Forum Moderators: open
Would it be possible to have a "Reset Last Read Pointer" beside each of the forums (preferably the leftmost column).
I think if the new message indicator is red it should be turned into a link that resets the last read pointer for the appropriate forum.
Why?
There are some forums which generaly i am not interested in (asia etc.) but the new msg indicator can be distracting. To turn this off i currently have to go into the forum, click "Reset..." and then go back to the main page again.
If there was a quick way to reset it from the main page it would help me out a lot.
Just a suggestion.......
At the heart of the new system every thread is given a unique serial number. At the bottom of each post will be new options:
Message Pointers: "catch up", "next", "previous", "read next new".
The "catch up" will replace the "reset msg pointers" that we have now and will act global across all forums.
The "next" will go to the next highest message number.
The "previous" will go back to the next previous highest message number.
The "read next new", will go to the next post you have not read.
On the main menu bar at the top will be a new option "read new" to start with the next new message.
That should address just about everyone concerns while keeping the board overhead low.
Any suggestions?
Brett
That way, if you're not interested in apecific topic areas, you just wouldn't flag them.
After that, each member gets just one pointer as a "last msg read" pointer that slides along the stack. That keeps the overhead very low - which is so important on a system like this. Overall, I think it will speed up the board for most people. The cookie overhead with the current system is over 150 bytes per post. That may not seem like alot, but delete your cookies and then try the board - it is noticeable.
The only addition to the system, is that I might add another last read pointer for each forum.
Rookie, that is in the works (folders for flags with options for selection just like StickyMail selection - same routine actually).
While you are at it, can you keep a setting that gets rid of the descriptions of each forum on the main page. Or an alternate page that does the same. Those of us who have been around a while know what the forums do and it would save scrolling around so much in that window. A two column listing would also be nice.
1) Moving the forums down to just links under each category with a category description and link. The link would lead to a homepage for that category with each forum expanded there.
2) Adding an "collapse" and "expand" option next to each category to "fold up" or "roll down" the forums under it - as done with pure html/cgi as opposed to some jscript solution.
3) Going to a more traditional home page.
Thus far, everyone who has seen some of the proposals has vetoed each of them.
It is a balancing act between usability, branding, and promotion. There is also the fact, that I like the way the home page is now - a bit large for my tastes.
I set some one year goals in June of last year and we passed those in early dec(?), so we are way ahead of my initial game planning. I'm partially surprised the system has scaled so well this long.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the home page; but I agree there is something that needs to be done in the not to distant future if we are to continue to grow at this rate. However, we have branded the site fairly deep, been so succesful with the current unique look and feel, that I resist messing with the success.
Personally, I think that sounds like a great idea... but hen I only *very* rarely even go to the home page, so I don't figure my opinion on it should hold too much weight. ;)
All in all, I think the forums work great as is, and the look is nice and clean. But, knowing my own propensity for always wanting to tinker with things to ge them 'just so' and 'just a *little* better', I'm always thinking ofthings for *other* people to do too! :)
