Thread: Nice update

Well done guys. Looks great
Kaye

Sorry but I work with a 10inch screen and it's a nightmare. The last one had issues with wasting screen space, but I could hide the latest posts and Tag cloud. Now I have adds, latest posts, and cloud tag taking 40% of my screen space without the option to hide them. Then the forum list is two columns wide. Also getting a lot of icons for RSS feed, etc overlaying and obscuring text. (Screen snap 2).
Sorry to be negative, but it's been a lousy month and this appears to have taken one of the few joys left to me as at this stage it is virtually impossible for me to work with. I know that the Forums are Neil's property and brainchild, respesct his rights to to go where he wishes with it, and will thank him now for five years of enjoyment that they have provided me, in case I don't come back.

Mal
EDIT, OK found the mention of single column layout in the thread in Forum Help and tried it, the situation is better, but I still loose a third of my scren space on a column for sponsor links, Latest posts and Tag cloud.

Originally Posted by malb

EDIT, OK found the mention of single column layout in the thread in Forum Help and tried it, the situation is better, but I still loose a third of my scren space on a column for sponsor links, Latest posts and Tag cloud.

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to see if we can improve this over the weekend.

regards
Steve

Yep, much better for my eyes to read, thanks.

SB

Originally Posted by steven

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to see if we can improve this over the weekend.

regards
Steve

Steve I think that would be a good move, Not everyone has large screens with plenty of real estate.

One way to do this would be to use media queries to shunt the sidebar around on small screens. Dunno exactly what all the vB CSS is (too lazy to look right now) but something along these lines should work:

Code:

@media screen and (max- 1200px) {
	#sidebar_container {
		 auto;
	}
	#content {
		margin-right: 0;
	}
}

Although you'd have to get rid of the inline style in the markup: style="280px"

(yeah I know, just a n00b here but hey, just making a suggestion )

ETA: Might also be worth hitting some elements with display: none;

I understand your reasoning for the two column default look, but anyone arriving at the site on a smallish screen is likely to get their mind blown by the apparent complexity. You could hide non-essential elements that don't really add anything to the user experience. ul.forumstats would be an example. img.posting might be another.

(TBH, I find a lot of forum interfaces, meaning the default coding from the originator, are too cluttered with stuff that really only appeals to geeks)

Less is more. I find this far to messy.
Cheers Elderly

Bloody shocking change ...looks like change for change sake. Not everyone is a young school taught geek with huge screens, some of us older ones don't rate this as a good change.
Pete

The tweaks you've made in the last day or so, hit the spot. Can now remove side bar, increasing screen size etc. Looking good.

Originally Posted by steven

Hi there

Thanks for the feedback, I'm going to see if we can improve this over the weekend.

regards
Steve

Thanks Steve, Just come back for my nightly visit, using the single column layout, and the sidebar seems to be hidden at all levels with a tag to call it up for those that want it. Back very close to where we were before the update which is good for my screen and I suspect others running small screens as well.
When I connect and get the logged in front page (forums list) the sidebar is hidden and the tag appears a second or so after the page loads. Once I select a forum the the thread list page opens with the sidebar, the tag appears, then the sidebar hides. The same thing happens once I select a thread and see the posts, and when I attempt to reply. It slows things but it's a good enough compromise to satisfy me.

Things seem to be loading more slowly, so page load time is maybe doubled. I suspect this is because it is loading a batch of amimated gifs or similar for the sponsor part of the the sidebar. Will continue to experiment at my end to optimise things here.

I see sponsor graphics appearing in the individual Forum thread lists, and note that they are not appearing in the Forum list (outside the sidebar). I didn't find them intrusive in the Forum list, and considered that they gave individual Forum sponsors some exposure to all users regardless of whether they frequented individual Forums.

Thanks again for your efforts. I know it's not easy being the one who is trying to improve things, but still satisfy the 'old fogey' grade users at the same time.

Sorry but do no like the new layout at all.

Too many icons and words on top of existing
text ... at times the topic is almost unrecognizable
because of these overlays. It was far better
in the previous style.

P.S. Cannot offer advice as I do not pretend
to be a computer guru, but appreciate the
efforts of those that are trying.

Allan

Have just taken a couple of pics of items on my screen
to better illustrate the problem.
I have a 21" Acer monitor which has never displayed
these tendencies before the latest change.
It looks like cluttered up wallpaper and feel sure
it is not meant to be like that.

Any thoughts please.

Allan
Change one.jpgChange two.jpg

Allan, go to the bottom of the screen. On the left is a little box with the styles you can have. Select single column view and you should be right.

Sorry for you others, but I don't have a Problem with it, as now I only have ½ a Page to read.
My Settings are full on??, or in other words, The Forum fills my whole 22in. Screen.
I think it is good, as it is a bit Bolder & easier to read.