Questions/Comments re: new board

[KimK]

Love the new board! It's much easier to use, however, I do have a couple of questions.

1. The time seems to be off? Or is there something I need to change on my computer? For example, posts made this morning are showing up as having been made this afternoon.

2. Once I read a thread, shouldn't the thread title change color? All thread titles are red, and stay red once I go back out to the main screen. I have used many other boards that use this exact same format/software, and they always change color so you know which ones you've already read. It would be helpful if this one could, too, however, I don't know if this is something I can change myself?

Thanks!

[Wienie]

Kim, to change your time zone, and other variables, you can click on the User CP and then Edit Options. There you can change a number of categories including your time zone.

I also am curious regarding the Subject line changing colors when you have read that thread. Are we missing something else?

This is not a big deal, but the BB page runs beyond my web page. I can open the page to full screen to get full page, but it is inconvenient, especially at work. It's a pain to have to move the bar to see who posted, the time etc. Anyone have any hints?
Jeanne

[LGBurns]

I think that after you view a thread and refresh, the icon next to the thread changes from an open envelope to a closed envelope. A closed envelope means that no new posts have been posted to that thread since you last viewed it (see the very bottom of the list of threads to see where I got this idea). I may be wrong but I think that's how you can tell if you have viewed a post and (even more helpful) whether anyone has posted to it since then.

[BlueMoose]

I also miss the subject line turning blue after I have looked at a thread. Other than that, there are a lot of cool new bells and whistles to play with! It makes me feel pretty important to have my own User Control Panel;) .

[Grace]

Originally posted by LGBurns
I think that after you view a thread and refresh, the icon next to the thread changes from an open envelope to a closed envelope. A closed envelope means that no new posts have been posted to that thread since you last viewed it (see the very bottom of the list of threads to see where I got this idea). I may be wrong but I think that's how you can tell if you have viewed a post and (even more helpful) whether anyone has posted to it since then.

You're absolutely right, LG! I hadn't noticed it really before, but I just tested it out, and it's true - the envelope goes from open to closed if you've read the thread (but you have to refresh first). One other thing I thought was really cool, you know how if you post a lot (like moi!), you sometimes forget threads you've posted on and forget to go back and look at replies? Well, on this system, the envelope (open or closed) has a little black dot on it to show that it's a thread that you've posted to. So it makes it easy to scan through all the threads and check out the ones with the little black dots for any replies. Pretty cool!:cool:

[Julia1Pin]

Wiene-

To change the page from running one, go to you taskbar, View, text size, and change it to a smaller size. That will hopefully do the trick.

[Beth]

I think it has more information than I care to have out there. I don't need to see how many posts a person has on every reply, I don't like having my posts analyzed for frequency, and I'm sure there are other things I haven't discovered yet. I also don't care to see how many people have read a thread and find it confusing. I really care more about what is said on a thread, but can see that the CL folks may want this kind of information.

I also don't like having an email every time another reply is made to a thread. I didn't know this was there and have gotten a number of emails I have to delete off both my ISP and my hard drive. I'd like to see the default be not to, and I think the rating of threads is unnecessary and likely to create hard feelings if used. I didn't understand what the buddy thing was all about, but if it is limiting, I don't intend to use it either.

I would also prefer the color changing to the envelope, because it hasn't always seemed to work for me either, and it requires more reading. The color was an automatic thing you recognized as you read the title. I also found the color changes helped me navigate through lists of thread titles. Now you have to read them all without any road obvious roadmarks.

Thanks to someone for explaining that they envelope with a dot marks a thread where you have posted. I looked all over to try to figure that one out. It would have been nice if CL had taken some time while the board was down to explain some of these differences with the initial restart/announcement posting.

I do like the font and color changes, the easy bolding, italics and smilies. I'm sure we'll get used to using them and find them much easier.

[Lynn B]

Well... I, for one, am still wandering around here scratching my head!!! :) I am a little confused by all the new "toys" they've given us - but I am sure I will get used to (and enjoy!) "playing" with them!

As this is my first post on these new BBs, I don't know enough yet to even ask an intelligent question!!!

Lynn

[Gail]

Originally posted by Beth
...I also don't like having an email every time another reply is made to a thread. I didn't know this was there and have gotten a number of emails I have to delete off both my ISP and my hard drive. I'd like to see the default be not to, and I think the rating of threads is unnecessary and likely to create hard feelings if used...

Hi Beth,

I'm not clear from your message whether you already know this or not, so forgive me if so. Although the e-mail notification thing is set as a default, you can change that to operate just the same as it did on the old board. Go into User CP, and change options. You can request NOT to be notified by e-mail but can do it on a case-by-case basis at the bottom of your message.

[Lynn B]

What do you suppose it means at the bottom of the main page where it shows two DIFFERENT envelope icons but they each say the SAME thing?!! ("35 replies or 150 views") Do we think that's just an error?!

Lynn (still confused!) :)

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Lynn B
What do you suppose it means at the bottom of the main page where it shows two DIFFERENT envelope icons but they each say the SAME thing?!! ("35 posts or 150 looks", or whatever it says exactly?!!) Do we think that's just an error?!

Lynn (still confused!) :)

One envelope is open indicating new posts (w/>35 or >150), the other is closed which indicates NO new posts.

[Lynn B]

OH!!!!!!! I GET IT!!!!!

Didn't notice those sneaky parentheses, I guess!!!! (Where's that little red face when you need it?!!!!)

Thanks again, Ralph!!!! :)

Lynn

[Grace]

One is to denote more than 35 posts on an open thread (meaning there are new posts you haven't read yet), and the other one is more than 35 posts on a closed thread (meaning you've read all those posts already - there haven't been any new postings yet). If there are any new postings, the little envelope will open up again to let you know there is a new post to look at. It IS confusing in the beginning!

Man, I'm too slow. Ralphy beat me to it.

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Grace
Man, I'm too slow. Ralph beat me to it.

PHLLLLLLLLBBBBBTTTT!!!!!!!!! (At least that's how I think a raspberry is spelled.) ;)

[Beth]

LOL. Thanks, Ralph.

Gail, yes, I saw that and I'm trying to remember to turn it off with each post, but I don't know if I'll go back and try to undo what I did yesterday. That's the kind of one extra step everytime that may keep me quieter. That'll probably keep it as the default setting right there! :D

Does it bother anyone else that you can't get back to the main page without scrolling back up to the top of the page? I use the back button if I've just read the thread, but if I post a reply, that would take several steps back to the non-updated main page.

[BlueMoose]

OK, I'm slowly catching on to the envelope thing, but it's confusing to me. It seems like a closed envelope would mean I need to open it up and read something, while an open envelope would indicate that I already read what is inside. It's counterintuitive to me :rolleyes: . Maybe I'm just overanalyzing.

[Beth]

Try to think of the envelope not as a single note, but as a folder that is opened when anyone drops in a new note. Does that help?

[Beth]

Eureka! I found it. In the User CP, Edit Options, you will find in the list an option for email notification. You can select NO, and if I am right, that will become your default setting. I will find out later if that lets me select email notification when I do want it, but it seems that it should. :cool:

[Gail]

Originally posted by Beth
Eureka! I found it. In the User CP, Edit Options, you will find in the list an option for email notification. You can select NO, and if I am right, that will become your default setting. I will find out later if that lets me select email notification when I do want it, but it seems that it should. :cool:

Yes, Beth--

That's what I was talking about. Y'know, I've been using it today and I swear I'm only getting notified sporadically, though. So, let me know how it works for you. I've been soooo flaky today, I'm thinking maybe it's me in advancing old age, and not the software. :(

...oh, and about your other issue, scrolling up to go back to the main page, see that little jobbie (translation: drop-down menu) on the bottom of the page which says "Forum Jump?" Right now, it's set on Great Foods, since that's where you are. If you click "Go," it'll take you back to the main page without scrolling all the way up. I can live with that.

[Ed]

Hi Gail,

I sure am glad to learn that you were the one to pick the title you have, and that Cooking Light is not giving that title to anyone who reached 1500 posts or so.

MaeLynn almost got a message to ask her not to put me in the "Bulletin Board Goddess" catagory.

I, like many on the BB like the new BB and some of the features, but being a computer novice yet compared to most of you fine people, I click here and there and shoot myself in the foot. For instance I just eliminanted the Cookie for CL by clicking on Logout to see what that meant, so I hope this gets posted.

I still don't understand what the Buddies list is for, do you? I think it will be a good thing but I don't know for sure.

Well good-bye for now,

Ed
:( (Perplexed)

[Beth]

Gail, yes, I tried the forum jump today, and that works. Gues I wasn't looking to jump somewhere else, so I didn't try that. I'm not sure if it's the bulletin board, the three boys in the house (1 neighbor), one of whom is so desperately tired that I'm about to take him for a ride (he just turned 5 and will never admit he's tired) or something else, but I am exhausted! I'll have to come back when I have some energy.

[Lynn B]

I am certainly hoping that these aren't more of my stupid questions!!!

In "User CP" why does it say, "You are not subscribed to any forums at the moment"? (I HAD been actively posting.)

And what does it mean under "Subscribed Threads" where it says "Reply/Unsubscribe" after each topic?!!! What do we think "unsubscribe" means?? Deleting a post???

AND -- at the top of each page where it says "User CP", "Register", "Calendar", "Members", "FAQ" and "Search"... is everyone's "Home" button half "cut off"?! (I have made my text size as small as it goes -- any smaller and I won't be able to read it!!!!)

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Lynn

[Gail]

Wow.

Since our elf is MIA today, let's see what I can tackle.

When you are subscribing to a thread/forum, I believe that refers to any to which you have actively requested automatic e-mail responses. If you unsubscribe to something, you are requesting to no longer receive e-mail notifications.


Dunno what the other issue could be. Something to do with the sizing of your window, perhaps? Does it extend to the edge of your screen or do you notice it with other web sites?

[Ralph]

Originally posted by Gail

When you are subscribing to a thread/forum, I believe that refers to any to which you have actively requested automatic e-mail responses. If you unsubscribe to something, you are requesting to no longer receive e-mail notifications.


Dunno what the other issue could be. Something to do with the sizing of your window, perhaps? Does it extend to the edge of your screen or do you notice it with other web sites?

Yeah, what she said! :) :)

[CathyPA]

Lynn B - Just FYI, my home button is not cut off.

Still learning an awful lot about the new board. Actually, you all are speeding up the process. Don't sign on until I get home from work, then find all kinds of new tidbits. Would like the threads that I've read to change color, did find that easier to use. However, other than that, find the new BB fun - forcing me to "upgrade" my skills, and they weren't much to begin with :o .

Have found that spending time reading the buttons at the top are helpful, especially the User CP. Left all the defaults on, will let time tell before I make any changes.

Cathy

[Lynn B]

Gail & Ralph,

Thanks! You guys are amazing! Has anyone told you that lately?!! What you said makes sense. Although, using the criteria you mentioned, I WAS "subscribed" to some threads. ??? Oh well... maybe a "bug" to work out?!

Regarding my "HOME" button being half cut off... not having that problem w/ any other sites. Again: ????!

ALSO... on the home page, why does it say "16 members and 10 guests" currently on the board when only 12 names were listed??? How can that be?

Thanks!
Lynn

[Grace]

Lynn, I can answer the last part of your question - in each person's profile, they can choose to remain "anonymous", so their name won't show up at the bottom of the main page showing that they are on-line, but they will be COUNTED in the number of people who are on-line. We just don't know who those 4 members are......(except if they post something, we can figure it out by process of elimination, but geez, we'd really need help if we were busy trying to figure out who the anonymous people are!! :D

[Lynn B]

Thanks Grace! That's interesting. I didn't realize about the "anonymous" feature. You're right - if anyone tries to figure out who the no-namers are, they've got TOO MUCH TIME ON THEIR HANDS!!! :)