Forum update - comments here please

[Big Shed]

Neil, it isn't just a 2 different web addresses issue, just did this sequence

from iSpy clicked on

http://woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?p=587846#post587846

then clicked on

http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=54173&highlight=chainsaw+sharpener

and finally clicked on the attached image in post #4 (which only shows as a link, not a thumbnail) and was the asked to log in to woodworkforums.com

So that whole sequence was on woodworkforums.com, didn't involve woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au at all.

Just thought it might help someone work out what's going on.

[steven]

Neil, it isn't just a 2 different web addresses issue, just did this sequence

from iSpy clicked on

http://woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?p=587846#post587846

then clicked on

http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=54173&highlight=chainsaw+sharpener

and finally clicked on the attached image in post #4 (which only shows as a link, not a thumbnail) and was the asked to log in to woodworkforums.com


Hi there

The difference with the two links you posted is one has a www and the other doesn't. Can you confirm if you were logged in on both urls?

With the attachment showing only as a link, would suggest you where logged out when you went from one url to the other. ts easy to fix, will just need to run some things past neil beforehand.

regards

[Cruzi]

Ok, see discussion has been had about embedded pictures, been having trouble seeing some for a little while now and only just discovered the new domain.

Does forum coding need mod to allow pictures to be veiwed across both domains or an auto re-direct placed in to at least get people into the domain that everything works in?


Apart from that guys, great work on the forum and really do apprieciate the effort that goes into running it.

[Big Shed]

Hi there

The difference with the two links you posted is one has a www and the other doesn't. Can you confirm if you were logged in on both urls?

With the attachment showing only as a link, would suggest you where logged out when you went from one url to the other. ts easy to fix, will just need to run some things past neil beforehand.

regards

Hi Steven,

Did not notice the www and non-www links:doh:, was looking for the ubeaut address!

So what you are saying is that there are THREE different web addresses for the forum?
Strewth no wonder it gets confused, I certainly do.

When I started out on that iSpy trip above I was logged on to woodworkforums.com, so that explains why it got its' knickers in a knot when it got to www.woodworkforums.com.

Cheers

Fred

[ubeaut]

Up until the end of the initial part of the update there was no problem between the 2 domains which ran seamlessly and for all intents and purposes as one (actually there's 3 domains as there is also a .com.au version that is off line at the moment) anyhow. it was fixed and worked fina again until the server fell over and hasn't been right since.

Hopefully by tomorrow all will be right again.

Cheers - Neil :)

[bitingmidge]

Question Neil, Steven,

It appears that really old posts (four or five years) have their pics gone. This may or may not be what you guys are talking about, and I don't have an example, but do the pics "disappear" after a certain time frame?

If so, is it possible to 'quarantine' the threads in the "best of the best" forum to stop them going to archives?

Cheers,

P

[ss_11000]

thanx for all your hard work steven and neil...and the rest of ya's to:)

:2tsup:

[pawnhead]

A big thanks to Steven, Neil and all the mods for your tireless efforts in making the best forums on the web even better. :2tsup:
I love the improvements and I've had no problems, although I was a bit nervous during that outage when I saw the domain for sale notice. :oo:
I was thinking that you might be getting sued like Simon at Whirlpool, but I'm glad you cleared that up. :)

[joe greiner]

Question Neil, Steven,

It appears that really old posts (four or five years) have their pics gone. This may or may not be what you guys are talking about, and I don't have an example, but do the pics "disappear" after a certain time frame?

If so, is it possible to 'quarantine' the threads in the "best of the best" forum to stop them going to archives?

Cheers,

P

Doesn't seem to be there now, but my previous UserCP listing attachments had a storage limit. Could be older pics were removed long ago for housekeeping.

Joe

[ian]

Very soon (no specific timing available) there will be some significant updates done to the forums. Please put any comments of issues in this thread. Any placed anywhere else will be moved without notice.

Details of the updates will not be given beforehand (I don't have them :wink: ), but there should be some things in Uncle Neil's bag for most of us. :)Groggy, Neal

some comments on the new groupings if I may

Hand tools — unpowered (the dark side) TICK
Hand tools — powered TICK
Home made tools and Jigs TICK
Japanese Hand Tools TICK


Band saws TICK


I'm not so positive about

Table Saws and Combinations
Radial arm saws, Moulders, Thicknessers, etc
General & small machinery
there seems to be at least one too many categories. maybe:
Saws and Combination machines
Other Machinery (drill press, jointers, thicknessers, etc)


where should I post about a Mitre saw or SCMS
General & small machinery?
Hand Tools — powered?
Radial Arm Saws


overall, I'm positive about teh change

ian

[ubeaut]

Midge - Quite some time ago when there were major issues with bandwidth we dumped all the non essential pics I think from about pre 2003. We have since moved to a massive dedicated server and the bandwidth is no longer a concern You will note that most pics from that time were deleted but essential ones like the cyclone for instance were kept. We were really desperate for band width at the time and this was the only way.

You will also notice that the latest member to join is member number 18,823 where the member numbers showing is 13,766 This is because we have dumped almost 5,000 members who were either spammers and peddlers or who hadn't visited since they joined up and pre 2004. We will have another culling of the same type some time in the next few months. Oh yeah theres about 9 impermanently banned members in amongst that lot.

ian - Yep it's a dilemma alright but part of the reason for the split was the fact that we had a really big number of people wanting a Table Saw Forum and splits in the other tool forums both hand and machinery. So being as how combinations go hand in hand with TS's that is the logical place for them.

Radial Arms, Spindle Molders etc are mostly reasonable sized machines so it kinda stands that they should go together.

General Small machines etc is for smaller machinery as well as the lower end of the marker the general hobbiest stuff from funnies and the cheap C/Tec stuff. Again pretty much logical. We either have another half a dozen forums or compromise.

Should have seen the dilemma trying to choose where to put the Bessey clamps thread.

SCM and drop saws I would put in General they might cost a lot and be the workhorse of many tradies etc but they're still just small machines.

So far this is the best compromise and after shifting around some 3,500 threads on the weekend I doubt anyone is going to stick their hand up to move any more in a hurry.

[ian]

Neil

thanks for the response


and thank you (and Ubeaut) for hosting the forum

ian

[Barry_White]

Neil or Steven

I have come to the point of total frustration.

Since the upgrade my access has become slower and slower to the point on one computer the forum will just not load when I click on a link out of an email or whether I click on the home button or if I type in www.woodworkforums.com (http://www.woodworkforums.com) in the address bar the browser says website found waiting for reply and then it just sits there with the green progress bar one third the way along and then stopping. At one stage it did connect when I typed in www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au) but would only load the home page and would not go any further.

On another computer it is taking fifteen minutes or more to load a page using www.woodworkforums.com (http://www.woodworkforums.com)

The only reasonable access I have is from a third desktop computer.

Here is the mystery of it all is that the computers are all connected to the Internet via the third computer on a hard wired network through a two way satellite connection running at 512/256 through Ipstar.

The first two are running XP Professional using IE7. The first one is P3 1200Ghz and the second one is a P4 1800Ghz and the third one is running XP Home using IE6 and is a P4 1800Ghz

Basically the only difference is IE 6 and 7.

I have no other problems connecting to any other websites with good responses.

I am running Kaspersky Virus on the first two computers and Avast on the third one. The first two have 512meg of memory and the third one has 256meg

On the first one I deleted all the history and cookies and it made no difference.

I have also tried using Mozilla Firefox on the first one and it was just the same it just hung there waiting for a reply

All of this has occurred since the upgrade of the forum.

Maybe some one may have an answer for me.

[joe greiner]

Bazza, I've had similar experiences but not just since the upgrade; way before that. According to my imperfect understanding, internet messages/signals can go all over the place between you and the host. And different paths for each message. When things look like they're stuck, I've assumed congestion on the path it's trying, so I stop the command (stop sign or such on the toolbar) and try again. Usually works on the second try, most likely on a different path, less congested.

Joe

[Barry_White]

Bazza, I've had similar experiences but not just since the upgrade; way before that. According to my imperfect understanding, internet messages/signals can go all over the place between you and the host. And different paths for each message. When things look like they're stuck, I've assumed congestion on the path it's trying, so I stop the command (stop sign or such on the toolbar) and try again. Usually works on the second try, most likely on a different path, less congested.

Joe

Yes Joe I have experienced that but this is all the time on one particular computer very very very slow on another one and reasonable access on a third one all on the one network on the one connection on a satellite connection and this has occurred only since the upgrade.

[floobyduster]

Thanks guys for all the great work keeping the forum afloat - it really is appreciated.

I'm running a PC with XP Pro and have recently upgraded? to IE7 and have found that the right hand side of the pages are being trimmed off - even when I stretch it across 2 19inch monitors - see pic. If I run Firefox it is OK.

??

Ken

[Big Shed]

Thanks guys for all the great work keeping the forum afloat - it really is appreciated.

I'm running a PC with XP Pro and have recently upgraded? to IE7 and have found that the right hand side of the pages are being trimmed off - even when I stretch it across 2 19inch monitors - see pic. If I run Firefox it is OK.

??

Ken


The question therefore arises, why would you use IE, of any version?

Since I changed to Firefox some months ago my internet experience has become a much more pleasant one without the mysterious problems I used to have, hang-ups, slow-downs, very weird and wonderful occurences. I was always told that these were due to the wonderful browser "designed" by MS, but was sceptical.
One day in frustration gave Firefox a go, and have been a happy camper ever since.

If MS rang me tomorrow oddering to pay me to go back to IE I would say "thanks, but no thanks":2tsup:

[Big Shed]

Yes Joe I have experienced that but this is all the time on one particular computer very very very slow on another one and reasonable access on a third one all on the one network on the one connection on a satellite connection and this has occurred only since the upgrade.

Barry, it's got to be something local or peculiar to your setup. If it was due to the upgrade we would all be grumbling, and obviously we are not.

I for one have not noticed any degradation in response times since the upgrades. I access the forum on 2 computers, 1 old destop (P3-733, Win2000Pro) and 1 Acer Notebook (P4M1.7 WinXP0, both go throught the same network and router/modem on ADSL 512/256.

I know this does't help solving your problem, but I think you need to find something that happened locally.

Hope you get it fixed, I know these things can be very frustrating:doh:

[Barry_White]

Neil or Steven

I have come to the point of total frustration.

Since the upgrade my access has become slower and slower to the point on one computer the forum will just not load when I click on a link out of an email or whether I click on the home button or if I type in www.woodworkforums.com (http://www.woodworkforums.com) in the address bar the browser says website found waiting for reply and then it just sits there with the green progress bar one third the way along and then stopping. At one stage it did connect when I typed in www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au) but would only load the home page and would not go any further.

On another computer it is taking fifteen minutes or more to load a page using www.woodworkforums.com (http://www.woodworkforums.com)

The only reasonable access I have is from a third desktop computer.

Here is the mystery of it all is that the computers are all connected to the Internet via the third computer on a hard wired network through a two way satellite connection running at 512/256 through Ipstar.

The first two are running XP Professional using IE7. The first one is P3 1200Ghz and the second one is a P4 1800Ghz and the third one is running XP Home using IE6 and is a P4 1800Ghz

Basically the only difference is IE 6 and 7.

I have no other problems connecting to any other websites with good responses.

I am running Kaspersky Virus on the first two computers and Avast on the third one. The first two have 512meg of memory and the third one has 256meg

On the first one I deleted all the history and cookies and it made no difference.

I have also tried using Mozilla Firefox on the first one and it was just the same it just hung there waiting for a reply

All of this has occurred since the upgrade of the forum.

Maybe some one may have an answer for me.

Righto guys don't worry about it I've worked it out. It appears coincidently some of the settings have changed in my Kaspersky antivirus and I now have to go into it and put the site as a safe site so it must be also something in the site that is causing the problem but I have fixed it so the antivirus doesn't have to scan the site because I trust everything that is coming from Ubeaut.

[Wood Butcher]

Thas a relief Barry, because Steven (sys admin) has done a few tweaks that should make the fourms faster (and at least for me has).

[Barry_White]

Thas a relief Barry, because Steven (sys admin) has done a few tweaks that should make the fourms faster (and at least for me has).

Well I've changed two of my computers to Firefox and it is actually streaking now but now I can't remember why some of the Avatars and the icons and smilies aren't showing up with out me right clicking on them and click on 'Show Picture'

[Coldamus]

After the forum upgrade, I could not make new posts. My browser has now been upgraded to IE6 SP1, so if this post appears, that was the reason. (I was on IE5.5 before).

Edit:
Bewdy, that HAS fixed it. I upgraded once before but went back to 5.5 because of other problems. However this time everything is fine.

Edit Again:
Well, that lasted about 10 minutes. Now I can't even open other sites that are important to me without crashing or locking up. So, back to IE5.5 again. I will have to install a second browser to access this site.

[ratchet]

I would like a filter with which I can say I do not want to view certain subjects

no sport

no jokes

no cooking

no brewing

etc etc etc

[ubeaut]

I would like a filter with which I can say I do not want to view certain subjectsYou have always had the choice of what you view. You just look away. If you don't want to see jokes, cooking, sport, or anything else for that matter it's not all that hard. You just don't look... It's that simple.

However if you want to make it even simpler and take the temptation away for good (well almost) then here's a couple of solutions.

Each Forum Header Bar has a http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif on the right hand side. Clicking on this will make all the sub-forums beneath disappear from site and they won't come back again till you click on the http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif again.

eg Click on the HOME RENOVATIONS http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif and 10 forums will disappear (all the home reno ones)

Click on the NOT WOODWORK - MY OTHER LOVES http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif will hide a further 17 forums.

WOODIES STUFF http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif 9 more disappear NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORK 10 more gone from your sight.

Starting to get the picture.

Ah but what if the forum I want to visit is in one of these rolled up sections? How do I view it or even find it again?

Simple. Before you click on the http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif go into your Bookmarks or Favorites, make a new folder titled WWF and bookmark the forum(s) that you want to visit again, then click on the http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif button.

You can also click on the FORUM NAME in the Forum Header bar and that will bring up only the forums below that header. This can also be bookmarked.

eg: Click on GENERAL (http://www.woodworkforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6) or WOODTURNING (http://www.woodworkforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3) and you get only the forums beneath that heading.... Go on then click on one (use your back button to get back here if you must)

OK there you have it in a nutshell. Pretty big nutshell but none the less...

Ah who cares - Just don't look, It'll save all the hassles of mucking around with bookmarks etc.

I'm off to do some work.

Neil :)

[ratchet]

not quite what I expected then maybe I did not say it as i wanted

I use the new posts function and this brings up 12 pages of posts and I am only interested in some not all

I realize I do not have to look

will still come back because the good stuff is worth it

tks

ROD

[ss_11000]

I use the new posts function and this brings up 12 pages of posts and I am only interested in some not all

ROD

yeah, that gets annoying at time. like for me, i wood get rid of the plumbing and flooring etc. stuff, maybe the joke section ( too many crappy jokes now a days, i feel like i've heard most of em before anyway:cool: )


i havent found a way yet and i dont think there is away, any ideas neil:).

[wheelinround]

Orange Room not on the main page:no:

[Wood Butcher]

Orange Room not on the main page:no:
What skin are you using? (Bottom left hand corner of this page). I've checked and there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to see it.

[wheelinround]

What skin are you using? (Bottom left hand corner of this page). I've checked and there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to see it.

ubeatu's still no Orange room showing.

Then this morning even tho I don't use them the Private Forum for Students Engineering Course work etc are gone but the heading is there No arrow markers to open it up

Ray

[wheelinround]

My appologies they are back the Industrial Technology Section:2tsup:

[jaspr]

Each Forum Header Bar has a http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif on the right hand side. Clicking on this will make all the sub-forums beneath disappear from site and they won't come back again till you click on the http://image-mirror.cyanide.com.au/woodworkforums/images/buttons/collapse_tcat.gif again.

Neil :)


Brilliant - that's just what I needed. :2tsup: Never knew it was there. Thanks:U


I use the new posts function and this brings up 12 pages of posts and I am only interested in some not all

ROD

I've had to stop using New Posts for exactly that reason. I only get a certain amount of time to view forums and I don't want to waste it trawling through threads I'm not interested in. Life's too short.

I think Neil's solution above will do the trick for me.:)

edit: I just tried it and it works mostly pretty good. Certainly makes scrolling to forums of interest much quicker/easier. The only place it doesn't really work (for me) is in the General section, where there are only 1 - probably 2 - forums I'd go to regularly.

All up a pretty neat function. Thanks

[Wild Dingo]

Well would ya lookit that!!! I went away for a few hours and come back to a white background screen!! WAAAHOOOO!! Now this I like!! :2tsup: all that color for a color blind bi focaled ol phart was a bit over the top :C so this white is real clear can read EVERYTHING no wukkers see EVERYTHING no wukkers bloody brilliant thanks to whoever changed it :2tsup:

Now... what I want to ask... and asked in the wrong section... of course :doh:... is

Can the woodworks pics section be raised up to the top near the turning and general woodwork sections? Bein way the buggary down the page is a pain in the bum and anyway ITS right up the top in importance... as to show what weve been creating...

Come on you can go straight to the woodturning, pens and general section and the prize section :; but youve gotta scroll WAY down the page to get to see what others are up to and making...

So I ask you...

Can the woodwork pics section be bumped up to the top of the page... please?

Cheers
Shane

[Cruzi]

If you go to bottom left of page on main Woodwork forum page, there is a little drop down box that allows you to choose from a variety of looks for forum, hate the white so reset mine to Ubeauts

[ss_11000]

Well would ya lookit that!!! I went away for a few hours and come back to a white background screen!! WAAAHOOOO!! Now this I like!! :2tsup: all that color for a color blind bi focaled ol phart was a bit over the top :C so this white is real clear can read EVERYTHING no wukkers see EVERYTHING no wukkers bloody brilliant thanks to whoever changed it :2tsup:
just so you know, you've always been able to edit that.

just change the skin in your user cp or down in the bottom right hand corner of every window. i use v bulletin 3. the nice blue one:2tsup: the white on i think is called basic:cool::?

edit: cruzi...you beat me to it:)

[ubeaut]

We've been working furiously in the back room for the last couple of weeks to get the new WoodWorkersWiki ready to go on line (hopefully open it to the public next Monday). One thing we have found is, the coloured backgrounds look ratty and is harder to read and follow, so are the blogs, etc.

So the white background has been set in the hope that when everything comes on line you will be able to log in to the forums and move seamlessly from section to section without having to resort to changing skins because you can't see links etc in the other applications.

We will probably get another couple of lighter skins ready that should also look fine and integrate easily but for now you may find that this one sort of grows on you. I do admit it's a bit of a shock to the system first up but after trialing it for almost a week I find it hard to go back to any of the others.

Also it will help pages load just that little bit faster as it doesn't heve the same amount of graphics to load.

Cheers - Neil :U

Give it a trial for a day or so and then switch back to your old skin and see what you reckon. You may be surprised.

Wheelin - The orange room don't show if you're not logged in.

[wheelinround]

We've been working furiously in the back room for the last couple of weeks to get the new WoodWorkersWiki ready to go on line (hopefully open it to the public next Monday). One thing we have found is, the coloured backgrounds look ratty and is harder to read and follow, so are the blogs, etc.

So the white background has been set in the hope that when everything comes on line you will be able to log in to the forums and move seamlessly from section to section without having to resort to changing skins because you can't see links etc in the other applications.

We will probably get another couple of lighter skins ready that should also look fine and integrate easily but for now you may find that this one sort of grows on you. I do admit it's a bit of a shock to the system first up but after trialing it for almost a week I find it hard to go back to any of the others.

Also it will help pages load just that little bit faster as it doesn't heve the same amount of graphics to load.

Cheers - Neil :U

Give it a trial for a day or so and then switch back to your old skin and see what you reckon. You may be surprised.

Wheelin - The orange room don't show if you're not logged in.

All this hard wakka and no respite for those in the backroom and it being a long weekend poor buggers.

Thanks to you all for all the hard yakka.

Orange room still not there if logged in unless you mean logged in seperate to the Orange room.

[RETIRED]

unless you mean logged in seperate to the Orange room.Yep, has seperate password.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

I know the lads are busy, but could someone please look at getting the SW to remember what skin we were on when we logged out? Or at least change the default from the wiki skin to one with less glare?

Every time I log in I'm blinded by the blasted thing... :(

[RETIRED]

Once you select it, it should remain Andrew.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Once you select it, it should remain Andrew.

It should, yes. But it doesn't. :(

Unless it's because I flush the cookies every time Firefox exits? But this wasn't a problem before the latest skin changes...

[RETIRED]

It should, yes. But it doesn't. :(

Unless it's because I flush the cookies every time Firefox exits? But this wasn't a problem before the latest skin changes...Yep that will probably do it because it can't remember your settings. I tried it with mine and it did the same.

[Wild Dingo]

AND!! :o


Oi you!!! :~




Yeah its me again :roll:





Have I got your attention yet? :doh: Well thank goodness for that then :;






I just wanted to say...














Thank you whoever it was for moving the pics section UP the page!! Well done :2tsup:

cheers
Shane

[joe greiner]

Not exactly the current update, and search was inconclusive.

Is there a built-in delay on iSpy listings? For vetting, perhaps? Seems to be a lag of about 20-25 minutes between iSpy and New Posts (New posts newer). Some earlier posts with subject of "iSpy" indicated the opposite. Or perhaps variable depending on time of day?

Joe

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Just browsing through the WoodWiki (TTiTs intraspecific antagonism (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/index.php/Intraspecific_antagonism)) and clicked on the image link - which seems to be broken, BTW, but the page is incomplete anyway so that's irrelevant. :rolleyes:

What is relevant is that the www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au vs. www.woodworkforums.com domain bug has reared it's ugly head again and it's telling me I'm not logged in...

JFYI. :D

[wheelinround]

Forum pages slow to load

Understand the worlds greatest is being overloaded

[Groggy]

Wheelin, that may be your ISP. I am on dialup from Brisbane at the moment and it seems quite fast.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Yeah. Last night I couldn't get on... I assumed 'twas a slow server.

I also couldn't get on today, so I tried using the Telstra proxy (I'm with Optus. SSSH! :wink:) and logged straight in with no problems since...

[DJ’s Timber]

I've been getting that too, this site is slow to respond but other websites no probs at all, comes and goes.

[BobL]

I don't know if its just me but does there seem to be too many announcements and stickies on the top of every forum? On some pages you can't even see the threads. Sure some of these could be handled in another way?

Rant over :D

[wheelinround]

Wheelin, that may be your ISP. I am on dialup from Brisbane at the moment and it seems quite fast.

Could be that Bigpond doesn't like WWF as everything else is fast on Cable.

I guess thats the way Mexican CEO emigo's work, lets slow em down make em think something is wrong so they'll upgrade to faster even slow usless systems.

No problem at 4.30am but then not many logged on I guess.

[munruben]

I don't know if its just me but I feel that the blogs has taken something away from the forum. I think some of the things being discussed in the blogs used to be the type of thing that was thrown open for general discussion in here and everyone could learn from these ideas and ideals and comment accordingly. I feel the blogs has separated members to some extent.

There are topics being discussed in the blogs that would be beneficial to all members in the open forum rather than having them discussed elsewhere. Basically, we all have at least one common interest in the forum and that is woodworking in one form or another. Surely, if we have to have the blogs, they should be confined to discussing topics other than woodworking. Shouldn't woodworking topics be reserved for discussion here, like the were before?

Gentlemen! please, if you have woodworking in mind then lets have it tabled in here where we can all share in the experience. I must admit I have only been to the blogs a few times since they started and have found some interesting topics but why should I need to search elsewhere for topics that I feel should be here in the first place.
Let's not lose that "family feel" this site had where all of us took part, or could take part if we wished, in all topics.

I am sure there will be many member who will not go to the trouble to chase up topics in blogs but would comment on some of these topics if they were aired here.
Like I said, maybe its just me but seems like we are missing a bit of that family feeling here at the moment by separating the members.
By all means, have the blogs but let them be reserved for topics other than woodworking and associated topics of the forum.

[pawnhead]

Just browsing through the WoodWiki (TTiTs intraspecific antagonism (http://www.woodworkforums.com/wiki/index.php/Intraspecific_antagonism)) and clicked on the image link - which seems to be broken, BTW, but the page is incomplete anyway so that's irrelevant. :rolleyes:It's not his article (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?p=602081#post602081). It came from Wikipedia, just like every other 'random article' I've looked at through the WoodiesWiki. And when you click on 'Discussion', it automatically posts a thread that makes it look like you're the one (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=58216) who 'lifted' the article to the WoodiesWiki without crediting Wikipedia. :?
If you look at Article Discussions (http://www.woodworkforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=158), then you'll notice a few other threads that were unintentionally started by members here.

By all means, have the blogs but let them be reserved for topics other than woodworking and associated topics of the forum.That's what I've been doing, but there's not a lot of traffic there so I don't know if I'll bother anymore.
I think it's alright for a WIP, so long as it's a reproduction of what's in the forums already, or it's linked to in the forums. Some people may like to catalogue all their work in one place, and link to it in a thread.
It may generate interest in some of their other projects as well if people take a closer look at their blogs.

[Stuart]

I don't see the blogs as being a problem needing solving.

In a month, there have only been 84 entries in the 29 blogs. How many minutes on the main forum does it take to have 84 posts? Or perhaps you could count it as threads started - how many hours before 84 new threads are created?

As to keeping woodworking out of the blogs - this is a woodworking forum - why wouldn't you want to use the best tool available to get across the information you want to share? Sometimes that will be a thread in a forum, sometimes a blog entry (such as a WIP). As the blog area grows, some will become invaluable in their own right, and you'll make a point of checking them in the same way as you check your favourite forums. Others will prove to hold no interest for you, and you won't look.

If you are the type that reads every single post in every single forum, then sure, here's a few more that you now have to check. (Of course, if you are that sort, let us know - the world needs more mods!)

I have a number of forums that I check as a matter of course all in one bookmark dropdown on my toolbar. When I want to check them, I just go to that dropdown and say "open all in tabs" It takes a few seconds to then click on each tab, see if there is new content (including the blogs), and close the tab if there is not.

Sorry, but I don't see a problem here.

[munruben]

Sorry, but I don't see a problem here.I agree if blogs are showing WIP or linking to a thread then that is acceptable and probably needed. I should have been more thoughtful when I suggested woodworking should be left out of the blogs. I just think that more members would have responded to some of the topics mentioned in the blogs if they had been posted in threads in the main forums but I've been wrong before.:)
Maybe it just takes time for people like me to adapt to changes.:)

[wheelinround]

Are there changes being made very few new posts this morning.
A joke i put in yesterday has been sent to the Orange room no idea why unles the mention of catholics is the problem.:doh: yet it is showing or was showing in the Ispy & new posts

[RETIRED]

Are there changes being made very few new posts this morning.
A joke i put in yesterday has been sent to the Orange room no idea why unles the mention of catholics is the problem.:doh: yet it is showing or was showing in the Ispy & new postsNot catholics but the last bit. Some here take offence.

[wheelinround]

Not catholics but the last bit. Some here take offence.

fair enough :doh::rolleyes: no offense meant

[Waldo]

G'day,

Something wird going on here. Using a mac with Safari 2.0.4 this is what I get as of 11:30 tonight.

[DJ’s Timber]

G'day,

Something wird going on here. Using a mac with Safari 2.0.4 this is what I get as of 11:30 tonight.

Yeah, it's you mac users :q:U(watching out for the brick now)

[Pusser]

I agree if blogs are showing WIP or linking to a thread then that is acceptable and probably needed. I should have been more thoughtful when I suggested woodworking should be left out of the blogs. I just think that more members would have responded to some of the topics mentioned in the blogs if they had been posted in threads in the main forums but I've been wrong before.:)
Maybe it just takes time for people like me to adapt to changes.:)

Munrubin - you may have been wrong before but not this time:U
Pusser

[Waldo]

Yeah, it's you mac users :q:U(watching out for the brick now)


Just as soon as I can find it Dj.

:brick:

:D

(I knew someone would have a go when I typed "Mac")

[reybec]

G'day,

Something wird going on here. Using a mac with Safari 2.0.4 this is what I get as of 11:30 tonight.

i'm getting the same thing using windows:?

[Wood Butcher]

We are trying out some new ideas for the forum display based on comments from the Melbourne WWW Show. If you haven't already please read Neils's announcement "Changes to (Rearranging) the Forums Front Page (http://woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/announcement.php?f=&a=42)", it explains whats going on.

[wheelinround]

We are trying out some new ideas for the forum display based on comments from the Melbourne WWW Show. If you haven't already please read Neils's announcement "Changes to (Rearranging) the Forums Front Page (http://woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/announcement.php?f=&a=42)", it explains whats going on.

WB trying not using the chainsaw that might help:D

or were you just pruning and taking the branches off got over exuberant.

Same as Waldo's page shot on PC using Firefox

[Waldo]

G'day,

Can I put my hand up and say the collapsed version of the home page is fugly without being offensive to anyone. I can't see any recent posts in it, it was grat before but now :yuk:

Sorry :shrug:

[Cruzi]

We are trying out some new ideas for the forum display based on comments from the Melbourne WWW Show. If you haven't already please read Neils's announcement "Changes to (Rearranging) the Forums Front Page (http://woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/announcement.php?f=&a=42)", it explains whats going on.

Hmmmm, how do I put this.....

Not happy Jan, we already had the option of collapsing forums we didn't want to see, now whole forum has been collapsed with no option to expand the sections we do want to see ( the little expand/collapse button is not present)

Guys, I know its not easy, both managing and moderating a forum, but sometimes "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

[Calm]

I know it is different but hang on a minute.

Everyone says "i know its not easy" or "I dont mean to be picky" but hey lets wait a couple of days until the changes are finished and let the people who maintain this forum without COST TO US the users finish what they started.

If you dont mean to be picky then dont say it!!!!!:U

I'm sure the gripeing and whinging is no encouragement to anyone.

I'm in favour of have a bit different screen to look at for a couple of days then giving comment when it is asked for.

Be positive not negative:2tsup::2tsup: Keep up the good work Neil:2tsup::2tsup:

[ubeaut]

Click on the Forum Header for the forum you want and all will be revealed. Give us a bit of time to sort it all out, it's a really massive work in progress and will take a little time to get right.

It will only be a few days at the most. A day or two of 10 hr days will fix it. Be patient. It will all work out for the best and if not I'll put it back the way it was. The way many complained about. Might make some appreciate it, for what it was or is or could be or whatever.

Cheers - Neil :)

[ubeaut]

Hmmph... I gotta learn to type faster. :~

Good comments Calm :U

[Cruzi]

The comment is not a hollow platitude, have experience at running a website and helping in a forum, at I might add, very great personal expense both financial and time.

[munruben]

Munrubin - you may have been wrong before but not this time:UPusserThanks Pusser. I think we will have to reserve judgment on this one. Now I come to think of it, I don't think I have been wrong before.:D must have been a moment of weakness when I wrote that.:)

Seriously, the guys are trying to improve things here for our benefit and I guess its very disheartening to have us criticizing their efforts before we have given them a chance to trial the changes out. Keep up the good work guys, we do really appreciate what you do for us. We also appreciate the freedom of speech to voice an opinion, even though it doesn't necessarily agree with management. :2tsup:

[MrFixIt]

Hi

The new forum layout is NOT as easy to use as the previous layout. :no:

The subforums being listed in "paragraph" layout, ie in a "HORIZONTAL" list, is very awkward to use.

As a GUI design it is not clear and practical. The user has to scan down the "first list" - the forums - then horizontally along the second list - the sub forums.

What this does is cause the user to literally "READ" the horizontal list. This happens partly because we are "conditioned" to READ from left to right and partly because the interaction between the human eye and the brain cannot easily differentiate between different and separate items in a horizontal list. We as users have to READ the preceeding text and the succeeding text to be ABLE to ascertain the "separate items".

In a VERTICAL list, the eye-brain interaction is different. First we are ALREADY able to distinguish the separate items as they are already delimited by white space. In addition to this after several uses of such a list the brain will, without conscious effort on the part of the user, recognise "patterns" even though these "patterns" may be text. This means of course that the user no longer has to physically and literally READ the sub forum names as they are instantly recognised as a "pattern" and when we look for our sub forums we "see" them instantly.

This instant recognition will remain even if NEW sub forums are appended to the end of the list.

If new sub forums are added to the already "difficult to process" horizontal list, any familiarity gained through repeated reading, will be lost as the user now has to re-READ the new text.

Think of it this way, imagine how difficult it would be to find files on the computer if windows explorer had its directory(folder) tree in the left pane and listed ALL the files in the selected folder, in a HORIZONTAL format. NOW imagine what would happen if you added a few documents and a few spreadsheets to that folder. How much harder would it be to find a specific file if you were "READING" a file list in "paragraph" format!

While one or two sub forums are not too hard to differentiate, when there are more items the user then has to READ the info.

I would strongly suggest that the forum revert to a VERTICAL list of sub forums. :2tsup:

[m2c1Iw]

The new forum layout is NOT as easy to use as the previous layout. :no:

I would strongly suggest that the forum revert to a VERTICAL list of sub forums. :2tsup:

I second that

[Ron Dunn]

Fiddling with a standard installation rarely makes things easier.

This is a common forum software product. Users get used to the way it works on other sites, then get confused/irritated when it has been "improved" to work in a different way.

The package defaults are pretty good, because of the number of sites in which it is installed, and the experience of those sites reflected to the developers.

Customisation actually works against ease of use and intuition.

[weisyboy]

The new forum layout is NOT as easy to use as the previous layout. :no:

I would strongly suggest that the forum revert to a VERTICAL list of sub forums. :2tsup:


:whs:

[flynnsart]

First off, like to express my appreciation to all those who have a part in running this amazing forum.

I had a couple of issues in mind when I opened this thread and have just sat and read it right through:doh: (Like, where has the last hour or so gone?) so I now know that first complaint is fixable (didnt like the white background), and my second one has just been covered by the previous couple of posts, and is to do with the horizontal listing of subforums.



Donna

[silentC]

Obviously the reason for listing them horizontally is to reduce the amount of vertical space the forum listing takes up. You can collapse the whole forum section so it only takes up one line, or if it has the sub forums listed, just a couple of lines. If you are interested in a particular forum section, you can expand it and all the individual forums are listed vertically, just as they always were. It even remembers your settings so you can collapse all the ones you never look at and just leave the ones that interest you expanded.

I don't see what the problem is. How do people read a newspaper if they have trouble reading the names of forums horizontally?

Change for the better I reckon, or will be when it's finished.

I've got one site that people all over the world use and they all pay for the privilege. So many times people have complained about something, so we fix it, only to have someone else complain about the fix. These people are paying for access to the site, so I suppose we have to listen to them, but a lot of the time we just make unilateral decisions that we believe are for the greater good, despite what some paying users feel, like it or lump it.

For a free site, well I guess there's a point where you might be prepared to listen and improve, but at the end of the day, let's just say my attitude would be a bit less amenable than these guys have been to date.

[Sturdee]

I don't know why you lot are complaining about the improvements.

I like them as I use the "New Post" search facility and others on the top line and the "Currently active users" statistics. The bits in between is just stuff I have to scroll through and anything that reduces same is a great idea.

Looking great Neil.


Peter.

[DJ’s Timber]

I don't know why you lot are complaining about the improvements.

I like them as I use the "New Post" search facility and others on the top line and the "Currently active users" statistics. The bits in between is just stuff I have to scroll through and anything that reduces same is a great idea.

Looking great Neil.


Peter.

:whs:

[Big Shed]

Have to agree with Peter:2tsup: Mainly use New Posts and iSpy, hardly ever look at the forum lists unless I am looking for a particular form to post a new thread.

Edit: Just had another look, all the whingeing seems to have resulted in the PTB going back to the old interface anyway.

[ss_11000]

yep, i agree with peter too:2tsup:.

quite whinging fella's.

[MrFixIt]

Hi

Obviously the reason for listing them horizontally is to reduce the amount of vertical space the forum listing takes up.
ok, then...

You can collapse the whole forum section so it only takes up one line, or if it has the sub forums listed, just a couple of lines.
...WHY do the sub forums NEED to be listed horizontally?

I don't see what the problem is. How do people read a newspaper if they have trouble reading the names of forums horizontally?
When reading a newspaper you are NOT looking for a specific sentence!


Change for the better I reckon, or will be when it's finished.

[snip]

For a free site, well I guess there's a point where you might be prepared to listen and improve, but at the end of the day, let's just say my attitude would be a bit less amenable than these guys have been to date.

When people are providing a service (paid or not) they ARE providing a SERVICE! If the service providers don't listen to their users, their users will go elsewhere.

My compliments AND appreciation go to Neil et all for the wonderful job they do and ARE DOING.

[MrFixIt]

I don't know why you lot are complaining about the improvements.

Let's get ONE thing straight here, *I* am NOT complaining, I am offering constructive criticism. If the forum maintains the design horizontal then I will have to adhere to their design. That STILL does not change the usability limit (as per my previous post) of horizontal lists.



I like them as I use the "New Post" search facility and others on the top line
Me too many times, but NOT always.

The bits in between is just stuff I have to scroll through and anything that reduces same is a great idea.
This may be great for you, but what about new users???

How would/will they find out what the forum contains. The EASE with which a web site can be used/navigated is critical in how the users perceives the site.

[MrFixIt]

Hi

Thanks Neil et Al for producing and maintaining a great forum.

Thank you for changing the format back to the previous layout. I don't know whether it is just on *MY* system or for all users, but I appreciate how it displays now.

I am sure new users would be happier with this vertical layout.

You are doing a great job :2tsup:

[Groggy]

A few guidelines to help the admins:

Please, if you do not like something, say so.

Keep it brief.

Don't argue, don't defend. Let the admins look at individual comments. Arguments cloud the issue.

If you have a link to a 'good' design, post it.

If you have a strange display, a screen shot really helps understanding the issue (ta Waldo :2tsup:)

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I'll repeat what has already been said - there have been complaints, to some members it 'is broke'. Comments indicate people are finding it congested and hard to navigate with all the forums listed. This is an attempt to simplify the navigation of the forums and group forums that should have been grouped long ago.

Don't die in a ditch over this; some things will be trialled and junked, some things kept. We need your help to keep the comments simple and focussed. That way the admins/mods don't have to sort through the 'chaff'.

Thank you all for the comments so far.

[Cruzi]

Talk about being singled out........


The trench has already been dug so here comes my defence.(Sry Groggy)

The option was already available for users to collapse the forums they did not want to see, the option to see forums we did want to see was removed instead.

Glad to see return of the ability to choose, rather than mandatory view.

[BobL]

Aghherrrrum . . . where's the saftey forum gone?

[silentC]

If the service providers don't listen to their users, their users will go elsewhere.

If they listened to and tried to please EVERY user, and this goes especially for the noisy ones, they would be basket cases.

[Groggy]

Aghherrrrum . . . where's the saftey forum gone?
Bob, look here (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=67). For some reason it is not displaying, we'll get it fixed.

[NewLou]

This post is directed to those asking for constructive feedback about the forum namely Neil n mods.

For me I believe the dress up has gone way to far Overcomplication n doubling up of information + Illogical Subsections has made things annoying and overcomplicated n confusing for me.................

I'm a great believer in:

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

And as such if i could wave a magic Wand I Would return things to how they were earlier in the year just adding the ability to collapse sections were not interested in. Theres a hell of a lot of stuff now thats possibly well beyond the spirit of what perhaps was the original intention for the Aussie Woodwork Forum

Change is positive but theres sometimes a fine line between change thats progressive and change for changes sake! My plee is that the powers that be dont allow to many cooks to spoil the broth!

Bring back the benevolent dictatorship!

REgards Lou:cool:

[Ron Dunn]

If you have a link to a 'good' design, post it.

www.sawmillcreek.org (http://www.sawmillcreek.org)

Looks good, works well.

Not as many laughable/lovable characters, though :)

[BobL]

Bob, look here (http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/forumdisplay.php?f=67). For some reason it is not displaying, we'll get it fixed.

Thanks - and although I was skeptical - the new site is growing on me!

[DJ’s Timber]

Another thing that I have noticed since the new Wiki-blog default page has been up, is that google search is not at the bottom of the page, unlike the U-beauts page

[bricks]

One thing that is annoying me...

When i log on the page changes to the wiki-blog default and i have to change it back everytime i log on.....

Is there a way for me to set it up so i only get the u-beaut page type...

ps. im not a computer literate IT ninja so might be skipping right over it?

[Neil]

Set the skin to U-Beauts it in your User CP (top left side of nav bar on every screen) and don't log off, just leave. This will automatically log you off the site but won't clear the cookies on your computer which hold the information re your page skins, etc.

Much quicker and easier and a lot less annoying.

Cheers - Neil :U

[Big Shed]

Just posted a new thread ad noticed that you now add 10 piccies per post, rather than the old 5.

Beauty!:2tsup:

[MrFixIt]

Hi


Content deleted by author.

This was inappropriate content and I apologise to all that may have been ofended.

[Tonyz]

Hells bells Neil, there must be times when you think "What the 'ell am I doing this for, whingers you can try to ignore its the bl*** whiners saying Iam not complaining but....

Fair crap man your not paying for the priviledge of this site, accept what the powers that be (Who, incidentally, do this for nothing, sometimes for the accolades) do, if you dont like it leave/shudup/pissorf. But for a site that has hours of commitment in its running, all done by co-erced(?):D volenteers there sure are a lot of belly achers around

I like the new format, yes it will take time to use the new system but thats life suckers.:o

[silentC]

I think it's great that you can collapse a whole section if you're not interested in it, and equally great that you can still see a list of the sub-forums in case you're looking for something. Some text books are laid out this way, with a full table of contents listing in the front and then a summary listing under each chapter heading, so you can go to the heading you want and then scan the sub-listing and straight away see what topics are covered. Having them laid out horizontally means it doesn't take up a lot of vertical space. The shape of your screen lends itself to horizontal presentation. Obviously the sponsor logos still need to presented to honour the sponsorship arrangement. They appear in the collapsed view and also in the expanded view next to the sponsored forum. If there was a way of suppressing them from the summary in the expanded view, then that would obviously be better, but the page would probably need to be refreshed to do it because changing the whole area using DHTML would be a bit jarring and would confuse some browsers.

Trivial issues like spacing and hyper link underlining are just matters of style and not really important in the scheme of things to the majority of people. I'm fussier than most with these things in my own work, being a bit pedantic, but in all honesty very few users I've come across notice.

[Calm]

......."if it ain't broke, don't fix it"....

Yep thats right and we would still be driving a FX holden with no power steering and other extras including carpet.