The Forum Software was upgraded on 3/25/199 to the latest version.

You'll notice on the Forum 'home' page there is now a link to Today's Active Topics. (This was an improvement I recommended - amazing!)

Clicking on this link will create a link of all the threads that have had postings since your last visit. No need to back up to the Forum 'home page' in between.

Also on the home page, you'll note a count of the number of registered users. At this time it is 418.

The "Profile" link provides an easier to use display to change the information you display. It's also possible, but not desireable to NOT display your email address when you post a message.

Clicking on the 'Preferences' allows you to choose how may days of messages to display and to choose to have your username and password stored as a cookie for one year.

When you open a thread to review the latest postings, you'll notice that you can chose to email that page to someone (well a link to that page).

I also can choose to show the messages in a thread most recent first, rather than most recent last. If you think it might be better to add the newest message to a thread at the top, let me know here.

You may notice a few cosmetic and other changes too. If you have any problems, let me know.


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0 :>) St. John of the Internet

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 03-25-99).]

Oh, yes, you may also notice that each individual is identified by one of four 'titles' in small type below their name.

Newbies - have posted fewer than 20 messages
WACKOs - posted 20 messages or more (The duck flies down...)
Cruise Directors - are the wranglers for the individual forums.
Saint - well they have control over the whole heavenly Forum. (You'll note I'm not the only Saint)

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0 :>) St. John of the Internet


[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 03-25-99).]

Nice improvements John, very clean. Most recent messages would be very nice, especially on threads with many replies. The titles are excellent!!! ICQ# nice addition too!


Digger



[This message has been edited by Gravedigger (edited 03-25-99).]

Great John! First I thought something was wrong with my eyes! Like the latest message in a thread last (the way it is now). As later posts often relate to previous posts they read better up to down, rather than down to up.

P.S. What's a ICQ #?

Maybe Digger's right, can slide down to up ok, or maybe just stand on my head....

[This message has been edited by mombo (edited 03-25-99).]

I vote for newest postings at the top.
Jake

Useful new features St. John. Thanks for the update. I vote for latest messages at the bottom.


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Keepin' the flame

Great new features, John!!

I am healed!!


Saint WackoPaul '
Keep the Flame

I'm with Jake, put the new messages at the top. If you are following a topic no need to scroll past everything you already have read each time you go back. The only thing I noticed off the bat is that the font on the main page seemed smaller. Or maybe I might be needing reading glasses. I'm already nearsighted would hate to be farsighted too.
I'm sure as we use the new features we'll discover more that it will do. I've been impressed with this forum so far, I'm sure the changes will be positive.

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ORV
Wait that can't be right (gasp) not a wacko

[This message has been edited by orv (edited 03-25-99).]

Hallelulia, Paul. You've reached Sainthood along with JT.

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0 :>) St. John of the Internet



[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 03-25-99).]

My Vote - New Postings on Top

Placing newest messages first means reverse chronological order. This may seem convenient when you're thinking about it but I think most will not like it in actual use.

As readers of English, we are used to reading top-down, left to right. With newest msgs. first, you'll be reading top down, then have to scroll up to the next message where you'll again read down. The result is an up-down, up-down sequence that is awkward.

This may be even more annoying for folks who are entering a lengthy thread (more than 5 msgs.) for the first time. Think about it - you don't normally read by scrolling up.

Also, with newest msgs. first if you start reading at the top you'll be reading replies out of order. Read this way, the thread may not make sense.

Based on doing UI design for many many years I can share with you that newest msgs. first goes against generally accepted best practices. But if anyone can find an example of a message base on the Web where this approach is taken, share the URL and we can check it out. (I doubt you'll find many, if any examples.)

The forum software already places messages with new threads at the top of the thread list in each forum. I believe its operating the way it should (its not designed the way it is by accident) and urge it be left as is.

Rgds,
__
/im

I agree with Tim on this one, keep them as is.

I vote to keep first things first too. Much easier on Newbies especially.

Putting the most recent posts first is counterintuitive.

-Art [Does it sound to you like I'm agreeing with Tim again?]

I like newest messages at the bottom also.
If the thread is a long one, this method gives me
the chance to refresh my memory on the topic
without added scrolling.

Debbie

>>Does it sound to you like I'm agreeing with Tim again?<<

It does seem to be getting easier for you, Art. And my my, you look like you've lost a little weight (vbg)


Rgds,
__
/im (if the world were flat, all the chinese would fall off)

I agree with current, chronological order- oldest to newest. Maybe you could suggest a compromise to allow the thread to open to last message a person read??? If you wanted to refresh you could scroll backwards, but if you just needed an uodate on newest thoughts in a long thread this would be handy. Kind of like a bookmark.

You did seem to convert an awful lot of people into instant Wacko's; and Cruise Directors and even Saints. What incredible power....how do you keep it all under control?

Perhaps it's too easy to get WACKO status, instead of 20 posts, maybe it should be 100 posts + a long form essay on "Why I like Harbour Lights"?

Cruise Directors earn their keep by wrangling a Forum or two.

And control? Who says it's under control??!!

Let me add my kudos to the list, regarding the new upgrade. I think it is great!

As far as chronological order of the posts, I think they should be kept the way they are, old to new.

Congrats to the new Saints!

-Todd

I agree that 20 may be too few. I don't feel like a wacko. But hey, you can't take it away once it's been conferred upon you, can you? BTW Is there a difference between a wacko and a wacho? Or are the wacho's just qwerty challenged?

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ORV


[This message has been edited by orv (edited 03-26-99).]

Re: Order of posts

It aint broke - don't fix it.

AB in Ala-Bam

You could always put 'em in the middle and make us look for them...

I like the order of the posts as it is. If the thread is a long one that I've been following, I just hit the 'Page Down' key and start reading at the bottom of list.

The 'Titles' are nice, but 'Wacko' seems a little to arbitrary to me. Cruise Director and Saint are rightfully conferred on those that are contributing to the successful operation of the Forums. 'Newbie' is self-explanatory and appropriate, to a point. But 'Wacko' began as a testament to a persons HL Collecting ethic. It doesn't feel right to be titled a 'Wacko' just because I posted a certain number of times to the forums. And my collecting ethic is waning as the available space for displaying HL declines.

Now, having said that, I'm not clever enough to offer another 'title' to replace Wacko. And Newbies need a way to graduate as they progress through the HL addiction, so I'll leave that to more fertile minds.

Rick

This is something I noticed before the new software, but it is still happening. If I'm in a topic and back out of it using my browser, the main page is in the refreshed state that I made it when I logged up to this page. Now if I go to the top of the page and click on the threads to go up one level or all the way back to the main page I will get a page that hasn't been refreshed in quite some time. Is this something I have set up wrong in my browser? Did I make myself clear on what is happening? Any help or advice here would be appreciated.

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ORV


[This message has been edited by orv (edited 03-27-99).]

I am really starting to appreciate the "you last visited at" notice at the top of the page. It really helps you find what's new since the last time you were here. (Then again it reminds you that you're goofing off too much and should be working instead of browsing.)

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ORV


[This message has been edited by orv (edited 03-29-99).]

I really like the new feature that allows a person to view the current days posts. At first I thought having the newest post at the top sounded nice but as I thought about it I have to agree with Tim that it is more logical to have the oldest post at the top like it is now.

I do have a question. Is there a way to edit my posts in the Marketplace. I just get a message that states "Sorry this thread is closed ... you may not edit any posts in a closed thread." It would be nice to be able to go back and indicate which items have sold or be able to update prices etc.

Thank you
Myron

Myron --

If the post in the Marketplace is 'locked' with the lock icon, you can't edit it.

Under the new software, this forum allows only "new posts" (no replies). You should be able to edit your post however.

John

Thank you for your reply John. Evidently my post on the 25th in the Marketplace forum was made before the new upgrade was complete because it has a lock on it and all the posts after mine no longer have the lock. I know you were making some changes when I posted my message on the 25th. Thanks again for your excellent service and hours of hard work.

Myron