Perfect Topic to Start: This Forum

It doesn't matter if you do all the error checking in the world, or if you have the most beautiful graphics, if your site or application design isn't usable, it's not going to do well. Get input and advice on usability and user interface issues here.

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launchcode
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Post by launchcode »

I'd cast my vote for moving the left-hand nav box somewhere else (the right, the bottom, whatever really - just not there) :)

To claw back some screen real estate, the little buttons at the top would fit on one line too. But it's a minor detail :)
magicrobotmonkey
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Post by magicrobotmonkey »

Hmm.. I like it like that - only showing up in topic view - gets past the width problem - you don't need all that width for looking at topics, but you still get it for code

now if you can get it working whereby that list shows which topics have new posts, ill be all for it!
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Bill H
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Post by Bill H »

Personally think http://www.sonora-sw.com/sample.gif is much more tidy.

Also, I'd suggest that if you're going to use that "navigator" that you have it on the forum home page as well. The sudden change in width as you go from one to the other is rather jarring.

I will, however, repeat that I like all of the changes except that one. Once I've scrolled down past that navigator I find that I am having to side-scroll for code and/or quotes when there is wasted real estate alongside. Just seems uncool to me. Sorry to be negative, but....

I do like the overall look, and I appreciate all of your hard work.

Edit: Hmmm, looks like I was overtaken by events.
Last edited by Bill H on Wed May 26, 2004 10:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
jason
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Post by jason »

The biggest problem with the modifications is that PHPBB's way of doing templates sucks, isnt' very modular in that there are few functions, few classes, and most of the pages are just lot's of code that is repeated in 20 places. This makes seemingly simple things very difficult, though I am getting a hang of finding my way around.

BTW, if you didn't notice, I made the quick reply box bigger. =)
kettle_drum
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Post by kettle_drum »

I would say that the main page has definately improved and with the addition of the "unawsered posts" to the member box it saves me from going to the forum index page to view them.

I think there are two kind of users on this forum, people who come to ask questions, and those who answer them. The people who ask tend to just navigate to the nearist forum and post their question and wait for replies - hense the fact that the same basic questions appear time after time. Therefor i suggest some archive of the most popular questions, that newbies can easily find and search. Personally i feel that the search function isnt very good as i can never find what im looking for, so something like an faq would be great.

For the users who answer the questions you need to make the forums easy to post to, such things as showing pages of new posts and unanswered posts, big quick reply boxes at the bottom of the page, a better way to see which was the last thread in a posy you have read, some way to watch a topic that you are helping people in.

For posts that simply ask for help it would be good to have a "problem solved" tick box, so when a question/problem is answered it can be identified from those still in play. This would again make it easier to people who answer posts to see which need their attensien and so it will speed up response time.
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Post by jason »

Bill H wrote:Edit: Hmmm, looks like I was overtaken by events.
Yup. =) As I said, we can make changes. Well, I can, and I will make them. You don't know if doing something works well if you don't try it.
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Post by jason »

kettle_drum wrote:I would say that the main page has definately improved and with the addition of the "unawsered posts" to the member box it saves me from going to the forum index page to view them.
Actually, it was always there, just not well displayed. Small changes like that do make a difference.
kettle_drum wrote: I think there are two kind of users on this forum, people who come to ask questions, and those who answer them. The people who ask tend to just navigate to the nearist forum and post their question and wait for replies - hense the fact that the same basic questions appear time after time. Therefor i suggest some archive of the most popular questions, that newbies can easily find and search. Personally i feel that the search function isnt very good as i can never find what im looking for, so something like an faq would be great.
The problem with an FAQ/Wiki/Common Questions approach is that it's hard to get people to read. However, having a good search engine is something I want to have (that's the reason I have been doing some new work on Phuse lately) to make searching for answers quicker and easier.
kettle_drum wrote: For the users who answer the questions you need to make the forums easy to post to, such things as showing pages of new posts and unanswered posts, big quick reply boxes at the bottom of the page, a better way to see which was the last thread in a posy you have read, some way to watch a topic that you are helping people in.
Unanswered Questions: Done =)
New Posts: Done =)
Bigger Quick Reply Boxes: Done =)
Watching a Thread: Already exists. Look at the bottom of a thread. You will see a little link for "Watch this topic for replies". However, it's not really noticeable (heck, I had to check to see if it was there).
kettle_drum wrote:For posts that simply ask for help it would be good to have a "problem solved" tick box, so when a question/problem is answered it can be identified from those still in play. This would again make it easier to people who answer posts to see which need their attensien and so it will speed up response time.
Yes, that has been suggested. You might have seen some posts with the subject line of [SOLVED]. I want to improve on that, and make it automated, thought that will require a bit more work than a normal hack, and a bit more careful planning.

Good thoughts though.
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JayBird
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Post by JayBird »

jason wrote:Yes, that has been suggested. You might have seen some posts with the subject line of [SOLVED]. I want to improve on that, and make it automated, thought that will require a bit more work than a normal hack, and a bit more careful planning.

Good thoughts though.
JAM has already created a hack for this.

Check it here in the moderators board viewtopic.php?t=21027&start=0&postdays= ... highlight=

Mark
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Post by jason »

Neat hack, though it doesn't work as I will have to change it around a bit. But it's a good starting point. I will work on it tonight.
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JayBird
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Post by JayBird »

...oh, Jason, don't suppose you could fix the modcp.php page to work properly whilst you are in a fixing mood......pweeeeease ;)
kettle_drum
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Post by kettle_drum »

An easy link to view your own profile would be good as well - i.e. not to edit it, but to see it how others do...i enjoy seeing my average posts per day, and total number of posts! :)
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JayBird
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Post by JayBird »

As for the menu down the left, i think a better solution would be to have the main headings Programming, Design, General etc, across the top, the have Javascript/CSS rollover dropdown menus.
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patrikG
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Post by patrikG »

Nicest script for drop-down menus that I've come across is http://www.youngpup.net/2001/ypslideoutmenus
Works in IE, Gecko-based browsers, Opera and a couple more.
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John Cartwright
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Post by John Cartwright »

I came across this thought yesterday when reading about sql injection ... dont ask why ehehe.

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/sql-in ... cks-safe/1

Notice the left menu bar on the right now you can hide that. I believe this is a PERFECT situation for this. And each time you come on the forums there is a cookie set to what you prefer, to have it hidden each time you come on to the forums or open.. something elite like that.

This satisfys the people taht dislike the left menu design ( me ) and the people that like it ( everyone else )
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Weirdan
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Post by Weirdan »

Jason, thanks. Full-width topic view rocks. Quick reply area is wider now,
but I thought it would be taller (hm... is it right term? I mean increase in
height....). Thanks anyway.
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