Suggestion Box For this Board!!

[Mike]

I thought I'd open this topic up to suggestions. This foum has had tremendous feedback from lots of people, both private ad public. Some things have been impletmented, other things are planned for the future and some things did not make the cut for various reasons.

An example of some the things we have implemented have been (that I can think of at the moment), and the person responsible.

Daily Options under the Get Posts Drop Down Menu. (misty)
Member Search in the search drop down (beth)
Links open a new window (mike_d)
More smilies (BigJohnsons)
More Games in the arcade (kevin lawrence)
Better Structure of Forums (mike_d)
Option to ignore Forums (lupe)
School Forums (Karie S.)
Pre-School Forum (Claudine and Kelly Marine)
Button in post that takes you to the top of the page (lupe)
Eastvale and related news feeds in the News section (Ratha)


I am sure I will think of more, but I am sure you will agree, just these improvements have really made this experience much better. We have like 200 more people we have added to our membership and would like to see if there are any more we can make.

As those of you who are familiar with Vbulletin Forums like I am, I am sure you will agree that we have one of the most user friendly and feature rich forums on the web. I really do not think that is an exageration at all.

So, please submit your suggestions below.

[Misty]

Mike,

As some threads get lots of use, I find that it takes a long time to load the page before I can begin scrolling to the last posts. Having it separated into multiple pages would make it easier, that way, I might remember that I need to go to say page 5 and beyond for new posts. If I've never read anything in that thread, I'd know to stick to the first page.

Misty

Hey Mike,
Still waiting for spell check.

[Mike]

Are you aware of this icon that takes you to the last post?

[Misty]

Originally Posted by Mike

Are you aware of this icon that takes you to the last post?

Yes, but that only works if I've read everything except the last post. There may be 15 posts in that thread since the last time I checked.

I would really like a button to send a private message somewhere on the top blue bar in the center so we don't have to look for the send PM button on the left. I've had several people ask me how to create and send a pm. I guess just something a little more obvious, easier to find.

Edited by me: I wanted to elaborate. The button I was asking for would be in the private messages section, not on the main page.

[mike_d]

Originally Posted by Beth

I would really like a button to send a private message somewhere on the top blue bar in the center so we don't have to look for the send PM button on the left. I've had several people ask me how to create and send a pm. I guess just something a little more obvious, easier to find.

Edited by me: I wanted to elaborate. The button I was asking for would be in the private messages section, not on the main page.

I always find it by clicking on that persons name and a drop down appears to send pm.

Mike, I would like to have a button to go to the first post on the "get new posts page" so I don't have to open the thread and then go to unread. Not that it's a big deal, it's just one less thing to do and it makes it easier sice I don't have to hit the back button twice after reading a message to get back to my unread messages.

[Mike]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

Yes, but that only works if I've read everything except the last post. There may be 15 posts in that thread since the last time I checked.

Misty, the best I can do is the yellow bar that says:

Posts below this point are new since your last visit.

but, I know what you are talking about

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Beth

I would really like a button to send a private message somewhere on the top blue bar in the center so we don't have to look for the send PM button on the left. I've had several people ask me how to create and send a pm. I guess just something a little more obvious, easier to find.

Edited by me: I wanted to elaborate. The button I was asking for would be in the private messages section, not on the main page.

Beth, in the Control Panel, you have an option on the left that says

Send New Message

Is this what you are asking?

[Misty]

Originally Posted by Mike

Misty, the best I can do is the yellow bar that says:

Posts below this point are new since your last visit.

but, I know what you are talking about

You mean you can't do it like this:

[lupe]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

As some threads get lots of use, I find that it takes a long time to load the page before I can begin scrolling to the last posts

You can already do what you're asking -- change the amount of posts displayed per page -- in your User CP under "edit options." I actually initially requested more posts per page when it was originally maxed out at 15.

Originally Posted by mike_d

I always find it by clicking on that persons name and a drop down appears to send pm.

Mike, I would like to have a button to go to the first post on the "get new posts page" so I don't have to open the thread and then go to unread. Not that it's a big deal, it's just one less thing to do and it makes it easier sice I don't have to hit the back button twice after reading a message to get back to my unread messages.

I do that too, but sometimes I want to send a PM to multiple people so I go directly to the private messages tab. I think it would just be hella more user friendly with a more obvious button to send a PM from the private messages area.

Originally Posted by Mike

Beth, in the Control Panel, you have an option on the left that says

Send New Message

Is this what you are asking?

I know that one is there, but it's with all the other stuff and it doesn't stand out. I was hoping for the send new message button to be like an easy to find tab at the top in the middle or something. Like one of the first things your eyes are drawn to when you go to the private messages area.

[lupe]

Originally Posted by mistyinca

As some threads get lots of use, I find that it takes a long time to load the page before I can begin scrolling to the last posts.

Oh, one other thing you can do if you have a slow connection and want a quicker page load is to go into your control panel, "edit options" and choose not to view avatars, signatures, or images. Fast loads? or Fun Pictures? Depends on what you want more. You decide.

[Misty]

Originally Posted by lupe

Oh, one other thing you can do if you have a slow connection and want a quicker page load is to go into your control panel, "edit options" and choose not to view avatars, signatures, or images. Fast loads? or Fun Pictures? Depends on what you want more. You decide.

Naw...gotta have the fun stuff. It was the threads per page thing. I never knew that existed because all my forums have it on forum default, and I guess the default elsewhere has been separated into pages. I now have it changed to 10 per page. All fixed!!

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Beth

I was hoping for the send new message button to be like an easy to find tab at the top in the middle or something. Like one of the first things your eyes are drawn to when you go to the private messages area.

Beth, I think I found a solution. I was looking at the Quick Links Meu and made the following changes.

1. Removed the Control Panel Link, since we have the CP link along the top menu bar.

2. Removed the Private Message Link, since we have that link on the top right above the mood.

3. Added a link on the Quck Links menu that Says Send New Private Message, which takes you to the New PM.

Mike, I love the addition of so many arcade games. However, I feel that we've now lost the sense of friendly competition. It seems everyone is off playing a different game that no one else has yet played (me included).

How about a "Game of the Week" or "Game of the Fortnight"--one game that would appear above the game tabs of the arcade section for that specified amount of time. That way, everyone sees the same selected game--hopefully pulling them in and encouraging a bit more interaction in a single game.

Just my 2 cents.

[Mike]

Brien, I am glad you all like the arcade. The arcade has about 5 modifications to it, such as re-sizing games, leaderforums, arcade champs, etc.

I see your point. At this time, there are not the mods written that would allow me to do that. I would like to see a Category that shows the most popular games being played. This is kind of in line with what you are asking for, although not exactly.

The arcade system we are using is V3rcade and they are coming out with a new version with new enhancements to not only games, but options, etc so we'll all have to stay tuned. As of their blog post today, the upgrade is right around the corner. So, I have to wait for mods written for the arcade wich there are not as many as the forum s I think we'll hav to just wait and see.

I do know that we have one of the largest game collections anywhere.

As for the game of the week, etc, that is a manual process for now and I simply do not have the time.

[Mike]

Brien, I forgot to mention that in your control panel, you have an entire option set available for the Arcade. It is on the left called Edit Ardade Options.

One nice feature is you can get notified via PM when someone beats your high score in the arcade. This morning, I was notified that you beat my high score in Super Fishing.

Originally Posted by Brien Clark

Hi Mike,

Brien Clark has just beaten your high score in Super Fishing!

Your personal best: 2107.000
Brien Clark's new high score: 2388.000

Head over to the Arcade to reclaim your trophy!

Note: This is an automated message. However, you may send Brien Clark a message by clicking on the "Reply" button below.