admin 
One of the greatest boons to me about this software is the ability to view comments and forums, such as this, in a threaded mode. It's an intuitive at-a-glance view of the conversation, giving multiple replied the full context to which they deserve.
However, I'm also aware that the forum needs functionality. If you've vieved the forums over the last few days you will have noticed improved formatting, links to profiles and private messages, avatars, etc; all however at the expense of the threaded formatting.
Sadly, it looks like you can only have one or the other. Without reqriting a whole bunch of the underlying code, which I'm, simply not up to.
So I need your thoughts - what's it to be. A proper threaded view, or more informative and easier to use formatting?
Gareth
My personal choice is the structure we had over at old site, the simple reply after reply each one follows the other, im not to keen on the version that is currently showing here in our gallery thread.
Graham
BKKS Member 2008 - Essex Member 2006-2008
Each post seems to be shown like a folder directory rather than a flowing conversation one after the other if you see where im coming from.
Graham
BKKS Member 2008 - Essex Member 2006-2008
It's clear to see here exactly which post this is a reply to in the conversation with resorting to YouSaid, He Said, THeySaid, etc, all in one post.
To compare, you should see a combo-box selector at the bottom of the page allowing to change threaded to flat views and vice-versa.
I'm quite prepared to be wrong about this and move it back if that's what people want
Gareth
Ok now I fully understand, and its a preference thing and I have made the change to flat-extended and it looks much better.. Great !
BKKS Member 2008 - Essex Member 2006-2008
..As it's only a preference thing in this format. For the enhanced format it's the flat view only.
Would really appreciate another view on this - who's out there lurking?
Gareth
OK, I've sorted out user badges; but on pages such as this with short comments, they do tend to overlap somewhat. I can;t really make the badges smaller without losing the detail. It's not just the admins that will have a list this long - it's also happening for Lakeside / Graham.
What do people think to these. Useful or not?
If useful, any other suggestions for formattting / displaying these? I could move them next to the avatar image - would that make the page too narrow?
Gareth
but I need to hack the code to produce output in a linear rather than columnar fashion.
I don't know how big a job that will be to do, yet. I'll look into that today.
edit: Easier than I thought - canbe simply themed - see below!
Gareth
just adding a test post
Chris (as usual IMHO)
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
[color=#FF0000][i]"There are always going to be different schools of though
I'm now using my FF browser, and I can finally see the posts. The forum is not visible using ie7. the page does not wrap around. Does anyone else have this problem??
Also Gareth how doe one 'define posts'? I get that message when I first acces the link 'Forum'
Chris (as usual IMHO)
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
[color=#FF0000][i]"There are always going to be different schools of though
Sorry, can you be more explicit about what you mean here? I don't quite follow.
Gareth
Chris,
It appears when I moved the users database tables over, I didn't set all of the details correctly. Yours was one of the first I did before I got the code correct and it still thought you were not a member. This has now been fixed and you should be able to post without waiting for my "big red pen-o-censorship".
I've also made some changes and authenticated users (logged in visitors, not BKKS members) should also get this privilege for the forums only. Would be handy if someone could test this.
I've done some more on the CSS and it posts fine now in IE6 so do think you just caught it at a bad time. If you can check again for me that would be great - otherwise I'll triple check in IE7 tonight - it's been perfectly well behaved in this up until now, anyhow.
Gareth
Coming along nicely Gareth, I see those tweaks have paid off and looks much more presentable, great stuff.
Graham
BKKS Member 2008 - Essex Member 2006-2008
Hi
Gareth
We like what we see so far keep up the good work our only concern is will you be adding the photo's from the old site?, as we have tried to download but we are still new at this computer lark and need time to suss it out.
rgrds
broxandval
I thought we had a Moderator badge this morning where's it gone?
It's comments like that that make the long hours worth while.
For the photos, can you tell me exactly what your stuck on, as I need to write some guides on how to use the site and that will need to be the first (but if that Essex bloke can figure it out.....)
And for the moderator - there was a mix up in permissions. There are currently no moderators on the site but if that is something that you would be interested in taking on then I will look at it further - will probably need to discuss it with council but it shouldn't be too hard to sort out - and you are one of the top contributors.
Gareth
Hi
Gareth
I would like to know the duty's of a moderator before agreeing to it (we had a saying in the Military don't ever volunteer for anything but they got round that by saying I need three volunteers you, you and you).
I ended up on one ship as the poor sod who had to rescue anyone who fell overboard (dead or alive) by jumping off the ship whatever the weather and swimming out to retrieve them in a dry suit attached to a line (not a nice job)lol.
rgrds.
broxandval.
Congratulations on volunteering. Or at the very least failing to take a quick enough or large enough step backwards at the required time.
There are no moderators currently, and there has not been a need yet; but the moderator should hopefully take some of the pressure off me, and allow me to concentrate on the technicalities of the site rather than being the PR face of it.
Duties may include (to be decided)
Basically - a set of helping hands generally ensuring the site is as up to date and populated as it can be. Especially useful to have this role when I am on holiday or otherwise away from my computer!
The most useful thing to have though is to be friendly, balanced, and respected by the community (yes I know, what am I still doing here.....)
IT proficiency is not generally needed as most operations are simple and I can talk you through them as needed.
Anyone else reading this is allowed to have an input to this as well. Anyone else wanting to take on this sort of role is also welcome to throw their hat into the ring. There is nothing formal here yet, but that does not stop us from putting something together.
Gareth
Hi
Gareth
Oh it's all gone red (don't know what I did there lol), as long as you talk me through things I guess I could give it a go, (damn there we go again (never volunteer for anything I must remember that!!!...), (Blast it!!!.... done it again chief would you believe it came off in my hand). lol
rgrds
broxandval
Gareth, it's looking better .. I'm still seeing the errors on the top of the page ... but at least I'm now seeing the text in the expanded threaded view
Chris (as usual IMHO)
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
"There are always going to be different schools of thought in Koi keeping, driven by different motives, for the hobbyist it's a case of considering the facts presented and making decisions based on them." - © Mark Gardner 2007
I'm not as big a fan as you about the threaded view (other might be, but I can take it or leave it) .. I prefer functionality and ease of use (idiot proof - now that's for me!!). I must admit that the tags and other formatting does look nice.
I've also just noticed, that my signature has been cropped, so a note on the account page about the maximum numbers of characters might be helpful.
... but once again, may I publicly acknowledge what a good job you've done so far.
Chris (as usual IMHO)
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
[color=#FF0000][i]"There are always going to be different schools of thought in K
Is now the default for a number of reasons, not least that it stands a good chance of being discontinued in this software next year.
I did note your signature was truncated before - I have tried to find a setting for this but cannot - yet. I will dig further, but it's way down on my list at the moment I'm afraid.
Gareth
I've cleared my cache and the errors are still at the top of the page ... so it's probably a software bug.
Don't worry abou my signature, it was just so that you knew .. it's not high on my list either - SMILE
... and as usual I'm willing to help in any way that I can.
Chris (as usual IMHO)
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
[color=#FF0000][i]"There are always going to be different schools of thought in K
But the system "aggressively" (whatever that means) caches content in it's database before sending it out. I daren't touch those tables in case I break something big.
I'm going to try and roll this site out tonight, so if access changes, I know about it!
And SMILEYS are on the list as well, though slightly higher up
Gareth
it all looks good to me as i read down the posts and see what every one has wrote as claer as anything.
essex show 19/20th july
www.essexsection.org
i think all looks great i find it just as easy as the old site to post,
essex show 19/20th july
www.essexsection.org
Hi
Gareth
New site looking good. Guess you have had a busy weekend
Good luck with it all
Pip
Gareth,
This looks a lot better than the original forum, just need to find my way around it now. Keep smiling mate, you're going a great job.
Are caused by the subscription system - and it looks like your the only one subscribed to the posts.
Are you receiving e-mails with updates (such as notification of this post)? That may help to see where(at what stage) the problem lies.
Worst case - I disable subscriptions for the forseeable future and look into another way of doing this. Thoughts?
EDIT: I've updated the subscriptions module from b9 to b11. Please let me know if this solves the problem you are seeing, makes it worse, or introduces other problems.
Gareth
Well I haven't got a clue what you are all on about, but I think the more it can be kept like the BKKS of late, the better.
Annette
xx
Hi
Koiette #
Do you see the box's underneath?, well if you click on the one marked flat list expanded then all will become plain, then you can use the format that you find the more pleasing
rgrds
broxandval
Hi
Guys
Site looking great but I am feeling very "alone" as I am in the minority and do not have any "badges" under my name.
Is this something you do Gareth or something I do?
If it is something you do, please do me a BKKS Member and/or Honorary Member
Ta ever so.....
Pip
Hi
Pip
Ours were there when we came across so I think it's just an oversight and it will be corrected sometime soon
rgrds
broxandval
will be automated - I just need to find the time (look - flying pigs!) to write the script that changes the database.
Anyone who is a society member and does not have a badge should mail me as this means that your membership has not been accepted by the system.
For section badges, please ensure that your section is set in your profile and when the script is written it will pick them up from here.
For HSC or JSC badges, please let me know (PM) and I will do this for you by hand.
Pip, I'll look into yours now.
Gareth
Hi
Gareth
After Much humming and awwing, learning how to get about the new website Val and I have decided that we prefare this system over the last, you have control as to how you wish to look at it so we vote to keep this one over the old site.
I believe because this is new to everyone and because of this you will continue to get mixed reactions which ever way you go and as you have put a great amount of work into the developement of the new website let's stick with this one.
My one bone of contention is I cannot for the life of me figure out what we are doing wrong when trying to down load photos onto the new gallery and also onto the forum as each attempt has failed .
rgrds
broxandval
PS Pip I told you he would sort it lol
There is an issue at the moment about how the website write's it URLs, and gallery is still pointing at where it used to live.
To access the gallery fully, user gallery2.bkks.org.uk - log in with this site username and password. The functionality is there, it just isn't wrapped in the bkks graphics. I'll bring it fully back in line in the next day or two I hope.
Gareth
Thanks Gareth.
I feel complete now.
Pip
...but I do expect to see you polishing it regularly !
when are we going to see the Show sections and the HSC and JSC areas?
Sue
Just checking to see if my section badge is now displayed.
Dave
Nope.
DaveH:
Just checking to see if my section badge is now displayed.My Previous Post:
will be automated - I just need to find the time (look - flying pigs!) to write the script that changes the database.Wind conditions still unfavourable for first test flight of pigs. Weather expected to clear in the next few weeks.
Migration is proceeding, but slowly. I turn around and there's another 4 issues that need fixing before I can proceed. Theres around 150 articles to consider (if they need to move or not) plus the refactoring - it all needs to be done by hand. Moving graphics is the hardest part - trivial but time consuming. Plus the fact that the hosts had an outage on Sunday exactly when I had a few hours set aside to do this.
On a related note, Where are the rest of the National details that were going to be published here; and do we have a write up from the AGM yet?