New stuff

[Brett_Tabke]

I added 3 options to the profiles:

- enable/disable StickyMail:
if you disable it, you will not be able to send or receive StickyMail. However, admins and moderators will always be able to send you messages.

- Custom Code Insert Top/Custom Code Insert Bottom.
You may insert any HTML code of your choosing up to 500 characters.

The top code will be placed just below the top menu bar (when menu is on) and default centered.
The bottom code will be placed at the very bottom of the page - left justified.

The code will display on every page at WebmasterWorld while you are logged in.

You can use this to add some of your favorite links. You might even think about doing something like an "iframe" to insert an unlimited amount of your own code from your own server.

Pease do not insert code that would cause WebmasterWorld to generate another page (the load would be too great). (eg: no iframes, js, or frames back to webmasterworld please)

The remainder will be left as an excersize for the reader. have fun

[HyperGeek]

Would you be kind enough to place a "flag this post" link to the top of the threads (to the left of the "Post New Topic" "Post Reply" buttons above the thread's title/subtitle)?

I could swear I saw once there before - but then again, it's not nice to swear. ;)

[Brett_Tabke]

It used to be up there, but that is where the multipart message links go.

[HyperGeek]

Oh yeah. How about within the blue Topic title bar?

[Brett_Tabke]

If you would like a "reset pointers" link at the bottom of every thread, go to the profile preferences editor (top menubar link) and in the "custom code insert bottom" field, at the following code:

<center><a href="http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum.cgi?forum=(forum)&cookie=reset">reset pointers</a></center>

The trick there is the (forum) keyword which the software substitutes the current forum number for.

If you should ever need it, you can also do (thread) to insert the current thread number.

[bill]

loving the new =you replied in this thread
icons!

[littleman]

yeah, that's cool.

[Brett_Tabke]

Up on the menu box at top, you'll find "my threads" which will list the last 50 threads you left a message in or started.

This should help people track the messages they are interested in a bit better without having to flag the post.

[bird]

It looks like the dust has mostly settled after the introduction of the new software, and all kinds of useability tweaks are going on. In that context, I have wondered about the menu section at the top of the page for quite some time. It seems a bit cluttered and it can sometimes be time consuming to find a specific link, especially when the browser window is in portrait format so that the lines get wrapped.

There are basically three categories of links there (besides the welcome line): Account specifics, content pointers, and site information. I'd suggest to sort those into three seperate lines, similar to this:

before login:

Welcome to WebmasterWorld Guest from 10.20.30.40
[url=/]login[/url], [url=/]register[/url]
[url=/]site search[/url], [url=/]library[/url], [url=/]glossary[/url], [url=/]recent posts[/url]
[url=/]about[/url], [url=/]privacy policy[/url], [url=/]disclaimer[/url], [url=/]help[/url]

after login

Welcome bird: [url=/]You have mail:[/url] [ inbox:2 - unread:0 ]
[url=/]profile[/url], [url=/]logout[/url], [url=/]show cookies[/url], [url=/]flags[/url], [url=/]my threads[/url], [url=/]StickyMail[/url]
[url=/]site search[/url], [url=/]library[/url], [url=/]glossary[/url], [url=/]recent posts[/url]
[url=/]about[/url], [url=/]privacy policy[/url], [url=/]disclaimer[/url], [url=/]help[/url]

Since the new logo is relatively tall, you really need to configure an unusually large font before those four total lines take more vertical space than is already available. After the lines become much shorter than the lower one currently is, they will hardly ever wrap, so each link will always be in the same place.

I have left out the "login" link when already logged in, as it doesn't really seem necessary then. I have also tried to arrange the links so that the ones used most often can be found on either end of each line for extra fast access. Maybe other people have different habits than I have, your logs will tell you which works best.

Any thoughts?

I also just noticed that there's no code for underlining text, and no link to the ubbcodes page [webmasterworld.com] from the edit page

[Brett_Tabke]

Thanks Bird, the whole issue of what links to put on the page is slowly growing

> I have wondered about the menu section
> at the top of the page for quite some time.

I've taken several runs at coming up with "something better". I even tried replacing the links
with two sets of drop downs (the mods that tested it - passed on it.)

You are right about the font size being a problem causing a wrap. Right now, if you go to font size=3 then both 640 and 800 wide can cause a wrap on line two. We have a few members that have complained about it wrapping when they set their choosen font size. Drastics new taller logo was timely.

So, going to a third line is out for now.

What I was intent on doing, was to move the "personal" links, on to what is now
StickyMail. It would be renamed to your "WebmasterWorld Control Panel". That would include:

StickyMail,
Flags,
Show Cookies,
My Threads,
Profile/Preferences

That would clean up most of the extra links. It would also give me room for growth.

I'd originally intended to do that with the new build. The problem was the example display in the skin editor. That required the skin editor to be on a stand alone page.

I was also thinking of making all those links up there (but "you have mail") optional. They could be turned on/off from a preference option similar to the active list section of the skin editor.

[bird]

On second thought, would it be an option to move some or all of the "about", "copyright", and "disclaimer" links to the bottom of the page, next to the terms of service? That would leave one line of personal links, and one for content (including help).

[Lisa]

I love the "you replied in this thread" icon!

[Brett_Tabke]

That was a popular addition Lisa. I heard from many members over it.

bird: I think I'm going to go with the plan B on it and move all the personal stuff over to a "control" panel "super section" of StickyMail.

I also added the + - links to collapse whole categories on the forums index page.

[webmasterworld.com...]

[jatar_k]

I like the new top menu, the control panel cleans it up quite a bit

[Brett_Tabke]

Thanks Jatar. We are to a point now with so many regulars, that if I so much as change a period, someone isn't going to like it.

New:
- Control panel.
- separated out the profile settings from board preferences.
- new subscription section replaces the "email list"

[Knowles]

Just saw the new menu options very very nice Brett good job that cleaned it up alot!

I am just worried I wont be able to clean cookies now in the morning at work lolz

[bird]

Yes, very clean solution, thanks!

I'm sure someone will suggest shrinking the logo again now...;)

[The Contractor]

Brett,

Just thought I would let you know that in control panel you have a spelling error (Private).
<<Enable Privage Messages?
Our local messaging system known as StickyMail>>

Now, don't point out every spelling mistake that I make :)

It wouldn't have happened if they would put the "t" one row lower on the keyboard.

I just thought since the forum looks so professional you would want to know ;)

[Brett_Tabke]

Thanks.

I moved the ActiveList Preferences to the Control Panel. It was a misnomer that they were on the skin editor.

remember: if you wish to have back some of the links that were moved to the control panel, you can do so by editing your system preferences on the control panel and using the "code insertion" options to put any link at the top or bottom of a page.

[Hunter]

that if I so much as change a period, someone isn't going to like it.

Brett...I don't like that you used a period in that sentance...

[Brett_Tabke]

Went even more minimalist when users aren't logged in. Removed a bunch of the links at the bottom when not logged in now.

Also, went through hundreds of pages looking for html errors. Almost everything on the board validates A#1 now. (few fixes still here on my disk), but for the most part, everything that can validate - does validate.

[mdharrold]

How long did all of the "Today In History" research [webmasterworld.com] take, Brett? ;)
You must have a lot of free time. :)

[Marcia]

I just gave the custom code the first try; very handy!

[Brett_Tabke]

>today in history

I got that off a public mailing list several years ago (see how dates suspiciously ends in 97). It was put together by a group in usenet somewhere. If I could figure out who do credit, I would.

Other stuff: I just uploaded a whole new setup/configure routine on the back end for the software. That means, there were mega changes in almost every configurable options. Little tweaks here and there. Nothing new on the users side, but if you see anything suddenly not working right, please let me know.

[dcheney]

Just noticed something crazy at:
[webmasterworld.com...]

There are 2 entries dated earlier than the one in the thread by candidboy dated 1:20 am on June 24, 2002 (CDT -5). The 2 odd ones immediately follow:
Don @ 10:09 pm on June 23, 2002 (CDT -5) and Axacta @ 10:44 pm on June 23, 2002 (CDT -5). Then normal stuff resumes with messages at 1:43 am, etc.

[Brett_Tabke]

Thanks - the thread was spliced. We had several going on about the same topic, so we merged them together.

[dcheney]

ahh, cool, glad to know I'm not going nuts! :-)

[keyplyr]

Well I sent a sticky mail and nothing logged in 'sent mail.' Don't know if this is a new or known issue. Amazing how many features you have compiled into this resource Brett.

[mivox]

Did you specifically check the box to save a copy in sent mail? I know it won't save messages there by default... you have to tell it to. :)

[keyplyr]

> it won't save messages there by default... you have to tell it to.

oh