Hi Folks, What do you want to see in future upgrades to this forum? I’m updating this post with requests as I have time to review them. Requested upgrades: -Improved navigation -Updated color scheme–hard to see some colored text -Update “button text”–wording is clunky, “save” instead of “post”, “add a forum topic” instead of “make a post” -Advanced formatting options -Spell check -Add reference numbers to new posts -Add old Mzinga message IDs to archive posts -Need a “Back to Forums” link I’m trying to keep feedback centralized so I can keep track of the suggestions in order to act. Please keep the posts in this dicussion on the topic of “upgrades.” I’ve also started a companion discussion on bugs. That list is for things that are just plain broken. For instance, I don’t think the email notification system is working. Thanks in advance for constructive feedback. Gina, FineWoodworking.com
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Well, having formatting options (like the text composition box at old Knots, and at Sawmill Creek and a zillion other forums) is tops on my list. We should not have to format HTML or BBS.
"Save" should be "Post" "Add new comment" should be "Reply" (it's not a blog, it's a forum).
As far as color scheme: The main headings (Power Tools, General Discussion) should stand out discreetly from the titles of the threads.
PS: Speed is crucial too. Is the slowness of the site related to the newness of it, or is something else going on? I've seen several comments already about this issue, and I'm sure noticing it when I post.
Not fair. You stole all my comments.
ASK
1.Need line breaks instead of color shift between posts
2.Need direct access to attachment ability at composition level
3.Black type on white ground,
4.Move search my message number to Left side as a pull down. 5.Add boolean search at same time (search words), all in one place
6.Unless really planning to use right side for future ads, links other and visual clutter, move center column over and use for expanded response area. Keep that for the non-forum area of the website.
7.Most people here are woodworkers and could care less about HTML - keep it simple. Otherwise will end up with overuse of color, style etc and look like Romper Room.
New site seems slow. Also navigation is not intuitive. I really don't give much value to formatting options, preferring speed and ease of use.
I like the new site!
My suggestion is this: a "Reply" button at the bottom of a thread.
To explain, currently, there is a "Add New Comment" button after the first post in a thread, which works as I'd expect.
Then, after each post, there is a "Reply" button, which replies to that post.
So if one reads through an entire thread, (which manners seem to dictate one do before one opens one's mouth...) then elects to reply, one either must reply to a post near the end of the thread, or return to the top of the thread.
So my suggestion is simply an "Add New Comment" button near the end of the thread, or following each post.
I like the new site! Did I say that yet? :)
*Attaching files or images in a reply
*Better distinction between Forum Headings and Topics in the left column
TIP
If the server is running slowly using a browser that supports Tabs lets you load several topics concurrently in separate tabs. Once you finish you selection, the first is loaded for reading.
Don
I'm wondering - when the
I'm wondering - when the string of posts on a thread gets to be in the hundreds, will I have to scroll down the entire thing to find the last new one?
OK...I see that "Recent Topics" will more or less get there, but it's not specific to an ongoing thread. I really liked the way the old format gave notice of new posts in a thread and I could go directly to them.
Gina,
A.We seem to have lost message counts in the individual profiles when clicking on a member. Will that come back?
Mel will be extremely bummed otherwise.
B.SpellChecker.
(Firefox lets me know whats missed spelled but it doesn't give me word options and I'm lazy)
BB
"...B.SpellChecker.
(Firefox lets me know whats missed spelled but it doesn't give me word options and I'm lazy)"
Right click on the misspelled word for word options in Firefox.
Larry,
If I can find your messages then anyone can, especially the agile BB.......
Of course, it is a bit easier if a fellow posts a wee piksher in his profile. However, please try to post a-one with you cracking a smile as otherwise we might think you to be a bit of a glum bloke.
Lataxe
Larry,
Simple click on word in Mac doesn't do it. Control/click on underlined word will bring up words/alternatives but not on older versions of FireFox. Mac import dictionaries that FF will recognize are limited to 3-5 word/spelling variations, not same as previous forum spell checker.
BB
Put the "FOR SALE" back under the banner as Classified. There is way to much length to the left side already.
Gina,
Would there be a way of
Gina,
Would there be a way of shrinking the spaces between topics in the leftside column? As it is now the excess space means that column is quite long and requires a lot of scrolling down to get to the bottom. Just a small tweak, but it would streamline the page considerably..
Zolton
Left side "folders and subjects"
A. Would like contrasting color for "folder"
B. Like last forum, Underline subject and followed tight by "[#new of # total]"
C. Get rid of "who"
D. Loose empty spacing between subjects would make it easier to scan threads without all the unnecessary scrolling.
Agree with forestgirl,
""Save" should be "Post" "Add new comment" should be "Reply" (it's not a blog, it's a forum). "
BB
Gina,
I couln't find this one
Gina,
I couln't find this one but apologies if it's already on the list:-
Could the central message column scroll seperately from the columns either side (which would have their own scroll bars)? I liked this feature of the old forum as otherwise there is too much up/down full-page movement, which I find tiring on the eye.
Lataxe
I would definitely second what Lataxe has suggested. That one change would make it much easier to navigate around the main page. Kieran
One item that should be very quick to implement. On the front pages allot less column space to the forum name, and allot it to the right hand column with the poster and date. More space over their will immediately reduce the number of lines used, giving a much more information dense first impression. Ought to be an almost trivial change to accomplish, with lots of visual benefit.
It would be nice if the "discussion" column (on the left side of the screen) would NOT scroll when I scroll down reading to the end of a thread.
Not a big deal, but it would be nice.
Thanks for all of your hard work Gina.
Bill
Although I personally like the threaded (indented replies) some prefer the chronological display. If the new software has expanded user profile capabilities, it might be possible for each user to customize their view to their own tasted.
Since the amount of indent is small due to the restricted horizontal space, it might be nice if the display code added a tree structure - vertical lines to the replied-to post, with horizontal lines to each reply.
An option to collapse the view into an index format without the post and reply text might also be helpful.
Don't know whether to call
Don't know whether to call this a bug report or a request for enhancement, but I've noticed on some long threads that messages get progressively indented and wind up skinny toward the bottom of the thread.
It'd be nice if there were some way so that when I revisit a thread the posts that I've already read were not shown. I imaging the feasibility of this depends on whether Drupal has the concept of read versus unread comment in a thread.
In general, compressing vertical space and using lines as delimiters would make the forum more readable, especially the thread topic list.
Thanks.
Let me opt out of having to see the personal tag lines. Some are interesting, but after reading them once, they become bothersome visual noise.
Hello Gina,
It seems the ability to edit one's posts expires as soon as someone replies. Having the ability to edit for a few days would be a better option to me.
Getting rid of the right-hand blather column would also allow wider pictures than 480 pixels and allow the longer indented threading to be more readable.
Take care, Mike
I want to strongly suggest that the text font and color be chnaged to something readable. Also, need the ability to brose and attach a file/photo in a reply.
I another suggestions.
A way to mark all posts as read. As it is, unless I open each post, they stay marked as unread.
Gina:
Second the request to eliminate the personal tag lines. Sometimes blank lines are included, the amount of screen space used becomes excessive. And the tag lines don't add value to the discussions. I'm sure some people are very proud of their tag lines, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be proud of them. But they do take up a lot of space over time, especially for those who post often.
I'm not sure where this
I'm not sure where this comment will end up in the chronology but here goes:I support the need for email notification and separate scrolling of the Discussion Column from the Post column.
P.S. My 'Message Notification' works fine.
I've heard a suggestion that the alternate color blocks be eliminated in favor of 'separation lines'. Perhaps replies to the thread subject could be in white, while digressions in the tan color. Tis would enable the chronology of posts to be implemented.
I appreciate the listening 'ears' at Taunton. Keep up the good work.
Gina,
I'm learning my way
Gina,
I'm learning my way around, and want to thank you (all of you at Taunton) for your efforts. For my tastes, the sky is NOT falling. I'm sure with all the improvements you are making, this format will eventually be just fine.
If I could make a request, it would be to somehow receive email notification for a reply to any of my comments, just like the old site. It was a terrific feature of the old site for me, as it kept me from needing to surf the entire forum for replies to any of my comments.
Happy Holidays,
Jeff
Suggestions:
-Add an index page for each OP. Then add formatting options so one can read each OP by seeing either the index page or the page as it is now. If I want to scan comments to the OP I don’t want to have to read each one. I want to move through this fast.
-Formatting options - allow bolding of the rather bland font.
-Color choices are important for the background. Now it is too pale. Allow this to be formatted.
-Put a box around each comment. This will make it easier to see what the indent is. Now it is too hard to tell which is a child comment.
Perhaps this has already been mentioned but it's driving me nuts and I don't have the desire to read each and every post to determine that fact. If I have previously read through a thread and only wish to see items posted to that thread since my last visit I would expect to be able to go directly to the new reply rather than have to scroll through every post to get to it. There is a field which denotes how many new replies have been posted but when I select that I'm still taken to the original post. Bummer!
Regards,
Ron Kellison
Here at Knots (not yet at Breaktime....) there is a function that might be useful, if it worked properly.
In the left column, I can click on "My Profile". From the profile page, I can click on the "Activity" tab.
That "Activity" page is supposed to show all of the topics in which I've participated.
It doesn't.
.
.
.
.
Gina,
RE: Message counts.
In future updates, I would like to see an actual message count of a forum member similar to the old profile info shown before. As it is now , under "My Profile >View and or >Activity, the actual messages from a member are listed in Chronological order and that is of a certain value but I rarely access that, whereas do occasionally look to the total volume of message that member has written or responded to.
Boiler
Can you do something about the sign in process. There is not a prompt for returning users and for some reason it is requiring that I type out the entire e-mail address each time. I check back quite a bit, I have been motivated to post a quick commnet, only to get caught in the sign in process after the fact and then having to find the thread I was reading.
Dan, if you use a browser with password management, it will auto-fill the fields of the login panel. That way, you only have to click on the login button. Sometimes, it takes a couple of extra seconds to fill the fields, but it's really handy.
I usually login on the main page, and that logs me into Knots automagically.
That is part of the problem, it was not filling in the fields automaticly. Now if they can just get the spell check working...
The forum software doesn't
The forum software doesn't fill in the blanks, Dan, your browser does - if, that is, you've told it to remember the login and password for this site. Check your stored password file to see what it's set to.
Gina,
I already sent this to the webmaster, but I'll put it here too.
The only way I can abandon a post halfway through writing is just to leave entire page. Then I'm not sure if it posted or not. Should have a Delete button there.
Thanks for suffering the slings and arrows and not quitting on us. Hmm, I dont' think you even got mean. What restraint! Again, you rock!
--jonnieboy
I just posted a response to boilerbay in this thread and I bet he doesn't see it because of the clumsy way such responses are handled. I'd explain how to fix it but I'm a woodworker not a HTML expert.
BTW, have you noticed that almost all the posts on this forum are about the mechanics of the damn thing? Looks to me like it's withering on the vine. Maybe it's time to agree who will shut the lights off at the end?
I really like the new format and enjoy the white space and overall cleanliness. The old setup looked old, and clicking in one window to view in another seemed quite counter-intuitive to me. I find myself visiting this one a lot more.
My one request would be to be able to preview a post before opening it (to see if I wanted to). If everyone titled their post so you could tell what it was about, this wouldn't be a problem.
Anyway, kudos on adding a little style and design. Keep up the good work!
Larry,
I got it but finding it wasn't intuitive.
Thanks.
Boiler
Request member file under "Member" listing be done or have option to go to simple alphabetical list without graphics or data. Too much to plow through to find a name. Sometimes I don't know the exact spelling to use so at least an alphabetical list would give a starting point. Of no use as is for me.
Thankx
Boiler
Gina
The right hand column says that these "bugs" are fixed already, but they are not, at least for me.
1. My "new" posts are different every single time I come to the site. For instance, Lataxe's post regarding his table in the Gallery shows that all the posts are new. Yesterday, it only showed 3 new. It changes every time I come here, and is not accurate at all.
2. I am still NOT getting any email notification of posts in threads that I check off as being of interest. I updated my profile as you requested to include this, but it is still not happening.
Any idea what is causing this?
Jeff
I'd like to see a way to mark
I'd like to see a way to mark all posts as read without reading them or clicking on them.
Gina:
Please reduce the amount of space for "signatures" and tag lines at the bottom of their posts, and help people eliminate the double posting of their signatures and tag lines. A LOT of space can be devoted to repeated signatures and tags.
It took a few weeks for a bug to get worked out so I could log in so many of the items on my wish list have already been changed. I do like that the original post in a thread is at the top of each page of that thread, however, if only the unread replies showed then a thread would seldom need more than one page. Just keep the original post and unread replies.
Number the posts so you can tell which post a person is repling to rather than the indented system.
The color shift between posts only shows if I view the screen from an angle. The color shift is fine but adding a frame around the post would visually seperate them better.
Would like to see the left hand Discussions column scroll seperately from the center post column. It could also be compressed more to show more topics at a time.
Use a seperate color for the topic titles from the thread titles.
Would also like to have some sort of identifying in the left column which threads have been read during the present session, along with a system of marking high interest etc.
These changes would eliminate most of the excessive scrolling needed to find ones way around. (Maybe there is a way to hook this up to my GPS) ;o)
This forum is presently not user friendly or intuitive to navigate because of all the scrolling needed. IMVHO
Hoping everyone has a happy prosperoless new year.
Rich
test attaching image to comment.
I might be overlooking something very obvious, and my apologies if that’s the case, but I cannot easily identify which posts have photo or attachments.
Can you add an icon to posts containing photos?
Thanks again Gina for your "big ears". That's a compliment, not a put down. :-)
I've already commented, as has Lataxe, on separate scrolling of left and center columns. One new thing I have noticed, and missed as I use the site daily, is the name of the person to whom the reply is directed. We know the "from", It would be nice to include the "to".
Gina,
As threads get longer and spread onto a second page, "new" messages are not marked "new" on the second page. I believe that viewing the first page makes the system think that you have "seen" all the messages, and moving to page two is a "revist" to the thread, so the "new" posts aren't new anymore.
Ray
Search MY postings
Would be nice if I am 1 click away from finding my postings so I can see replies from others. Now, it is cumbersome for me to run around and search, or am I missing something obvious?
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