Forum Software Update - July 9th, 2002

[John Robinson]

I've updated the software, you may have bumped into the new features, maybe not.

Freepmail has been slightly enhanced. Besides a new paint job, you can now send a message to multiple recipients. I plan on further enhancements to Freepmail down the road, including a debut of something very special. :-)

Threads can now be edited, though currently only by the moderator staff. Threads edited in such a way will display an "Edited on TIMESTAMP" underneath the "Posted on TIMESTAMP" and include a "[history]" link, which as the name implies, takes you to a history of edits. Each edit has a timestamp, reason, and the original body of the article (to compare differences.) [Though for all LAT/WP/related content, that original body will get flushed--can't keep that information by terms of the settlement.]

The voting results now have colorful graphics. Isn't that just great?

Log In/Log Off have been greatly enhanced. You can now choose a security level at login time, with options ranging from More Convenient to More Secure. The More Convenient setting remembers your name when you log off, the More Secure setting doesn't ever save a cookie to your hard drive (it uses "session cookies" which go away when you close your browser window.) And with the More Secure setting, when you go to the Log Off page, it logs you out of all computers you may be logged into. There are two settings inbetween. Visit the login page for more information.

Register has also been greatly enhanced.

"Edit Bookmarks" (from your profile) has been completely redesigned.

The downside:

User home pages lost the blue header of the old system. They may look ugly now, that will change with future enhancements to home pages.

Locales also lost the blue header.

These changes were made because the old forum libraries, which were responsible for the blue header, have been completely removed from the system. (Replaced with a better version.) I'm still fussing with the details.

[John Robinson]

There are probably more visible changes that I haven't documented here. Happy hunting. :-)

[John Robinson]

And so far, the new libraries are proving to be "WOW!" more efficient with memory. But it may be too early to tell. (The old libraries leaked memory.)

[smith288]

Did you get my "template" post?

[John Robinson]

I missed it. Responded.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

I am having trouble opening more than one window at a time to view threads in. It is like I have selected a single slave window instead of just a new window for a thread. When I select a second thread the first thread is replaced in the original window. Also I kind of miss the link to preference settings from each thread. When will keywords link to new threads instead old threads from March or April?

Thanks Ken

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Creating new windows is behaving normaly now.

thanks

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for raising the issue, I was having that trouble also!