Luminous Landscape Forum

Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Michael West on August 10, 2010, 07:35:28 pm

Title: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Michael West on August 10, 2010, 07:35:28 pm
Congratulations on the new software implementation.

 
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: JohnBrew on August 10, 2010, 07:39:54 pm
All I can say is: it's different! Not an improvement, IMO. Just my dos centavos.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 10, 2010, 07:56:07 pm
It seems the forum sends a "friendly" email reminder every single time a new topic is created by default - I received a notification of this topic being created. This would get very annoying very fast given the high volume of LL forums.

You can unsubscribe, but I think it should be off by default.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:02:13 pm
It seems the forum sends a "friendly" email reminder every single time a new topic is created by default - I received a notification of this topic being created. This would get very annoying very fast given the high volume of LL forums.

You can unsubscribe, but I think it should be off by default.

What reminder would that be?  It should only send out these reminders if you're subscribed to a topic or subscribed to a forum.  If you've gotten some on either of those things that you are not subscribed to please send me a PM with more information.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Ed Blagden on August 10, 2010, 08:03:35 pm
What happened to the thumbnails of uploaded images?  This is a real loss.

Ed
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: michael on August 10, 2010, 08:06:19 pm
All I can say is: it's different! Not an improvement, IMO. Just my dos centavos.
As mentioned on What's New, it isn't different just for the sake of being different, but because the new software's database structure now allows us to introduce a wide range of user oriented features which are linked to membership.

More to come soon.

Michael
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 10, 2010, 08:06:54 pm
It seems the forum sends a "friendly" email reminder every single time a new topic is created by default - I received a notification of this topic being created. This would get very annoying very fast given the high volume of LL forums.

You can unsubscribe, but I think it should be off by default.

What reminder would that be?  It should only send out these reminders if you're subscribed to a topic or subscribed to a forum.  If you've gotten some on either of those things that you are not subscribed to please send me a PM with more information.

Below the email I received. I hadn't changed any settings with the board so I assumed it was on by default. I turned it off and will keep my eye on it.

Quote
A new topic, 'Congratulations on the new software implementation', has been made on a board you are watching.

You can see it at
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45382.new#new

More topics may be posted, but you won't receive more email notifications until you return to the board and read some of them.

Unsubscribe to new topics from this board by clicking here: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?action=notifyboard;board=12.0
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:08:17 pm
What happened to the thumbnails of uploaded images?  This is a real loss.

Ed

Working on them right now.  They should come back in the near future and will work as expected for new uploads.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 10, 2010, 08:10:29 pm
Also, I can see people's emails. For example I can see Michael's @rogers.com email address next to his post above. Perhaps he doesn't mind it being posted, but it's probably something one wouldn't want to be posted for all members to see due to bots.

Mine is off in board settings but I can see it when logged on. When logged off I can't see it. Can someone verify if they can see my @gmail.com address? If not, everything is fine :)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:11:11 pm
Below the email I received. I hadn't changed any settings with the board so I assumed it was on by default. I turned it off and will keep my eye on it.

Ok great, let me know if you see anything else odd.  From that message it seems that you may have been watching that board in the previous forum software (or one of the previous versions before that!)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:12:15 pm
Also, I can see people's emails. For example I can see Michael's @rogers.com email address next to his post above. Perhaps he doesn't mind it being posted, but it's probably something one wouldn't want to be posted for all members to see due to bots.

Mine is off in board settings but I can see it when logged on. When logged off I can't see it. Can someone verify if they can see my @gmail.com address? If not, everything is fine :)

That's something I'm also fixing right now ... the forum seems to like to allow other users to see your email address.  I've already fixed it in one place, will fix it in the main forum listing right now.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Adam L on August 10, 2010, 08:12:30 pm
Nice, very very nice.  All functionality is still here, you just need to get familiar with the new layout.   Above the text box  ::)  are a bunch of icons, hover your mouse over them and you'll find the insert image button.   Additonal options... below the text box allows you to control notification of replies.

Great Upgrade!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Craig Lamson on August 10, 2010, 08:13:45 pm
 ???
Awful post layout
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:17:05 pm
That's something I'm also fixing right now ... the forum seems to like to allow other users to see your email address.  I've already fixed it in one place, will fix it in the main forum listing right now.

This is fixed, if anyone else (who is not a site admin as they can see all) notices email addresses showing or linked up anywhere else please let me know.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 10, 2010, 08:20:26 pm
Ok great, let me know if you see anything else odd.  From that message it seems that you may have been watching that board in the previous forum software (or one of the previous versions before that!)

I received another email new topic notification from another sub-forum. Perhaps I am subscribed to them all - is there a way to reset them individually or do I just have to wait for the spam to subside as I unsubscribe to them one by one?

This is fixed, if anyone else (who is not a site admin as they can see all) notices email addresses showing or linked up anywhere else please let me know.

Thanks, really appreciate it!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:23:33 pm
I received another email new topic notification from another sub-forum. Perhaps I am subscribed to them all - is there a way to reset them individually or do I just have to wait for the spam to subside as I unsubscribe to them one by one?

Thanks, really appreciate it!

I sent you a PM about this just a couple of minutes ago.

For anyone else that might run into this, you can check your forum/board/topic subscriptions by going to the Profile link in the top menu bar, and then the "Notifications and Email" link on the left.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 10, 2010, 08:25:19 pm
I sent you a PM about this just a couple of minutes ago.

For anyone else that might run into this, you can check your forum/board/topic subscriptions by going to the Profile link in the top menu bar, and then the "Notifications and Email" link on the left.

Thanks again! I was indeed subscribed to a few sub-forums, but the tip above is a quick fix!

PS. I just want to see what glow does :)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: George Machen on August 10, 2010, 08:36:25 pm
I pored over my account prefs - especially "Look and Layout Preferences," but can't find a way to make the board look like it used to. Is there a "skin" or anything to get the old look back? This is really bothering me!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 10, 2010, 08:40:28 pm
I pored over my account prefs - especially "Look and Layout Preferences," but can't find a way to make the board look like it used to. Is there a "skin" or anything to get the old look back? This is really bothering me!

No, unfortunately this is completely different forum software so there's no going back.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: maxgruzen on August 10, 2010, 08:45:17 pm
Sorry Michael but I prefer the old site.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: tho_mas on August 10, 2010, 08:48:03 pm
Finally a grey interface - very well!!
(always wondered why photo forums use colored backgrounds...)

The spacing in between the posts could be bigger. It's a bit hard to tell one post from another. Or maybe a frame around the post or so...
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Pelao on August 10, 2010, 08:59:28 pm
Nice job.  Clean and bright.

Upgrades like this rarely run without a few glitches.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: fike on August 10, 2010, 09:22:52 pm
I like it.  It is bright, modern and readable.  I did like seeing the member since under people's avatars.  It gave a little bit of a sense of someone's experience, at least with the forums.

I look forward to what the future holds for my favorite photo forums.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Graeme Nattress on August 10, 2010, 09:26:35 pm
Seems to be working fine here. Looking forwards to all the new goodies.

Graeme
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: kers on August 10, 2010, 09:27:23 pm
Michael-
I visit this site for a few years now and want to thank you for making it happen- it is a wonderful place to hear some news about photography.

About the new site- not everything that is new is better-and- all that is new you have to get used to.
 I got used to the old site so have to say that i find the layout a bit floating... and I miss ( but may did not find it yet) the overall "view new posts" button.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: michael on August 10, 2010, 09:29:23 pm
Sorry Michael but I prefer the old site.
Understood, but that's the price to be paid for allowing us to introduce new features.

Michael
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Jack Varney on August 10, 2010, 09:49:03 pm
Change is usually difficult to accept. I will be looking for the benefits. Hopefully all of us will be.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: beamon on August 10, 2010, 10:01:15 pm
How about new posts since my last visit? Have I just missed it?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: deejjjaaaa on August 10, 2010, 10:10:24 pm
How about new posts since my last visit? Have I just missed it?
upper right corner
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: deejjjaaaa on August 10, 2010, 10:12:41 pm
Finally a grey interface - very well!!
(always wondered why photo forums use colored backgrounds...)

The spacing in between the posts could be bigger. It's a bit hard to tell one post from another. Or maybe a frame around the post or so...


second that - either frames or background colors should be in place to help visually separate posts !!!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: deejjjaaaa on August 10, 2010, 10:14:24 pm
No, unfortunately this is completely different forum software so there's no going back.
but do you plan to have various skins at all ? I mean every decent forum software allows to select one of several available skins...
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: John.Murray on August 10, 2010, 11:32:12 pm
Deja - if you look at the bottom you'll notice that this *is* themed. 

http://www.jpr62.com/

I for one like it - very readable.  Bravo Michael and Chris (and Crip)!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Kirk Gittings on August 10, 2010, 11:44:57 pm
I don't see any advantages......it is much harder to read....what was the point?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: pcunite on August 11, 2010, 12:02:41 am
Michael,
Thank you for making improvements to your website. I know that making changes is very difficult and you have not made them lighty. It is a courtesy that you even extend to us this forum. I will keep an open mind and look for the positive with this new software. My personal favorite is vBulletin, but I think you're smart to have something different, at least at the apperance level... helps us over time to know and love this virtual place. It would be nice to have vBulletin functionality with the Luminous Landscape look/theme, no matter will be happy with what works.

 
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rusty on August 11, 2010, 12:31:51 am
Ok this looks interesting. A suggestion: I liked the ability to move to top of page from any post, saved scrolling for me. I see you have a go up / go down at bottom and top of pages, helpful, but to do at least go to top from any post would be better, at least IMO.
Over to the programmers.
I see the potential tools for really improving the discussion here, looking forward to it
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: deejjjaaaa on August 11, 2010, 12:50:58 am
Deja - if you look at the bottom you'll notice that this *is* themed. 
of course it is themed... "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black" (c)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Hans Knikman on August 11, 2010, 01:40:48 am
Congrats!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: elf on August 11, 2010, 01:50:56 am
Without the new features, I'd give the design a thumbs down.  Hopefully they'll make it worthwhile.

I've seen several issues already.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 02:13:47 am
Without the new features, I'd give the design a thumbs down.  Hopefully they'll make it worthwhile.

I've seen several issues already.
  • I had to set the Text size to smallest to see more than a couple of posts, actually to even seen more than a couple of words on a line :)
  • IE shows an error on the page, but doesn't specify what it is (screenshot attached (hopefully))
  • Attached images don't show in the Preview


Hi elf

Not sure why you have to mess with text sizes unless your setup in IE8 is forcing large sizes that it shouldn't be.  The error on the page is actually an IE8 error -- it's specifies the error at line 27 which is a javascript addEventListener, which IE8 doesn't properly support (even though it's part of the DOM standard).  That particular handler is also what takes care of resizing avatars, so that may be related to why you don't see attached image previews.  I see them fine on my IE8 however ... so again might be something local with your IE8 setup.  Aside from the (mostly cosmetic) error that shows in the bottom left corner everything is looking and working as expected in IE8 here.

Google shows around 200,000 hits for IE8 addEventListener (and most of them are people complaining that it doesn't exist in IE8 and will only exist in IE9 and upwards).  http://www.google.ca/search?q=ie8+addeventlistener
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rhossydd on August 11, 2010, 02:15:48 am
Horrible new interface. It looks terrible and is harder to read.

New features ? there was nothing lacking before, just high quality, easy to read, content.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: wolfnowl on August 11, 2010, 02:22:41 am
Michael:  I appreciate your efforts to improve the site.  Three things that I'd like to see changed, though.  One, as many have said already, I like to come into the forums and see what messages are new since I last logged in.  That facility IS available in the upper right, but...

1) The word 'New' is over the subject of every new thread (see attachment)
2) In the old forums there was an icon that would take me to the 'last unread' post in a thread.  The new forums only take you to the first or last post.
3) I don't see a way to upload images into a message as there was before.  There's an 'add image' icon for images on the web already, and there is an attachment feature, but no way (that I can see) to insert images into the body of a post as before.

Mike.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: HiltonP on August 11, 2010, 03:30:33 am
I'd like to support Wolfnowl's comment . . . I always pressed the show new messages button before, it allowed me to quickly view all the latest and topical threads. It no longer appears to work since when I clicked on it this morning it told me there were no new messages, which is clearly incorrect. I have no problem with the changes, although I think the new look is somewhat kitsch. Good luck with the implementations.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Morris Taub on August 11, 2010, 03:55:16 am
I haven't read all the messages so forgive if already mentioned :

I visited early this morning and when I came back, had to log in again...logged in, went off and visited a few sites and when i came back here had to log in, again...



Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rob C on August 11, 2010, 04:01:35 am
This is terrible: no soul and utterly ugly, or a Fred might say, hugly. ;-)

The last arrangement was a delight to use - with this one, I feel disconnected and totally without identity; why did anyone want to fix what wasn't broken?

Rob C
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: stamper on August 11, 2010, 04:07:47 am
Some sites such as

http://nikonuktalk.com/index.php

allow you to change the default colour. I haven't had time to properly search this site to see if it is possible. Can it be done?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: yaya on August 11, 2010, 05:21:22 am
Does anyone know how to change the local time settings? I mean it is NOT 04:19 In London right now:-)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: yaya on August 11, 2010, 05:24:15 am
Found it
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: HiltonP on August 11, 2010, 06:00:45 am
I visited early this morning and when I came back, had to log in again...logged in, went off and visited a few sites and when i came back here had to log in, again...
Yup, same here.
Just refreshing the page prompts a new login.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Graham Mitchell on August 11, 2010, 06:04:19 am
I understand why the back end software was changed, but the old GUI was great. The new GUI is really poor. It's cluttered looking and there are strange aspects of the layout. Example: you have to scroll to the top of the page every time to get to the 'reply' button.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: John R Smith on August 11, 2010, 06:48:52 am
Well, Michael and the Team

I am sorry, but this is not an improvement. The old Forum was simple and elegant, and facilitated the purpose of the software in an unobtrusive way. This new interface looks cheap and ugly, and is clunky to use. Like Rob C, I feel alienated by it. I do not understand how you, Michael, as a fine photographer with a developed sense of aesthetic and design values, could have preferred something that looked like this. I think that most of us here probably did not wish for more features (or gimmicks), we simply wanted to be able to talk to each other, exchange ideas, and post pictures.

I have been on the LuLa Forum for some years now, and always loved it. Now I feel like I don't want to come here anymore. Sorry, but that's how it is.

John
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 06:59:27 am
A suggestion: I liked the ability to move to top of page from any post, saved scrolling for me. I see you have a go up / go down at bottom and top of pages, helpful, but to do at least go to top from any post would be better, at least IMO.
Don't know if that works on all browser but with FF ctrl-home (top of page) or ctrl-end (bottom of page) should do the trick (and avoid to have too many nav links cluttering the space around messages).


After the first puzzling moment of "what's where", I'm amazed that such a major change did go with so few glitches.

I didn't see any, connecting now... apart from the things that google still links old post adresses, which are not compatible with the new board giving only 404 - is there a way to make a redirect?
Google may re-index the forum, but there are a fair bunch of links here and there, eg in other forums (so that people may know what is a good one like).

For the GUI side of things, I'd like too some more delimitation (a frame would be good, or a black title box as in the "topic summary" presentation I see right now in the post reply page)*.
To look at good things, I particularly like the way photo thumbnails expand in the page on clicking, rather that opening a new window/tab.

Edit 1 : Another little suggestion : in another SMF forum, I can hover on the title of a post in post listings to see the beginning of the message - very practical to decypher a not-so-well-chosen post title. Could this be implemented here, please?

*Edit 2 : the windowbg2 css object might control the frame, and there might be a postsep object too between posts? Just some quick'n'dirty guess based on css inspection and another SMF site, so this should be taken with a truckload of salt but I wish it might help.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on August 11, 2010, 07:14:20 am
I like the new background and find it more pleasing on the eyes.  It took me a minute to figure out that the <<next>> & <<previous>> buttons at the bottom right moved you between threads rather than pages within the same thread (which is what I thought would happen).  Other than that and the initial "strangeness" of a new format, I'm liking it.

alan
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: John R Smith on August 11, 2010, 07:23:29 am
Alright, then, some examples.

* The smileys are small and horrible.

* The fact that a thumbnail image opened in a new window was good thing, because you could keep that open and refer to it while you made a reply in the user critique section.

* The quotes in a post look horrible and cramped, whereas the old ones looked elegant.

* I went to all the trouble of writing an interesting potted biography in my old user profile, which has now vanished.

* I am 64 years old, and an English gentleman. I do not want someone shouting at me "Hey, John R Smith" at the top of the screen - that might sit well with twenty-year olds and their i-pods or whatever, but not with me. The salutation on the old board was appropriate.

* Whoever it was that designed the old bulletin board understood the basics of good typography, layout and design - something which is just as important on a PC screen as it is in print. This new one was obviously designed by a software engineer.

John
Title: 2 things to be improved (one is MUST, the other a question of PERSONAL TASTE)
Post by: Guillermo Luijk on August 11, 2010, 07:26:39 am
I already knew the SMF bulletin engine from other forums and I think it's OK, like most of them. However there are two things I think could be improved here:


Regards
Title: Re: Guillermo and John R Smith
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 07:33:32 am
A MUST: Links don't have a recognisable colour, underline or wathever to make them distinguishable.
They're dark green, actually... Yes, I too find not very easy to see what's a link and what's not.
Nice dog!

* The fact that a thumbnail image opened in a new window was good thing, because you could keep that open and refer to it while you made a reply in the user critique section.
You still could by clicking on the link under the thumbnail... However there is a small bug in that my browser (FF) doesn't recognize it first as an image and wants to pass it to my image viewer ; I'd guess the link misses an ";image" at the end.

Edit :
* I went to all the trouble of writing an interesting potted biography in my user profile, which has now vanished.
Bitten too. You have to hit the "change profile" button on the bottom of that page to save edits.
Title: Re: 2 things to be improved (one is MUST, the other a question of PERSONAL TASTE)
Post by: Guillermo Luijk on August 11, 2010, 07:40:02 am
They're dark green, actually... Yes, I too find not very easy to see what's a link and what's not.
Nice dog!

Wow! it's true. That dark green is a fantastic camouflage on my screen, I needed to zoom 800% to see any difference.
Thanks, even if Coco looks like a homeless dog, he belongs to a very rare race from the Mediterranean Spanish coast called something like "Mouse catcher".

Regards

Title: Re: Automatic/permanent login
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 07:41:30 am
A last thing : I too would appreciate a way not to have to login at each visit...
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Bob Peterson on August 11, 2010, 08:01:24 am
I like the new look.  It feels much cleaner.

On a relatively narrow screen, e.g., my HTC EVO phone, in the top right corner of the page the text next my avatar doesn't seem to have enough space to wrap properly.  The result is pretty much incomprehensible.

I notice the private Antarctica section is missing.  Or can I simply not see it?  I can still see the messages I posted there in "My Messages".

Another leak of actual email addresses: If I hover over the envelope icon shown in a message in the "Personal Messages Index" page (reached via "My Messages") I can see the user's actual email address. Not all the messages display the envelope icon, I suspect because not all users entered an email address in their profile.

Bob
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: JohnKoerner on August 11, 2010, 08:45:03 am
Well, I for one did not have to login again from last night, so no complaint there. And what I really like is the fact I can control my own posts (as threads), even removing them if I so choose.

What I don't like is the color scheme---I find myself squinting due to the brightness and the letters are too large. I feel the previous iteration of this board was easier on the eyes by far.

However, I find the responsiveness of this board better, and I do see its potential. If the color scheme could be dimmed-down a bit, and (as mentioned) maybe more separation between posts, it would be perfecto IMO. (Edit: oh yeah, and the smiley faces do suck, sorry to say).

Still, either way, this forum is much appreciated as I have learned A LOT of valuable information here, and am glad to have it as a resource whichever way it comes.

Jack



.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: michael on August 11, 2010, 08:53:39 am
Thanks to those that like the new software. Regrets to those that don't.

But, I'll repeat here (for the last time) that the change wasn't made to fix something that wasn't (for most people) broken. The reason for us using this new forum software has nothing to do with the user interface of the forum itself. I too was used to the old one and regret its passing.

The reason why we're using this forum software is because its database structure allows us to implement new features  which we are developing that relate to the main site itself and have little to do with the discussion forum. I'm pretty sure most people will like these features once they're introduced in the months ahead, but the price to be paid is this new forum software. The old software simply couldn't handle what we are trying to do as we move the site forward.

Please continue to mention those aspects of the forum software that you don't like and Mark G will do what he can to accommodate requests.

Also, please take the time to learn the new software. It won't take long and many of the things that people are complaining about as missing, are there, just in different places.

Michael
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: HiltonP on August 11, 2010, 09:05:15 am
Problem is . . . if one is not logged in then one cannot click for most recent posts.
This is now the fourth or fifth time I have had to login today, pretty irritating.

Got to admit I am somewhat amused with the manner in which computer systems are implemented these days.
It appears to be a "let's throw it against the wall and see if it sticks" methodology, where one's testing is done
"in production" (business programmers will know what I am refering to). Twenty years ago I would have been
fired on the spot for implementing a user interface such as this.  ;)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: John R Smith on August 11, 2010, 09:08:08 am
Michael

It is your site, and your Forum. For which, over many years, we have all been very grateful. The Luminous Landscape, and this Forum, have been a beacon of good taste and erudition for photographers in the general dross of mediocrity which characterises most of the Internet sites.

However, the success of this Forum (and I am sure that you will agree that it has been an extraordinary success) depends on the goodwill of its community. Appearances do matter, and if I or others feel less inclined to contribute because of these changes, then that is a point worth pondering.

John
Title: Re: Automatic/permanent login
Post by: francois on August 11, 2010, 09:09:21 am
A last thing : I too would appreciate a way not to have to login at each visit...
When your logged out, click on the login tab. You'll have the choice to stay logged-in.
Title: Re: Automatic/permanent login
Post by: JohnKoerner on August 11, 2010, 09:41:33 am
When your logged out, click on the login tab. You'll have the choice to stay logged-in.


I notice that when I come back, on the main page it tells me to "login" ... but I don't.

Because, when I click on any of the sub-forums, I notice that I am in fact still logged-in.

To those who "keep having to re-login," try just going to a sub-forum and I think you too will see that you are in fact still logged-in ...

Jack




.
Title: Re: Automatic/permanent login
Post by: michael on August 11, 2010, 09:53:34 am
When your logged out, click on the login tab. You'll have the choice to stay logged-in.

John,

Thanks for your comments.

Of course appearances matter. And if course we will do our best to massage the new forum software to make it look and respond in as appealing a manner as possible.

But, also please understand that the changes that we are making to the site, which I strongly believe will be all to the good, require that we use this particular forum's database software.

So, for better or worse, we're going with this.

Michael
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Justan on August 11, 2010, 09:58:37 am
I like the new “do” even though it will take a little getting used to. The forum appears much quicker than it’s predecessor and the change of forum colors makes reading easier on my old eyes.

Congrats! I bet it was and is a lot of work getting the new package up and running.

I appreciate the many efforts it takes to keep this old cyber stop running. Thanks for the hard work and for the great resource!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: francois on August 11, 2010, 10:15:37 am

The forum appears much quicker than it’s predecessor

That's also my observation  :)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: beamon on August 11, 2010, 10:15:48 am
upper right corner

Thanks, got it now.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: John Camp on August 11, 2010, 10:17:11 am
Why does the forum look different when you're just reading, as opposed to when you're replying? When I'm just browsing, there's not much separation between comments. When I'm replying, the topics as shown at the bottom of the screen have a thick black bar between them, which make them much easier to read. (And it'd be even easier if the thick black bar were some pleasant color, like a nice green or blue.) Otherwise, the changes seem okay to me, and I'm looking forward to the new features.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Morris Taub on August 11, 2010, 10:19:01 am
No, unfortunately this is completely different forum software so there's no going back.

There seems to be a very thin white line or white space between posts now...not sure you can adjust this, but perhaps making that somewhat thicker would separate the posts a bit more and make it easier to tell where one ends and another begins...

M
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: beamon on August 11, 2010, 10:27:17 am
There seems to be a very thin white line or white space between posts now...not sure you can adjust this, but perhaps making that somewhat thicker would separate the posts a bit more and make it easier to tell where one ends and another begins...

M
+1 Morris. These old eyes would do better with stronger differentiation between posts, also, if it can be done.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rocco Penny on August 11, 2010, 10:45:17 am
The spacing between posts makes each following post blend into the last.
So, just a small line separating the posts seems to make each post lean dangerously toward each other,
even blending one into the next.
The old individually framed posts, in starting a thread, or replying to a thread gave one a sense of personality.
So you could have your own little thing in its own little box.
Then if you wanted you could put someone else's little thing into your own little box(stay with me men)
and it would stand out and augment your own post,
or likely you'd augment another's.
So now it all seems to flow together, do you see?
Thank you for the space
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: maxgruzen on August 11, 2010, 10:55:33 am
I'm 70 years old and maybe this is just what everybody feels as they get older, but it seems to me that usually when something gets improved it loses some of its soul. That's how I feel about this new site. My favorite web site for eight years. What ever the reasons are for this change, the site is now ugly and uninviting, and although I will continue to visit this site often I doubt that I will ever feel that same sense of it being a special place.  If using this software means that you had to give up your visually creative and artistic values Michael, then I think you have made a poor choice.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Luis Argerich on August 11, 2010, 10:56:56 am
The smiles can be changed from the SMF admin panel, you probably want to install a better package as the default SMF smileys are horrible.
About the new look the first reaction is always inertial but SMF is a good piece of software and with time we are all going to get used to the new interface. I'm in many forums and every time one changed software I always liked the previous version, I was used to that! but after some months we won't even remember the old version.
You can't fight against success!

Luis

PS: Michael & Admin: I'm admin of another forum using SMF, if you need any help just send me a PM or email.

Edit: Turning on the quick-reply box option for all users by default can also be a good idea, then you can reply to a thread without going to the reply button, just type in quick reply and voila! Currently each user can turn it on from the profile but I guess that defaulting to "on" is a good idea!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: uaiomex on August 11, 2010, 11:16:48 am
I could not said it better. Soul-less. I just done a first mistake. I quoted the post immediately down. I'm not going anywhere but I'm very sad this happenned. Sorry Michael. By any means, if you can revert it, please. please, please, please do.
Eduardo

I'm 70 years old and maybe this is just what everybody feels as they get older, but it seems to me that usually when something gets improved it loses some of its soul. That's how I feel about this new site. My favorite web site for eight years. What ever the reasons are for this change, the site is now ugly and uninviting, and although I will continue to visit this site often I doubt that I will ever feel that same sense of it being a special place.  If using this software means that you had to give up your visually creative and artistic values Michael, then I think you have made a poor choice.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rob C on August 11, 2010, 11:42:41 am
I'm 70 years old and maybe this is just what everybody feels as they get older, but it seems to me that usually when something gets improved it loses some of its soul. That's how I feel about this new site. My favorite web site for eight years. What ever the reasons are for this change, the site is now ugly and uninviting, and although I will continue to visit this site often I doubt that I will ever feel that same sense of it being a special place.  If using this software means that you had to give up your visually creative and artistic values Michael, then I think you have made a poor choice.


It is not an age thing - it's observation of reality; some of us have longer realities that translate into wider experiences.

At the end of the day, communication has a long history of established form, and even if we are using a computer we are, at heart, still writing a letter or at least a short note to somebody. It seems to me that the further we move away from that format, then the less user-friendly the experience. Even the act of trying to write this post and include your own as a quotation proved contrary to function: it is far kinder being able to click for that function on each post, as originally, than to have to go through this process of clicking up at the top of the page and then hunting again for the post one wishes to quote. One could just lose interest and say the hell with it.

As I attempt to write this, my current line of type has vanished below the frame of the box and I am now typing blind.

Rob C

Edit: I discover, now, that there is a function that allows me to avoid going to the top of the page and hitting Reply! See what I mean? (And I am still typing blind.)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 11, 2010, 12:03:46 pm
Does anyone know how to change the local time settings? I mean it is NOT 04:19 In London right now:-)
Hi, Yair... I have found that problem, found the option in my profile to fix it and it does not seem to work
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 11, 2010, 12:34:40 pm
I like the new color scheme and don't mind the setup. I'm already used to the new post flow, don't see what the problem is differentiating between them: there are two horizontal lines surrounding each post. The ;) s look fine.

The minor complaints I echo are the ones about invisible links and images which open up in the body of the post rather than new window or tab.

All in all, the forum works well, and content is still king - and that hasn't changed.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 11, 2010, 12:38:00 pm
The minor complaints I ... images which open up in the body of the post rather than new window or tab.
I think [url] make things appear in a new window, and [iurl] open it in the same window, but, if you click on a picture, you get the "open in a new window" option.

See SMF, advanced codes
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Bill Koenig on August 11, 2010, 12:41:59 pm
The new look works for me.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 11, 2010, 12:48:30 pm
I sure hope the new forum software can be adjusted, because the way it is now is extremely cumbersome to read or to reply to. Echoing what some others have said, the following are absolutely essential if I am to continue using what used to be my very favorite forum:

1.   Yes, a big, bold, visible line should separate messages. I get a headache trying to read them now.
2.   Every post should have a "reply" button and a "quote" button. I am not willing to scroll up and down through a thread looking for the post I want to quote, only to have to try to find my way back to the "reply" section.
3.   On the old system, when I asked for "new posts", I could always go to the first unread post, wherever it was on the page. But now, all I can do is get to the page that contains new posts, and then scroll madly up and down until I see something that looks new. There aren't even any indicators on individual posts about whether this one has been read or not. If this capability of the old system can't be provided, I will very reluctantly have to bid farewell to the forum.

I'll be checking in only about once a week instead of a few times each day. The time I save will be spent doing photography.

 :'(

Eric
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 12:55:27 pm
Hi Folks

There are some user problems I've about read in this thread that I'll quickly address here as a tip and tricks sort of approach on how to use this new forum software.  Many o the things that people are complaining about are already there and you just need to explore a bit to find where all the new bells and whistles are in this forum software.  There are a lot of other things that aren't (easily) accomplished and we'll never be able to satisfy everyone.  I will try to make some tweaks on the colours to get the contrast better for links, etc. but it will be difficult to please everyone and we'll have to satisfy for a compromise.

Tips:
- Click on the "new" icon that sits besides any topics with new posts on it to see the latest post that you haven't yet read.
- to stay logged in permanently or for longer periods of time click on the login link in the top navigation panel and login from that page which gives you more advanced options than the "quick login" at the top right of any page.
- the top right area is very handy and gives you quick links to your private messages, unread posts, and replies to your posts
- for changing time zones and anything else related specifically to your account and/or preferences explore the "Profile" link fro the top navigation bar.  There's a lot of stuff you can tweak in there.
- to post attachments or manage subscription options click on the "additional options" link below the text box when replying to or starting a new post.

A couple of other quick things ... we can't "revert" back to the old forum software -- all the requests/complaints/whatever can't change that so filling up this thread with me too's is pointless.  As for smiley's I can look into those, but I honestly didn't think that they were a very integral part of a photography discussion forum or a deal breaker ;)  The quick reply box suggestion is a good one, I will look into turning that on today.

Lastly there are some other things that are low level parts of the forum that are not something easily accommodated, such as changing the base behaviour of how it handles image attachments, etc.  I will look into what can be done about some of this stuff as well, but again, there's no pleasing everyone.  One person's perfect way of handling something like that is the next person's worst method of handling it.

One more request I'd like to make, for the users that are complaining that some features or parts of the forum don't work for them, it would be very helpful if you include your browser, version and OS and version to help track these things down.  Without that detailed information it's throwing darts in the dark to try and figure out the issue at hand.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 11, 2010, 01:39:01 pm
Hi Folks
The quick reply box suggestion is a good one, I will look into turning that on today.

It might be nice, sometimes, to be able to use the "quick reply" option... but we seem to have lost the normal "reply" option with the bigger window... please fix.

(you do get a slightly bigger window when you preview... Safari has a sizable window (for the old software), and Firefox has not)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 01:45:52 pm
It might be nice, sometimes, to be able to use the "quick reply" option... but we seem to have lost the normal "reply" option with the bigger window... please fix.

(you do get a slightly bigger window when you preview... Safari has a sizable window (for the old software), and Firefox has not)

With the quick reply enabled by default it uses the quick reply window.  If you want the full sized reply window hitting the "Preview" button takes you to the standard interface for replies.  Unfortunately it's one or the other.  For now I'm going to turn off the quick reply globally, if you want to use quick reply you can enable it in your Profile preferences -- so for the advanced users that prefer quick reply you can enable it for yourselves, if you don't enable it you will get the standard reply page.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 11, 2010, 02:00:40 pm
Hi Folks

- for changing time zones and anything else related specifically to your account and/or preferences explore the "Profile" link fro the top navigation bar.  There's a lot of stuff you can tweak in there.

The profile "time offset" function does not work in safari or Firefox on Snow leopard... I have just updated firefox and flash to the latest versions.

...and alt-p does not work for preview either.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 02:10:05 pm
The profile "time offset" function does not work in safari or Firefox on Snow leopard... I have just updated firefox and flash to the latest versions.

...and alt-p does not work for preview either.

The time offset just worked fine for me in Safari on Snow Leopard, not sure why it's not working for you.  Do you have anything that might be blocking javascript from running?

What "preview" are you talking about?  I'm not familiar with that.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 02:22:45 pm
2.   Every post should have a "reply" button and a "quote" button.
They do, though! in the upper right corner of the post (they're links actually).

Quote
3.   On the old system, when I asked for "new posts", I could always go to the first unread post, wherever it was on the page. But now, all I can do is get to the page that contains new posts, and then scroll madly up and down until I see something that looks new.
It seems that the first time you login on the new board, the machine is a bit confused about what you've read and what you've not. After the second one it worked OK for me.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 02:26:14 pm
They do, though! in the upper right corner of the post (they're links actually).
It seems that the first time you login on the new board, the machine is a bit confused about what you've read and what you've not. After the second one it worked OK for me.

Yes, they do now ... I added the reply button a little while ago so the initial request was valid.

Also the forum will be confused the first time you log on as it's your first time on this forum software ... it doesn't really know what you read on the previous forum software that we just upgraded from (although it does try to take a wild guess which it fails at more often than not).
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 02:38:26 pm
Yes, they do now ... I added the reply button a little while ago so the initial request was valid.
Oooops, my mistake, and I present my humble excuses to Eric too.

I'd think also that you may have lighten a bit the link color (or is it the approaching dusk here in eastern France?) to make them more distinguishable - that helps, thanks, but what about a more classical underline for them?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 02:40:41 pm
Oooops, my mistake, and I present my humble excuses to Eric too.

I'd think also that you may have lighten a bit the link color (or is it the approaching dusk here in eastern France?) to make them more distinguishable - that helps, thanks, but what about a more classical underline for them?

I did lighten the green for the links.  I tried the traditional underline for links as well, but it's just too ugly and there's not enough distinction between the types of links on this forum software, so I can't easily isolate just the text body links, etc.
Title: new theme
Post by: Fritzer on August 11, 2010, 02:51:06 pm
The theme is really hard on the eyes, but maybe that's just me.

I'd seperate the sidebar from the message windows, just a thought.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on August 11, 2010, 03:06:28 pm
Hi, using an IMAC with OSX 10.6.4 and Safari browser 5.0.1.

I have to login every day, I'm not seeing a "remember me" button or something similar.

Thanks, Kevin
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 11, 2010, 03:16:08 pm
Is there an easier way to make links than the unnecessarily complicated and cryptic code given in the help file? I loved the prior version which would popup a window for the link, and another for the text - or how I could just select a word and linkify it with a url.

[url=http://somesite/]
descriptive link
[/url]
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 03:29:39 pm
Is there an easier way to make links than the unnecessarily complicated and cryptic code given in the help file? I loved the prior version which would popup a window for the link, and another for the text - or how I could just select a word and linkify it with a url.

[url=http://somesite/]
descriptive link
[/url]

Unfortunately there's not anything like that I've found for the SMF posting interface (yet, I'll keep looking).  One thing that SMF does do though is it will auto-parse URL's in the message text, so you can even bypass the need to the BB code url tags if you want to quickly post a link, just past the URL and it will "just work".  If you want to do more advanced stuff like build a text link then you're stuck editing the code.

Example (I just pated the URL and the post system took it from there to build the link)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 03:31:10 pm
Hi, using an IMAC with OSX 10.6.4 and Safari browser 5.0.1.

I have to login every day, I'm not seeing a "remember me" button or something similar.

Thanks, Kevin

Please read the New Forum Tips (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0) post (or the info previously in this thread), it tells you how to find that.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 03:39:10 pm
Is there an easier way to make links than the unnecessarily complicated and cryptic code given in the help file?
Even if it's not as smooth as in the goodol'dayz, type your link text first and select it, then hit the (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/Themes/lula/images/bbc/url.gif) button. You just have to copy your URL, type = after "[url" and hit Paste.
Sounds much more complicated than it actually is.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: MarkM on August 11, 2010, 03:40:26 pm
I'm sure the features of the new software will be worth the cost of getting used to it. Since the new features seem to be in the backend, I'm guessing that the design can still be tweaked to make the forums easier to read and quicker to scan.

The main problem, which has been mentioned several times, it that the posts blend together.

The division between posts is probably the most important vertical structural element in the design, but it gets the weakest design element: a line that's almost the same color as the background. This is competing with much darker lines between the post title, body, and signature. The bold, green titles and user names should also help segregate the posts but it's not as effective as it could be because they are not quite vertically aligned (at least in Safari, OSX), and the titles appear to be indented because of the little paper icon.

We tend to scan from the top left down. This makes the upper left corner the single most important place on a layout or within a section of the layout. In each post body that place is occupied by this message icon. It that really the most important thing for a reader to see first? Moving this to the other side of the title or even over by the "reply" and "quote" links will go a long way in helping visually organize the posts. If the vertical alignment between the user name and post title is fixed it will have the effect of a horizontal line which will also help separate posts.

Having quotes in dark boxes means this is what you want people to see when scanning a thread. Try it—grab the scroll bar and move the page up and down. What gets your attention? The dark boxes, right? Perhaps italicizing the text and putting it in an subtly outlined box rather than a colored one would help.

Also, there is a lot of information over in the left column that is kind of screaming at the user. The red and yellow squares under people's names are the brightest, most saturated elements on the page. Are they that important?

It's not bad, but the design really needs some adjusting with the reader and the structure of the page in mind.

Looking forward to seeing what the new DB brings in terms of features and integration.

p.s. is marqueed text really allowed?

 
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: feppe on August 11, 2010, 04:20:17 pm
Even if it's not as smooth as in the goodol'dayz, type your link text first and select it, then hit the (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/Themes/lula/images/bbc/url.gif) button. You just have to copy your URL, type = after "[url" and hit Paste.
Sounds much more complicated than it actually is.

Lessee: Lars von Trier directs Denmark's new tourism ads (http://www.theonion.com/video/denmark-introduces-harrowing-new-tourism-ads-direc,14403/). Yay, good tip, thanks!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 11, 2010, 04:50:59 pm
Lessee: Lars von Trier directs Denmark's new tourism ads (http://www.theonion.com/video/denmark-introduces-harrowing-new-tourism-ads-direc,14403/).
Good ads indeed! Thanks!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Gary Brown on August 11, 2010, 04:58:45 pm
Lessee: Lars von Trier directs Denmark's new tourism ads (http://www.theonion.com/video/denmark-introduces-harrowing-new-tourism-ads-direc,14403/). Yay, good tip, thanks!

Is there a way for the reader (i.e., me) to customize how messages are displayed? On my screen, there's nothing to indicate that there's a link within that sentence (unless I happen by chance to move the cursor over it and notice the change).
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 11, 2010, 05:04:26 pm
The time offset just worked fine for me in Safari on Snow Leopard, not sure why it's not working for you.  Do you have anything that might be blocking javascript from running?

What "preview" are you talking about?  I'm not familiar with that.
Time offset is now working.

I think it was in Safari, it said there was a keyboard short cut to get to show the preview screen from the post reply page. The option is not shown here (Firefox), but ctrl-p shows the preview screen
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 05:20:15 pm
Time offset is now working.

I think it was in Safari, it said there was a keyboard short cut to get to show the preview screen from the post reply page. The option is not shown here (Firefox), but ctrl-p shows the preview screen

I've removed the text that says how to do the keyboard shortcuts ... they don't work properly across different browsers and platforms -- it's very hit and miss.  I found what you were talking about shortly after the fact.  Best bet is to actually click the preview button if you want to preview, it will work in all browser on all OSes :)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dustbak on August 11, 2010, 05:27:37 pm
I won't say too much about the design and layout besides it needs improvement to get it even close to before.

One thing I would really like and I have seen someone else make a reference to it as well. I like to have a 'next & previous' button on the left that allows me to scroll through the different pages within one thread. Now I need to click on the numbers and constantly aim at a different place. This might sound silly but it would be an improvement in how to read a longer thread.

This thread already had 6 pages I needed to read before getting to the last post.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on August 11, 2010, 05:35:32 pm
Please read the New Forum Tips (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0) post (or the info previously in this thread), it tells you how to find that.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0

 Got it Mark, thanks!!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: michael on August 11, 2010, 05:39:03 pm
The Next and Previous buttons are at the bottom right of the page.

Michael
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dustbak on August 11, 2010, 05:41:28 pm
Yes, but these take you from one thread to another and not from one page to the next in the same thread. The next & previous on the right simply don't make sense to me since I never browse from one thread to another.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: MarkM on August 11, 2010, 05:50:11 pm
The next & previous on the right simply don't make sense to me since I never browse from one thread to another.

Yes. In fact I clicked on those trying to go to the next page and was really confused because the conversation seemed to go totally off topic on the next page.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 11, 2010, 06:56:12 pm
Yes. In fact I clicked on those trying to go to the next page and was really confused because the conversation seemed to go totally off topic on the next page.

At the bottom left and top left are the links to jump directly to the thread pages:  Pages: 1 ... 4 5 [6]
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Bob Peterson on August 11, 2010, 08:22:49 pm
I browse the Forum using both a large desktop display and on my phone.  My phone lacks a keyboard, meaning that all navigation and selection is by touch.  The devices I use obviously influence some of my comments.

If you don't mind, what minimum screen size do you expect and/or design for?  Some of my expectations might well violate your design parameters, in which case I'll adjust my expectations.  The layout looks like it was designed for a screen with a minimum width of 1024 pixels.

Major issue, previously mentioned.

Minor issues, some previously mentioned but now with additional detail:

Suggestions:

Thank you for patiently paying attention to our concerns.  I'm confident that with time we'll all get much more comfortable with the new software.  And I'm now very curious what new features are in store for us.

Bob
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: BernardLanguillier on August 11, 2010, 08:58:35 pm
Some questions:

- How to switch to threaded/indented view? This is the most important function for me as it is next to impossible to follow a thread with one post after another,
- Is there a way to increase significantly the space between posts? The current 1 pixel white line makes the whole thing very very hard to read

Thank you.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: K.C. on August 11, 2010, 10:43:25 pm
Free forum software like this always needs countless tweaks.

Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 11, 2010, 11:39:40 pm
Most of my major gripes have been taken care of, thank you very much.
Knowing that the "new" button is in fact a link to the position I want to go to is a big help.
Knowing that "prev" and "next" are useless (i.e., take you to the next or previous topic, not page) is helpful.
Making a visible line separating posts would make me deliriously happy.

I think Bob's (rwzeitgeist) suggestions are excellent.

So I think I'll be able to stay here a while.
Now if I can only figure out something useful to do with marqueed text...   (Thank you, MarkM!)
Eric
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dustbak on August 12, 2010, 01:08:50 am
Mark,

That is exactly what is so bothersome. There is no possibility to simply click on 'next' or 'previous' page within a thread. Having to select pagenumbers is IMO very user unfriendly and unpleasant, especially with threads with a lot of pages.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 12, 2010, 01:39:15 am
I browse the Forum using both a large desktop display and on my phone.  My phone lacks a keyboard, meaning that all navigation and selection is by touch.  The devices I use obviously influence some of my comments.

If you don't mind, what minimum screen size do you expect and/or design for?  Some of my expectations might well violate your design parameters, in which case I'll adjust my expectations.  The layout looks like it was designed for a screen with a minimum width of 1024 pixels.

Major issue, previously mentioned.
  • On the "Personal Messages Index" page I can display the actual email addresses for some members by hovering over the envelope icon present next to some messages.  I checked a couple of the members' profiles, and their profile shows "hidden" for their email address. (I incorrectly postulated that the members' whose email addresses showed up might have elected to allow them to be seen.) I assume displaying an email address is not the intended behavior.

Minor issues, some previously mentioned but now with additional detail:
  • If the browser is narrow (happens in Firefox if I make the window narrow, and always on my HTC EVO phone with a screen 800 pixels wide) the banner image at the top of the screen covers the status text in the upper right corner.  (I previously mischaracterized the problem as the text wrapping incorrectly or appropriately.)
  • Did the private area for Antarctic workshop participants get left behind, or did I simply lose access to it?  Since my posts from that board don't show up in the list of my posts, I expect that board wasn't migrated to the new system.
  • The "Go Up" link (in Firefox, at least) doesn't actually move to the top of the page, which might be intentional.  Instead it places the path to the current board at the top of the browser page.  This means I can't see the status text next to my avatar image.

Suggestions:
  • I find useful a "next page" navigation link that remains in the same place on the screen from one page to the next, assuming the top of the page is at the top of the browser window.  The page numbers work, but require carefully choosing a specific link.  I suggest a left arrow (previous page) and right arrow (next page) link to the left of the page numbers.  This change makes navigation easier on (small) touch devices.
  • I initially thought the "Go Up" link at the bottom of the page would take me back to the list of topics.  "Top of Page" and "Bottom of Page" would be much less ambiguous, IMHO.
  • The "previous" and "next" links waste a line.  I suggest moving them to the left end of the topic jump line, just below the list of page numbers.  Also, there should be plenty of room to say "Previous Topic" and "Next Topic" to clearly indicate their function and distinguish their function from the page numbers.
  • I suggest making the "Jump to:" dropdown field narrower.  There's a lot of space between the widest board name and the "go" button.  This will improve usability on narrow (phone) screens, as well as provide room for implementing the previous suggestion.
  • I suggesting changing the link text, "Return to main site" to something like "LL Home Page".  I find "main site" ambiguous (LL Home page versus the Forum home page).

Thank you for patiently paying attention to our concerns.  I'm confident that with time we'll all get much more comfortable with the new software.  And I'm now very curious what new features are in store for us.

Bob

Thanks Bob, all good comments.

Issues:
I've fixed the personal message index.  The default of SMF forum software is to show email addresses to other members and they only give you the ability to hide them from guests.  I've manually been hiding the email addresses in the appropriate templates as we find them.  I'll adjust this one right now.  If you find any others, or anyone else does, please let me know and I will fix these.

For the 800px wide issue, the layout is setup to require at least 900-950px wide and is not easily changeable, sorry.  The Antarctic forum is still there, it's likely a permissions issue as it shows that it's not a public forum.  Will look into this.  Lastly the "Go Up" does indeed by design only go to the breadcrumbs links, not the top of the header (not my design, the forum's design).

Suggestions:
The page numbers is not my choice unfortunately, it's the way the forum software works and is surprisingly a lot of work to change -- not to mention a bad idea to make those kinds of low level changes if they are avoidable (thinking of forum software updates and the problems this would cause).  If I can find a mod that takes care of this I'll give it a shot as I agree with you, but it's one of those "that's the way it works" answers that you get stuck with sometimes with software you don't write for yourself :(

The previous and next links are also not my cup of tea, but some people really like them as well.

The Jump To field is actually the width of the longest forum name, being "Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography" or at least it is on my setup.

I agree with the return to main site link and I will change that right now.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 12, 2010, 02:01:40 am
Some more tweaks have been made.  There are next page/prev page arrows for the topics pages (there was a mod for this that works).  Link names have changed and I made the Previous/Next post links go away.  If people complain enough for it it can come back with better wording.  Also some small stylesheet tweaks -- quotes, code blocks, links in posts and lines separating the posts.

I will at some point figure out how to kill that marquee text too Marquee is officially dead :P
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: MarkM on August 12, 2010, 02:36:46 am
Mark Guertin, you've had a busy day (or couple of days). The changes since this morning make a big difference. Thanks for taking all the time to wade through all our advice.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 12, 2010, 02:38:33 am
Mark Guertin, you've had a busy day (or couple of days). The changes since this morning make a big difference. Thanks for taking all the time to wade through all our advice.

Thanks Mark.  I'm glad to tweak things and get it running well for (most) everyone where I can.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dustbak on August 12, 2010, 03:27:39 am
yes, Thx!. This is further improvement.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 12, 2010, 04:39:22 am
I've removed the text that says how to do the keyboard shortcuts ... they don't work properly across different browsers and platforms -- it's very hit and miss.  I found what you were talking about shortly after the fact.  Best bet is to actually click the preview button if you want to preview, it will work in all browser on all OSes :)

In Safari (which I have given up using again) with the expandable edit box, the preview button is often not on the screen... so the shortcut is useful - but each user has to work out what works on their machine - perhaps you could add this to the tips and tricks?

ctrl-p works on Mac/Firefox as well!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Ronny Nilsen on August 12, 2010, 04:52:24 am
After all the work done I think the new forum now works just fine for my use.
I'm impressed with how smooth this have gone, and that migration of users and
old content have gone so well!

Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 12, 2010, 05:39:16 am
Some more tweaks have been made.  
Excellent, thaaaanks!
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 12, 2010, 05:56:06 am
For the 800px wide issue, the layout is setup to require at least 900-950px wide and is not easily changeable, sorry.
I normally use an Eizo at 1200 * 1600 in portrait orientation, and the main "luminous Landscape discussion Forum" title box is too wide, and goes over the search box and the PM info, since last visit etc. ( I get "Dick Roadnight" without the "Hey"). I will send you a screen shot if you need it. This is OK in portrait orientation.

When there is only one post on a page, the LuLa window shrinks to a small proportion of the browser window... this may be correct,,, but when it happened I thought that I had stumbled on a major bug and took a screen shot to report it to you.

Thank you for all your good work.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 12, 2010, 06:24:54 am
I normally use an Eizo at 1200 * 1600 in portrait orientation, and the main "luminous Landscape discussion Forum" title box is too wide, and goes over the search box and the PM info, since last visit etc.
CSS compatibility strikes again?

Here at work on a crappy 1280*1024 everything is fine, and I must shrink the window to about 900px large to get  the first "S" of "Show unread posts since last visit" getting hidden by the banner.
FireFox 3.6.8, WinXP SP2.

Thta still could be an issue on mobile devices though ; but on SMF forums, there is a (very crude but phone-frinedly I'd say) "WAP" mode if you add a ";wap" to the topic url. Voyez plutôt (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45382.0;wap). Late edit : less crude with ;wap2 (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45382.0;wap2).
Don't know whether there is some automation to this...
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Morris Taub on August 12, 2010, 06:49:43 am
Some more tweaks have been made.  There are next page/prev page arrows for the topics pages (there was a mod for this that works).  Link names have changed and I made the Previous/Next post links go away.  If people complain enough for it it can come back with better wording.  Also some small stylesheet tweaks -- quotes, code blocks, links in posts and lines separating the posts.

I will at some point figure out how to kill that marquee text too Marquee is officially dead :P

Wow, all these changes and fast...thanks monsieur Guertin...

too bad the marquee is dead, but i can see it getting on peoples nerves...
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 12, 2010, 06:54:57 am
Here at work on a crappy 1280*1024 everything is fine, and I must shrink the window to about 900px large to get  the first "S" of "Show unread posts since last visit" getting hidden by the banner.
FireFox 3.6.8, WinXP SP2.
I can get the "S" of "show", portrait, 1200* 1600, Snow leopard, Firefox or Safari, latest versions, if I zoom out a bit... I can still easily read the text here in the edit box, but it is a bit of a strain in the "topic summary" below, using 61 year old eyes @ arm's length, with less strong glasses than I normally use for reading.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 12, 2010, 08:11:40 am
too bad the marquee is dead, [...]
Well, beware that it can't step out of its grave and haunt you...
 ;D

(edit : seems it's finally possible to kill a zombie. Who'd have thought?  ;D :D ;D )
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Morris Taub on August 12, 2010, 08:31:57 am
Well, beware that it can't step out of its grave and haunt you...
 ;D

it's good to know that some things never die... ;D
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: NikoJorj on August 12, 2010, 09:27:40 am
I can get the "S" of "show", portrait, 1200* 1600, Snow leopard, Firefox or Safari, latest versions, if I zoom out a bit...
I'm using standard font size, but even when zooming out to the max (view/zoom/"zoom text only" checked, that may well be the point), it's messy but not too narrow at 1280px wide.

@Morris Taub : Not that loud... you could awake some more (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275773/)...  :o
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Rocco Penny on August 12, 2010, 09:41:51 am
that's better-
now I see delineation
and very much appreciate the way you've been relentless in listening and working and ,,,
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Christopher Sanderson on August 12, 2010, 09:55:52 am
too bad the marquee is dead, but i can see it getting on peoples nerves...
Yep....
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: beamon on August 12, 2010, 10:25:42 am
and lines separating the posts.

Thanks for the lines, Mark. They could even be darker for my eyes, but the current lines are a big improvement.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: maxgruzen on August 12, 2010, 10:42:15 am
Looking better.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Kirk Gittings on August 12, 2010, 11:13:04 am
YES, the lines really help. It's growing on me.....
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Morris Taub on August 12, 2010, 11:17:39 am
Yep....

okokok, good you nipped it in the bud...

question : Is it possible to 'bookmark' a thread? often, I'd like to keep track of a thread but don't necessarily want an email for each reply to it (and may not have anything to add of interest either) but until now I might add a comment to kinda faux bookmark it...I wonder if your new fab forum software has this capability, and then of course a place where i can go to look at my bookmarks...is it here, did i miss it?...

thanks...

M
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: HiltonP on August 12, 2010, 11:26:51 am
Please read the New Forum Tips (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0) post (or the info previously in this thread), it tells you how to find that.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=45410.0
Mark, regardless of how I login, or what "remember me" or time settings I use, I am still being prompted to login every time I open LuLa.
I'm working in Firefox, running on WinXP.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: mguertin on August 12, 2010, 01:10:48 pm
Mark, regardless of how I login, or what "remember me" or time settings I use, I am still being prompted to login every time I open LuLa.
I'm working in Firefox, running on WinXP.

Have you checked off the "Always stay logged in" box on the Login Page (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?action=login) ?  (if you try that right now make sure you log out first or it won't work)

If you have and that still doesn't work it sounds like it might be a cookie problem, try clearing any local cookies that you have for this domain in your browser and login again, making sure to check that box.
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 12, 2010, 04:49:33 pm
Viewing pictures

When I critique a picture, I like to put the text browser on the Mac book pro, and the picture on the Eizo...(using "open in separate window")

It seems to me that this is now only easy if it is an image uploaded into LuLa, and not if it is a linked in image.

...how can I quickly and easily get a zoom-able linked picture in a separate window?

You can:
Click on the image,
click on view image info
click on save
click on the file
view it in preview (mac/snow leopard)
I have done this with Keith Laban's "bed" an it looks OK.

¿any other options?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: gerk on August 12, 2010, 07:44:07 pm
You could click and drag the image to your desktop (or other folder) and then double click it to open in preview .. there's probably not a faster way than that (or right click and 'save as' then open it in preview)
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: gerk on August 12, 2010, 07:48:23 pm
You're using Firefox, right?
Title: Re: Congratulations on the new software implementation
Post by: Dick Roadnight on August 13, 2010, 03:46:37 am
...how can I quickly and easily get a zoom-able linked picture in a separate window?

You could click and drag the image to your desktop (or other folder) and then double click it to open in preview .. there's probably not a faster way than that (or right click and 'save as' then open it in preview)
Click-and-drag-to-folder works, drag to desktop hides it under other stuff on the desktop - I found them later. (Firefox/snow leopard)