messageboard features foe a newbie
First, there is usually a link with "forum tools" giving access to such features as "search this forum" and "subscribe to this forum"
Secondly, there's "User CP" which shows me3 a list of my subscribed forums, and subscri8bed threads with new posts.
I can't see these features here. Have they been enabled? Can I subscribe to my favourite forums ? If so, how do I do it?
Quote: PeterMorrisI'm looking for a couple of features which I've seen on other forums. I can't see them here.
First, there is usually a link with "forum tools" giving access to such features as "search this forum" and "subscribe to this forum"
Secondly, there's "User CP" which shows me3 a list of my subscribed forums, and subscri8bed threads with new posts.
I can't see these features here. Have they been enabled? Can I subscribe to my favourite forums ? If so, how do I do it?
You've just missed these things, what you want is here I think, as long as you mean "threads". But to subscribe to a thread, you must "enter" one of the messages first, then you will see the "subscribe" icon near the top under the large thread title.
To search, be on any page and look across the icons at the top. It's between "shows" and "about" icons.
Of course, if you're like me and post a lot, that generates a LOT of mail. I turned that off almost immediately!
Bottom line: This board doesn't use the same software as most boards, but it has most of the same features - if you look for them.
Quote: MelmanI have the "Recent Threads" page bookmarked. This looks at all the forums. However, as these boards become more popular, there's more and more garbage to wade through.
Ha..that's the truth
I'd like that feature too.Quote: thecesspitDoes this board have a 'last read feature'. I'm fidning it increasingly hard to keep track of what I've been reading, and it'd be great if I could jump straight to the last read message of a thread, not the bottom the thread and have to work my way back.
I'd also like the threads that have more than 10 pages to show the first couple AND last couple pages as links on the recent threads page. I often go to the page BEFORE the last page, so I can review what I had last read...
Of course, if there was a method of going directly to the last post that I had seen, that would be better.
JB, any chance of this happening?
Quote: DJTeddyBearI'd like that feature too.
I'd also like the threads that have more than 10 pages to show the first couple AND last couple pages as links on the recent threads page. I often go to the page BEFORE the last page, so I can review what I had last read...
Of course, if there was a method of going directly to the last post that I had seen, that would be better.
JB, any chance of this happening?
Bump? Anyone? Bueller?
Quote: thecesspitBump? Anyone? Bueller?
OK, I'll keep this thread alive.
All the message-board software packages that I know of, have a "Mark As Read" ability.
So what's the deal with these forums? Why don't they have it? Does it simply need to be turned on?
And no, subscribing to threads is not an acceptable substitute. I would like to be able to bring up the "Recent Threads" page, and click on any threads of interest, and view only the new posts in those threads. That's not an unreasonable request.
All message-board SW packages that I know of, support a "go to first unread message in this thread" capability. I don't understand why that feature is missing or disabled here.
Really would like one of Those In Charge to comment about this.
Quote: MelmanBut many threads that stay on the "recent threads" list, eventually will go on for many pages. Why should I have to remember where I was on my last visit? Did I leave off on page 3 or page 7?
All message-board SW packages that I know of, support a "go to first unread message in this thread" capability. I don't understand why that feature is missing or disabled here.
Really would like one of Those In Charge to comment about this.
I agree, what I was saying was that those that disappear from the recent threads can die suddenly as no-one spots that there's new discussion in the thread for them... even if your just scanning through a single forum or two.
Would be nice if JB or the Wizard would comment. I'd ping them directly, by PM's don't seem to be turned on either.
Sigh...
Wizard/JB, please respond.
Instead of going to the individual forums, use the recent posts feature: https://wizardofvegas.com/recent/
There is no indication of what you've seen already, but the posts DO indicate the date & time of the last post for each thread. Unfortunately, it lists it in Vegas time, so you have to do a little mental gymnastics to remember the time last visited, and convert that to Vegas time. But it works....
Quote: DJTeddyBearInstead of going to the individual forums, use the recent posts feature
As I wrote above, this is how I have always accessed the forums. It's better than nothing, but not much. I still have to remember approximately when I was last here (sometimes it's several days) and then in each thread I look at, I have to guess at what I've read already and what's new. For long threads, this is hopeless.
The thing is, message board software packages solved all these problems YEARS AGO. Just turn them on!! What is the problem here?
Quote: Melman
The thing is, message board software packages solved all these problems YEARS AGO. Just turn them on!! What is the problem here?
I think the problem is that JB built these forums from the ground up rather than using a software package. I personally think he did a great job.
Quote: CroupierI think the problem is that JB built these forums from the ground up rather than using a software package. I personally think he did a great job.
Indeed, but I still find it hard to find my place, and really only use the latest posts feature... which waste so much potentiality of discussion and results in long spiralling threads, while other die still born.
Quote: CroupierI think the problem is that JB built these forums from the ground up rather than using a software package. I personally think he did a great job.
Oh, I can't imagine that. There would be no point in coding a forum system from scratch. And this setup is not "great" - it's primitive and missing some really basic stuff.
But I really wish he would chime in, so we can stop guessing.
Quote: MelmanAnd this setup is not "great" - it's primitive and missing some really basic stuff.
Meh, its better than I could do and its great to me. As far as Im concened it gets the job done.
Quote: MelmanOh, I can't imagine that. There would be no point in coding a forum system from scratch. And this setup is not "great" - it's primitive and missing some really basic stuff.
But I really wish he would chime in, so we can stop guessing.
It is correct that I coded the forum from scratch, as it was originally intended to be a simple forum without all of the bloat that other forums have.
There is always a trade-off between speed and functionality. I agree that it is still somewhat difficult to follow recent discussions and figure out what you have read and what you haven't. There is a 'mark as read' function (just go into a forum group and click the Mark as Read button that appears near the top of the list), but as mentioned it is still rather primitive. I realize this has been a 'solved problem' for quite some time, but none of the solutions are particularly elegant from a programming perspective.
One of the things I still need to do, and soon, is assemble a FAQ/help guide for the forum system; I will make a post in this thread once that is available.
Quote: JBIt is correct that I coded the forum from scratch, as it was originally intended to be a simple forum without all of the bloat that other forums have.
There is always a trade-off between speed and functionality. I agree that it is still somewhat difficult to follow recent discussions and figure out what you have read and what you haven't. There is a 'mark as read' function (just go into a forum group and click the Mark as Read button that appears near the top of the list), but as mentioned it is still rather primitive. I realize this has been a 'solved problem' for quite some time, but none of the solutions are particularly elegant from a programming perspective.
One of the things I still need to do, and soon, is assemble a FAQ/help guide for the forum system; I will make a post in this thread once that is available.
Cheers, the site is looking much more functional now. I can find stuff I've been reading quicker, and catch up quicker.
Whether I should some times is not under your control :)
