Automatic page refreshing

Is it possible to have the forum page refresh automatically when not being used?

Yes, but once that is implemented, you probably wouldn't want it.

For example, define "not being used". What if you're reading the page, and are about to click something, when the page refreshes by itself. You'll be more pissed than happy.

Just get into the habit of refreshing it yourself, up your own schedule.

I thought if any type of movement was detected it would not refresh. If not you make a good point.

I could make an application that would do this, but I agree with DJ, you wouldnt want it.

Theres a reason this function is not already included in the browsers.

I have seen sites with a refresher option to click on/off. I imagine some members working on a project/business/etc. glancing over to this page and you could easily see an update.

Quote: only1choice

Is it possible to have the forum page refresh automatically when not being used?

The Wiz could have such a feature implemented if he knows enough HTML and/or PHP (not 100% sure, but I believe the forum software is written in PHP. I do know it's running on a Linux box running Apache as the server, so it's a good bet that the forum is PHP) or hired someone who does. The downside is that it would result in tons of extra bandwidth usage (which, depending on his hosting plan could cost him a lot of money). In fact, many web hosts specifically disallow auto-refreshing pages because of the bandwidth it would use. This is even more likely if the site uses shared hosting (multiple customers on one box) rather than dedicated hosting (one customer on one box).

Quote: only1choice

I thought if any type of movement was detected it would not refresh. If not you make a good point.

There is no good way* that I know of for the browser to be aware of mouse movement.

* I'm sure that there is some way of doing this, but it would be a resource hog that would be running on YOUR computer probably via javascript.

I am assuming you were referring to the main forum page only, such as refreshing every 5 or 10 minutes to update the list of new posts. It would probably be best to use AJAX and only update that area of the main page, rather than reload everything. I may include that type of functionality in the new version of the forum.

1. Download Firefox
2. Open the page you are interested.
3. Right-click the mouse when pointer is inside the page
4. In the menu, find "Reload Every" button, then choose the refresh interval you like
5. Enjoy

MonkeyMonkey: Javascript can track mouse movements quite easily, that's not the problem. The issue is that when you are about to click on something, you form a decision to do it, and fixate your eyes on the element of the page way before (a few milliseconds) you actually start moving the mouse. If the page suddenly reloads at that time, it is very frustrating to the user.

Quote: JB

I am assuming you were referring to the main forum page only, such as refreshing every 5 or 10 minutes to update the list of new posts. It would probably be best to use AJAX and only update that area of the main page, rather than reload everything. I may include that type of functionality in the new version of the forum.

Thats exactly what I was talking about but I was thinking about every 2-3 minutes.

I'd have to agree with the others who say this would be more annoying than useful. Matt Drudge has his page refresh regularly and it is annoying when you go to click and it updates. Just hit "refresh" or use the other remedies people mentioned.

Quote: weaselman

1. Download Firefox
2. Open the page you are interested.
3. Right-click the mouse when pointer is inside the page
4. In the menu, find "Reload Every" button, then choose the refresh interval you like
5. Enjoy

I'm using Firefox 12.0, and there is no "Reload Every" button visible. The options available are: Back, Forward, Reload, Stop, Bookmark this Page, Save Page As, Send Link, View Background Image, Select All, View Page Source, View Page Info, and Inspect Element.

I don't think I need any auto-reload anyway.

If you use Firefox 12, you can download an add-on called "ReloadEvery".

Once you download it, if you right click the tab of the site you want to refresh, you'll get a drop down menu with a choice of "reload every". That will bring you to a menu with different time intervals to choose from.

Ah, yeah ... It's an add-on. Either what ringdingman mentioned, or get TabMixPlus - it has an awful lot of functionality (auto-reload is just one of the "opportunistic", less important features). In a couple of weeks you'll be wondering how you were ever able to use a browser without it.