Forum changes

[bmathison1972]

Is it just me or has the Search function been rather off lately? Sometimes I want to find older posts/conversations within threads by searching keywords; but either limited, or even no results pop up.

I've checked spelling and spacing so that isn't the issue.

As far as I can tell, forum-wide search works fine, but within-thread search is completely broken. It's unfortunate because forum-wide only returns the most recent post in a thread to mention a term, but sometimes a term might be mentioned dozens of times in a single thread.

I rely heavily on 'within post' searches, especially on ATB.

@dinotoyforum was looking into it, but I haven't checked in on its progress.

[DinoToyForum]

There's a thread specifically about the forum's search feature here: http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=10233.20

I'll post an update there now...

[DinoToyForum]

What do members think about moving the recent topics list to the top of the forum, above the board categories, so it is more prominent? Personally, I scan the recent topics list (in the left side bar) every time I log in. So, maybe it makes sense to move it front and centre. Moving it here also makes it appear at the top of the page in mobile view to save users having to scroll past the boards.

I've just moved the Recent topics list there temporarily, so we can see it in action and test it out for a day or two.

[Concavenator]

What do members think about moving the recent topics list to the top of the forum, above the board categories, so it is more prominent?

I'd say it's a good idea.

[Lynx]

Not much of a fan of it. I tested the forum previously on mobile, both phone, and tablet, and had little to no trouble getting to the recent posts page. However, once I get home today, I will see if the recent posts page at the top of the forum changes anything.

I am unsure if you are considering keeping the recent posts page both at the top of the forum and its own page, (which is a little redundant), or if you want to remove the recent posts page and keep it at the top instead, which does not allow you to read the actual posts, and just tells you the thread, which is irritating. Especially when it's a very short message and you have to click on the thread just to see what it is.

[Faelrin]

Is the new and recently updated topics supposed to be on top of the boards now (on PC browser)? Used to be below all of that.

[stargatedalek]

Is the new and recently updated topics supposed to be on top of the boards now (on PC browser)? Used to be below all of that.

They aren't showing up at all for me.

[Fembrogon]

It's showing up that way for me; threw me off for a moment.  I'm used to seeing those in the side bar.

[Lynx]

No idea it used to be on the side, always used the recent posts tab itself.

[Fembrogon]

While I do tend to scan the recent posts tab first, I'm not sure I want it dominating the top of the page. Then again, I can just be adverse to change sometimes, and I'm used to seeing the main boards first thing.

[Bread]

I actually really like the change. I'm
more inclined to revert to Recent Post(s) section of the forum before anything else.

I want to note to @dinotoyforum that I received a login error message twice now since the change. The message states I receive some sort of 2 second delay? My recall on the message is bad, my apologies. I'll have to screenshot it next time. Note that I am on mobile.

Edit: To also add, it still allows me to login despite the message.

[BlueKrono]

What do members think about moving the recent topics list to the top of the forum, above the board categories, so it is more prominent? Personally, I scan the recent topics list (in the left side bar) every time I log in. So, maybe it makes sense to move it front and centre. Moving it here also makes it appear at the top of the page in mobile view to save users having to scroll past the boards.

I've just moved the Recent topics list there temporarily, so we can see it in action and test it out for a day or two.

I'm all for it. I saved the Recent posts page in my favorites, so it's the first one I check out anyway.

[SidB]

That's definitely better for me.

[DinoToyForum]

Just to be completely clear, the Recent Posts page (http://dinotoyblog.com/forum/index.php?action=recent) is slightly different (and separate) from the Recent Topics list on the front page. The Recent Topics list doesn't include the actual content of the posts, whereas the Recent Posts page does. So, the Recent Posts page will remain as is even if we adopt the Recent Topics list on the centre of the front page.

Also, I think an equally relevant question to consider is: would members miss the board index being on the front page? Because it's also possible for me to relegate the board index to a separate page completely (like the Recent Posts page) if there's a preference for that. I notice that the combination of Recent Topics AND the Board Index on the front page makes the page very tall!

[DinoToyForum]

I actually really like the change. I'm
more inclined to revert to Recent Post(s) section of the forum before anything else.

I want to note to @dinotoyforum that I received a login error message twice now since the change. The message states I receive some sort of 2 second delay? My recall on the message is bad, my apologies. I'll have to screenshot it next time. Note that I am on mobile.

Edit: To also add, it still allows me to login despite the message.

That's odd, the change shouldn't have affected any functionality. Let me know if it keeps happening and share the exact error message.

[DinoToyForum]

While I do tend to scan the recent posts tab first, I'm not sure I want it dominating the top of the page. Then again, I can just be adverse to change sometimes, and I'm used to seeing the main boards first thing.

Yeah, that's why I'll leave it for a couple of days, sometime it's just a matter of getting used to a change.

[DinoToyForum]

What do members think about moving the recent topics list to the top of the forum, above the board categories, so it is more prominent? Personally, I scan the recent topics list (in the left side bar) every time I log in. So, maybe it makes sense to move it front and centre. Moving it here also makes it appear at the top of the page in mobile view to save users having to scroll past the boards.

I've just moved the Recent topics list there temporarily, so we can see it in action and test it out for a day or two.

Apologies for the confusion, I mistakenly posted this in the 'Dinosaur Toy Blog changes' thread. I've moved it, and the subsequent discussion, to the 'Forum changes' thread where it belongs.

[DinoToyForum]

Is the new and recently updated topics supposed to be on top of the boards now (on PC browser)? Used to be below all of that.

They aren't showing up at all for me.

Really? How about now?

[Roselaar]

Oof, big change... I'm not thrilled by it, I miss the simple overview of categories on top now. Of course it's simply a matter of scrolling down.

Did others feel new posts were too hard to find in the previous categorized system? I never had such troubles. Maybe because I'm only using DTF on a web browser on my PC.

[bmathison1972]

I am not crazy about it either, but like all changes, I'll get used to it