Feedback and suggestions for these forums.

Is the General Board the best place for feedback/suggestions for the new GEC forum?  It seems a thread devoted to ideas on how to improve the forum ought to be started...

Great minds and all that. I was thinking about the very same thing. We may as well make this it, I'll just change the title

Excellent start by all involved in setting up the forum. You should be very pleased. I am. 

One of the Proboards plugins that I would find useful is the Back to Top plugin. I seem to have been doing a lot of scrolling back up to the top of threads so far. That could just be my silly way of navigating so don't worry about implementing it unless there is more of a demand from other users.

I added that last week, you should see the arrow bottom right when the thread or page has gone down.

How about adding the "Recent Posts" link to the top Navigation Bar, several other proboard froums I use have done this. It saves scrolling down and clicking on each subforum.

It is something that I have been looking at, but as a sidebar, with a few extras. Still under testing, but thanks and keep them coming

I understand that there are organized categories but I would like a way to filter by Attachment so that I can see actual KML/KMZ files efficiently. Perhaps that's a search function already I have yet to find? The Earth Gallery somewhat acted as a KML Archive but I think something more efficient was always needed. The Forum fullfills some of that but an easier way to submit and categorize user submitted KMLs would be useful. Additionally a Thread or category focused on Databases and spreadsheets directly associated with Google Earth would be useful. I'm trying to think through how that would be best organized in a forum format but I use Google Fusion Tables and Google Spreadsheets to organize and aggregate data with the convenient output to Google Earth. Having a way of effectively organizing these types of user data would be helpful in identifying the data value as it applies to Google Earth.

Just some thoughts = )

Adam Simmons
Project Geospatial

Hi and welcome wildcard, we are a young and still growing forum and things will evolve as we go, I understand what you want, and will take it on board. It may take a while if it can be done. But thanks for the comments.
We hope you enjoy your time here.

Thanks

Apr 7, 2015 12:39:37 GMT Admin said:

I added that last week, you should see the arrow bottom right when the thread or page has gone down.

Perfect, Ledge. 

Now, is there a plugin to fix my inability to see what was right there in front of me all the time?   Actually, if there is such a plugin, I'll need the portable version to use in real life.

Incidentally, another bit of functionality that I had wanted and not realised was already there was that clicking on NEW next to a subject takes you to the first unread post in a thread. I suspect some others may not be aware of that one, too.

Incidentally, another bit of functionality that I had wanted and not realised was already there was that clicking on NEW next to a subject takes you to the first unread post in a thread. I suspect some others may not be aware of that one, too.

Not a button but entering into a thread will hover us to the first unread post. In the code, something we want is missing and we are looking into it before applied to the forum. A button, can be considered then.

A biography (about) the member, in the member's profile.


I see one problem with the "Social Connections" in member's 
profile? When adding a link from a social site it say "test link", when I have my account link,
such as, Facebook or Twitter or Google+ or YouTube. Those sites say that no such account
exist, even though, they do exist!


So this needs to be fixed, therefore, I am unable to provide a link(s) to social site(s).

Apr 8, 2015 0:50:30 GMT ET_Explorer said:

A biography (about) the member, in the member's profile.


I see one problem with the "Social Connections" in member's 
profile? When adding a link from a social site it say "test link", when I have my account link,
such as, Facebook or Twitter or Google+ or YouTube. Those sites say that no such account
exist, even though, they do exist!


So this needs to be fixed, therefore, I am unable to provide a link(s) to social site(s).

FB  and G+ both work, but you have to duplicate the address you see on your home page on both. So you can't just paste it, you have to delete the part of the pasted addy that duplicates what this software gives you and just leave the rest. For instance, for the G+ link you have to leave only > whatever the long number is/posts. The rest you delete after pasting it in the box. I had the same problem at first but got both to work. Then I removed them anyway...

Yes! It worked 


Thanks, Hill.

Anybody else find the "Like" button Proboards is using annoying? Half the time, i can't tell whether its toggled on or off.

<irony>I clicked the Like button to agree with Frank's comment.</irony>

Like Frank4, I'm a bit ambivalent about the "Like" button.  We all like to know that someone out there has read and appreciated our post, and to that extent it's useful.  The problem is that we then think we've done our duty and leave it at that.

The old UBB Threads forum - well before Facebook etc - didn't have a "Like " button, so the traditional means of showing approval or disagreement with a post was to make a reply post, which often sparked a wider discussion and brought other people in.

Sure, it led to some bunfights; but to my mind, discussion is what a discussion forum is all about; otherwise it's in danger of just degenerating into a random babbling stream of consciousness where white noise and gossip are everything, and considered thought and debate, or even just good conversation, are ...errm... not considered!  

A bit like Facebook, I suppose. 

I think the "Like " button tends to make us lazy and positively discourages wider discussion.  The knock-on effect is that people are less inclined to post in future, if they don't get the affirmation they feel they deserve.

So I'd say, fine, use the "Like" button; but if you really like a good post, one where the OP has devoted a lot of time and trouble, he/she will get much more satisfaction from a proper "attaboy" reply, however brief.

As for the actual machinery of the "Like " button, perhaps Tek could take a look at it to make it clearer.

I "like" your post, Frank. 

Excellent points, Frank. I've never really thought about it like that, and you're right, it can become too easy just to 'like' a post. A cop out.
Much better to encourage discourse on a subject by replying rather than going around, pressing the 'like' button à la Facebook. That's the last thing we want!
Nontheless, I have 'liked' your post. 

Thanks for the new forum and I am happy to see so many other gamers again!

A suggestion that I already made to one of our moderators via a Message:

Especially for Fun and Games, it should be useful to have an indication of the posts I already answered (and to see the new challenges).

E.g.   for a new post
and  for a post I already answered
(or something similar)

As a workaround, I use Bookmark for the new challenges, and remove the Bookmark when I have a solution.

Thank you, Walter.  I was about to post the same thing.  After a day or two, subject lines become a blur, and I'm already finding myself reopening posts I've already answered.

I like the bookmark idea!

I agree that discussion is the ideal, but in realistic terms that seldom happens. A like button is better than a like / dislike system, and both are infinitely (ok, a whole lot) better that any 5-point rating system, where one is expected to make highly refined judgments by using fundamentally subjective criteria.

The only reason to like a post (aside from making the poster feel warm and fuzzy) is to recommend it to fellow forum members. I tend to read a post if it is written by someone I know does quality work. If I don't know that the poster's work is apt to be of good quality and the listed topic doesn't interest me, then I tend not to take the time to open and download it. If a post has lots of likes, especially if they are by people of proven sound judgment, then I'm much more apt to read it, even if I'm not immediately impressed by the poster or the topic.

For this to really be helpful (from my perspective) the number of likes should be visible from the forum view, before the post was opened. Ideally, I'd like to see a number followed by a symbol, which, when clicked, would list the members who liked it.

Apr 8, 2015 11:15:27 GMT frankmcvey (Angel) said:

Like Frank4, I'm a bit ambivalent about the "Like" button.  We all like to know that someone out there has read and appreciated our post, and to that extent it's useful.  The problem is that we then think we've done our duty and leave it at that.

The old UBB Threads forum - well before Facebook etc - didn't have a "Like " button, so the traditional means of showing approval or disagreement with a post was to make a reply post, which often sparked a wider discussion and brought other people in.

Sure, it led to some bunfights; but to my mind, discussion is what a discussion forum is all about; otherwise it's in danger of just degenerating into a random babbling stream of consciousness where white noise and gossip are everything, and considered thought and debate, or even just good conversation, are ...errm... not considered!  

A bit like Facebook, I suppose. 

I think the "Like " button tends to make us lazy and positively discourages wider discussion.  The knock-on effect is that people are less inclined to post in future, if they don't get the affirmation they feel they deserve.

So I'd say, fine, use the "Like" button; but if you really like a good post, one where the OP has devoted a lot of time and trouble, he/she will get much more satisfaction from a proper "attaboy" reply, however brief.

As for the actual machinery of the "Like " button, perhaps Tek could take a look at it to make it clearer.

Apr 8, 2015 12:50:42 GMT Walter_V_R said:

Thanks for the new forum and I am happy to see so many other gamers again!

A suggestion that I already made to one of our moderators via a Message:

Especially for Fun and Games, it should be useful to have an indication of the posts I already answered (and to see the new challenges).

E.g.   for a new post
and  for a post I already answered
(or something similar)

As a workaround, I use Bookmark for the new challenges, and remove the Bookmark when I have a solution.

Hi Walter and Utapao,

Have you tried the "Participated" button to the left right of the forum navigation bar?

Apr 8, 2015 22:18:41 GMT tek said:

Hi Walter and Utapao,

Have you tried the "Participated" button to the left of the forum navigation bar?

Hi Tek,

I discovered that yesterday. (But here, it is to the right of the navigation bar)

If I understand well: With that button, I can first read all "New" replies on posts that I already participated in.

When I go to the forum afterwards, all remaining posts with "New" are really new challenges, and I bookmark them.

When I answer a bookmarked post, I remove the bookmark.

I can live with that, but it is a lot of administration ...

Walter

Hi Walter,

Could you use the search? You can search a particular forum, excluding posts by a specific poster. If you bookmark the search results page, would that work for you?

Apr 9, 2015 5:19:49 GMT Walter_V_R said:

Apr 8, 2015 22:18:41 GMT tek said:

Hi Walter and Utapao,

Have you tried the "Participated" button to the left of the forum navigation bar?

Hi Tek,

I discovered that yesterday. (But here, it is to the right of the navigation bar)

If I understand well: With that button, I can first read all "New" replies on posts that I already participated in.

When I go to the forum afterwards, all remaining posts with "New" are really new challenges, and I bookmark them.

When I answer a bookmarked post, I remove the bookmark.

I can live with that, but it is a lot of administration ...

Walter

Hi. No, you don't need to bookmark anything.

Noisette Search results shows all threads new to me. Is that real buggy or plays only with me? 

Apr 8, 2015 22:18:41 GMT tek said:

Apr 8, 2015 12:50:42 GMT Walter_V_R said:

E.g.   for a new post
and  for a post I already answered
(or something similar)

As a workaround, I use Bookmark for the new challenges, and remove the Bookmark when I have a solution.

Hi Walter and Utapao,

Have you tried the "Participated" button to the left right of the forum navigation bar?

Tek - Thanks for the suggestion about the "Participated" button.  But what I was trying to describe is when opening F&G forum, the subjects I have already answered/replied could have some sort of indication, as Walter showed with the file folder and star icon while new posts, or posts I have not answered would show a regular icon...either "new" as the board currently displays, or the blank file folder as Walter showed. It was not the need to search for a particular subject.

When the forum is busy as it is now, after a day or two with a lot of new posts, the subject lines become a blur.

Perhaps others have better memory than I and it's not a problem for the masses.  :-)

The bookmark work around will help for now.

Thanks.

E-mail Notification

In the oGEC I used to get e-mail notification for each new thread/post in the groups of my interest. This feature (perhaps the only plus point of oGEC) is missing in nGEC. At the end of the day I get only a consolidated notification of activities in the posts/threads which I have made.

Would love to see individual notification by e-mail for each new post/thread. Hope it will be made available in due course.

In addition to new post there is no e-mail notification for Personal Message. Would love to have this feature also so that I don't miss out on any PM.

Don't know if this is what you have in mind, but if you go to your profile and click 'Edit Profile,' there's a 'Notifications' tab with a host of email preferences. Even for PMs. Most are still under 'construction.' For a forum you're interested in - say, Fun & Games - at the top of the right hand page, click 'Select' then 'All.' Then go to 'Actions' then 'Bookmark' If you set your email for any selected bookmarks, you should recieve an instant email.

EDIT: Arghh, it's not working for a whole forum page, only for posts. But the PM setting should work...

Yet another edit: Unfortunately, the ability to be notified of new posts you have not bookmarked is not yet possible... ProBoards Support. Then enter captcha code.

Apr 12, 2015 6:09:56 GMT Groovy23 said:

Don't know if this is what you have in mind, but if you go to your profile and click 'Edit Profile,' there's a 'Notifications' tab with a host of email preferences. Even for PMs. Most are still under 'construction.' For a forum you're interested in - say, Fun & Games - at the top of the right hand page, click 'Select' then 'All.' Then go to 'Actions' then 'Bookmark' If you set your email for any selected bookmarks, you should recieve an instant email.

EDIT: Arghh, it's not working for a whole forum page, only for posts. But the PM setting should work...

Yet another edit: Unfortunately, the ability to be notified of new posts you have not bookmarked is not yet possible... ProBoards Support. Then enter captcha code.

Thanks Groovy for giving me the procedure.

I am giving below screen shot of my settings for notification. Some of them were set for "Never" but PM was set for instant yet I am not getting notifications of PM. 

As regards " 'Select' then 'All.' Then go to 'Actions' then 'Bookmark'" you mean I have to do this for each group individually? I have done it just now for F&G and will also do it for this forum. Hopefully it will work.


[Click on the image for larger view]

Go to Previous or Next Thread

Presently the Go to Previous or Next Thread is accessible via a  sub menu of "Actions" > "Go To" and the select Previous or Next Thread.



If possible would love to see it as part of main menu bar.

Perhaps left and right pointing arrows (adjacent to "Actions" Button) duly hyper-linked to Previous or Next thread.