thought-out recommendations. Thanks, Will, for starting this thread.
Here's an earthshaker! You'll probably want to wait a few months until the time you're bored stiff with nothing to do, but I'd love to have some "Smilies" we could add to our text. The ol' :-) just isn't that expressive! There's an auction-related forum out there that I used to frequent that has dozens of cool smilies.
The Oak Factory has smilies. That would surely kill this forum for me. I'm pretty open to change for the better. I kinda wonder if AOL isn't behind the new forum. The forums seem less useful and less information available. I'll keep checking it out but in the mean time Woodcentral seems better than this board for the amateur. The http://www.woodweb.com, http://www.iswonline.com and the other professional boards have this place beat hands dowm for me. BTW...commercial woodshow coming to Hartford CT April 12 and 13. http://www.newenglandwoodexpo.com
Nothing like those "other woodshows", Free for one thing. Not like Atlanta and such but a great opportunity to see some of the newer machines and such in New Emgland.
Edited 3/22/2002 5:34:03 AM ET by rick3ddd
I have to agree with Rick about his feeling towards "Smiles". While Smiles and other dingbats might not affect content it will certainly make the site look like a Britney Spears fan flub forum. That's not to my taste for sure. After all, isn't one of the underpinning directions of this forum good design?
Most of the recent new forum complaints I think are related to two areas - function and form. We've read a lot about function, but the "clutter" people respond to is more the complicated form of the forum. Within posts, the new colors, sizes, signatures and such add to the visual clutter that disturbs me. One element that I miss from the old forum is the elegant "type written" look of each posting (each one looked like a single sheet of paper with proper columns, margins and spacing). Simple italics and bolding add plenty of emphysis when needed and is properly understated. I've worked with plently of type design and have always followed the rule that less is more - additional sizes, colors, fonts work against good design and emphysis. On the new site, the graphics and visual balance (seemingly in order to add function) are not as strong. Please don't add even more clutter, esp. within the postings.
I would also suggest that members keep the visual noise in mind when posting and keep their posts simple. It will help to combat the existing inelegant graphic layout of the forum.
Best,
Seth
Sorry if this request has already been made and I missed it, but I did enjoy being able to see the first post at the top of every string as a reference. Even though threads often move in other directions it was a good reminder to stay on topic.
Best,
Seth
I'm probably being particularly dense, but I can't figure out how to access the 'Sandbox'. Can you help? Thanks.
The sand box is cleverly hidden in MY FORUMS , whoda thunk!!
Thats one of the quirks of the new improved forum.
Frank
Frank is right but you can also get to it by going to the Start page, (icon in the upper left). The link for it is there too.
Tim____________Tim SamsAssociate Editor, Fine WoodworkingKnots Moderator
Jack,
Not sure I understand your question--feel free to email me at [email protected] if I can give you a hand.
Tim
____________
Tim Sams
Associate Editor, Fine Woodworking
Knots Moderator
OK, OK! Forget the smilies. What made me mention it was I kept seeing <g> in numerous posts (by serious contributors, I believe Dano might have been one), and I assumed that that was an old HTML for a Grin.gif stored somewhere. Perhaps wrongly assumed.
Jeeze girl.... I know I'm blind but its not that bad... Looks like you certainly figured out how to use the font and size buttons. ROFLOL.... Not sure I understand all the hoopla about the smiley faces.... Send pictures.
Steve Schefer
Edited 3/22/2002 12:53:30 PM ET by Steve Schefer
Wow, do I love the Unread Messages selection and the go button or what. Just a simple click and you get all the new updates instantly.Steve - in Northern California
If the doctor says you have Attention Deficit Disorder, do you pay attention to him?
Forest Girl,
Well, your post definitely got my attention. ;-)
Think that <g> is just "cyber speak" for a grin, Sgian and Tim use them alot. I use either a ;-) or :-).
Dano"Form and Function are One" - Frank L. Wright
Hello All,
I have added this discussion to my bookmarks and will continue to visit it. I have also started a discussion over in the Sandbox called tips tricks and tutorials. Next week I will start afddding to it but feel free to add your own there if you come acroos any.
Till next time...-MarkSYSOP
The smiles aren't critical but they can be fun. I understand Seth's point about too much stuff going on but I don't think a smile here and there is going to hurt anyone.
I just got an email notification from prospero about new messages, instead of the usual, "you have a new message from breaktime etc" it now gave me one message with a list of all unread topics, including details of the subject. is that because of changes made? or is it part of a standard function anyway? whatever the reason, it is better.
getting there......
one more question though. I seem to be getting email notification of a new message posted by myself. not only that , but it says 'new message from AJiNNZ, when I am AJinNZ. small detail I know, but I cant figgure out how the upper case letter got in there or how to change it.
Davamoore, didnt you have similar probs? I seem to remembr seing something you wrote, but cant find it. along with a bunch of other things........ LOL
Wood Hoon
I put up my email address at registration, but modified it by adding a site harvester/spam blocker. I don't know how good Prospero's harvester defences are, but I decided to play safe anyway. I also didn't sign up for email notification of anything. I'll check out the forum if I want to see what's going on. Slainte, RJ.I used to be positively apathetic, but now I really couldn't care less.
"I seem to be getting email notification of a new message posted by myself" -- this was the case with the old forum also, so nothing different here. It may be pretty hard to eliminate that from the system.
On the page that says "Your message will be posted shortly", and then there's a "continue" button -- could we either be automatically flipped back to the message page (after a second or so), or could the "continue" button be activated by hitting "Enter" instead of having to mouse-it?
Humm, I'm having problems replying to messages. Anybody else have the prob. Sometimes I just get a mouse arrow and no cursor. I bounce back and forth then leave for a while and sometimes, (not always), when I come back, I can reply.
P.S. forest_girl - In response to another post. I used to live in cat box city (Tacoma) so I know what January, (or for that matter any time except the six wonderful weeks of summer) are like. I once tried to open a lawn mower sales business in Seattle but darn, I only sold one and the guy never came back until 20 years later. He said it quit and he wanted a refund because he only used it once. Come to find out, the gas had evaporated. ROFLOL.
You're welcome back in Nor Cal anytime.
Steve - in Northern California
If the doctor says you have Attention Deficit Disorder, do you pay attention to him?
This probably is not something SYSOP can change, but most people clicking on "LOGIN" probably are registered users already. I would like to suggest that the default destination for "LOGIN" be entering username and password, with a link for those not already registered.
Is there a facility to click on a person's name and see the recent posts they've made?
Tim, I'm having a problem replying to posts. Is anyone else having probs. Some are fine but others just leave me sitting with a mouse pointer and I can't enter text. Sometimes, if I wait, they will eventually work but usually only after someone else posts in the same thread.Steve - in Northern California
If the doctor says you have Attention Deficit Disorder, do you pay attention to him?
Okay guys'n'gals. Right click on the topic that interests you in the column on the left side of the screen, and hit N, or click on New Window in the box that opens up. It opens a new window, surprisingly. Everything is nice and big. Big boxes fill the width of the screen, not so many lines in a post, etc..
But yes, as others have noted, it would be helpful in working out who is replying to whom if the response to a poster appeared right under that posters 'boxed' reply. I'm not sure if that can be be engineered by the sysops or the techie people at Prospero, but that's my suggestion. One of my favourite features of the old Taunton forums was the threaded listing that allowed you to pick up where a converstion ended the last time you looked in, even if you were only lurking and witnessing a flaming session, he, he. Slainte, RJ.
PS. I only log in to post. I prefer to lurk and check out threads as a 'Guest.' I go and check the names of the other 'visitors' here. I'm nosy like that, but I like being a bit anonymous, so I vote against any proposals for auto log in that may be proposed, unless the current visitors section is also removed.
I used to be positively apathetic, but now I really couldn't care less.
Edited 3/22/2002 11:43:35 PM ET by Sgian Dubh
I really liked the sound of this so I right clicked General Disscussion and new window, and there was a nice full width listing of message titles. But when I clicked on a title no change. Eventually discovered that the messages were being displayed in the original window, not this new one. Glitch?
I posted this tip in a couple of threads in the sandbox yesterday. You'd want to right-click on the discussion you want to read, e.g., "Thread for constructive change requests," not on the Discussion Group name.
I also use the "Open New Window" trick for my replies. That way, the discussion is in the original window for me to refer to. What helps make this a very efficient mechanism is the use of Alt+Tab to swtich between windows.
i find it annoying that if i have already seen a thread that only the new messages are shown, and that i have to go to a lot of work navigating to see the entire thread. it would be much easier to have the entire thread show up when i click on the link
Andrew, I think if you select ALL, hit GO then select your thread you will see the first ten or so messages. At the bottom of the shown messages, you should be able to select the next batch if there are more to be shown.
Steve - in Northern California
If the doctor says you have Attention Deficit Disorder, do you pay attention to him?
Mark / Tim,
When we type posts we should be able to still see the rest of the page, like when we are reading posts. It helps to be able to see the list of threads on the left and to be able to see previous posts in the thread. This will help provide better orientation and enable use to refer back to stuff (quotes etc.) when we are typing our posts.
Will
When editing a post that we made we are unable to change the "To:" field. This is needed for obvious reasons.
We should be able to drill into someones name and see a list of their posts. This will help us navigate quickly and do research more quickly
The drop down box of the "To:" field in a post should only include the names of the individuals that have posted to the thread (for an existing thread). I am seeing more names than have posted to the thread and I am not seeing all of the names that have posted to the thread, which is confusing and frustrating.
I would like the order of the various groups to stay the same (e.g., Finishing, followed by Gallery followed by General Discussion, etc.) rather than having the order change based on -- what?! Latest post? I guess. That way, I can get used to where they are and scroll to them quickly.
There is just too much clutter on the screen. I stare at the computer most of the day. I used to cruise the forums at lunch. This new format kills my eyes rather than refreshing them. How much value is the "rate your interest" section adding it takes up 20 % of the screen. Simplify.
OK, this is what i want to know.
I have my pref's set to give me email notification of any new posts in a discussion I am interested in.
I got no notification for a week, then a whole bunch. So, threads that had only 20 or so replies suddenly had up to 90. I dont really feel like wading through that many just to keep up. this thing is hard enough on the eyes already.
WHY wont this infernal system just notify me when a new message is posted RIGHT AWAY?
WHY cant I type in a persons name in the search and get a list of most recent posts as I could on the old site???
WHY does the order of the selection down the left of the screen keep changing???
Wood Hoon
WHY wont this infernal system just notify me when a new message is posted RIGHT AWAY?
Ans: I don't know - but why would you expect this clunky system to work smoothly? - -
WHY cant I type in a persons name in the search and get a list of most recent posts as I could on the old site???
Ans: over at breaktime, it has been discovered that if you know the persons log-in name (as vs nickname) you can successfully search, and if the person is using a signature (ex. Wood Hoon) that a search using the signature is successful -
WHY does the order of the selection down the left of the screen keep changing???
Ans: the order seems to change with each new post - when this is posted, General discussions will leap to the top with this thread at the top until the next post to somewhere on the board - if the next post is in some thread within general discussion, g-d will stay at the top, and the thread with the most recent post will leap to the top - if the post is in some other folder, then that folder will leap to the top - I think -
Do you have 'tilt-a-whirls' in NZ? carnival rides that have three different axes of rotation - this board reminds me of that - about as comfortable -
David, thank you for taking the time to explain these things. It wil make some aspects easier now.
"Tilt-a-whirls". yes we do. I have never been on one, but I understand they have a reputation for making the users throw up.
A rather appropriate comparisson dont you think? <G>
Wood Hoon
I especially like the ;-)
Big font above -- just wanted to make sure everyone paid attention to my groveling -- rest assured I won't grovel very often! ;-)
When I figure out how to do it, I'll add a couple of innocuous grins and winks via .gif
There was another site I visit alot that also used the same message
system you have here. EnjoyTheMusic.com.
AudioAsylum.com uses a far easier and more organized message software.
ETM message center has folded, AA message center just keeps on growing.
Check'em out and you'll see what I mean.
GTF
If these suggestions have already been made, please consider them my "votes."
Suggestion 1: A link (in My Forums somewhere?) that we can use to "Change Priorities." I have now built up a number of High Priority threads, some of which I'd like to bump down to neutral, but it'd be cool if I could do it without opening up each one individually. The link could open to a page with all my hi-pri discussion titles on the left side, and the three priority choices on the right, which I could change individually. Or maybe a checkbox next to each title -- I could go down the list and put a check next to each one I want to set to Neutral, and then a button at the bottom that says "Set selected discussions to neutral." In order to ignore a discussion I'd have to go into it.
Suggestion 2: This is in regards to the notation in My Forums, next to number of new messages, that says "3 to me" or whatever number of direct responses I've gotten since the last time I checked. This link is only semi-useful (at best). I'd like to see it lead to a page that has a concise list of all the discussion titles that have the new direct replies referred to. Then I could check all those quickly (and not miss any!), and then go to the main discussion page for further browsing.
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