Stafford Forum 2.0 is coming! Help & suggestions needed...

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Another thing which isn`t very obvious in the current system is where there are several `new posts`, but where the first one(s) finish off a page, and yet there is one, or more, even newer post(s) following on on a new page. It is all too easy to fail to notice and move to the new page to read the later new posts.
 

Mr X

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Another thing which isn`t very obvious in the current system is where there are several `new posts`, but where the first one(s) finish off a page, and yet there is one, or more, even newer post(s) following on on a new page. It is all too easy to fail to notice and move to the new page to read the later new posts.
^ Seconded

And I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but after not visiting for a few days then using the 'show new posts' feature, it seems to time out before you can go through every thread. Not sure what the best solution here would be? Maybe have it not timing out at all, requiring a click to mark all as read?
 

Admin

You there; behave!
Staff member
Gramaisc said:
Another thing which isn`t very obvious in the current system is where there are several `new posts`, but where the first one(s) finish off a page, and yet there is one, or more, even newer post(s) following on on a new page. It is all too easy to fail to notice and move to the new page to read the later new posts.
This makes so little sense, and the fact you're using acute/grave accents instead of apostrophes (which you have never done before), makes me wonder if it is you posting at all or whether your account has been compromised. :/

Can you clarify what you mean? Ta. :)
 

Mr X

Well-Known Forumite
Admin said:
Gramaisc said:
Another thing which isn`t very obvious in the current system is where there are several `new posts`, but where the first one(s) finish off a page, and yet there is one, or more, even newer post(s) following on on a new page. It is all too easy to fail to notice and move to the new page to read the later new posts.
This makes so little sense, and the fact you're using acute/grave accents instead of apostrophes (which you have never done before), makes me wonder if it is you posting at all or whether your account has been compromised. :/

Can you clarify what you mean? Ta. :)
If it's the problem I think Gramaisc means, it's where a thread has exploded with a huge number of new posts. I log in, click 'show new posts since last visits', click 'new posts' on one of the threads listed and begin reading through the posts. But because there are so many new posts in that thread, some of moved onto the next page (or occasionally more than one page). I fail to notice this so miss out reading a number of new posts.

Whether it's Gramaisc or not (hopefully it is though!) I still have this problem from time to time!
 

wmrcomputers

Stafford PC & laptop repair specialist
Made perfect sense here, and couldn't agree more Gramaisc.

I also agree about the time out issue. If I click on show new posts and then a visitor arrives at my door, by the time I've seen them off and made myself a brew, the forum seems to think I must have read them all, and there's no real way of going back. I've missed so many interesting threads because of this before, and definitely agree that the only way a thread should be "marked as read" is if we manually click on the link - if that's possible please admin?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Admin said:
Gramaisc said:
Another thing which isn`t very obvious in the current system is where there are several `new posts`, but where the first one(s) finish off a page, and yet there is one, or more, even newer post(s) following on on a new page. It is all too easy to fail to notice and move to the new page to read the later new posts.
This makes so little sense, and the fact you're using acute/grave accents instead of apostrophes (which you have never done before), makes me wonder if it is you posting at all or whether your account has been compromised. :/

Can you clarify what you mean? Ta. :)
Let me use numbers.

A thread page has a capacity for 25 posts. Let's say that the last time you looked at that thread it had 24 posts on it - so you have seen post #24. Whilst you are away, two more posts are entered, #25 & #26.

When you next click on 'new posts' you will be shown post #25. If you don't happen to notice that there is now a page 2, then you will fail to read post #26. When you next look, 'new posts' will take you to post #27, if there has been one, and, unless you then happen to notice post #26, you will fail to read it again.

The grave accents were not of my making and are beyond my ability to explain.
 

The Stafford Beast

Well-Known Forumite
I would have thought the biggest problem for Admin is when people create new posts without searching the forum for any existing historical content. I think when someone types the subject line for a new post, the web site should automatically search for similar posts and list them underneath similar to Get Satisfaction's social knowledgebase.

I also think the forum doesn't look Staffordy enough. My boss once did a site for a Stafford-based law firm, and he spent the day going around Stafford taking pictures of all the landmarks. He then made a banner for the top of the web site using a collage of the best photos. This should be done here I think.
 

Admin

You there; behave!
Staff member
The Stafford Beast said:
I would have thought the biggest problem for Admin is when people create new posts without searching the forum for any existing historical content. I think when someone types the subject line for a new post, the web site should automatically search for similar posts and list them underneath similar to Get Satisfaction's social knowledgebase.
Yes, the new platform will most likely include some kind of 'auto-search-to-see-if-the-same-thing-has-been-posted-before' algorithm. :)

The Stafford Beast said:
I also think the forum doesn't look Staffordy enough. My boss once did a site for a Stafford-based law firm, and he spent the day going around Stafford taking pictures of all the landmarks. He then made a banner for the top of the web site using a collage of the best photos. This should be done here I think.
Thanks for the input. If there are any designers out there who want to produce a mock-up of how they would like/think things should look, then that would be smashing. ;)
 

Wolfenrook

Well-Known Forumite
I love Joomla and Kunena forum component for a reason. Media players, galleries etc all available as components/modules or plugins, often for free. Tapatalk plugin available for Kunena for all the mobile users. Tons of free templates available. Updating a snap etc etc. There's even a converter to go from punBB to Kunena. lol

Oh and if you just can't part with the punBB look, there's a punBB theme for Kuneana. lol

I think my wife already PM'd you admin with some links to some of my sites? You are more than welcome to contact me with any questions etc.

Ade
 

Ecker

Well-Known Forumite
Admin said:
The Stafford Beast said:
I would have thought the biggest problem for Admin is when people create new posts without searching the forum for any existing historical content. I think when someone types the subject line for a new post, the web site should automatically search for similar posts and list them underneath similar to Get Satisfaction's social knowledgebase.
Yes, the new platform will most likely include some kind of 'auto-search-to-see-if-the-same-thing-has-been-posted-before' algorithm. :)

The Stafford Beast said:
I also think the forum doesn't look Staffordy enough. My boss once did a site for a Stafford-based law firm, and he spent the day going around Stafford taking pictures of all the landmarks. He then made a banner for the top of the web site using a collage of the best photos. This should be done here I think.
Thanks for the input. If there are any designers out there who want to produce a mock-up of how they would like/think things should look, then that would be smashing. ;)
Stafford Forum...A Critical Analysis and Comparison

What works particularly well for me is the way that the site does not trumpet the joys of living in Stafford and its environs in the hope of attracting money; rather it concentrates on its people.

There are far too many sites out there which rely on hype in the hope of attracting attention and that approach gets singularly tedious. Universities concentrate on buildings
rather than their students and all are the best at everything they do. Folk wanting to sell you stuff all offer the best service imaginable and I can't help but feel that all this trumpet blowing is wearing more than a bit thin.

Suggestion: While a photo banner would be an attractive addition; if you are going to do it,
please take the opportunity to celebrate the people who make a difference e.g. The folk in the Parks Department for the work they put into bringing colour into the town. Stafford District Arts Council for bringing festivals to the town and all manner of others too numerous to go into detail here.

I would be only too happy to collaborate with anyone who would be interested.
 

Neon Jay

Are we there yet?
From a musical perspective...

Having the ability to add either a soundcloud player, or something like that, would be really useful :) as far as I know, the players are embedded .swf files, so I'm not sure what the security implications are on this one as I'm no code expert.

Also, an interactive event calendar (possibly flash or java?) would be fantastic (think google map for venue, possibly a 'preview this band' listener), they're always really good for helping both local / regional musical types and venues out; the existing feature is good, but I didn't actually spot it for a week or so despite it being right there on the front page - maybe some kind of 'newsreel' type simple animation just to attract the eye?

I'd go as far as suggesting maybe hosting some audio, but I appreciate the immense resources that this would require as audio files ain't the smallest :bananarock:

What do other forumites think about this idea?
 

Neon Jay

Are we there yet?
Forgot to say, if you need any noises / fx / audio constructing Admin, be more than happy to help out here :D
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
shoes said:
Neon Jay said:
What do other forumites think about this idea?
DILLIGAF?
embedded .swf files,... I'm not sure what the security implications are on this one as I'm no code expert.
An expert i am not, but i'm fairly sure that embedded doo-dahs have been ruled out on security implication grounds.
...an interactive event calendar...the existing feature is good, but I didn't actually spot it for a week or so despite it being right there on the front page
Now that is a good idea, good idea Neon Jay :)

(think google map for venue, possibly a 'preview this band' listener), they're always really good for helping both local / regional musical types and venues out
i like that..

...maybe some kind of 'newsreel' type simple animation just to attract the eye?
i'd go with that too.

I do GAF, but i try not to sully the pure waters of C & T C on account of not wanting to account for myself.

Sort of thing.
 

Miss Red

Well-Known Forumite
Can we have a little bit larger inbox? I know you should clean out your mailbox as often as your kitchen cupboards, but the inbox only holds a few and if your in a conversation, you have to keep deleting to recieve the new ones!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Miss Red said:
Can we have a little bit larger inbox? I know you should clean out your mailbox as often as your kitchen cupboards, but the inbox only holds a few and if your in a conversation, you have to keep deleting to recieve the new ones!
The message memory was recently raised from ten to twenty. Although, it might be advantageous if there could be a box in the corner of the main screen* showing the current usage/remaining capacity.

As has been said before, the current new massage alert doesn't really shout at you, and it's possible to fail to notice it.


*Or alongside the 'Messages' button, maybe?.
 

Miss Red

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
Miss Red said:
Can we have a little bit larger inbox? I know you should clean out your mailbox as often as your kitchen cupboards, but the inbox only holds a few and if your in a conversation, you have to keep deleting to recieve the new ones!
The message memory was recently raised from ten to twenty. Although, it might be advantageous if there could be a box in the corner of the main screen* showing the current usage/remaining capacity.

As has been said before, the current new massage alert doesn't really shout at you, and it's possible to fail to notice it.


*Or alongside the 'Messages' button, maybe?.
Perhaps checkboxes to quickly delete email volume too - opening up each one at a time is tedious (unless theres a way and i just havent seen it lol)
 

Admin

You there; behave!
Staff member
Miss Red said:
Can we have a little bit larger inbox?
A larger inbox is something which will be available when we change to the new platform.

Miss Red said:
Perhaps checkboxes to quickly delete email volume too - opening up each one at a time is tedious (unless theres a way and i just havent seen it lol)
If you scroll to the bottom of your 'Messages' page you will see a 'Delete multiple messages' option on the left of your screen; it does exactly as you'd imagine! ;)

Admin
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Admin said:
If you scroll to the bottom of your 'Messages' page you will see a 'Delete multiple messages' option on the left of your screen; it does exactly as you'd imagine! ;)

Admin
Excellent, never noticed that before!..
 
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