Forum Features Suggestions Box
#489161 - Tue May 25 2004 10:42 AM
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I'd like to open a discussion on possible features players would like to see added or changed on the forums. Now we (as admins) are not going to guarantee any of the suggestions will be implemented - but if there is a feature that seems especially popular or useful, we'll certainly take it under consideration.
We've had some suggestions in the past - A discussion on Threaded View took place recently, for example, but they've always had limited participation or have died before any real agreement on the best implementation. It's very hard to judge how useful or wanted a feature is for the forum as a whole when only one or two players comment on it. If only one player is really interested in a feature, it's often not worth the time for us to make the change. However, if we know that a good percentage of players would find such a change useful, we're much more likely to implement it.
I have a few guidelines for this thread. Please follow them when posting.
Title Your Posts - This thread is going to be covering a lot of topics at once. Please title your posts to make it clear which feature you are discussing.
Forum Features Only - Suggestions regarding the chat, the comic, cards, fundraising, RP rules, future RP projects, disciplinary issues or other non-forum coding features should be left to a different thread. Features that affect Posts, Threads, PMs, Signatures, Profiles, User Settings etcetera are welcome and appropriate. If it is used when you participate in threads or appears under 'My Profile' it is fair game for discussion.
No Bug Reports - Bug reports should be posted to the appropriate thread.
Be Specific, Give Examples - If you think the PM (or Signature or Profile or ..) system should be improved, give examples of how you'd like them changed. If you've seen something on a different message board that you liked, explain the feature and give a link to the software. What features would you like added, removed or changed? Mock screen images or detailed description are encouraged.
Please comment on other ideas - I'd like this to be a discussion. If you agree, disagree or even don't care about a featured suggestion, please post to share your opinion.
The above guidelines may be adjusted as the thread continues.
I encourage everyone to post any ideas they have, even if you feel they might only be of use to you. Ideas tend to spark other ideas, and you may be surprised at how many others have the same wish.
-------------------- MZDM Administrator / ENTER Moderator / SETTLE Moderator THE DREAM RULES!
I know a login switching system is a 'wish list' item, and I've been planning out such a system. But I'm not entirely sure how integrated people want it to be. At its simplest, it would simply be a drop down of some sort that changed what character you were logged in as. Alternatively, a drop down could appear simply on the posting screen to let you toggle an avatar to post with, but wouldn't affect what login you were logged in as ( you wouldn't have access to the associated 'my profile' page). A more complex system would allow global access to all login PM boxes, chat bookings, sigs from a single 'my profile' screen. I'm very interested in people’s thoughts on how they'd like a login-switching system to work.
Another question I get asked fairly frequently is "Have I nominated this month?". I've considered implementing a nominations system that would list nominations you've made and who for. On my end, it would eliminate double nominations for the same character, and ensure I always have all the information I need when compiling a nominations list for consideration.
As I deal with a lot of PMs, I'm aware the private message system isn't always ideal. Listing each PM 'thread' once only on the page ( instead of each post ), splitting the PM listing into pages or folders or putting fixed limit on the number of PMs that can be stored for each avatar are all general ideas that might make the PM system more efficient.
A general thought is improvement on the Profile system. On one hand, the system we have now - a single text box that can be filled out as will, provides a great deal of flexibility, but it's difficult to make a profile visually appealing without a lot of html knowledge. It's not obvious when a new 'suggested field' is added. In addition, profiles aren’t searchable or sortable. There are no specific sections for linking to artwork or important threads. I'm not sure if we're in an "It's not broke so don't fix it" position with profiles, or if a somewhat more structured system that would allow sorting or formatting would be more ideal.
Finally, some smaller ideas are to display the last poster for each thread on the forum index, or have 'next post' - 'previous post' buttons added to threaded view.
I'd like to note that except for the Login/Avatar Management System, none of these are ideas are currently on the to-do list. They're simply ideas that have occurred to me, and that could be implemented if it was agreed they would be useful to our players.
-------------------- Karol Luis / 5'4' Human Mapper / Welcome Center Admin
Shall I repost my suggestions from the Threaded View Discussion page? Or may I simply be lazy and recommend people scan it for existing suggestions, before adding more here?
Well, lets see now (before I port MadPoster to a Mozilla Extention)...
A new panel for profiles would be needed, so individual avatars can be accessed. The Edit Profiles link would go to a page with a list of avatar owned by a master account (and the default profile):
The signatures will have to have a list for selecting which avatars have which signatures.
The posting screen can be changed to include a dropdown which defaults to the master account. One selection of which avatar it's going to post under. I would put it next to the title post myself.
I've said it before, but I think an optional on board spell and grammar checker would be the bee's knees. Would save a lot of time for everyone and make for more attractive posts. Further, such a spellcheck could be customized by each user that it would be able to understand and bypass avatar names instead of flagging them.
On this computer, I just don't have access to spell checkers and the like when making posts (very simple word file here), so if I could do it on the board, I'd wind up saving many minutes, particularly on bigger more detail oriented Perform posts. Whether any of this is at all possible, I don't know, but it would be handy.
Hey, YEAH! I would love a grammer and spell checker! Most of my edits are because of spelling! Sign me up for one of THOSE! *Cheers Candylegs!* Oh, and an autocorrect function for those jokers who still misspell or screw up my name. *Mutters.*
"Uh, dooka. I have a question/suggestion. Ok, maybe I just never found the feature, but is it possible to have some sort of 'previous posts' listed to under my post when I type it up?"
"Yes, I know when you reply to a specific message, you get that SPECIFIC message under the post box, but I was wondering if it was possible to have like say... more than 1 post be displayed. Like... Uh... The last 5, 10... 15. Something like that."
"The main reason I ask is when I want to reply to a LOT of different posts, I have to use the Open In New Window, so I can write my post, and then flip back to the previous window to read the original post so I can reply to different elements of posts."
"And if what I just said makes no sense... uh, basically, all I want to know is if we can have something like they have on the Nice forums. I guess I've been spoiled by being able to scroll through the thread from the window under my Post Box."
Quote: Karol Luis said: Here's my first contribution to the discussion:
I know a login switching system is a 'wish list' item, and I've been planning out such a system. But I'm not entirely sure how integrated people want it to be. At its simplest, it would simply be a drop down of some sort that changed what character you were logged in as. Alternatively, a drop down could appear simply on the posting screen to let you toggle an avatar to post with, but wouldn't affect what login you were logged in as ( you wouldn't have access to the associated 'my profile' page). A more complex system would allow global access to all login PM boxes, chat bookings, sigs from a single 'my profile' screen. I'm very interested in people’s thoughts on how they'd like a login-switching system to work.
Another question I get asked fairly frequently is "Have I nominated this month?". I've considered implementing a nominations system that would list nominations you've made and who for. On my end, it would eliminate double nominations for the same character, and ensure I always have all the information I need when compiling a nominations list for consideration.
As I deal with a lot of PMs, I'm aware the private message system isn't always ideal. Listing each PM 'thread' once only on the page ( instead of each post ), splitting the PM listing into pages or folders or putting fixed limit on the number of PMs that can be stored for each avatar are all general ideas that might make the PM system more efficient.
A general thought is improvement on the Profile system. On one hand, the system we have now - a single text box that can be filled out as will, provides a great deal of flexibility, but it's difficult to make a profile visually appealing without a lot of html knowledge. It's not obvious when a new 'suggested field' is added. In addition, profiles aren’t searchable or sortable. There are no specific sections for linking to artwork or important threads. I'm not sure if we're in an "It's not broke so don't fix it" position with profiles, or if a somewhat more structured system that would allow sorting or formatting would be more ideal.
Finally, some smaller ideas are to display the last poster for each thread on the forum index, or have 'next post' - 'previous post' buttons added to threaded view.
I'd like to note that except for the Login/Avatar Management System, none of these are ideas are currently on the to-do list. They're simply ideas that have occurred to me, and that could be implemented if it was agreed they would be useful to our players.
Obviously, I'm going to be in favour of any login-switching help you can offer, Karol.
Being one of those that frequently asks "Have I nominated?" as I can never remember, I believe this would be a fantastic idea!
The PM system seems generally okay to me as is so I don't mind either way...
I would like some changes for the profile section, myself. I know nought about html and get it wrong, as you know, with regards to sizes for my mozilla composed boxes. Fields to fill in, including a picture field, would be most helpful indeed and make everyone's profiles look just as pretty as others'.
The next post option for threaded view would be very useful indeed, especially since I intend to use the system for any of my future RPs...
-------------------- Apple with her new hairstyle by TheBritt2001.
Im agaisnt it. for one, i enjoy beign able to make my profile look however i want, i have a slight bit of HTML knowledge, but not much, what i did was a stole some basic HTML table and played with it until it looked right. if anyone wants to see the code for my profile, you have but to ask and i will be glad to help out. but i like the fact that i can make Ilya's profile distinct from anyone elses in the dream in look. those who dont know HTML or dont care about making their profile look Snazzy, as many of us have done should not be looked down upon. i just think it would be really hard to give the kind of choices one would need in the profile box without harming those who have made the profile the way they like.
-------------------- "Force is always on the side of the governed, the governors have nothing to support them but opinion. 'Tis therefore, on opinion only that government is founded; and this maxim extends to the most despotic and most military governments, as well as to the most free and most popular." -David Hume
With modern browsers (IE 5+, Mozilla 1.3+, Firefox 0.6+) you can edit HTML pages with Javascript and a special flat. That webpage gives you a toolkit that'll let you edit the HTML with a WYSIWYG editor. All you need to do is set a preference saying "Don't transmogrify my profile, it's in HTML."
Some people might be interested to see how many page views their threads get. If it's recorded I'd guess it would be pretty easy to set up. I know some artists in CREATE might appreciate this, but then again some might get jealous and start silly rants. I guess you'd have to weigh it.
Just a little number planted, say in the top left panel of the first post would be a good place I think (the page numbers are in the panel to the right of it). There's nothing there now.
i know theres some way to do it. but im not sure what <_<; the 'post id' is nifty but has some problems. like its threaded view! >.<; and im sure there is a way to get a flat veiw that will take you to a particular post. that would be ideal to me. (not saying take away the threaded post id button. just add the flat one) an example of why threaded gives me headaces is this post
It hadn't really been a problem until this morning, but I noticed that when I get Email notification of PMs (because I can often miss them otherwise), it doesn't say which login the PM was sent to.
Maybe this is just a small change, maybe not, but I think it would be helpful if it said something like, "PM sent to: Xenix" to help distinguish which login is getting told what.
I think it might be a good idea to set up PMs so that you can send them to multiple recipients (within reason). As an example, say I wanted to coordinate something between Xaotl's and ShadowWing's PGs, it would be a lot easier for me to send a PM to both and have responses go to all of us than it would be for me to start a new thread.
I figure a decent limit to recipients would be 5 -- after that, you really are looking at an extensive discussion that could end up filling up private message inboxes anyway and such discussions are best conducted as threads.
121-Karol Luis: (( I'm going to add a [noubb][/noubb] tag that won't do any formatting or changes within it ))
036-Zen l33t: ((be glad you dont use Mozilla Q))
036-Zen l33t: ((a Ubb no UBB tag, how delightfully ironic ))
Jeresin Kiron: (I do Zen... Windows has given me little choice... *grrs*)
121-Karol Luis: (( Well, I might call it something else. havn't decided yet. ))
036-Zen l33t: ((well i cant use mozilla for editing Ilyas prof anymore, its an slight annoyance, but when i open ilyas prof in mozilla it turns all the " that i need in the code to ;quot wich doesnt work))
121-Karol Luis: (( semi-random question: Everyone here is pretty much happy with how the board works? no one wants any new features or changes? ))
121-Karol Luis: ( Zen: I think thats a board problem actually. It'll get fixed when i add the [noubb] another one of those 'i have to revise nearly completly certain pages' )
330-Light: (Im lazy i want that the board reads my mind and types the text for me )
The Green Knight: (( the board seems pretty good to me...but thn, I know nothing about scripting, programming, anf all that. >_> ))
121-Karol Luis: ( the ubb coder did that whole system a little strangely.. )
036-Zen l33t: ((no major ones, an integrated EP would be nice, but not crtitical, having the mozilla issues resolved would be nice but not Critical, having it be able to diferentiate upper case i from lowercase L would be nice, but not critical
Jeresin Kiron: (I can't think of anything, Karol.. )
121-Karol Luis: (( well i posted a suggestion box thread but its had fairly minimal response, which surprized me. I really would like input from MADers about the Avatar Management System. ))
Shaun Olivier: (I'm fine with the way things are at the mo Karol =^.^=)
121-Karol Luis: (( I posted three options for how it could work but really only have one response right now on what is the preference. ))
Jeresin Kiron: (o.O I haven't even seen that thread... Where's it at?)
036-Zen l33t: ((ill get to it eventually karol))
036-Zen l33t: DEBATE i think
121-Karol Luis: (( http://www.masterzdm.com/NCD/showflat.php?Number=489161 ))
The Green Knight: ((I would appreciate something that lets me deal with multiple logins at once... >_> ))
121-Karol Luis: ( *pokes Lee & Shaun to give their thoughts* )
121-Karol Luis: (( Yes Lee, but in what manner? Do you want it just on the post screen, or a one button-switch-who-i'm-logged-in-as or a completly integrated system or something else? ))
036-Zen l33t: What would be neat is to have an "UUber Login" and then in post boxes have a post as drop down screen
121-Karol Luis: (( I'd rather get a clear idea and -then- start coding it than make something and find out its not what people need. ))
121-Karol Luis: (( and i dont want to spend months on it and find out its way more powerful than people use either. ))
The Green Knight: ((Well, right now I'd like the ability to work on multiple profiles at once without having to use a word processing program, whilst preferably letting me work on posts with whomever I need to...and it could also be useful in chat. >_> ))
311-Centaur Prime: ((*shrug* I've had a few thoughts on how I'd do things.))
036-Zen l33t: Karol if theres one thing that people know how to use is extra power. if you make it incredibally powerful, someone will make use of its power, if not the vast majority
The Green Knight: ((For example, if I'm doing OOC stuff in the chat, I like to have 'Lee' as my login character so that people can plainly see who all I am and all that. <_< Being Green Knight, for example, not so many remember that the Green Knight is Lee, since I haven't been him all that much, really. Plus, I have my OOC profile in there.))
121-Karol Luis: (( Guys, can you post all this to the thread please? I don't want to lose it ))
Just so karol doesnt lose it, because, if she lost it and went crazy, well, you dont wanna know
-------------------- who are these poets, who can talk of jupeter as if he is a man but if he is a huge ball of methane and ammonia, must be silent -Richard Feynman
I don't know if it's been brought up, but avatar swopping would be good.
Namely, let's say I post in a thread which involves Mercutio under Thelolo. The thread moves quickly, so I don't want to delete the post and lose my place while sticking it under Mercutio. What would be easier would be to simply switch the post from Thelolo to Mercutio.
Also, is the old PA list, not by artist, but actual Psychedelic Avatar list with the black background still around? I thought that list was nifty.
Quote: The Kerssido PG said: Also, is the old PA list, not by artist, but actual Psychedelic Avatar list with the black background still around? I thought that list was nifty.
A similar list is up, up at the top of the forum, there's a "PA Index" between Members and Logout. This has the same functionality as the old list, but is a dynamic page generated by the forum.
--------------------
23 year old 5-tailed DreamSpinner, silver long-tailed variety.
Priestess of The Order of DatBan, High Herald of the Holder of The Pointy Stick.
Another feature that might have some use would be the ability to create draft versions of posts and PMs. These drafts would be stored on the server, but wouldn't be visible to others until finalized.
For users who don't have a fixed computer they connect on, or can only connect using a shared or public terminal, this would allow them to store posts when interrupted, so they can later revise and finalize those posts/PMs.
This would also allow users to 'save' posts prior to completion, if their computers are known to be rather fussy, preventing a loss of the post. Also, it would allow the user (in a roundabout way) to see if the post is too long.
Problems are 'lost' posts that never were finalized, and are attached to threads that are (permanently) locked. These posts would just be wasting space on the server. Another problem would be posts that are started, then forgotten about, and possibly replicated (in part or in whole) later by the poster.
Once again, I'm glossing over the technical details of how this could be accomplished, but I have considered the mechanics.
Dru's idea is good, but maybe with an additional clause since it has a very abusable potential. When the board reopens in 2005 and if this idea was installed, it would open floodgates for spammers, flooding, trolling, and unwanted soliciters.
Therefore, perhaps this could be a benefit to those who have been on the board for a while and are known to be here for actually rping (or just playin nicely). As such, you could set it as a benefit for those with 200 posts or maybe as a perk for anyone who's a Psychadelic Avatar or P.Artist.
On many threads, particularly formal RPGs, a player will only be using one Avatar most of the time. I'd like to see, whenever this Avatar Management System starts to take shape, some checkbox next to whatever select box is shown to indicate that my PG would like to set this particular Avatar as a default for this thread.
For example:
If, for Sudden Silence, Datallon was selected and the "Set as Default..." box was checked, it would show like this next time he went to post there:
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