Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Free Republic Update: Pings, Tabs, Time and More

Posted on 04/08/2008 3:05:23 AM PDT by John Robinson

Just installed a quick change to the pings page. It brings it more in line with what it is expected to look like. One particular change is the "greening" of comments from you, to more easily differentiate something you've posted vs. something posted to you. Not so sure about the way that looks, so please give me feedback.

With this update the tabs on the pings page get memory: the page will remember the last tab you have selected. This tab memory will be extended across the board. I'm currently reworking the 'tag' index pages to accommodate this.

I'm also trying something new with regard to time. We will try using your computer's clock to set the time zone. This uses JavaScript, if you don't have JavaScript enabled you'll see "04/08/2008 2:31:48 AM PDT" (etc), but if you do you'll probably see something more like "Tuesday, April 08, 2008 5:31:48 AM" [for an eastern time zone.] I'm leaving it up to your computer to format the time stamp, so your experience may vary. These new time stamps will be extended across the board as I update the hundreds of locations where the time is displayed.

The very next update (probably a day or two away) will stomp out the last of the "More" bugs, enhance the search function, and quite possibly extend the 'manage blocks' page with new blocks and a better interface to select them.

In future updates we'll have the ability to add multiple pages to our profiles. And each page will be versioned-- you'll be able to restore previous versions of a page should something go horribly, horribly wrong. This is actually a precursor to a larger project, which will allow multiple people to collaborate on website projects. Think of a profile page on steroids, complete with custom sidebars, an upload area (images, possibly sound clips) and whatnot.

On the less visible side of things, I will be consolidating the internals quite a bit... we've managed to gather similar functionality across a large number of programs. I'd very much like to tidy that up. For example, there are 4 or 5 different 'thread programs' used on the site, each with their own posting programs, etc (example: the state boards.) It would make my day if I could bundle up all these distinct functions into one place. The presentation-- how you will see things-- may be different for each type of thread, but the underlying data structures and logic (and routines like spell check) will be consolidated. This will be a huge change to the internals (if only because I'll be fiddling with 50+ million comments in our database.) Once that is implemented we'll have editable comments and articles.

Anyway, somebody shut me up, I'm rambling now.

Update: Preview Site

By popular demand, I will attempt to maintain a beta site to demonstrate new bleeding-edge features without affecting the regular forum too harshly.

Currently have the new index code (aka Latest Posts) installed. Tabs have memory, next time you visit you'll see the last tab you had visited. Additionally, each tab on the index page remembers its brevity setting. So you can have articles with text, and activity and comments with headers only, if that is what you prefer.

I moved the "RSS" link and sidebar control (now called "Add to My Page") down to the bottom of the page. Just really didn't need to take up precious top real-estate for those things.

Currently "Add to My Page" is non-functional, you'll get the manage blocks page but the current listing will not be added as a block. And some of the "More" links are still bugged. Those are the next tasks.


TOPICS: Free Republic
KEYWORDS: faq; forumchanges; freerepublic
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-258 next last
To: Quix; John Robinson

” I agree with the need for a bit more white space between listings “

I wonder if the ‘white space’ issue isn’t browser-specific — I’m showing the perfect amount of space between listings...

(And, Quix, I like the color cues, too... ;~))


21 posted on 04/08/2008 3:46:01 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (Sometimes I sets and thinks, and sometimes I jus' sets.........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Ike

I’m using IE7 at present . . . I like shortcuts and haven’t figured out how to do them in Safari. Firefox was too problematic on my old computer, for some reason and I haven’t tried it much on the new computer.

The listings are quite crammed together.

That reminds me . . . would be great if when one did

ctrl+

to enlarge fonts on the screen—that the lines didn’t run off the screen in IE7.

Safari manages to correctly keep things on the screen.

I don’t know if John’s efforts could impact that with IE7, or not. Probably it’s a feature of MICROSLOP’s IE7 and therefore unchangeably horrible.

BTW, agreeing with me on anything is likely to get you a visit from the . . . how to say . . . ‘outraged at Quix’ squad. LOL.

Thanks for the color support. Should help my 2nd sleep jump be peacefully sweet indeed.

May you and your loved ones have all God’s wholeness, safety, provision and intimate guidance this week, month, year.


22 posted on 04/08/2008 3:50:33 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

Thanks, JR!


23 posted on 04/08/2008 3:51:45 AM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle (McCain "conservatives" = hardcore liberals who nonetheless appreciate the occasional tax cut.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

I just sent my daily ping on immigration and it shows green on my ping page. All others (incoming) show blue or the visited purple. I like that.

Still unhappy with the “New Posts to You” issue. It was far better the old way where the message went away with a page refresh. ‘Mark All as Read’ is just another step one has to remember to take. And not everyone reads every ping on the page. I know I leave some for later. Now, by marking them read, it’s hard/almost impossible to recall later which haven’t been read. I know, picky, picky.

Have a good day...


24 posted on 04/08/2008 3:55:55 AM PDT by bcsco (To heck with a third party. We need a second one....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Quix

” I’m using IE7 at present “

I’m using the “MSN Explorer” for dialup — not quite sure which version of IE that it’s built on/analogous to, but I’m not having the format-reading problems that some of you others are reporting.... ;~)


25 posted on 04/08/2008 3:56:10 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (Sometimes I sets and thinks, and sometimes I jus' sets.........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

Comment #26 Removed by Moderator

To: Uncle Ike

I could use that. We have MSN DSL.

However, I don’t like a lot of the extra clutter that browser has. Seems to me it’s not as clean and lean and clogs the screen up with a lot of stuff I’d just rather not have.

Interesting.

BTW, in MSN email, I have one source who’s msgs are always red flagged as potentially dangerous and she’s anything but. I can’t figure out a way to register her as safe etc. There’s never that option with her msgs. Do you know how I could do that?

Blessings,


27 posted on 04/08/2008 3:58:38 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: bcsco

” Still unhappy with the “New Posts to You” issue. “

John has added a ‘fix’ to this issue — on a ‘Forum’ page, click “Account”, then “Preferences”, and towards the bottom is an option to restore the “New Posts to You” automatic functionality.....

HTH


28 posted on 04/08/2008 3:58:49 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (Sometimes I sets and thinks, and sometimes I jus' sets.........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Quix

” Do you know how I could do that? “

There are a number of things in MSN Mail that I’ve had to take the “What can’t be cured, must be endured” attitude toward... ;~)


29 posted on 04/08/2008 4:00:52 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (Sometimes I sets and thinks, and sometimes I jus' sets.........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

‘New Posts To You’,
won’t turn off.


30 posted on 04/08/2008 4:01:23 AM PDT by patch789
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Quix
Check out Opera for a browser. I just came to it last week from Firefox and am duly impressed. I don't know ft it would shortcut issue, but it's worth looking at.

Firefox, in its most recent updates, had some quirky issues. Pages, when refreshed, would appear in columns without the graphic effects. In IE7, everything would look normal. It happened repeatedly, to the point where I gave up on it. So far with Opera, so good. And it has ways of presenting tabs and pages that the others lack. Kinda neat!

31 posted on 04/08/2008 4:02:20 AM PDT by bcsco (To heck with a third party. We need a second one....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Ike

That’s for sure . . .

like so much of Microslop software.

Welllll, I think I’m returning to bed. Nose etc. clear enough I should sleep the rest of the way thru.

Appreciate your inputs. Have a blessed Tuesday.


32 posted on 04/08/2008 4:02:47 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

Exciting news. I see some dismay and griping about the changes (we ARE conservatives, after all and this is what we do.) But, in a couple of weeks, most of us will have adapted and will be enjoying the additions and improvements.

Carry on!


33 posted on 04/08/2008 4:03:11 AM PDT by don-o (My son, Ben, reports to Parris Island on June 30.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

Good morning, John.

I very much like the green “me-to-you” coloring on the pings.

Regards,


34 posted on 04/08/2008 4:03:49 AM PDT by VermiciousKnid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Ike

Thanks for the info. I’ll check it out.


35 posted on 04/08/2008 4:05:21 AM PDT by bcsco (To heck with a third party. We need a second one....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: don-o; Mrs. Don-o

True. True.

And John’s improvements always make that adjustment quite easy and maximally painless for virtually all, I’d think.

Congrats on your son and Parris Island. May God go with him every step of the way in all his duty assignments and adventures. May he always keep his priorities straight and God ordered. May he always enjoy physical, mental and spiritual health in all his doings regardless of circumstances and external pressures. May he be a continuing delight to you and Mrs. Don-o. And may he have quality superiors—especially in the first several duty assignments.
Amen.


36 posted on 04/08/2008 4:06:40 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: bcsco

I paid however much for Opera years ago and never found it usable at the time. I think I still have the passwords around. I wonder if I could download it again. Thanks for the suggestion.

Blessings,


37 posted on 04/08/2008 4:11:38 AM PDT by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson
Good idea.
38 posted on 04/08/2008 4:15:51 AM PDT by ThePythonicCow (By their false faith in Man as God, the left would destroy us. They call this faith change.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: John Robinson

Where is “Mark all as read”? Can’t seem to find it.


39 posted on 04/08/2008 4:17:45 AM PDT by dmw (Aren't you glad you use common sense? Don't you wish everybody did?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Quix

It’s available now for free. Just do a Google search for the website.


40 posted on 04/08/2008 4:17:52 AM PDT by bcsco (To heck with a third party. We need a second one....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 241-258 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson