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Dan Filetti · August 06, 2009, 04:14:27 PM

Marsh-

I work for one of the largest software companies in the world. Here we have employee forums for nearly everything, some of which are actually useful. I moderate a handful of these, although I do not have anything to do with building them, I have noticed some interesting, even useful features that if possible, I'd like to see incorporated here. Here, each thread is marked as either "New content since your last visit" or "Updated content since your last visit" or neither and those thread statuses are tied to login ID. There's a nifty full circle, half circle, empty circle icon for easy identification even. This way I can look at a list of threads, sorted by most recent descending, and see which ones were new/ updated/ or have nothing new.

I like your "Show unread posts since last visit" and "Show new replies to your posts" but it fails to allow the user to read their unread/ new/ updated posts in more than one sitting, where the browser is closed between sittings. It is also impossible to view unread posts since last visit if the user logs in at more than one computer -for instants work then home. Viewing a list of unread posts, even without having read any of them, and then closing the browser, will result in that list being emptied of that previous content the next time that user logs in and selects "Show unread posts since last visit". I am then forced to go to the entire list of forum entries and cast back in time to the point where I think I left off, and then come forward, which can be awkward. This is especially difficult if you're away for a few days' vacation/ too busy etc. and there are too many posts to catch up on in one sitting.

Alternatively, if the existing "Show unread posts since last visit" link could be enhanced to include any post that had not actually been read, whether or not the browser had been closed or not, that would be great as well.

This is a suggestion, and if it's not possible, so be it. But I thought I'd throw it out there...

Thanks,

Dan

threejagsteve · August 06, 2009, 08:15:18 PM

Just to clarify, you mean something like "Show all unread posts"?

I'd be for that!

Marsh White · August 06, 2009, 08:23:38 PM

I'll have to look into that. How I read the forum (which takes care of ALL of the issues you have mentioned) is to click on the "View the most recent posts on the forum" link and go back to the page where I recognize a post and move up from there. It makes sure I have read everything here. Not elegant - nor the best solution - but it works for me and many others.

This is essentially off-the-shelf software. I've been modifying it as best I can and purchasing modules along the way to address most of the issues. There is supposed to be a BIG new update for this forum software soon - hopefully it will address the issues you mentioned. Even so, I'll still see what I can do...

ddlewis · August 06, 2009, 09:06:03 PM

Quote from: Marsh White on August 06, 2009, 08:23:38 PM
I'll have to look into that. How I read the forum (which takes care of ALL of the issues you have mentioned) is to click on the "View the most recent posts on the forum"...

Not everything.. I used the "most recent posts" link almost exclusively, but the other day Chris updated the original post about Steve Conklin. The "most recent" link did not bring that back up.. missed that news until I asked and Chris pointed me there. A "view updated content" would've caught that.

So "recent posts" means just what is says.. based on the posts createdate and not modified date. Not a big deal, and most of the time that behavior is what you'd want.. not to see edits which are usually corrected misspellings or whatever..

I wouldn't worry about it.

Marsh White · August 07, 2009, 11:29:50 AM

Dan,

I also missed the update on Conklin's status because of the very same issue. Of course - the easiest answer to that is to not allow people to modify their posts - problem solved - at the expense of our freedoms though...

I modify my posts frequently after I post them - 99% of the time it is misspellings or grammatical errors or my fingers not keeping up with my mind. I'd like people to still be able to make those modifications (I always feel like an ass when I misspell shit) - so - another solution is to ONLY post NEW updates in a NEW post! (this means you Chris P...you may literally be the only guy to ever update actual important content on this forum (not misspellings and shit) by editing the original post - and not making a new post.

And, of course, another solution is for me to figure out a way to make a "view updated content" link...

I'm a pretty damn good ASP code programmer - but this forum runs off of PHP code - and I'm only moderately good at that...I'm working on it...

the fan · August 07, 2009, 02:57:14 PM

At least one of the boards I belong to only has a 30 minute window for editing posts. Possible solution?

MyFirstNameIsPaul · August 07, 2009, 03:25:14 PM

I dunno', I kinda' like being able to update my screw post.

FJ Flyer · August 07, 2009, 04:03:53 PM

I'll put any updates in a reply to the original post from now on. Haven't heard anything lately, by the way, on Steve.

ddlewis · August 07, 2009, 05:19:10 PM

Quote from: Marsh White on August 07, 2009, 11:29:50 AM
...And, of course, another solution is for me to figure out a way to make a "view updated content" link...

Assuming it tracks update date/time, it should be just like the "most recent" except instead of ordering posts by create date, query would look something like:
...order by last_updated desc

..but again.. I wouldn't spend 5 minutes trying to solve this non-issue. fine the way it is. don't want to see updates, 99% of which are typo fixes.

I used to do a lot of php v3-v5 coding. I liked it better than old ASP.. but it's like working with a hammer an cold chisel compared to Vis Studio.

Dan Filetti · August 07, 2009, 08:14:31 PM

Quote from: ddlewis on August 07, 2009, 05:19:10 PM
..but again.. I wouldn't spend 5 minutes trying to solve this non-issue. fine the way it is. don't want to see updates, 99% of which are typo fixes.

Mr. Lewis:

May all of your request in life be treated with such respect and consideration.

Cheers!

Dan

ddlewis · August 07, 2009, 09:37:40 PM

Quote from: Dan Filetti on August 07, 2009, 08:14:31 PM
Quote from: ddlewis on August 07, 2009, 05:19:10 PM
..but again.. I wouldn't spend 5 minutes trying to solve this non-issue. fine the way it is. don't want to see updates, 99% of which are typo fixes.

Mr. Lewis:

May all of your request in life be treated with such respect and consideration.

Cheers!

Dan

Mr Filletti:

May your skin grow a little thicker.

Really, I didn't mean to step on your toes, I forgot how this thread got started..

ssuv93 · August 08, 2009, 10:23:22 AM

Marsh, I love the way this forum is set up. I have full confidence that as improvements become available to you and you have the time, you will incorporate them. The way I understand it, you have set this forum up, maintained it, administered it and moderated it. I for one, feel very lucky to have you doing this.
I would hope that others would feel this way also.

Murray and Sherry from Maine

mst3kguy · August 08, 2009, 10:46:01 AM

Quote from: Marsh White on August 07, 2009, 11:29:50 AM

I'm a pretty damn good ASP code programmer - but this forum runs off of PHP code - and I'm only moderately good at that...I'm working on it...

marsh,

you want me to ask my wife? she's a php guru (book writing/editing/conferences speaker, etc.)...

Marsh White · August 10, 2009, 10:00:10 AM

Quote from: the fan on August 07, 2009, 02:57:14 PM
At least one of the boards I belong to only has a 30 minute window for editing posts. Possible solution?

Yes Bill, I think it is. There was a mod for doing just that and I have implemented it. This actually solves another issue that has been on my mind - the ability to delete valuable posts of information. We had this crop up with Kim when he removed his post/thread about rear shock spring weights. I then changed the forum to not allow users to Delete posts - but people were still allowed unlimited edits. While it hasn't happened yet - people could simply edit their posts BLANK - essentially deleting them.

So here is the way I have it setup now: everyone has 3 minutes to make "courtesy edits" - meaning you can make edits WITHOUT it saying "post edited" on the bottom. After that: everyone has 27 more minutes to edit their posts - edits during that time WILL show a "post edited" message at the bottom. No edits allowed after 30 minutes have passed (except by Admins of course).

Hopefully this works for everyone.

Marsh White · August 10, 2009, 10:05:52 AM

Quote from: Marsh White on August 07, 2009, 11:29:50 AM
And, of course, another solution is for me to figure out a way to make a "view updated content" link...

Well - I researched the HELL out of this on the developer and mod forums for this software. This issue DID actually come up just 2 days ago! Unfortunately - no one has written a mod for it yet - and it seems pretty complicated to do actually. However - one of the main programmer guys is looking into writting a mod for this. I'll implement it if/when he does. See for yourself here:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=329696.0

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the fan