Did I miss the big announcement? have I been beamed to an alternate universe? when did the home page undergo such a major (and if I may say horrendous) overhaul? and was anyone going to tell us?
It was a bit of a shock I must say, didn't know where I was for a while, so offensive to my eyes it was that I thought I had strayed into NRM territory.
You really must warn us of such radical changes, fortunately I have a stout heart, Newportnobby I fear may not fare so well ;D
Is it me or am I missing something here ????
Yeah - someone broke the front page but since everyone goes direct into the forum nobody else has noticed
I Noticed :hmmm:
But didn't want to say anything just in case I looked a fool :-X :-[
dave :thumbsup:
Its not broke as it works for me, :confused2:
Quote from: port perran on January 17, 2014, 08:34:29 PM
Is it me or am I missing something here ????
No, it's you ;) ;D
Click the Home Tab ;)
OK :dunce:
Ok. Actually, it looks good to me !
I stumbled across it earlier but thought it was a system problem.
But having had another look at it I rather like it.
Ray
Hi Gang,
Saw the 'new' front page by accident the other day and was going to complain, but then I found the link back to the familiar environment of the forums....so put it down to a bad dream!!!
And I'm sure Tank doesn't need the grief!!
Later,
Stu from EGDL.
Thread title amended - Lawrence, go and sit on the naughty step :telloff:
Quote from: newportnobby on January 17, 2014, 09:52:47 PM
Thread title amended - Lawrence, go and sit on the naughty step :telloff:
I am sure it stood for where's The Forum home gone.
::)
I noticed on tapping in the URL it just took me to the forum rather than the rather pointless ngaugeforum redirection page (with stealth text LoL). This what you're on about :confused2:
The new front page is a work in progress, and as RST has stated, it replaces the rather pointless old front page.
Quote from: Lawrence on January 17, 2014, 08:32:56 PM
Did I miss the big announcement? have I been beamed to an alternate universe? when did the home page undergo such a major (and if I may say horrendous) overhaul? and was anyone going to tell us?
It was a bit of a shock I must say, didn't know where I was for a while, so offensive to my eyes it was that I thought I had strayed into NRM territory.
You really must warn us of such radical changes, fortunately I have a stout heart, Newportnobby I fear may not fare so well ;D
::)
Nobody likes a glitch in the matrix. Look out for black cats
LoL.
Wow, Just got the new front page appear and have to say it's a horrific mess. Just been through an awful mish-mash trying to see what's what -and that's not because it's new. What I saw was just a complete mess. Strange I never saw it before (the forum just loaded up), the page I just saw was a disaster.
Tank has stated it is work in progress, and after looking on my ipad and laptop it does not look like a horrible mess.
Quote from: RST on January 18, 2014, 01:49:47 AM
Wow, Just got the new front page appear and have to say it's a horrific mess. Just been through an awful mish-mash trying to see what's what -and that's not because it's new. What I saw was just a complete mess. Strange I never saw it before (the forum just loaded up), the page I just saw was a disaster.
Rather than generalise could you state specifics please?
The overall concensus so far seems to be in favour :confused2:
Hi Mods/Designers...
Might be worth fiddling with the box sizes to make the overall look a little more symmetrical and tidier looking. The randomness of the boxes makes it look untidy. Go for two or three standard box sizes and group them by row....
I know...it is a bit of OCD-ness!!!
Later,
Stu from EGDL.
Thank you Geoff. :)
Lawrence and RST, what would you like to see on the front page? The idea is that it will be a place to explain the forum to new members before they sign up, as well as integrating with the forum for current members.
Nothing appears on the website instantly as I would like it. A lot of the time I have to have support from Emanuele (our coding expert), and he is often busy and can't always help right away. I myself am not only busy with keeping up with the forum posts, but trying to maintain it as well. In the real world I work six days a week, have two young children, and a house to work on. Everything has to be worked on in stages on this website as I can't afford to be on here full time like other forum owners. My number one priority of this forum is to keep it a happy community. Everything else just has to happen a little bit at a time.
I do welcome all feedback as I always say, but if you are going to be negative then I wish members to offer a solution with it.
Quote from: StufromEGDL on January 18, 2014, 10:44:27 AM
Hi Mods/Designers...
Might be worth fiddling with the box sizes to make the overall look a little more symmetrical and tidier looking. The randomness of the boxes makes it look untidy. Go for two or three standard box sizes and group them by row....
I know...it is a bit of OCD-ness!!!
Later,
Stu from EGDL.
Thanks Stu. I completely agree with you. There is no point in me fiddling about with it right now as I'm waiting for some coding to be done on a new 'block' I have to play it by ear as I'm relying on someone else who has been too busy the last two times that he was going to do it (no fault of his, that's just the way it goes). Appreciate the comment though, as it is a little annoying near the bottom. :)
My only request is that the "Recent Posts" section which is currently at the bottom for the main page continue to have the 30 or so new posts that are currently listed there. This is the first place I go when I look on the site as I like to see what topics are generating a lot of current interest. Thirty posts seems to allow for a nice variety of current topics plus several replies to each. The updated site seemed to have space for a lot fewer "recent posts" than the old one which meant I could not see as many topics there that might have got my attention as on the old one.
Just my two cents worth.
Matt
I don't think the 'new look' is horrible, I can see what you're trying to do with it and once it's tidied up I reckon it'll look better. I for one would like to thank the admin and moderators for their unpaid work that they put in to make this happy little forum work so well!
Quote from: oreamnos on January 18, 2014, 11:05:56 AM
My only request is that the "Recent Posts" section which is currently at the bottom for the main page continue to have the 30 or so new posts that are currently listed there. This is the first place I go when I look on the site as I like to see what topics are generating a lot of current interest. Thirty posts seems to allow for a nice variety of current topics plus several replies to each. The updated site seemed to have space for a lot fewer "recent posts" than the old one which meant I could not see as many topics there that might have got my attention as on the old one.
Just my two cents worth.
Matt
Thanks Matt. Yes, the 'Recent Posts' will stay as it is on the main forum, I won't be touching that.
I will however be removing the 'Recent Topics' on the new front page, but will be keeping the 'Recent Posts'. I will add a random Classifieds block (to which the coding needs to be done), and maybe some superb photo's from members to entice new members. :)
Quote from: Cooper on January 18, 2014, 11:19:42 AM
I don't think the 'new look' is horrible, I can see what you're trying to do with it and once it's tidied up I reckon it'll look better. I for one would like to thank the admin and moderators for their unpaid work that they put in to make this happy little forum work so well!
Many thanks to you. It is a lot of work, and a lot goes on behind the scenes. It's not just a case of editing posts! The moderators do a great job, as not all decisions are easy.
As my bookmark had previously taken me straight to the Forum main page, I thought I'd have a look at the home page which seems to be causing a lot of discussion and attracting approbium from some quarters. Immediate impression - what's the fuss about? Quite a neatly organised set of windows which highlight the main sections of the site and give some interesting statistics and lists. Nice job, keep it up...
Thank you Talisman56. :thumbsup:
Quote from: talisman56 on January 18, 2014, 01:05:01 PM
As my bookmark had previously taken me straight to the Forum main page, I thought I'd have a look at the home page which seems to be causing a lot of discussion and attracting approbium from some quarters. Immediate impression - what's the fuss about? Quite a neatly organised set of windows which highlight the main sections of the site and give some interesting statistics and lists. Nice job, keep it up...
I agree can't see what the problem is
I'm with the guys in favour. :thumbsup:
Seems to give a fuller oversight of the forum to newbies.
As with others I just go straight to the forum pages and never see the home page until this recent discussion appeared courtesy of my fellow scotsman.
Many thanks to the guys who work to provide our forum facilities. Keep up the good work guys.
Murray
Quote from: Tank on January 18, 2014, 10:50:44 AM
Thank you Geoff. :)
Lawrence and RST, what would you like to see on the front page? The idea is that it will be a place to explain the forum to new members before they sign up, as well as integrating with the forum for current members.
Quote from: StufromEGDL on January 18, 2014, 10:44:27 AM
Hi Mods/Designers...
Might be worth fiddling with the box sizes to make the overall look a little more symmetrical and tidier looking. The randomness of the boxes makes it look untidy. Go for two or three standard box sizes and group them by row....
I know...it is a bit of OCD-ness!!!
Later,
Stu from EGDL.
What Stu says really, it is a bit all over the place but I understand the constraints of coder availability. Also the frame (?) above the 'Welcome to the N Gauge forum ' text is a different size & colour to the rest and appears to be floating whilst the others are all docked (does that make sense?)
Is there a need for a second search box as there is one at the top of the page already?
And just to be really OCD, should the 'resource bank' not be edited to read 'knowledge bank' given that is what it is called in the forum.
Just some thoughts mate ;)
... I don't think there should be a front page as I don't think it serves any purpose. Just go straight to the forum. When I saw it the other day and this evening I couldn't find out how to get past it to the forum. I eventually found the very small "forum" button and know where to look for it now if I forget and end up on the page.
Some clubs have this frontage and I must say I personally usually just pass them by if I was looking to see what's within. Whole load of junk up there, not particularly well organised often with advertising (not saying there's adverts on here as I blocked them all through ABP). I personally think it's a step back for the NGF. May not reflect the opinions of others though.
Quote from: RST on January 19, 2014, 11:21:39 PM
... I don't think there should be a front page as I don't think it serves any purpose. Just go straight to the forum. When I saw it the other day and this evening I couldn't find out how to get past it to the forum. I eventually found the very small "forum" button and know where to look for it now if I forget and end up on the page.
Have you read my posts? It's not finished yet, and will be used as an introduction page for potential members, and therefore having a purpose.
Sorry you had difficulty finding the main forum button. I can't think of a way to make it more obvious than being on the main menu.
Hi,
Think the new front page is fine except have to agree about the 'getting into the forum' button.
Took me a minute to work it out as I'm stupid, impatient and quite often drunk.
Can't be the only one out there so for newbies maybe highlight it with ENTER FORUM HERE IDIOT (well without the idiot bit obviously).
Apart from that you all doing a great job.
Hope helps. Don't hate me.
Love weave.
I have to say that I don't find the new home page bad at all......thanks to the all the volunteers that make this forum such a great place for all of us.....
:thankyousign:
Thank you both.
I should have said before, but you have always been able to get to the first page of the main forum by clicking the main logo at the top. I'll certainly look at making a larger button to appear on the 'front page' though.
Cheers!
Quote from: Tank on January 20, 2014, 10:17:27 AM
Thank you both.
I should have said before, but you have always been able to get to the first page of the main forum by clicking the main logo at the top. I'll certainly look at making a larger button to appear on the 'front page' though.
Cheers!
Perhaps a few 'How to use the internet' tips on that first page would help?........................
Most of the regular users of the Forum tend to go straight to the Forum Page, and probably will continue to do so unless the HOME Page also includes News items (meets, new products etc).
But the idea of a HOME Page setting out the aims of the Forum and how to use it, to which Newbies are automatically directed if searching for the forum is a good one.
So perhaps it should also Include a reference to the "Welcome and Introduction" Board and the "NGF Code of Conduct" as well as an easily identified FORUM button.
Although with the current version I am not sure what would show up in the Profile section for a Newbie.
Of course as Tank says this is still a work in progress and so these matters may well already be under consideration.
But either way I think a big Thank You is due to Tank, the Admin Team as well as the other Volunteers for all the work they do (normally) behind the scenes to keep us informed, entertained and at times confused.
Keep up the good work!
Ray
Quote from: Tank on January 20, 2014, 10:17:27 AM
Thank you both.
I should have said before, but you have always been able to get to the first page of the main forum by clicking the main logo at the top. I'll certainly look at making a larger button to appear on the 'front page' though.
Cheers!
Oh yeah. Never knew that. Quote from 'Animal House'.....'Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life boy'.
I'm not fat by the way. Keep up the good work.
Cheers weave :beers:
Nice work on this now chaps, looks well balanced and well presented, really will encourage people into the forum when they see that home page :thumbsup:
Quote from: Lawrence on February 02, 2014, 10:38:38 AM
Nice work on this now chaps, looks well balanced and well presented, really will encourage people into the forum when they see that home page :thumbsup:
On behalf of those Mods/Admin who put the Home Page together and finessed it, thanks for your kind words, Lawrence
Looking good and once again thanks to those of you who volunteer your time to monitor and maintain the forum......
:thankyousign:
:NGaugeForum:
Just realised you have finished the HOME page, it looks good and is a nice welcome for newcomers.
Well done to all involved.
Ray
Thank you, especially to those with change of hearts. It is still to be altered slightly, but nothing major. As with everything, an ongoing project as time permits. :)
Quote from: Tank on February 02, 2014, 07:21:29 PM
Thank you, especially to those with change of hearts. It is still to be altered slightly, but nothing major. As with everything, an ongoing project as time permits. :)
Don't be cheeky young man and accept the compliment on a nice bit of work :P :P
It was like a dog's dinner first time round though ;) ;D
LOL Of course it was, I hadn't finished it. :P :D
Quote from: Tank on February 02, 2014, 07:21:29 PM
Thank you, especially to those with change of hearts.
Obviously not aimed at Lawrence as he just has a swinging brick (steady!!!) :-X
Quote from: newportnobby on February 02, 2014, 08:38:55 PM
Quote from: Tank on February 02, 2014, 07:21:29 PM
Thank you, especially to those with change of hearts.
Obviously not aimed at Lawrence as he just has a swinging brick (steady!!!) :-X
Subtlety is my middle name :D