Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

[Ian]

You may have noticed a change to the way things look on the front page here

There has been an ongoing debate concerning the high volume of Foto Fair threads and responses which tends to drown out the rest of the forum threads, making it difficult to keep in touch with what else is going on.

The solution is probably to segregate Foto Fair from the rest of the listed recent thread updates and that is basically what I have done.

The presentation is very much an early model and certainly needs to be tidied up but I thought I'd make it live to gauge feedback.

So please do let me know your thoughts more on the functionality rather than how pretty it might not be at this stage.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Most of us now have 1280 or wider displays and the new layout does fit such screens but, yes, 1024 pixel displays will suffer a cut-off. The solution may be to make the left hand column slimmer.

But at least we can now see 6 hours worth of latest responses to Foto Fair threads and almost a whole day of posts on the rest of the forum all on one page.

Ian

[cliff]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Silly question, what are you calling the front page is it "home" or "forum index", I usually start from the home page

[Zuiko]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Hi Ian, I can see what you have done and it makes sense, restoring some sort of balance between Foto Fair and the other threads. Personally, however, I always come in through the back door, straight to the forum and then select "Quick Links" and "Today's Posts."

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Silly question, what are you calling the front page is it "home" or "forum index", I usually start from the home page

The home page is where you arrive when you go to www.e-group.uk.net. It shows all the recent forum activity. The forum index is the place where you can find all the components of the forum itself and the forum threads they contain. The home page is the place designed for finding out what's new while the index page is where you can find things that you are particularly interested in regardless of how new it is.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Hi Ian, I can see what you have done and it makes sense, restoring some sort of balance between Foto Fair and the other threads. Personally, however, I always come in through the back door, straight to the forum and then select "Quick Links" and "Today's Posts."

Well, that sounds like a long-winded method to me

Ian

[PeterBirder]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

This looks very promising Ian.

I have a wide display but usually have my Bookmarks as a side bar, however it's still useable and I can always turn the side bar off.

Thanks for this.

[Zuiko]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Well, that sounds like a long-winded method to me

Ian

3 clicks and I'm viewing all the posts for 24 hours, Foto Fair or otherwise, with posts I have not yet read displayed in bold type - it works for me.

[Wee man]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I too come in on todays posts or check in by time so I do not see this system will be home tomorrow and will check it out on my desktop system.

[timd1230]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

Viewing on a 24" mac it looks fine to me - certainly easier to get an overall view of whats been happening

[Phill D]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I always go straight to the new posts tab so missed this entirely. I much prefer that way in so it wont make any difference to me. To be honest I don't ever use the home page.

[StephenL]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I like it. It works on an iPad Mini in landscape.

A separate issue: is it possible to have a link to the home page from the bottom of each page?

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I always go straight to the new posts tab so missed this entirely. I much prefer that way in so it wont make any difference to me. To be honest I don't ever use the home page.

OK, what works for you is good but I wonder if you are missing out on the home page because, especially now, by going to the Latest Posts only the relatively dominant number of active Foto Fair threads will make threads from other boards harder to see. You also won't see a sticky unless it's been posted or responded to recently.

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I like it. It works on an iPad Mini in landscape.

A separate issue: is it possible to have a link to the home page from the bottom of each page?

That's a good idea - pretty sure it can be done

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Experimental revised front page forum threads layout

I like it. It works on an iPad Mini in landscape.

A separate issue: is it possible to have a link to the home page from the bottom of each page?

That's a good idea - pretty sure it can be done

OK, I have added a 'Home' link to the bottom of all posts - no need to scroll up or down to find the home link any more.

I will make it prettier in due course!

Ian