So it seems that this Wish List is the best place to discuss changes or additions to the forums. Some have already posted some good suggestions.

There is already a re-write going on, and I don't know yet how that's going, but I will report what I find when I can. It may well be that we will test the new code here, but I don't know yet.

Meanwhile, I'm open to more suggestions, though I don't expect to actually see many changes soon. We start just by making a list and setting priorities.

I'll tell you though the two things that I'd like to see soon. The forums are going to become 'discussion rooms' on the other project, where high school students and their teachers will work through science labs. So to make the discussion more like a log book I intend to take away the option of displaying posts youngest to oldest. A logbook (even a ships log, aargh!) always runs from oldest to youngest. There is a forum option now to warp you to the next new entry. Perhaps that should always be on?

That would only be for threads. Within the 'rooms' you could still list newest first. Should it be any other way?

The other feature that would be useful for a logbook would be the ability to attach images, such as graphs, to an entry. Like uploading your profile image or avatar, you would specify the image file on your local machine and it would be uploaded to the server, and it would create a thumbnail to insert into the post. But how would it be displayed? How would it be refered to in the text? What if there are several such "attachments"?

And finally, I'm wondering if we should not turn off image display in signatures? I know some are very fond of their scoreboards, but maybe those move to the profile text? We may try that here, though I'm sure that would make the crew very restless. Arrgh.

These are just ideas to think about. When you do, try to think about it from the view of a high school teacher or student doing a project, not as a pirate or cruncher. Thanks.

____________
-- Eric Myers

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -- William Butler Yeats

I'm wondering if we should not turn off image display in signatures? I know some are very fond of their scoreboards, but maybe those move to the profile text? We may try that here, though I'm sure that would make the crew very restless. Arrgh.

Maybe you can show thumbnails of attachments in the sig section, or in a table at the top of the page. Or both.

Show images as links... ;)
____________
Jord.

The BOINC FAQ Service.

To be honest I don't see the point in turning off image dsplay in sigs, that option is alrady built into the forums for people who don't want to see them.

To be honest I don't see the point in turning off image dsplay in sigs, that option is alrady built into the forums for people who don't want to see them.

In the context of an academic message board, it might prove to be a Good Thing.

Alternately, if it's an internal board, having the graphics be loaded to the server (like the avatar pics here now), possibly the ability to require approval before display or linking, might be desireable.

To be honest I don't see the point in turning off image dsplay in sigs, that option is alrady built into the forums for people who don't want to see them.

Right now you have the option of turning off signatures completely. I'm proposing the intermediate step of not allowing graphic images in signatures. They would only be short text.

Right now profiles are reviewed and approved by the site manager (me), and won't be chosen as user of the day unless approved (right, Misfit!).

Since this would be used in a classroom environment, the ability for the forum moderator to add flagged "announcement" posts in addition to flagged "sticky" posts.

While they both act in the same manner as far as behavior, they are two different types of posts. Having both would allow the moderator to post FAQ's and general information as stickys at the top of the forum as well as post short term announcments that attract attention for other items of importance to the class.


____________

Since this would be used in a classroom environment, the ability for the forum moderator to add flagged "announcement" posts in addition to flagged "sticky" posts.

I guess I don't yet know how 'sticky' posts (threads actually, right) behave.

So what exactly does sticky do?

How about giving back the option to sort newest posts first?

Right now I feel as if this ship is listing full over on its side...
____________

How about giving back the option to sort newest posts first?

One more thing I think might be useful.

Since there might be a possibility to add extra attachment to posts, some longer threads might take a lot of time to load onto browser.

It would be better to split threads into pages (for example 20 posts on each page, maybe with an option in users preferences to set diffrent amount).
____________
Me Pirrrate name be Mad William Flint an' don't ye dare t' call me with any other name me lad!
Arrr!

One more thing I think might be useful.

Since there might be a possibility to add extra attachment to posts, some longer threads might take a lot of time to load onto browser.

It would be better to split threads into pages (for example 20 posts on each page, maybe with an option in users preferences to set diffrent amount).

One more thing I think might be useful.

Since there might be a possibility to add extra attachment to posts, some longer threads might take a lot of time to load onto browser. ...

...

Still, forum listings by thread can be broken into pages, and maybe threads should be too. Thanks.

Just in case you're not aware, the newer versions of the software being used by some of the other projects already does something sort of like this. Rather than multiple pages including all the older posts, it shows only the newer ones. The numbers are user adjustable for the number of posts to hit the trigger, and then the number that display if the trigger is met. The default numbers are to trigger for any thread with 100 or more posts and then display only the first post and the last 75. After the first post, it inserts a message like "Only the first post and the last 75 posts (of the 128 posts in this thread) are displayed. Click here to also display the remaining posts."

EDIT - On further thought, this might defeat your whole idea of wanting to keep things working like a journal, unless you wanted to consider this feature the equivalent of putting a paperclip on the first several pages of your journal

Just in case you're not aware, the newer versions of the software being used by some of the other projects already does something sort of like this. Rather than multiple pages including all the older posts, it shows only the newer ones. The numbers are user adjustable for the number of posts to hit the trigger, and then the number that display if the trigger is met. The default numbers are to trigger for any thread with 100 or more posts and then display only the first post and the last 75. After the first post, it inserts a message like "Only the first post and the last 75 posts (of the 128 posts in this thread) are displayed. Click here to also display the remaining posts."

I was not aware of this. Do you mean newer BOINC software on running current projects (not tests, like Janus's), or discussion forums on team sites (I just recently learned that they also have their own discussion forums). If it's newer code in BOINC we'll be trying it soon.

Yep! Some of us have turned it off, but in this thread it's necessary. I don't remember what the default is, but I only see the last 500 posts.

Yep! Some of us have turned it off, but in this thread it's necessary. I don't remember what the default is, but I only see the last 500 posts.

:-)

So at SETI@Home the last post is a big thing. On slashdot it's the first post that's a big thing. To each his own. Thanks. :-)

Just in case you're not aware, the newer versions of the software being used by some of the other projects already does something sort of like this. Rather than multiple pages including all the older posts, it shows only the newer ones. The numbers are user adjustable for the number of posts to hit the trigger, and then the number that display if the trigger is met. The default numbers are to trigger for any thread with 100 or more posts and then display only the first post and the last 75. After the first post, it inserts a message like "Only the first post and the last 75 posts (of the 128 posts in this thread) are displayed. Click here to also display the remaining posts."

I was not aware of this. Do you mean newer BOINC software on running current projects (not tests, like Janus's), or discussion forums on team sites (I just recently learned that they also have their own discussion forums). If it's newer code in BOINC we'll be trying it soon.

This has been in the code for some time. However Janus has removed some bugs so his test project does this much better than any of the live projects.

This has been in the code for some time. However Janus has removed some bugs so his test project does this much better than any of the live projects.

So is it true that even though BOINC 5.2 is supposed to be the 'stable' branch, most projects are using 5.3 of some sort for production?

This has been in the code for some time. However Janus has removed some bugs so his test project does this much better than any of the live projects.

So is it true that even though BOINC 5.2 is supposed to be the 'stable' branch, most projects are using 5.3 of some sort for production?

with versions X.Y.Z the stable versions Y = even number. with dev versions Y = Odd number. At least that's whats been said on the SETI forum.

with versions X.Y.Z the stable versions Y = even number. with dev versions Y = Odd number. At least that's whats been said on the SETI forum.

So you have the BOINC Client for PCs/Macs:
5.2.x = stable release client
5.3.x = unstable alpha client

And you have the BOINC Server version:
5.2 = old version
5.3 = new version

It's not that difficult. ;)

The top menu bar is a little messed up.

tr('PIRATES_MENU_HELP')
tr('PIRATES_MENU_STATUS')

Forum change request:

Is it possible to change the code on the "reply to this post" code in such a
way that the quoted text is selected, so when people start typing that the
selected text is deleted?

I see more and more threads where people are replying to the post and not
even taking the couple of seconds to take out the bit of text they aren't
replying to. Especially in big posts, just repost everything with the post
above/below and add 1 word to 1 line of text. It's getting annoying.

But it's also the use of the reply to this post option on first posts after
the initial post that gets to be mis-used.
On the helpdesk forums one doesn't have this option, Maybe it needs to be
propagated.

Have all of the text selected so people need to use the cursor
keys/mouse to unselect the text.

____________
Jord.

The BOINC FAQ Service.

Is it possible to change the code on the "reply to this post" code in such a way that the quoted text is selected, so when people start typing that the selected text is deleted?...

Have all of the text selected so people need to use the cursor
keys/mouse to unselect the text.

Another feature request. I just managed to get my own tag over on Primegrid. Is it possible (or maybe I should ask: wanted?) to have custom tags?

As for the Quote request, an [Off_quote] tag would do the trick. But would it also (still) help against those landlubbers who quote using [/quote][/quote] tags? ;)
____________
Jord.

The BOINC FAQ Service.

As for the Quote request, an [Off_quote] tag would do the trick. But would it also (still) help against those landlubbers who quote using

Look at that. Team name and country of participant in the sidebar. Since when did that show up? I like it. :)
____________
Jord.

The BOINC FAQ Service.

Or create your own team to make your own custom tag.
____________

I try to show my idee: How to improve Last Post Table

I thaink, that it's more comfortable and cool ;)

I'm not sure I understand this proposal. You want to put the date/time of the most recent post in that column, instead of the time (interval) since the most recent post?

Posted 27 Feb 2006 21:19:19 UTC
My ideea: In "Last Post" column add link to thread with name where was last post wroten. ;)

I think more so than changing it to date/time instead of interval, he's recommending that the thread name be added to the column with the other data.

Now all we need is an active spelling checker, a PM (Private Messaging) option, a moneybox and a Buddy List. Plus active emoticons. Although, isn't changing to phpBB easier? ;)


____________
Jord.

The BOINC FAQ Service.

Do people like this, or is it too busy?

The new feature looks good to me.


____________