Unread posts and problem with signature line

[Bill B]

Steve,

A couple of quick questions. In several forums I follow when I click on a thread I have the ability to go directly to unread posts rather than scroll thru until I can find my place. Is it possible to add that type of function to this forum?

Also I'm having a problem with changing my profile to always attach my signature. I click yes and then submit and when I go back to my profile it does not show yes to this option. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks,

Bill

[Gill M]

Hi Bill

Excuse me to both you and Steve for butting in but maybe I can help with the unread posts bit.

My screen is only a small one (15" I think) so, after I log in to the Forum, I have to scroll to the right of the screen where I click on "view posts since last visit" and hey presto I get all the new posts. Hope this helps as it took me ages to realise this facility was available as I couldn't actually see it without the scrolling bit. Oh, for a nice large screen but Tobago calls in just over 4 months!! No idea about the signatures though.

Gill M

[Bill B]

Gill,

I'm aware of that feature except what that does is take you to an unread post. But then you don't know which thread it was attached to so it is not convenient to use. The feature I'm referring to on other forums either takes you to the unread posts when you click on a thread or it takes you to the first posting and there is an icon you can then click on to take you there.

Bill

[Gill M]

[quote="Gill M"]Hi Bill


Just testing whether my signature will appear automatically?

[Gill M]

Hi Bill

Guess you will need Steve to help you on that one but hey, I have learned to put my signature in!!!

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Guys

Sorry, Bill, there's no facility to jump to the last post you read. Having said that, the main topic page of each forum does show/provide a link to each page when a thread spreads across multiple pages [Goto page: 1, 2].

The "View posts since last visit" does show the forum, Bill. The forum name is shown in the first column of the "new posts" list and then when you click on the topic name and are taken to the actual thread, you can determine the forum name from the index line at the top of the page (beneath the Search/Profile/Log Out links) which shows the full path to the thread.

As long as you're logged in, forums/threads that have had new posts since your last visit will be highlighted by the "lit" icon in the left column. If there is multiple pages, links to the first and last page will be shown. If you visit the forum on a reasonably regular basis, it is fairly logical to assume that the last page is going to be the one for you.

Having said that, I agree that the 'last post' sounds like a good feature, but given how few of our threads run across multiple pages, it is not something I could put on my "to do" list. Hopefully it might be a standard feature of upcoming releases of phpBB forum software, which forms the core of our system.

Your Signature seems to be working fine, Bill. "Can't wait to be "limin" is showing beneath all your posts and I've just had a look at your Profile and "Always attach my Signature" is clearly set to "Yes". I suspect this could be a browser cache problem. Clear all the temporary Internet files via the Tools/Options menu of your browser (different procedures for different browsers) and see if that makes any difference.

Gill, I appreciate the problems of users with small screens running at low resolutions. I made a conscious decision when I redesigned the site to go for the future and modern higher definition screens and resolutions. However, I didn't totally abandon users of older computers. The main content panel of all the main pages on the site are designed to fit comfortably inside an 800x600 resolution screen. So, you might not see the sidebars, but at least you will see the full width of the main content once you've scrolled over. The forum was a little more difficult, but that has been totally resolved for you. Log In and click on the Profile link at the top of the forum. Scroll down to the Preferences sectoion and to the third-from-bottom option "Board Style". Change that to SmallScreen. Press Submit and refresh your screen. Hey Presto! The entire forum will fit inside your 800x600pixel 15" screen. You can change that setting at any time to go back to the "standard" display.

Hope this helps.

[Steve Wooler]

Bill

I also meant to say...

At the top of the each post, you will see a small post icon and the wording 'Posted: date time' + Post subject. The post icon will be white if previously display and yellow/gold if it is a new post made since your last visit. This way, you can quickly move to posts made since your last visit.

[Gill M]

Hi Steve

Many thanks for the info about changing the screen size for my 800 x 600 which was OK until we upgraded to B/B some months back and also the ISP version. The screen does show up as not being quite suitable so my dear husband changed the settings so everything fitted on the screen - trouble is that I couldn't read anything as the print was far too small!!!! Your tip will be great for those who have better eye sight than me. Don't want to go for a new screen at the moment because I have my eye on a new super PC but Tobago comes first.

[Bill B]

Hello Steve,

Thanks for your response. I've had no trouble finding the threads with unread posts: it's just that after opening them it's a bit of a job to find where I left off. Going to the last one is not necessarily the answer as there might be quite a few replies since the last time I visited. As you say though not a big problem and maybe future versions of the software will have this feature.

As regards the signature line the function seems to be working but when I look at my profile the "yes" box is not checked. Aren't computers wonderful

Leaving early on Thursday for a week in Sedona Arizona (Red Rock Country) so probably won't be posting or reading for a while. Try to keep it from going completely insane

Bill