Thread icons

[Rob M.]

On a daily basis I have been updating threads with the correct model year icons so it enables people to sort on them (by clicking the icon). I was hoping more and more people would select the correct icon's to their threads. This doesn't seem to work out.

Since I want to spend my time on improving the board and other areas of the NCRS automization I'll stop doing this. I was wondering if we are considering having this functionality to be usefull or not so we can make the decision to make icon selection mandatory...

[Tom D.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob: I assume you are talking about the little "selectable" icons at the bottom of the message that I am typing. (I'm selecting "thumbs up" this time.)

If that's what you are talking about, I am sorry I didn't know they were useful for searching. Perhaps the reason (the benefit) could be added to the statement, such as "Post Icons for later searching".

Thanks for all your help and the great improvements!
Tom D.
810 338 0307 cell

[Rob M.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob: I assume you are talking about the little "selectable" icons at the bottom of the message that I am typing. (I'm selecting "thumbs up" this time.)

If that's what you are talking about, I am sorry I didn't know they were useful for searching. Perhaps the reason (the benefit) could be added to the statement, such as "Post Icons for later searching".

Yes, I'm referring to the little icons. when you start a thread (not when it is very useful to indicate what it is about). Adding an icon to a respons isn't filterable (<- is this proper English/American ).

[Tom D.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob: I now understand that the "icon used to filter the list" must be on the first thread entry. I would vote to make them a requirement.

THANKS!
Tom D.
810 338 0307 cell

[Bernard M.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob,

The board has seen vast improvement. Thanks for your part in the upgrade. I'm not sure that the icons cover every situation, and while I'd like to see them wherever they apply, there are places where they're too specific. Some question might relate to all shark cars or 57-61 or some other grouping that isn't one of those available. They're nice to have but I'd prefer they did not become a requirement.

Bernie Myers

[Wayne M.]

Re: Thread icons

...I was wondering if we are considering having this functionality to be usefull or not...

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Rob -- I vote "(almost) not useful", especially in their current format. Would suggest scrapping the "19" of the year -- text too small as it is (and my vision is corrected ). Either replace by exact year (ie. "'65") or "C2" if it's more general.

For those of us who visit the board several times a day for a quick scan, we don't have time to look at those icons (especially the question mark; aren't all postings questions insofar as you expect some sort of reaction ?)

And while I'm on my soapbox, I miss the blue Chevy bowties (new post since last site visit) and the change in color of the titles (to indicate post read, whether current or previous visits -- that makes for really quick scans). Isn't this a job for cookies ? I know we can mark all threads as 'read', but it's a clumsy way to only partially accomplish what color change and bowties gave us.

[Rob M.]

Re: Thread icons

And while I'm on my soapbox, I miss the blue Chevy bowties (new post since last site visit) and the change in color of the titles (to indicate post read, whether current or previous visits -- that makes for really quick scans). Isn't this a job for cookies ? I know we can mark all threads as 'read', but it's a clumsy way to only partially accomplish what color change and bowties gave us.

Hi Wayne,

If you login the threads with new postings are bolt and marked with an opened envelope.

Unread postings are marked with an orange marker (instead of a blue marker). This should quickly identify any unread threads and postings...

PS a lot of useful hints and tips are suggested in the Help! forum and mentioned in the FAQ section (accessible via the navigation bar above).

greetings,
Rob.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Thread icons

...Unread postings are marked with an orange marker (instead of a blue marker). This should quickly identify any unread threads and postings...

I once thought the color of the folder was a good idea for the unread posts, but there is one problem...once you read the first unread post, all the new posts are marked as read whether you've actually read them or not. I use the hybrid format, so I guess it's fair not to expect the software to read my mind.

I believe I'm correct in this, but it may be that I've left the thread and come back...anyway, if you only read one of the new posts in the thread, you'll be SOL if you leave, because they are all marked read with your first visit, and you'll have to look at each post when you return to determine if you've actually read it or not.

And having to go to the Edit tab in IE to copy or cut is a pain...I can't understand why the NCRS Tech Board is like this; on Corvette Forum (same software), you can copy and cut from the text window by simply right clicking. This is not a big deal that individual flexibility won't fix...I'm just wondering why the same software is not consistent?

[Marc R.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob,
I really like the new board. I haven't used the year icon each time, but I have no problem doing so if it would help. Thanks for all your hard work.

[Gary C.]

Re: Thread icons

Chuck, I've been able to copy, cut and paste with mouse right clicks on the forum just fine. Gary....

[Ian G.]

Re: Thread icons

I know I asked this before, but I think there should be subforums for 1953-55, 56-57, 58-60, 61-62, 63-67, etc so we can see stuff related to our model years specificially. So long as we can still search and see all the posts at once I think this would help. I know a lot of folks are used to the old "bulletin board" forum format though. Being able to sort on the icons is nice, and I didn't realize I could do that, so that helps.

[Joel F.]

Re: Thread icons

I do not think the icons should be mandatory.

[Floyd B.]

Re: Thread icons

Rob,

The board has seen vast improvement. Thanks for your part in the upgrade. I'm not sure that the icons cover every situation, and while I'd like to see them wherever they apply, there are places where they're too specific. Some question might relate to all shark cars or 57-61 or some other grouping that isn't one of those available. They're nice to have but I'd prefer they did not become a requirement.

Bernie Myers

[Chuck S.]

Re: Thread icons

Chuck, I've been able to copy, cut and paste with mouse right clicks on the forum just fine. Gary....

In the text window?!...I can "cut/copy" if I go to the browser Edit drop down menu, but not in the text window. Subsequent pasting works fine. Maybe "cut/copy" in the text window works when using a different forum format than hybrid.

And for those that suggested going to "Firefox" browser to make this work right?...There's not a "snowball's" chance I'm learning and adapting to a new browser just to fix this one little annoyance with one forum.

[Joel F.]

Re: Thread icons

And for those that suggested going to "Firefox" browser to make this work right?...There's not a "snowball's" chance I'm learning and adapting to a new browser just to fix this one little annoyance with one forum.

Chuck, the functionality in Firefox is virtually identical to Internet Explorer. The menu icons, commands, etc are all basically the same. Firefox will let you import all your "favorites", etc. so the learning curve is really simple.

I find Firefox to be a much more pleasant user experience as it seems to be faster, lets you open several web pages in a single browser (separated by tabs), and has better security.

When I used IE, I had to run Ad Aware or similar spyware software several times a month, and each time it would find several pieces of malicious software. With Firefox, I run it a couple times a year and it usually only finds my cookies (most of which I want).