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Phasing in forum changes- Please make all comments here
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| larry |
Site Admin
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Posts: 308
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:46 am
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Constructive criticism is always welcome.
But to answer some comments:
What fluff?. It's basically the same layout as before, the only change is the addition of a left panel. There are no layers to this site - the first page you hit is the forum - just like the last design. So how is it not easy to get what you want? Give all of us an example to back up your statement.
And what's with the "what was the purpose". I was asked by members to add features. I added a gallery and file attachments and an articles area - also a frequently asked questions forum so members would not have to answer the same questions over and over again. I just have to start adding topics to it as I find them.
As I mentioned, I am not happy with this design because I got it done cheaply and in all things, you get what you pay for. So, I will spend twice as much on the next design to make sure it is a much more professional job for the true professionals who take the time to be members here.
[EDITED]
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Larry
Last edited by larry on Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:17 am; edited 1 time in total
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| rory |
Moderator & Founding Member
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Posts: 14311
Joined: 10 Nov 2003
Location: Bahamas
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:15 pm
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Man if I knew PhP I would help you out with features, but im a hardcode ASP (Vbscript) guy . 
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| larry |
Site Admin
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Posts: 308
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:15 pm
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Oh, I don't code this stuff either. I get this stuff from other sites, I just have to add them.
I am a .NET (C#, ASP.NET and Winforms) man myself. I used to do VB but moved on to .NET when Microsoft did. I am going to be 45 this year so I did not want to learn a new language but I knew if I wanted to try to stay employed in a young mans game, I'd better pick up .NET.
I don't go after PHP work - so I don't think I'll try to pick it up too soon. I can do alittle work on it but nothing too complex. For instance, I am going to try to figure out why the anchors are not working.
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Larry
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| rory |
Moderator & Founding Member
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Posts: 14311
Joined: 10 Nov 2003
Location: Bahamas
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:44 pm
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Well .Net and VB area really similar. and once you know VB Vbscript is very simple also, vice versa, and basically thats all ASP stuff .. i just tried to upgrade some of my code to .Net and it would take a while to fix it manually so I gave up for now .. gotta just make $$ right now, like you said .. learning new languages .. they take time .. anyway if you want to go the ASP route I can asssit ..  For now .. time to hack some PhP i guess. ..
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| Cooperman |
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Posts: 657
Joined: 30 Jun 2004
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:18 pm
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Larry,
The front page looks fine from where I'm sitting, but the scrolling problem with individual threads is a real nightmare.
I know absolutely squat about languages and coding, but I do know a problem when I see it, and I've got a problem.
If you imagine a posting along the top of a sheet of paper, I've got to scroll down to the next sheet to read the 2nd post, and so on, all the way down the page.
It would be interesting to know if anyone else using a Mac, is having the same issues, or are the gods just smiling on me
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| rory |
Moderator & Founding Member
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Posts: 14311
Joined: 10 Nov 2003
Location: Bahamas
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:08 pm
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Coop we all gotta scroll ..
its passing the # number but the A name tag doesnt exist in the html yet.
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| larry |
Site Admin
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Posts: 308
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:44 pm
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OK I think i got the A name tag working. Give it a try.
I think Coop's problem is HTML related though. His description is saying he is only seeing one post per page I believe. i will look at the HTML to see if I can spot a problem.
ALL,
I knew it would be impossible to please everyone but I will try to address all concerns. If there is something from the old forum that is not here, please let me know. VDJ let me know about the "View last post" link and I added it back in. I am willing to try to correct what I can.
Unfortunately, there is no going back to the old design. This one is running on a newer version of the phpbb software than the old one.
Saying something is "Fluffy" or "Clunky" does not let me know what exactly the issue is. Be as specific as possible like Cooperman for example, and I will look into it.
Thanks - it may take a few days but it will come together.
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Larry
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| rory |
Moderator & Founding Member
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Posts: 14311
Joined: 10 Nov 2003
Location: Bahamas
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 6:49 pm
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| CollinR |
Moderator
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Posts: 1697
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Location: Oklahoma, US
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 11:05 pm
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Larry I think they are talking about the height of the cells above and below each post. It's IMO too tall and combining them top and bottom (especially with an inline ad inbetween) makes it seem like you have to scroll more then before.
I offered help before and it still stands, I won't reinvent the wheel for ya but I will fix little things from time to time. Maybe you just want to know where to look for something. I don't use the standalone version as often as the ported ones but after seeing this I'm going to look into it, looks clean though and I like the interface's graphics.
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| cctv_down_under |
Founding Member
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Posts: 2264
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: Brisbane Australia
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:12 am
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That is a good point Larry about actualy making sense of the feedback, here are my two cents worth, thanks so much for the upgrades.
1/ You could use a glossary section, there is plenty of generic ones about for cctv that I have seen replicated on many sites?
2/ How about a NOOB area, this way no one is too intimidated to post?
3/ Looking at the size of the member database and the amount of info here I can see why you needed the change and the only way to make money is the advertising, but the spacing in the cells is too big, it does take too long to scroll down to read a full post IMHO. The
4/ It does seem chunky, my suggestion to avoid the chunky feel (mind you I know nothing of this stuff) is to ONLY have advertising as the header and footer or on a frame at the outside, if you kept the posts inside a frame work and let us scroll iside this box, we could keep posts closer together and the advretising would be visable at all times, similar to the topic review box.
5/ You did ask for feedback and I have to say that some of the things I might suggest just might not be possible, however I would like to see a spell checker introduced and a "view posts since last visit" but with radio buttons for the areas you are interested in, the posts are getting more frequent and people like Rory and others like to reply to as many as possible, it can seem a bit daunting when there are several pages, perhaps you could search for new posts in a certain catagory.
6/ Perhaps a logo or icon for foundation memebers and a different colour for moderators or even colour catagories, for installers, end users, manufactorers etc etc.
7/ To make more money why not add a classifieds section, this section can be for dealer and retail, you could charge a monthly fee to advertise there.
8/ A geographical map of retailers in certain areas or upon registration compulsary zip code so end users can search for someone in their area.
9/ A usefull links section would also be usefull.
10/ Obviously a chat room might be interesting as well.
11/ Avatar file size limit increase would be handy...now I am really being petty!
I am not ASKING for these things, just giving you my feedback as you requested us to do!
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" You want that camera to go WHERE?!!!!!!@@##$"
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| blowrabbit |
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Posts: 248
Joined: 29 May 2005
Location: seattle, wa.
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:24 am
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[As I mentioned, I am not happy with this design becuase I got it done cheaply and in all things, you get what you pay for. So blowrabbit, I will spend twice ( that's price X 2 if you need help ) as much on the next design to make sure it is a much more professional job for the true professionals who take the time to be members here.[/quote]
I have always valued the knowledge gained from the professionals here. I never claimed to be a CCTV pro. Considering this thing is yours, I must be both stupid (x2) and unprofessional. Notwithstanding, I am sorry that my poor attempt at humor was at your expense.
Last edited by blowrabbit on Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:42 am; edited 1 time in total
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| AVCONSULTING |
Founding Member
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Posts: 949
Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Location: Rolling Hills, CA USA
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 1:42 am
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I don't have a problem with scrolling. Actually things look ok now that I've been using it although the type size seems smaller and my old eyes aren't as good as you youngins. Also I'm still trying to figure out what I have and haven't read before once I get into the forum. A lot of Icons, guess I'll have to figure that out next.
Advertising is fine. In fact I've passed on your ad link to a couple of potential candidates, hope they sign up.
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| CollinR |
Moderator
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Posts: 1697
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Location: Oklahoma, US
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:03 am
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Disable the other interfaces, I just kinda jumped through them and obvisouly this new one is the only one that functions properly.
It is cool though to compare the old to the new but eventually it will cause cookie issues unless you plan on updating it.
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| larry |
Site Admin
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Posts: 308
Joined: 30 Oct 2003
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:53 am
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| blowrabbit wrote: |
| larry wrote: |
| As I mentioned, I am not happy with this design becuase I got it done cheaply and in all things, you get what you pay for. So blowrabbit, I will spend twice ( that's price X 2 if you need help ) as much on the next design to make sure it is a much more professional job for the true professionals who take the time to be members here. |
I have always valued the knowledge gained from the professionals here. I never claimed to be a CCTV pro. Considering this thing is yours, I must be both stupid (x2) and unprofessional. Notwithstanding, I am sorry that my poor atempt at humour was at your expense. |
Don't worry about it, I value your opinion. I should have did the wait 15 minutes before replying thing.
[quote="cctvgeeknv] 1/ You could use a glossary section, there is plenty of generic ones about for cctv that I have seen replicated on many sites?
[/quote]
Where can I find one (glossary)? I 'd like to add it. I don't really want to rip off another sites though. That wouldn't be too cool.
[quote="cctvgeeknv]
3/ Looking at the size of the member database and the amount of info here I can see why you needed the change and the only way to make money is the advertising, but the spacing in the cells is too big, it does take too long to scroll down to read a full post IMHO. The
[/quote]
Yeah, I run through a full month of bandwidth in about 9 days - that was before the addition of the attachments and gallery. This site is going to have to have it's own server soon which is why there are more ads.
I also want to start giving stuff away and holding contests and we need revenue for that. All your suggestions are good though.
Once I get the faile attachment thing working, maybe someone can upload a screen shot with the cell spacing problem.
CollinR - I would welcome your help with the template. Can I just zip it up and email it to you?
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Larry
Last edited by larry on Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:15 am; edited 1 time in total
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| CollinR |
Moderator
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Posts: 1697
Joined: 25 Nov 2005
Location: Oklahoma, US
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:01 am
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| larry wrote: |
Where can I find one (glossary)? I 'd like to add it. I don't really want to rip off another sites though. That wouldn't be too cool.
~SNIP~
Once I get the faile attachment thing working, maybe someone can upload a screen shot if the cell spacing problem.
~SNIP~
CollinR - I would welcome your help with the template. Can I just zip it up and email it to you? |
Hecks yeah thats actually what I would prefer, also include a copy of your phpbb config file (XXX your DB password and user I don't need that) so I can see what other parameters it might be using.
I'll also look into a glossary and I have done a few of the attachment mods so I can prolly knock that out too (with possibly a CCTV Forum watermark too ).
I'll reply with a cell height pic so you can see what I'm talking about.
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