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FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:19 am
by jtaylor
I am looking at upgrading the forum software at some point in December, potentially starting on Saturday 15th December (TODAY)

If you find the forum down, please do try back later and you may see the new-and-improved version!

J

Re: FORUM DOWNTIME...DECEMBER 07

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:08 pm
by jtaylor
Yes, you might not like it all, and it'll take some time to get used to, but we now have our NEW CH Forum up-and-running!

Hope most of you like it, and appreciate some of the new features. We'll post some details on these later, but for the time-being have a play and let me know here (in this topic) what you think!

J

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:21 pm
by midget
Much as I appreciate your efforts on our behalf, at first attempt I can't see myself growing to love the new layout. Far too many fiddly bits. Still, maybe I'll get used to it (old dogs, new tricks etc)

The new layout is confusing to start with, but possibly I'll get to love it eventually (old dog new tricks etc) and it removed everything i'd typed when I added my signature!

Maggie

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:32 pm
by jtaylor
Part of the reason for the upgrade is to keep it secure, and maintain the latest security updates.
So in some ways we have little/no choice but to move to it eventually.

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:19 pm
by Foureyes
Julian,
Upgrade done expeditiously and efficiently - well done!
I have a personal difficulty in that I find the script a little too small and difficult to read - old age, and all that! But when I go to "View" and "Font Size" whichever one I click on hasn't the slightest effect. What I am trying to achieve is a slightly larger font with better clarity (ie, stand out better (contrast) against the background colour)
Please advise.
:shock:

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:26 pm
by Foureyes
Further to my previous message, I have discovered that I can alter the size and colour of the font when operating under Firefox, but whatever I do I cannot make any alterations under BT Yahoo, which is what I normally use.
:shock: :?:

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:53 pm
by Katharine
I'm sure we will get used to it - and may even find all the 'bells & whistles' but just now it looks a bit different!

Maggie did you have to register again? I just logged in and found my signature still there.

Re: FORUM DOWNTIME...DECEMBER 07

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:30 pm
by Mid A 15
jtaylor wrote:Yes, you might not like it all, and it'll take some time to get used to, but we now have our NEW CH Forum up-and-running!

Hope most of you like it, and appreciate some of the new features. We'll post some details on these later, but for the time-being have a play and let me know here (in this topic) what you think!

J
Thought I'd test the new quote.

It seems that everything is still here-just takes a little longer to find until we get used to it.

I thought initially the PM facility had gone but I've found it now.

Who is Google [Bot], our new registered user? :wink:

Thanks for all the hard work Julian.

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:42 pm
by jtaylor
Foureyes wrote:Further to my previous message, I have discovered that I can alter the size and colour of the font when operating under Firefox, but whatever I do I cannot make any alterations under BT Yahoo, which is what I normally use.
:shock: :?:
If you look at the top of the page, right hand side, near the "Logout" text, you should see a rather feint "A" with an up and down arrow before and after.
Click on Icon to cycle through the font sizes and you should get a larger font size for the page....
EDIT:- Replaced the light icon:-
Image
with a darker one, so a little more obvious one:-

Image

The new format is completely standards-compliant - the http://www.w3.org standards - which are designed to be better for accessibility. Hence, hopefully that'll work in all browsers? Give it a go, and let us know?

J

Re: FORUM DOWNTIME...DECEMBER 07

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:44 pm
by jtaylor
Mid A 15 wrote: Who is Google [Bot], our new registered user? :wink:

Thanks for all the hard work Julian.
Google [Bot] is the Google (ro)bot having a look at the site, and re-indexing it. It does this periodically to add any content to Google so that it returns search results.
Many forums aren't liked by "bots", but apparantly this one is designed to be liked by them......it's all beyond me!

J

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 10:47 am
by John Knight
Julian,
Can the user change the 'skin' ?
I find the display colours a bit 'washed out' after the pre update version.
John.

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:24 am
by jtaylor
John Knight wrote:Julian,
Can the user change the 'skin' ?
I find the display colours a bit 'washed out' after the pre update version.
John.
At the moment there's only one "style" installed. I'll look into whether it's easy to add others.

J

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:57 pm
by Foureyes
jtaylor wrote:apparantly this one is designed to be liked by them......it's all beyond me
Well, if it's beyond Julian, there is no hope whatsoever for the rest of us! :

Further comments on the font. I eventually found the "A" and arrows, but I must say that without having had it pointed out to me I would still be looking. It really is so faint as to be almost invisible! Using the arrows I can get three sizes of font: small, not-quite-so-small, and a-little-bit-bigger. The View - Font Size option has no effect at all.That's under BT Yahoo.
However, I still find that Firefox is abkle to produce much larger fonts without any effort by using the View Font Size control.

It really is no big deal (forgive the pun) but it would be nice for me personally if I could persuade BT Yahoo go one or two size than is possible right now. But, don't lose any sleep over it,
David :santa:

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:20 pm
by Mrs C.
Does there have to be a line between the post and the signature?
To me, the line now denotes end of a post - but it doesn`t!
Perhaps it`s just me finding it difficult to sift through what seems to be a less user-friendly page.

Re: FORUM UPGRADE - now completed!

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:35 pm
by blondie95
What does the scrolling lines next to a topic mean?
What does it mean if the above mentioned icon is in red?
and does a red star in this icon mean there are new posts?

As you can see am having a problem working out new posts etc