Author Topic: Forum Organization (Read 28148 times)

rwmastel · « **on:** February 19, 2003, 22:14:36 »

Hello!

I'm the moderator of the "General Discussion" forum. We had planned on putting all the discussion threads into this "General Discussion" forum. This is to minimize the locations you need to search through to find new postings. There are other forums for special subjects, like Group Events, Items For Sale, etc, but this one is meant for all the common topics we dealt with on the Yahoo! site. Every time a discussion thread gets a new reply, it's pushed to the top of the page and the date of that message is listed to the right. This way, you can quickly see what's been written to most recently. With use you will achieve an understanding of it's function and you'll get more comfortable with it. It works quite well. I love being able to see a topic and to know that all replies to that topic are "on topic".

Of course, as with all things, this could change if there is enough demand (and logical reasoning!) over time. There will be no sudden changes in how we organize the forums or the web site in general, but we will listen to all suggestions and adapt when it makes good sense.

Thanks

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

n/a · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2003, 20:59:41 »

Why are the topics still in "pink" if I have already read them ?

rwmastel · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2003, 23:03:38 »

Is this after you logout of the Forum and then log back in later, or just real-time as you read them?

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

rwmastel · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2003, 23:08:47 »

I just checked it. As you read messages and browse through the forums, the folders do not turn yellow. Once I logout and then login, I see all folders are yellow which indicates I have read the messages there.

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

rwmastel · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2003, 10:42:31 »

I just made switched two discussion threads, "Member Feedback" and "New Members", into "sticky" mode. This means they are always at the top of the list of discussion threads. Let me know if you think this is appropriate, I can easily put them back the way they were.

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

Malc · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2003, 07:34:35 »

Hi,
Just a suggestion for organisation as I suspect stuff might get buried or lost can I suggest that the site is laid out in a similiar way to a site called "evocorner" on delphiforums.com. This site is for Lancia Delta Integrale owners (like me) and seems to work pretty well.
Worth a look
Cheers
Malc
Scotland

rwmastel · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2003, 09:17:34 »

Malc,
That's an interesting layout to have the topics listed in a panel on the left and the messages in the selected topic listed in a panel on the right. It was not intuitive to get to the forum. If you were not listed under "Delphi's top forums", I'm not sure how I would have found it. There's no "List of forums" link or anything. Also, after clicking on the "Evocorner Forum" link, I didn't see a forum! I had to click "start reading" instead of just having the forum discussions presented right away. That was not too intuitive for a first time user.

http://www.delphiforums.com/

I don't know if our software will present the forum list in a panel view like delphi does. Typically the software determines the structural layout. Our webmaster would have to comment on the options in the software for changing the layout.

Thanks for your input!

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

kns · « **Reply #7 on:** November 06, 2003, 14:27:32 »

Dear Moderator, web-master et al: I have tried a couple of times now to open the photos posted by 'Tosh' in the photo gallery on 3 November. When I hit the hotlinks I get the following error message:

"Sorry, there is no SL113.org web page matching your request.

It is possible you typed the address incorrectly, or that the page no longer exists. Please use the links to the left to see other pages on SL113.org."

This is a first - I don't have problems with other photos on the site. Is it my machine, or a glitch on the server? Any ideas?

Cheers,

kns.
1965 230SL, Manual
[1965 220SEb Coupe, Man.]

Benz Dr. · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2004, 16:36:55 »

Maybe it's my system but when I log on I always see page 12 first. I have to scroll up to page 1 and then it works just fine.
Is this how it's set up? It's not really a big deal - just wondering.

Dan c

Daniel G Caron

rwmastel · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2004, 08:27:48 »

Dan,

No, it's not set up that way. How exactly are you accessing the forum? Examples could be:

- Using a saved link in your browser's "Favorites" or "Bookmarks".
- Typing in the URL manually and allowing your browser to complete it since it knew where you recently visited.
- Clicking on Forums from the Home Page.

Thanks,

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #10 on:** March 18, 2004, 22:47:52 »

As a very heavy user of this forum, I never checked out the 'active topics' button the top right of each page. I always have to click on each 'blue' forum to see what I haven't read yet. However, if you click on 'active topics', it neatly displays all of the topics ready for consumption. Worthwile to try sometime if you have not done so before.

Cees Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

rwmastel · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2004, 20:48:23 »

Hello Group,

A member recently asked me why we don't have the forums broken out into seperate topics. For example, the Cylinder Head and Rear Axle Replacement discussions are long, technical, and specific. They could be in their own forums. This was discussed at the creation of this web site and after much debate about having seperate forums (Engine, Transmission, Suspension, Electrical, Body Work, Interior, etc., etc.) we chose to go with the "all discussion threads in one forum" model.

What does the membership think about how it works now? How could it work better? Keep in mind that you can't move messages between threads, which deters reorgainization, and the search tool works really well.

quote:
Originally posted by rwmastel

Hello!

I'm the moderator of the "General Discussion" forum. We had planned on putting all the discussion threads into this "General Discussion" forum. This is to minimize the locations you need to search through to find new postings. There are other forums for special subjects, like Group Events, Items For Sale, etc, but this one is meant for all the common topics we dealt with on the Yahoo! site. Every time a discussion thread gets a new reply, it's pushed to the top of the page and the date of that message is listed to the right. This way, you can quickly see what's been written to most recently. With use you will achieve an understanding of it's function and you'll get more comfortable with it. It works quite well. I love being able to see a topic and to know that all replies to that topic are "on topic".

Thanks

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

kns · « **Reply #12 on:** April 07, 2004, 09:52:42 »

Rodd, it ain't broke - don't fix it!

Great job, keep up the good work.

Thanks,

kns.
1965 230SL, Manual
[1965 220SEb Coupe, Man.]

hauser · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2004, 18:37:27 »

Rodd I wouldn't change a thing. Like one of our members said "if it aint broke don't fix it" I completely agree.

This is a great site! I want to give all involed in the conception and creation a big round of applause. You have done an outstanding job!

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

Malc · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2004, 09:32:46 »

I kind of find it frustrating that we have no next/prev page option. Any chance of this as trying to remember which page I saw something on is difficult (too much cellulose thinners [:p])
I suspect folk only look at page one because of the hassle, thus some questions may not get looked at if the forum get alot at once.
Otherwise
Great!
MAlc

rwmastel · « **Reply #15 on:** August 24, 2004, 10:36:48 »

Malc,

I'm not sure what you mean by "next/prev page". There are a few controls to get around.

- There are left/right (next/prev) arrows at the top and bottom of each topic so you can skip to the next/prev topic.
- If you are looking at the list of topics, there is a drop down list of page numbers at the bottom of the screen. If you've been on vacation and missed a lot, you can skip back to any particular page you want.

Do these controls do what you want, or am I misunderstanding your request?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

Malc · « **Reply #16 on:** August 30, 2004, 17:09:50 »

quote:
Originally posted by rwmastel

Malc,

I'm not sure what you mean by "next/prev page". There are a few controls to get around.

Rod,
Er... probably not explaining very well. When I am in "general discussion" area at the bottom there is a box to view page number etc etc. What I am suggesting is that you could go to the "previous page". Reason being is if you go to say page 3 of 73, have a look, reply to a meassage you seem to be thrown back to page 1 rather than the page you were in.
Cheers
Malc

Malc · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2004, 17:11:54 »

Please when offering parts for sale, indicate where they are or what country they are in.
Thanks
Malc

pkiefert · « **Reply #18 on:** September 09, 2004, 23:34:58 »

Rodd,
is there a way to delete an old post (by the poster), such as a wanted item that has been fulfilled? is there a good reason not to clear out clutter such as this?

rwmastel · « **Reply #19 on:** September 10, 2004, 08:15:47 »

I believe the author of a post can delete their own post. Is that true in all forums, or just the General Discussion forum? I'm the Moderator of the General Discussion forum, so I can edit or delete any post in that one forum, but I don't know if I've ever had a need to do that.

One reason to keep it is for history/documentation. Maybe you bought that chrome trim form someone two years ago, but can't recall who it was. You can always go back and find out.

quote:
Originally posted by pkiefert

Rodd,
is there a way to delete an old post (by the poster), such as a wanted item that has been fulfilled? is there a good reason not to clear out clutter such as this?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

gwuisman · « **Reply #20 on:** September 10, 2004, 10:00:43 »

Rodd,

Thaks to you I could upload my pics of the 11-city tour in the Netherlands. By doing so I experienced that there is a limit on the size of the name of the pic's file. If it is too long then the front page of the site appears after clicking on the douwnload link with a message which does not make sense. It says that the address is probably wrong. The address bar shows the address of the picture within the forum site. Obviously the software cannot handle such a large address. My suggstion would be to change the fault message in a way that the author knows what to do after he discovers that the download link doesn't properly work.

Gerard Wuisman,
1970 280sl

rwmastel · « **Reply #21 on:** September 10, 2004, 10:33:08 »

quote:
Originally posted by gwuisman

.... there is a limit on the size of the name of the pic's file.

Gerard,
Thank you! I have had trouble attaching files before, and I wonder if this is the problem I was having. I would bet many people who have had mysterious errors when attaching files could be running into the same problem.

Richard,
Is there anything in the Snitz documentation about a limit on the size of the file name or the length of the path to the file being attached to a post?

Thanks,

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

admin · « **Reply #22 on:** September 10, 2004, 14:44:39 »

Rodd:

There is a line in one of the image upload control .asp files that says:

'set maximum allowed description text length
maxFileDescLength = 150'

I think this to means that the description of an uploaded image is limited and will be truncated (cut) if it exceeds the max allowed length.

This is done to avoid problems if a very long description is used. A mapquest URL, as an example, is over 500 characters long. The Snitz designers wanted to avoid long descriptions.

I read Gerard's suggestion to clarify this but we try to avoid changing the internal script of the asp files, could be dangerous. We will add a caution to the upload instructions.

Richard M

gwuisman · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2004, 13:02:04 »

Rodd,

Again I am surprised about the downloading of pics. Answering the latest post of Hands Aus I attached some pics of the ash tray of my cars. When I click on the first few and I put the cursor on the photo I get an icon in the lower right corner by which the photo can be enlarged. Nice to look more in detail. If I do this with the last pic the icon does not appear. I followed the same procedure with all photos. Strange isn't it? A mistery like our idle rmps?

Gerard Wuisman
1970 280sl

bpossel · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2004, 05:18:28 »

Hi Rodd,

Question... since most all of us work on our own cars and are always looking for parts, new & used, is it ok if I start a post and ask the question .. " where do you buy your parts from?" The goal would be never to "bash" a vendor, but rather to share information on the most cost effective places to buy new and used parts.
Any issues with this?
Thanks,
Bob

quote:
Originally posted by rwmastel

Hello!

I'm the moderator of the "General Discussion" forum. We had planned on putting all the discussion threads into this "General Discussion" forum. This is to minimize the locations you need to search through to find new postings. There are other forums for special subjects, like Group Events, Items For Sale, etc, but this one is meant for all the common topics we dealt with on the Yahoo! site. Every time a discussion thread gets a new reply, it's pushed to the top of the page and the date of that message is listed to the right. This way, you can quickly see what's been written to most recently. With use you will achieve an understanding of it's function and you'll get more comfortable with it. It works quite well. I love being able to see a topic and to know that all replies to that topic are "on topic".

Of course, as with all things, this could change if there is enough demand (and logical reasoning!) over time. There will be no sudden changes in how we organize the forums or the web site in general, but we will listen to all suggestions and adapt when it makes good sense.

Thanks

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

bpossel
Memphis, TN.
1971 280SL
1997 E320

News:

Author Topic: Forum Organization (Read 28148 times)

n/a

Malc

kns

kns

hauser

Malc

Malc

Malc

pkiefert

bpossel