Wanna make some changes?

[HyToFry]

The GL is great. I wouldn't mind seeing a few feature enhancements that other members have asked for in the past. I now have the ability to make these changes possible.

One of the best ideas was a multi page selector from the thread list. When a topic spans multiple pages, you would be able to jump to the last page without going to the first page.

Another idea that will most likely be implemented (unless a mob of conservatives stop it) is a [chess] ubb tag.

you could enter

[HyToFry]

btw, I vote for a change in font to "Courier New"

It's fixed width, and has a different charactor for capitol i and lowercase L.

if you don't care what it it, at least tell everyone if you have/don't have a certain font.

[Lepton]

Courier New sounds good, except it *is* quite spacey and a tad ugly. I would prefer a variable width, simply because it is easier on the eyes and much "prettier".

[Luna]

~agrees with Lepton~

[Logain]

I also vote to keep a variable width. Other than that I'm not picky about the font. Anytime someone really needs fixed spacing I always thought that's what CODE sections were for.

I recently made a suggestion on adding a "time/date of last post" to a person's profile page. I don't know how difficult that is or what interest others may have for it, but I think it would be useful.

[HyToFry]

It wouldn't be hard at all, but it would require some coding. I like the idea, and have already put it in my little suggestion box. [=

Variable width font huh?

WHICH!?!?!???!

I like fixed width because I'm a programmer and that font looks good to me.

Just a thought.

[OcularGold]

Buddy icons beneath the posters name


from the faq:

"What are icons?
Depending on the configuration of your forums, you may be able to associate an icon with each post that you make. There are currently 14 icons, each expressing a different emotion or identification. These icons range from a simple note to sadness to warning. These icons appear next to each topic in a forum listing and on each post. If you do not see icons, your forum administrator may not be allowing icons on this particular forum. (Thanks to Kombat03 for the icon idea!) "

these, but where we can somehow choose our own icons, and not just select from the 14 that are available.

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I've seen water. It's water that's all.




[This message has been edited by OcularGold (edited 08-01-2001).]

[HyToFry]

I like the idea, I even know how to turn it on. Maybe these could be used to signify a type of puzzle rather than a type of post.

*puts it in the idea box*

As for buddy Icons, I could do that too.

*puts this in the idea box as well*

[Coyote]

No ideas for new features at the moment, but I'd like to bring up an old feature I haven't seen mentioned in a while:

The old 'search' function was a great help for me in lots of cases where I was trying to look up an old topic or puzzle. I do understand why it had to be disabled, but I've always hoped it was a temporary thing, and that work was being done to find a way to restore it.

Sooo...I just want to know--is any work being done to find a way to restore the old 'search' option?

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The moving finger edits

[Dragon Phoenix]

I would still like the option to see a list of all members (for various puzzles and games).

I would love the Chess UBB codes!

[HappyMutant]

Personally, I think you have to be careful about changing the look of these forums. Post icons, User logos, and the like are attractive features, but they detract from the actual content of the site. IMHO, the visual appeal of the forums comes from their simplicity - there aren't big eyesores anywhere on the page. I also think the Arial font shoul be kept, for basically the same reason. Besides, isn't "I" vs. "l" part of our wonderful history? *dodges rotten vegetables*

Just remember: too much is as bad as not enough.

[chess] and a member list would be utterly beautiful.

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*Do not feed the musicians*


[This message has been edited by HappyMutant (edited 08-01-2001).]

[borschevsky]

Hy, do you want to use my chess generator code? It could probably be hacked into the board code pretty easily.

[HyToFry]

You know I do dood. [=

I was gonna wait to see if the members would accept it first, but yes I would like to use your code. It works very well btw. [=

Oh... in case you're interested, I placed the chess images on the gl server. (mith needed them for some puzzles that are upcoming anyway)

http://www.greylabyrinth.com/Img/chess/index.html

I did change the names slighty though.

The new syntax for the file names is three charactors for all pieces.

"lee.gif" is a Light Empty.
"dee.gif" is a Dark Empty.
"ee.gif" is the blank corner piece.
a-h.gif and 1-8.gif are the same as they were.

the rest are three charactors dot gif.
tile color, then piece, then piece color. A black knight on a dark square is "dnb.gif". Don't ask me why I changed them, it's just a program thing I guess. [=

All of the pieces can be seen on the link I posted. If you want to update your current code to use the GL chess images, go right ahead--cuz that's where they are used anyway. [=

[HyToFry]

I almost agree with happy.

[NightOwl]

First and foremost I disagree with a font change, except maybe for the names. If the names font changes it should be to clarify the I vs. l. Courier is hard to read, and these forums can be a lot of reading at times.

Other opinions:

Vote: Yes - I like the buddy icons, especially if we can add our own. If we add our own, please maintain a constant size.

Vote: Yes - PLEASE make this post box the screen width. This is annoying.

Vote: NO - the reply box at the end of the page. The review screen is fine for me, and I think the number of accidental and improper posts would skyrocket.

Vote: YES - the last page with the max posts...

Vote: NO - on user list. Make one, but make accessible by mintys or mods only. Spam=bad.

No votes -
Dunno about modding your own threads, pros and cons equal out...
I think google indexes this site pretty well already...
I do agree with happy that one of the reasons I came here was the simplicity and clean look of the site. Adding stuff will kill the wonderful look and feel of the GL.

[Dragon Phoenix]

quote:

---

Vote: NO - on user list. Make one, but make accessible by mintys or mods only. Spam=bad.

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I don't see why a list of members would have to include E-mails. I am looking for a list with the registered GL names only.

[HyToFry]

with that list, a spam bot could easily extract our email addys.

One idea would be for me to create a list, and email it to anyone interested in it.

BTW, remember, right now we're only voting on a font change. I can't change one font or the other without editing the code. This thread is only to vote about the font change, and submit any features you would like to see.

Perhaps I will go bump some of the old ideas... Yeah... I will.

[Moose]

I think that buddy icons would kinda be too much of a good thing. I like the idea of making the reply box the width of the screen and also having the reply box at the bottom of the last page. I don't really care if the font is changed as long as it's not a majorly-serriffed-hard-to-read-font i like comic sans ms but what we have now is fine too...it's kind of *part* of the gl

another idea: more smilies if possible. i like the angel face they have on AIM. btw, can anyone tell me how to make the embarassed face? (i goof a lot...i *need* access to this face )

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la la la...

[Moose]

oh...also...i liked hy's idea about being able to create your own title (like icarian or daedalian) after 1000 posts.

[mithrandir]

how bout an option that would allow the user to choose how many posts per page should be displayed? this would make it easier on me, at least, going through old puzzles and such

[mithrandir]

and how 'bout fixing the ISE thing?

[HyToFry]

The ISE thing requires lots of coding.

It's actually on my list of things I'm going to do without taking a vote. It's a bug, and it needs to be fixed. The "show number of posts per page" option requires all threads to be dynamically loaded, and this will cause a strain on the system--much like the search feature did. I'll have to stiffle this one as it might cause Kevin to get a big bill in the mail. [=

[HyToFry]

Just so everyone knows what I mean when I say that a change requires:

coding
I have to edit the ubb program to implement the feature. This is any feature that isn't built into ubb.

modifying file layouts
Extra fields will have to be added into the data files used by ubb. An example would giving users a check box to default thier password on and off. This is the most diffucult change for me to do because it looses backward compatability with newer versions of ubb. Odds are we'll never upgrade again because I'm pretty sure Kevin's membership for free upgrades is expired.
If however he does decide to upgrade, we'll either loose all of the features that use this method, or in worst case scenerio loose all the messages and user names like we did when we went to ubb.
I seriously doubt he'll ever upgrade agian though, especially because we can do anything that would come with a newer version.

the feature would be a simple change
The feature is built in, and I just need to turn it on.

[Sofis]

How much of a hassle would nested quotes be? Quotes within quotes, that is...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Poster A
[quote]
Originally posted by Poster B
I think this and that.
[/quite]
I disagree.

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Apart from that, how about extra UBB codes for underline, superscript and subscript?

[This message has been edited by Sofis (edited 08-02-2001).]

[Sofis]

While I'm at it:
Variable width is a lot more aesthetically pleasing. I see no reason to change the font used in the actual posts, but I would support a change of the font used in usernames, as long as it, too, looks nice. Assuming this is possible, of course.

[HyToFry]

Your first request is possible. Requires only coding.

Same with the second. Requires coding.

[Ghost Post]

how about this, i agree with the differfent icons beside threads, but how about if there was like 5 available in vg
a little man with a gun for mafia
a bloke with a sword for rpg, and dungeons and dragons
and man scratchiong his head for puzzle game, etc etc, a music note for song games and stuff like that?
and then in ot you have like a notepad if it was a signup, etc etc,
if you dont like it, just ignore it

[Alfie]

Agree: Too much is bad.

I like the font the way it is. I would not leave if it changed, but I like what it looks like now. My Vote: IS -

no on buddy icons.
yes!!! on expanded post/reply box. (I have heard that it is larger in NS. I use IE so I don't know.)
no on end-of-page reply box.
no on last-page-max-posts. I like the current system. A page selector at the forum level would be a major plus though.
yes on user list. A spam bot could get our emails just as easy from a forum crawl that it would do anyway. If you are concerned post your address like "chrislemmons@yahREMOVETHISoo.com" or something even more creative.
no on personal thread modding.
[edit]yes on chess code[/edit]

I like the simple feel here. Just tossing my -(e^(i(pi)))-(e^(i(pi))) cents in.

[This message has been edited by Alfie (edited 08-13-2001).]

[PuzzleProdigy]

UBB codes for font colors? I would be greatly pleased if his could be done.

[HyToFry]

yup, sure can. [=

[Alfie]

UBB codes for font. Basically everything the font tag in HTML can do. That would be very cool.

[Ghost Post]

[just curios] i dont think this would be possible but if it was, it would be lovely, you know the way web pages work ~of course you do, by html, could you make it possible to put posts in html, so you could likie put background colours on and stuff?, if not ignore me [/jc]

[Chuck]

UBB supports HTML in posts but it's turned off here. Allowing its use would make it too easy for anyone to ruin things for everyone.

[HyToFry]

I'd object to this idea.

Having background colors could be a real pain in the butt. The <plaintext> tag also makes stuff crappy.

I think it's far better to allow <font> tags then to try and work out html codes... I'm going to see how hard it would be to implement this. I'm also thinking it might be better to just allow a user to pick a font that s/he wants their posts to appear in. I think allowing the users to change background colors would really mess stuff up. Any other suggestions?

[PuzzleProdigy]

Yay!

[Sofis]

A preview option would be nice - that way we can check the UBB tags before we post.

[El Blobbo revived]

Why don't we do something about unregistered pranks?

[HyToFry]

Okay... what did you have in mind?

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I took a walk with my pain down memory lane; I still haven't found my way back.

--Oasis lyric... hyMogrifide.

[Dragon Phoenix]

The easiest solution to that would be to deregister Mathgrant.
The second easiest solution is not to allow unregistered posters in any forum.

[El Blobbo revived]

Well, if we do alternating colors, that ought to flush out impersonators by showing the "unregistered" text.