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Style vs. Code Level hacks - why some things haven't changed yet.
Heyo all. I'm hoping you're all getting used to the new layout. I'm doing what I can when I can to improve it. Some changes will be slow in coming or may never come because they require changes to the code. Indeed, more than a few of the suggested changes are code level in nature. Using a list P-kitty was kind enough to assemble for me I'm going to go over these one at a time.
My list (I'll add to it as I go along):
1. Change unread threads so they aren't bold.
This is code level, and I'm not sure where to look for this change. I'm hoping to find it in the postbit_legacy, forum_view or thread_view templates but if it isn't there I may be stuck. One thing is certain though - this particular change *won't* be easy.
2. Create greater color contrast in the read/unread envelope icons. Maybe lighter yellow/darker gray?
This is relatively simple, and I will get to it when I can find the time.
3. Add back in the cool "attention" post icon.
I reinstalled it, but it's not showing up on my list of posticons (note - this is a mod/admin only post icon so it won't show up on the list below).
4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.
It may take awhile to figure this one out, cause again this is nested pretty deeply in the new templates
5. On thread listings in forums, move thread starters' names so that they aren't underneath the thread title. Where did they use to be?
In their own colum. This again is a template issue that may take awhile to solve.
6. Replace smilies with ones that don't look undead.
Done, though the yahoo/cheetachat smilies aren't any better received. For the record *I* like them, but I'll go ahead and go back to the originals before I head out tonight.
7. Remove the post icon from the "last post" cell when viewing the forum summary.
Another template issue, and I'm not sure this one would be worth the hassle of solving because removing it would require a major rework of how the tables are laid out.
8. If possible, make the post icons that appear when replying into a "collapsible" section, so you don't have to see them if you don't want to. These are only really important when starting a new thread, not when replying to one.
This one isn't possible without rewriting the code itself, something I'm not qualified to attempt at present.
9. In the left hand column, reduce the font size of peoples' user names.
On thread listings in forums, move thread starters' names so that they aren't underneath the thread title. Where did they use to be?
That one might have been from me, but I didn't ask where they used to be. I'd still prefer thread starters names in their own columns because it makes it quicker to sort by, but that also sounds like something fairly annoying to go about changing in the code.
Done, though the yahoo/cheetachat smilies aren't any better received. For the record *I* like them, but I'll go ahead and go back to the originals before I head out tonight.
I kind of like the large assortment of smileys they have on Nutkinland, like the "I'm with Stupid" one and some other more sarcastic/violent ones.
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Slave to the Admiral
1. Change unread threads so they aren't bold.
This one doesn't bug me so much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Truckin' and Codin'
2. Create greater color contrast in the read/unread envelope icons. Maybe lighter yellow/darker gray?
This is relatively simple, and I will get to it when I can find the time.
Groovy. I'll be glad to see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Hardest Working man on EN World
3. Add back in the cool "attention" post icon.
I reinstalled it, but it's not showing up on my list of posticons (note - this is a mod/admin only post icon so it won't show up on the list below).
No big deal for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Catering to many whims
4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.
Oh, please! This one bugs me more than anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Selfless Coder
5. On thread listings in forums, move thread starters' names so that they aren't underneath the thread title. Where did they use to be?
This one will take some getting used to, but really it isn't too much of a distraction for me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Man with Much on his plate
6. Replace smilies with ones that don't look undead.
To me, this seems a low priority. It doesn't affect how I read the boards at all, really. I usually skim over smilies without so much as a second thought.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Taker of Many for the Team
7. Remove the post icon from the "last post" cell when viewing the forum summary.
Another template issue, and I'm not sure this one would be worth the hassle of solving because removing it would require a major rework of how the tables are laid out.
Agreed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Avatar of Charity for putting up with this
8. If possible, make the post icons that appear when replying into a "collapsible" section, so you don't have to see them if you don't want to. These are only really important when starting a new thread, not when replying to one.
This one isn't possible without rewriting the code itself, something I'm not qualified to attempt at present.
No skin off my nose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Morris - Grantor of numerous nit-picky requests
9. In the left hand column, reduce the font size of peoples' user names.
That one at least was easy to do.
Groovy, and thanks!
I'd like to beg/plead/grovel for a return of Electric Blue 2. I REALLY miss that and it sucks because I only "discovered" it about 2 weeks before the change. Oh, and a Scarred Lands Post Icon would be very cool, but I understand that there are much bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Mostly, Michael, I want to thank you for doing so much work for EN World. I'm certain you are being blasted left and right with requests and people who may even be complaining. I just want you to know that I, and I feel a majority of ENWorlders do appreciate all the hard work you are doing, even if we don't say it very much. Keep on Truckin'!
__________________ I used to collect my thoughts, but I ran out of room.
This is code level, and I'm not sure where to look for this change. I'm hoping to find it in the postbit_legacy, forum_view or thread_view templates but if it isn't there I may be stuck. One thing is certain though - this particular change *won't* be easy...
Hi Michael,
Actually you *can* do this one easily with CSS!
If you add the following definition to the CSS file
Code:
.alt1Active strong
{
font-weight:normal;
}
if will turn all the bold threads in the listing to normal.
The .alt1Active class appears to be the one which is assigned to the thread title column, and the space before the strong keyword means that it looks for the strong markup tag within elements with that class. This is the HTML code that has been used to embolden the unread items of course.
It will take you about 30 seconds to try it out, but I'm pretty sure that it will solve the problem nicely.
Regards,
__________________ Plane Sailing
(Enworld Admin)
If you need to email me click here
"It makes as much sense as having Batman kill his parents and then go on to fight mutants from another dimension." - Rykion
4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.
It may take awhile to figure this one out, cause again this is nested pretty deeply in the new templates
On an HTML level clearly the PHP is assigning a title="stuff..." attribute to the TD cell tag instead of the A tag.
Would it be worth doing a quick search amongst the files for "title=" within TD tags, finding what code is there and placing the "title='code' " at the end of the A tag definition?
I know how I'd seek a fix in other bulletin board software but I've not seen the vBulletin code, so I appreciate that this is probably an overly simplistic suggestion. I'd be interested to help though, and if you were prepared to send me copies of the relevant PHP pages I'd willingly cast an eye across them to see if I can quickly spot anything useful.
Regards,
__________________ Plane Sailing
(Enworld Admin)
If you need to email me click here
"It makes as much sense as having Batman kill his parents and then go on to fight mutants from another dimension." - Rykion
If you add the following definition to the CSS file
That was my first thought - but the CSS isn't adding the bold tag - it's the code itself. I'll find it - just give me time. I'm taking a 15 minute breather to let you guys know I'm still alive - I just drove from NJ to Iowa in 20 hours and I still have 3 hours to go to reach Des Moines (Hi Bynw!)
That was my first thought - but the CSS isn't adding the bold tag - it's the code itself. I'll find it - just give me time. I'm taking a 15 minute breather to let you guys know I'm still alive - I just drove from NJ to Iowa in 20 hours and I still have 3 hours to go to reach Des Moines (Hi Bynw!)
I know that the code is adding the bold tag (actually the STRONG tag), BUT, and this is the clever bit, the CSS fragment I provided above *overrides* the boldness!
So you don't have to change the code at all!
Put that CSS fragment into the CSS and you will see the bold disappear (I've tested it on IE6 and a couple of Mozilla versions and Firebird0.7/Firefox0.8 and so far its worked on all of them).
No code changes required! Don't bother with time looking in the code!
Cheers
__________________ Plane Sailing
(Enworld Admin)
If you need to email me click here
"It makes as much sense as having Batman kill his parents and then go on to fight mutants from another dimension." - Rykion
I know that the code is adding the bold tag (actually the STRONG tag), BUT, and this is the clever bit, the CSS fragment I provided above *overrides* the boldness!
So you don't have to change the code at all!
Put that CSS fragment into the CSS and you will see the bold disappear (I've tested it on IE6 and a couple of Mozilla versions and Firebird0.7/Firefox0.8 and so far its worked on all of them).
No code changes required! Don't bother with time looking in the code!
It's about polls. I've two wishes about them.
The first is for a change in the display of the columns, which I would find more practical -- especially for long polls with more than 6 options.
I want the options to be aligned to the right, with the numbers and percentage beside them, and the bars in the rightest column.
The second, which I don't know if it is possible, is for poll percentages to be number of votes in an option/number of people who voted*100. Not number of votes in an option/number of votes*100. For single-choice polls, it don't change anything, but for multiple-choice polls, it would be light and day! The percentage would at least finally be meaningful. (Because for now, if you make a multiple choice poll asking people whether A: They breathe B: Their heart beat, you would end up with 50% of people not breathing and 50% of people without a working heart.)
Guys, talk at Russ. I have some ideas for hacks but the first thing you'll need is a copy of the program itself and he needs to be the one give you the keys to do that download I'd enjoy the help though.
But I liked having unread threads being bold... looked so much more... friendly.
I'm trying to recall if the accessibility style sheets are additive or not. If they are, you could pretty easily create one that restores the bolding for you. Anyone know off the top of your head?
. . . . . . . -- Eric
PS -- I have confirmed that this does work. No guarantees that it won't cause some oddities on other sites, but I wouldn't expect it to. Basically, to "undo" the bolding change on your machine, you create a text file named whatever.css with the following code:
Then set your browser to use this style sheet. In IE6 this is under Internet Options >> Accessibility. Select to format using your style sheet, and browse for the file you created.
Last edited by Pyske; 16th March 2004 at 05:07 PM..
smiley and I don't want it to go away. 
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