Forum/Site Upgrade Coming Tonight (3/15/2010)
Thread Rating:
I plan to begin the process at around 12:00 AM PDT.
Expect a completely different look and feel when you check the site tomorrow morning!
Good luck.
Quote:The forum and site upgrade is complete! Please keep an eye out for anything funky, and report any bugs in this thread.
Very nice! Like the new color scheme.
Quote:Sorry, an internal error has occurred. The error has been logged and will be reviewed.
In the meantime, please try your request again if you haven't already.
If the problem occurs more than once, rest assured that it will be investigated and fixed soon.
Quote:I tryed to add my age and location to my profile, but got the following error message:
Thanks, I'll check into it.
... moments later ...
Okay, please try it again.
Wow. I dont know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasnt this.
Good Job JB.
Oh, sure, the colors and layout are different, but are there any additional features ?
Personally, I was thinking it was going to be ported over to phpBB or vBulletin. Or to have a lot of the feaures found in those systems added here.
Among the features that I was looking for is private messaging, avatars, emoticons, some profile info such as location listed right under the user ID in posts, multiple post quoting, automatically turning an url into a clickable url, and simple buttons that add formatting tags when composing posts.
Quote:I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade, but, I don't really see a big difference.
Oh, sure, the colors and layout are different, but are there any additional features ?
Personally, I was thinking it was going to be ported over to phpBB or vBulletin. Or to have a lot of the feaures found in those systems added here.
Among the features that I was looking for is private messaging, avatars, emoticons, some profile info such as location listed right under the user ID in posts, multiple post quoting, automatically turning an url into a clickable url, and simple buttons that add formatting tags when composing posts.
Many of the new features aren't the kinds of things that other forums have. The emphasis is on simplicity and utility, not eye candy (the hotel/casino reviews have the eye candy). I am in the process of putting together a help page for the new features (and there are several, even if they aren't the ones you were hoping for).
I may implement automatic URL detection in the near future, but that is problematic because there will always be false positives and negatives, which is why I made links require explicit declaration.
I do like the idea of formatting buttons, and will likely add them sometime soon. I discussed private messaging with the Wizard, but in the end we chose not to implement it.
Quote:
I do like the idea of formatting buttons, and will likely add them sometime soon. I discussed private messaging with the Wizard, but in the end we chose not to implement it.
Any chance of adding a function then where members can contact each other to exchange our email addresses? I have made a couple of contacts, but it requires exposing my email address in the forum, until contact is made, and then I remove my email.
Quote:I like the new features, just any chance that the "top threads" could be updated every week? It's kind of hard to follow the rambling "hoax that is the 1.41% HA" and I'm hoping that thread doesn't become the legacy of the Wizard of Vegas forums :)
The "Top ..." sections are always up-to-date. I'm sure the "hoax" thread will be trumped eventually.
I understand. And I hope I didn't / don't sound like a complainer / cry-baby.
No Private Messaging? I thought the Wiz had thought that was a good idea. Or at least that's what was implied in the thread about a possible weekly coffee meeting.
Then again, Private Messaging can be implemented several different ways. One method, the most complex, involves a whole system to manage the messages. We don't need that. A simple system that simply sends the message, along with the sender's email address as the "Reply To" is all that is necessary. (A slightly more advanced system, one that uses forwarders to keep everyone's email address private is somewhat better, but I think unnecessary.)
Emoticons can become annoying to obnoxious if overused. And, yeah, they tend to get overused, so I won't argue for them.
Avatars can also be abused, but I think 'eye candy' is a bad generalization. One of the DJ forums I'm on doesn't allow avatars until a member has made at least 10 posts. And then the image must be approved. As a result, people tend to use their photo - and since that's the point of an avatar, it's great! When we meet at conventions, it's easy to know and recognize somebody even if its the first time we're meeting.
FYI: Here's the photo I use for my avatar:
Admin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/rd_photo.gif
Quote: DJTeddyBearJB-
I understand. And I hope I didn't / don't sound like a complainer / cry-baby.
No problem; criticism is a good thing.
Quote: DJTeddyBearNo Private Messaging? I thought the Wiz had thought that was a good idea. Or at least that's what was implied in the thread about a possible weekly coffee meeting.
As far as I know, there are no plans for private messaging at this point... but that's the Wizard's decision.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThen again, Private Messaging can be implemented several different ways. One method, the most complex, involves a whole system to manage the messages. We don't need that. A simple system that simply sends the message, along with the sender's email address as the "Reply To" is all that is necessary. (A slightly more advanced system, one that uses forwarders to keep everyone's email address private is somewhat better, but I think unnecessary.)
If we ever do add private messaging, I would build a message management system.
Quote: DJTeddyBearEmoticons can become annoying to obnoxious if overused. And, yeah, they tend to get overused, so I won't argue for them.
Avatars can also be abused, but I think 'eye candy' is a bad generalization.
The 'eye candy' remark was geared towards emoticons more than avatars. After re-reading what I wrote, it sounded kind of snappish... but no snappishness was intended. [insert smiley emoticon here]
Bugs / Funky:Quote:Please keep an eye out for anything funky, and report any bugs in this thread.
Quoting a post doesn't include the original poster's user name.
Also, when quoting a post that has a quote, is doesn't include the previously quoted item.
I admit that these 'bugs' are probably by design to aid people that don't really understand how quoting works.
But most of us 'get it'.
There's only one member here who can't figure out the quote system. And that's kinda ironic since he is a wannabe author. Of course that's kinda ironic too since his book is about gambling and he is math-challenged.
[hmmm....] [Errr....] [Umm...] :)Quote:[insert smiley emoticon here]
Although not on the screen, you put a smile on my face.
Quote: DJTeddyBearQuoting a post doesn't include the original poster's user name.
That was a bug -- it is now fixed.
Quote: DJTeddyBearAlso, when quoting a post that has a quote, is doesn't include the previously quoted item.
That was an intentional change from the old version.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThere's only one member here who can't figure out the quote system. And that's kinda ironic since he is a wannabe author. Of course that's kinda ironic too since his book is about gambling and he is math-challenged.
Unfortunately there are plenty of bad written, inaccurate and math-challenged volumes about gambling. Add it to the pile. If people buy it, he will make money, but the casinos will make more money too. It's kind of like the blackjack counting books that were published decades ago. Even though they were mathematically accurate, it created a buzz over blackjack as people tried to beat the game (and failed). Maybe craps will be the same: more people will try to beat the game using this system, which will push up the popularity and prosperity of the game.
Craps only brought in 238 million in revenue to the Vegas strip in 2009 (that's 1.268 million per table), down from 313 million over the previous year (1.693 million per table), so the game could use some help. (but holy crap, $1.268 million per TABLE?)
I didn't intent to stir that pot in this thread.
I only wanted to point out the irony of the only member that can't figure out how to use quotes, without really naming him.
*the "logout" feature doesnt work
*favorite Monopoly piece, really? [g]
*thanks for "mouse-over" on icons! one of my computers has a problem showing icons. More such would be much appreciatted.
*thanks in general for improved site
Some thoughts/ideas good or bad :
*how about moving annoying threads that won't die to "free speech"?
*and no "free speech" threads in "top threads"?
*or no low-rated ones in "top threads"? Guess which one gets a low rating from me?
*I havent seen any message boards / forums really crack the problem of handling the volume without burying the content FWIW
Quote: odiousgambitsome things:
*the "logout" feature doesnt work
*favorite Monopoly piece, really? [g]
*thanks for "mouse-over" on icons! one of my computers has a problem showing icons. More such would be much appreciatted.
*thanks in general for improved site
Some thoughts/ideas good or bad :
*how about moving annoying threads that won't die to "free speech"?
*and no "free speech" threads in "top threads"?
*or no low-rated ones in "top threads"? Guess which one gets a low rating from me?
*I havent seen any message boards / forums really crack the problem of handling the volume without burying the content FWIW
Thank you for your comments. I noticed the problem with logging out a while ago and have been baffled since as to what the cause could be, but I will figure it out.
I'm guessing the computer that is giving you trouble with the images is running Internet Explorer 6 (the infamous PNG transparency problem). If this is the case, may I recommend installing Google Chrome; it is significantly faster, and it works properly.
I will let the Wizard decide about your suggestions about the top threads.
Update: The login/logout problem is now resolved.
the last post of the thread is not what comes up first, which I think is what you wanted?
another suggestion:
if no changes in how you do "top threads", how about another section for "top rated threads" instead?
Do people really log out?
FYI: I never log out of ANY of the forums where I am a member. As a result, I never have to log in either!
Quote: odiousgambitanother prob:
the last post of the thread is not what comes up first, which I think is what you wanted?
another suggestion:
if no changes in how you do "top threads", how about another section for "top rated threads" instead?
I vote for a "top rated threads" column as well. New visitors to the site should not read the 1.41 is a hoax thread as their introduction to this site. There are a few nuggets in that thread, but most of it is wasted time that I will never get back, and I have to live with the fact I wasted .x% of my remaining hours on earth in that thread.......
Quote: JBThe forum and site upgrade is complete! Please keep an eye out for anything funky, and report any bugs in this thread.
I like it so far.
The "Hotel" threads on "Recent Threads" and "Latest Posts" no longer identify which hotel until you open them. At least, I'm pretty sure that I used to be able to tell which hotel the thread was about without opening the thread ...
This has intermittent problems.Quote: DJTeddyBearAlso, when quoting a post that has a quote, is doesn't include the previously quoted item.
Sometimes it works fine. Other times it doesn't include the quoted item.
In the Media Coverage In LV Sun thread, I was able to quote a NESTED quote without problems.
Then, as a test, I clicked the quote button on a post that has two quotes, and only one was included.
Quote: seattlediceI like it so far.
The "Hotel" threads on "Recent Threads" and "Latest Posts" no longer identify which hotel until you open them. At least, I'm pretty sure that I used to be able to tell which hotel the thread was about without opening the thread ...
Actually you can tell by the link that shows up when you hovre the mouse over the link, but not from the title.
Ditto for the Restaurants threads.Quote: seattlediceActually you can tell by the link that shows up when you hovre the mouse over the link, but not from the title.
And that little hover trick is nice - but only if it works. Not all browsers show the link address when you hover.
I hadn't noticed until now. Cool.
FYI: I bookmarked https://wizardofvegas.com/recent/, and that's my normal entry point.
There's no mention at all of blogs at https://wizardofvegas.com/, and at https://wizardofvegas.com/forums/, only the 5 most recent are listed.
Is there a list of all blogs somewhere that I'm just not seeing?
Thanks, and keep up the good work!
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