The new layout

The forum layout has been through many changes recently, and I really like the improved functionality: big new edit buttons, iSpy, better smileys (glad I've got animation turned off though). Many thanks to the crew who've no doubt put in many hours to achieve this.

Recently the layout has put the avatar and other information as a big wide strip across the full width of the browser on top of each post. I find that this breaks up the thread, and increases the amount of up-and-down scrolling I have to do. Is there a way to put the avatar to the side of each post, as it was before?

I've seen references to skins, but can't see where to set this. Is the avatar placement part of the choice of skin?

I thought it looked different. :oo:

What is different? :?

I also like most of the changes, they really improve the appearance of the forum.

I must agree with Zenwood, the avatar and other information across the top not only interrupts the thread flow, it is non-intuitive to read. When it was to the left of the thread all the information was together, now it is spread across the screen with no-mans land in between.

Keep up the good work guys, really enjoy the forum.

Fred

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Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

What is different? :?

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don't remember :D

Err yuck!

Please put the info back on the LHS.

Also, is there somewhere that ISpy is explained?

And, where has "Quick Links" -> "Today's Posts" gone?? It was my favourite:((

Andrew

Quote:

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Originally Posted by arose62

Err yuck!

Please put the info back on the LHS.

Also, is there somewhere that ISpy is explained?

And, where has "Quick Links" -> "Today's Posts" gone?? It was my favourite:((

Andrew

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I found it.............under "Quick Links" -> "Today's Posts":U

Thanks for making me aware of this, if you lurk as a visitor it is on the main toolbar, but doesn't show up there if you are logged in, now I can use it again.:2tsup:

I like the fact that iSpy updates automatically with the latest posts, cool............

i have to agree with whats been said. i liked the avatars on the left...but its neils forum and if he prefers it this way, so be it.

cheers

I don't mind it this way, I think it looks neat and tidy this way.

You just need some time to get use to it

yeah - stop pickin on Neil ya pack o dinosaurs :p :p

I knew something was different. I thought Neil had just gotten some painters in to spruce the old place up a bit.:D

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Originally Posted by duckman

I knew something was different. I thought Neil had just gotten some painters in to spruce the old place up a bit.:D

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He couldn't afford the painters so he hired a brickie :oo:

Richard
sorry Al, couldn't resist it :wink:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zenwood

Recently the layout has put the avatar and other information as a big wide strip across the full width of the browser on top of each post. .....

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I agree, this layout gives me the tom tits - can I alter it in my preferences?

I find it a more difficult to read, there is too big a gap between posts. Maybe it's practice.

As I said before, I'm grumpy, getting old and have become a neo-ludlite.

:(

G'day.
This Dinosaur Likes the Avatar and User data on the left hand side.

Across the top means more scrolling.

LHS=:2tsup:
Top =:no:

Change is as good as a holiday. Cheers Neil I like it mate.

I just wish I could find the button that tells the missus that I need another beer!:U

Yep I approve.

Pete

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doughboy

Change is as good as a holiday. Cheers Neil I like it mate.

I just wish I could find the button that tells the missus that I need another beer!:U

Yep I approve.

Pete

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Brown nose.


:D:U

I'm not saying anything lest I get accused of needing a hug. :p :D

Same here. I think the changes have been great but this last one with the avatar taking up the full width makes the threads harder to follow.

I don't see the advantage of this one.

Quote:

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Same here. I think the changes have been great but this last one with the avatar taking up the full width makes the threads harder to follow.

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We've always found threads that you've participated in hard to follow.


:D

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Originally Posted by Gumby

Same here. I think the changes have been great but this last one with the avatar taking up the full width makes the threads harder to follow.

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Wot Gumby said.

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Originally Posted by Grunt

We've always found threads that you've participated in hard to follow.


:D

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I'll type a bit slower for you in future:cool:


:D

Gumby,

You're already about as slow they get.

There ya go craigb:realbighug:ya big palooka.

_____________________________________________

You know when we started off forums looked like a heap of linked lines of type. I was a bit dubious about having a structured forum, that looked something like this and not at all like the bulletin boards that people were used to seeing and using. It was something completely new and I was afraid that people wouldn't understand it.
Well we got a heap of complaints but sorted them out :smack: and eventually everyone got over it and fell in love with the new format.
Then we changed to this vBulletin style forum and some people didn't like it and wanted the old one back.

Then we put the adds on and some people didn't like it.

Then we updated and threw in some special things like reputation points and some people didn't like it.

Then we got the spell checker and some people didn't like it.

Upgraded to a more powerful server and newer version of forums and some people didn't like it.

Added Free Stuff Prize Draws and some people didn't like it.

Made videos available to forum members for free, and some people didn't like it.

Added heaps of smilies and some people didn't like it.

New forum colours and iSpy and some people didn't like it.

New layout and some people didn't like it.
Are we starting to see a pattern emerging here.:gaah:

Funny thing is that of the 13,090 members 3,515 currently active members there is only ever a dozen or so tops who complain or don't like it. So one has to take it from the silence of the other 3,500 or so that they either approve or aren't fussed by it.

Even funnier is the fact that this is the default lay out for these forums (which I had already rejected when we upgraded) and I was just having a mess about with it when I was called away for an hour or so and hey presto I returned to complaints.

Bugger me, I don't really like it all that much myself and was going to revert it back to the old format until I saw this thread and the posts in it. You lot have made my day.
Think I might leave it like this now, just for fun.:roflmao:

:evillaugh:

here's another one for the list....

made videos available to forum members for free, and some people didn't like it. :rolleyes:

Hey Al - quick - delete delete delete!!!!! :D

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

Bugger me, I don't really like it all that much myself and was going to revert it back to the old format until I saw this thread and the posts in it. You lot have made my day.
Think I might leave it like this now, just for fun.

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Well said Mr Ubeaut. Its a great forum with a great set up. Innovation equals excellence. Keep up the good work.

Here's a thought, why not have a browse around the internet and post links to forum site layouts that you DO like. Of course others may not share your preference and can it, so be prepared for that :D.

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Originally Posted by Groggy

Here's a thought, why not have a browse around the internet and post links to forum site layouts that you DO like. Of course others may not share your preference and can it, so be prepared for that :D.

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Too hard to get any sort of consensus mate. It will NEVER happen.

It's got to be up to Neil. What he says goes and that is fair enough. It doesn't hurt to beg and grovel though so please change it back Neil :)

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Originally Posted by Gumby

Too hard to get any sort of concensus mate. It will NEVER happen.

It's got to be up to Neil. What he says goes and that is fair enough. It doesn't hurt to beg and grovel though so please change it back Neil :)

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Ian, jump in your car and drive over here :driving:so you can see my tongue stuck in my cheek :tongue5:.... That was my point, they'll never reach consensus so just let Neil do his thing.

I vote for LEAVE IT AS IT IS :tongue2::stirthepot:

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Originally Posted by Groggy

they'll never reach consensus

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If I come over to your place, I think I have to pass through Consensus on the way. If anyone has reached it, I'll pick them up.

Looks fine to me, change your mouse scroll settings if you dont like the extra 1/2 second scrolling time...

The improvements are great,http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ons/icon14.gif but here's another vote for keeping the avatars on the left. If the average post was quite long then there'd be a lot of wasted space at the side, but since most posts are quite short I think it does lead to more scrolling. It's not a big deal either way though.

One feature that I'd like to see added is a 'subscribed thread indicator'.
You can see in this screencap a small symbol ; http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...subscribed.gif It tells me which threads I've contributed to by just looking at the page and I don't have to read the thread titles (and try to remember if I've said anything) or go to my email or 'subscribed threads' in user cp.
In that case I started the thread, but it shows up next to any thread that I've posted in.

I think ALL the changes are freaking horrible.

I'm sorry Neil but the whole baby poo yellowy brown colour scheme is drab as hell and now the avatars etc up top, can some one find me a projectile vomit smilie?

Dan

trouble is if Neil reverts to the old layout to satisfy the whingers
he'll just end up with a new lot of whingers who liked the new layout

:boxing5: :gaah: :smack: :dev: :dev:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DanP

I think ALL the changes are freaking horrible. I'm sorry Neil but the whole baby poo yellowy brown colour scheme is drab as hell and now the avatars etc up top, can some one find me a projectile vomit smilie? Dan

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http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...anske/puke.gif
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ine=1124098511

pawnhead - You get one of these http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...subscribed.gif if you are subscribed to a thread.

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To everyone who wants to see the avatars on the left side of screen look hard at the screen, then look at your left hand and your right hand, then at the screen, then your left and right hands then at the screen.

Now where is the Avatar????
Doh :doh: its on the left. The user information is another matter that's the stuff on the right.

Problem is: What do I do now? :question:

Do I....

1/ Leave it as is? The way I never intended, the way I don't really like.

2/ Buckle under the massive weight of protest:protest2: by less than .05&#37; of the members and appear to be weak kneed, gutless, lilly-livered, yeller-belly who's easily intimidated and manipulated by the minority?

Oh the choices, the choices. What to do? How to decide?

Well. For starters I'm the benevolent dictator, not a bloody politician so that pretty much rules out #2.:hellno:

I've always figured it wasn't a good idea to step into a paddock and wave a red rag at a raging bull. But every time there is a change no matter how minor there always seems to be that inevitable red rag a flutterin' in the breeze.
:saythat:
Hmmm... I'll just have to think on it a bit more or wait for the inevitalbe pole to be posted which could seal the fate of the the forums and the world as we know it for ever.
:evillaugh:

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

weak kneed, gutless, lilly-livered, yeller-belly who's easily intimidated and manipulated by the minority?

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You rang ? :D

Some people just don't get it do they.

The more people complain the longer it will take to make the changes that will continue to make this one of the premier sites in the world.

We could have had the other colour schemes repaired and back up again if it wasn't for the complaints. The new format would never have stayed if people hadn't jumped in and complained a few minutes after it was done.

Do you people honestly think I am doing these things to downgrade the forums?

Do you think I'm a fool who is intent on stuffing up one of the best resources in the world?

I would appear that some of you don't seem to think I'm working for the betterment of the forums.

Change doesn't happen over night. Sometimes we just have to put up with a bit of a detour in the road whilst the potholes are fixed.

So shut up and let a bloke get on with the job. :((

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

...Think I might leave it like this now, just for fun.:roflmao:
:evillaugh:

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Ya sheyet stirring mongrel. :D :D

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

Some people just don't get it do they. .........So shut up and let a bloke get on with the job. :((

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I didn't say anything.... yet....:rolleyes: so you can suit yourself & put it back the way you like it any time you want. :p