The new site

[El Gordo]

OK guys, everyone's complaining about the new site.

Please grumble here, and I will try to solve all your problems.

[marathondan]

Not a grumble, just a suggestion.

The keys to navigating the site seem to be "Recent Posts" and "Recent Comments". These are an improvement over the old forum. But "Recent Comments" can fill very quickly - can you make it longer? IMHO you should be able to see an average 1-2 days' worth of comments there.

Thanks for listening!

[marathondan]

Just adding this to the wish list... contrary to an earlier comment you made Andy, the poster's name is not displayed at the bottom of the post (comments - yes, posts - no). Sorry for the curtness, but there's no subtle way to report these things!

Thanking you again!

[El Gordo]

Thanks Dan -- good point about the number of comments. I can change this.

Re names --- the poster's name should definitely appear if he/she chooses it from the dropdown category list. If they don't, it wont. I'll see if I can make this mandatory. I keep asking people to do it.

Cheers mate. No need to be too apologetic!

[marathondan]

Aha, you mean the category appears - I see your philosophy now. I was thinking of the poster's name appearing independenly of the category chosen. But I see now that's not recessary, if the category drop-down is always used (correctly).

So the wish-list item changes to: can you make the category appear in brackets, after the post title, in a big font?

[El Gordo]

Quite possibly -- or something similar. I'll need to do a bit of Google rummaging, though this is unlikely to happen before I get back from holiday.

Cheers

Andy

[marathondan]

Sounds like it will be a well-earned break... hope you can switch off (as much as you want to).

[El Gordo]

Cheers Dan. I packed my laptop, but have just noticed that my wife has taken it out of the case again!

I think she's right.

I'm off shortly. Will try to post something.

[stillwaddler]

back from your holiday

I don't ahve any real beefs about the new site, if that's what we use, tha'ts what we use although i admit to being somewhat thisk about it to start with , not exactly intuitive software, but the place I work specialises in that! Only thing I'll miss is my new logo;-)

Am currently thinking about possible blog names for you - will give you a list later.

Don't think I'll change mine although it's not what I use on my main blogging site.

I like Sweders idea of moving his favourite sites, although if you archive we won't need to?

Enough.

Hope you and m have a great holiday

[Sweder]

Leave the laptop and enjoy a proper break.
See you soon.

[El Gordo]

Leave the laptop and enjoy a proper break.
See you soon.

I was stupid enough to negotiate it back in. My desperate inducement?

"But it means you'll be able to listen to the Archers..."

So now, not only have I not escaped the laptop, but I'll have to listen to the Archers everyday.

But at least I'm listening to 6-0-6 while writing this.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Also back from a break and feeling better with the world.

Because I respect what Andy has done and is going through and where he wants to be, I'm happy to go with whatever makes him happy.

For what it's worth however, I'll give my honest opinion: I simply find the forum software much easier to use and friendlier in layout than the blogging software. However, I think it's a mistake to keep both of them going for any length of time, and if Andy wants to go with the blog thing, then let's just do it and iron out the issues as we go.

Maybe we should all start afresh with new nicks and treat it as a whole new venture? I'm thinking of changing to "Crusty Old Grumpy Guy" - I just can't seem to get away from the four-word monikers I'm afraid.

[El Gordo]

Also back from a break and feeling better with the world.

Because I respect what Andy has done and is going through and where he wants to be, I'm happy to go with whatever makes him happy.

For what it's worth however, I'll give my honest opinion: I simply find the forum software much easier to use and friendlier in layout than the blogging software. However, I think it's a mistake to keep both of them going for any length of time, and if Andy wants to go with the blog thing, then let's just do it and iron out the issues as we go.

Maybe we should all start afresh with new nicks and treat it as a whole new venture? I'm thinking of changing to "Crusty Old Grumpy Guy" - I just can't seem to get away from the four-word monikers I'm afraid.

Appreciate the conciliatory tone cobber, but I do think there's a case for having two posting areas. After all, that was always how it was. All I've done is open the front page up to people who like to occasionally post longer, more thoughtful stuff. I've had the freehold to that territory for 6 years now, but the feudal days are over. I'm leasing bits off in the interest of democracy.

Practically speaking, I think we need to keep a chat area for things like race arrangements. I agree (before you say it) that this might create confusion for a while, but it's pretty clear in my mind where different things belong.

Let's give it a go, and review it again in a couple of weeks. I've no doubt it'll shake down the way people want it to be.

[Sweder]

Gotta say I'm with Tokyo Joe on this one. The forum's a great place for banter, the front page a decent showcase for pieces. People like the forum and it's format so hopefully it's a keeper. Presume it won't continue as a separate site . . . or perhaps it will; I'm not sure it matters hugely so long as the two are linked.

[marathondan]

OK Andy, in that case I'll add something more to my wish list... is it possible to somehow map the output of the forum "today's posts" search onto the blog front page, e.g. in a sidebar? That would direct visitors to the latest banter in the forum.

Please don't try and think about this until you get back from holiday! (Unless you think about it and the answer is a two-letter word beggining with N.)

[El Gordo]

Hmm. Interesting question...

That could be a tough one. TypePad isn't hosted by me (but by them), and I don't know to what extent I can embed lumps of code in the template. If I'm honest, I'm not sure I could do it in any case. It's the sort of project that I was keen not to get involved in. What I can do however (when I get home) is try to find out if someone else has done this, then nick their code. But if I'm honest, I wouldn't be too hopeful.

[marathondan]

OK... that one had better stay on the wish list then.

[Sweder]

There is a link (right hand sidebar) from the new site to the forum - one click and you can instantly see new posts in the same way we always did - via the 'lit up' icons next to the thread/ diary containing recent posts.

Something that I can't see that might be useful to users/ new visitors to the forums would be a link to the new site/ front page, including a hyperlink from the foot logo (which still directs users to the 'closed for redecorating' message).

Again, strictly for after the hols.

[El Gordo]

No, you're right Sweder, that's an obvious modification to make. I had got that one on my list. In fact I want to change that top banner area completely. I also.... nah, I won't get drawn into making lists while on holiday, you're right.

Incidentally, thanks for answering 'Carlos' but as I suspected, he was a spammer. I've had to delete a few spam threads recently. It's another downside for taking password protection off, but I reckon it's the lesser of the two evils.

[Sweder]

Damn! Fooled by Carlos The Spammer!
It was a clever one though . . . :o