Style vs. Code Level hacks - why some things haven't changed yet.

[Michael Morris]

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):

[h3]1. Change unread threads so they aren't bold.[/h3]

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.

[h3]2. Create greater color contrast in the read/unread envelope icons. Maybe lighter yellow/darker gray?[/h3]

This is relatively simple, and I will get to it when I can find the time.

[h3]3. Add back in the cool "attention" post icon.[/h3]

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).

[h3]4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.[/h3]

It may take awhile to figure this one out, cause again this is nested pretty deeply in the new templates

[h3]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?[/h3]

In their own colum. This again is a template issue that may take awhile to solve.

[h3]6. Replace smilies with ones that don't look undead.[/h3]

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.

[h3]7. Remove the post icon from the "last post" cell when viewing the forum summary.[/h3]

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.

[h3]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.[/h3]

This one isn't possible without rewriting the code itself, something I'm not qualified to attempt at present.

[h3]9. In the left hand column, reduce the font size of peoples' user names.[/h3]

That one at least was easy to do.

 

[Creamsteak]

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.

 

[Staffan]

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.

 

[Harlock]

[h3]1. Change unread threads so they aren't bold.[/h3]

This one doesn't bug me so much.

[h3]2. Create greater color contrast in the read/unread envelope icons. Maybe lighter yellow/darker gray?[/h3]

This is relatively simple, and I will get to it when I can find the time.

Groovy. I'll be glad to see it.

[h3]3. Add back in the cool "attention" post icon.[/h3]

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.

[h3]4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.[/h3]

Oh, please! This one bugs me more than anything.

[h3]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?[/h3]

This one will take some getting used to, but really it isn't too much of a distraction for me.

[h3]6. Replace smilies with ones that don't look undead.[/h3]

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.

[h3]7. Remove the post icon from the "last post" cell when viewing the forum summary.[/h3]

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.

[h3]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.[/h3]

This one isn't possible without rewriting the code itself, something I'm not qualified to attempt at present.

No skin off my nose.

[h3]9. In the left hand column, reduce the font size of peoples' user names.[/h3]

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'!

 

[Plane Sailing]

[h3]1. Change unread threads so they aren't bold.[/h3]

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

.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]

[h3]4. Make pop-up text only appear when the words are hovered over, not the entire cell.[/h3]

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,

 

[alsih2o]

i know this is petty, but can you make the thread posticons alphabetical?

 

[Michael Morris]

Hi Michael,

Actually you *can* do this one easily with CSS!

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!)

 

[BrooklynKnight]

Hi Michael,

Actually you *can* do this one easily with CSS!

,

nooooooooooooooooooo

Leave that. I LOVE that new feature.
I like unread threads being bold!

 

[Plane Sailing]

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