Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 09/27/2017:  18:05:32

I liked the old website, but I like the new one too.  Especially the return button now working normally on my Mac.  Thank you for all of the hard work you have put in to keep the site going all these years.  One thing that I think would be an improvement, possibly, is to have a "return to forum" or similar button at the bottom of a thread.  When I have clicked on a thread on the home page and read to the end I often want to go to the forum in which the thread was posted.  Now I have to either go back to the Home page or to the Forums page, or scroll back to the top and click the link to the individual forum page there.  This is just something that I like on some other forums I use, that might be handy here, but perhaps there are reasons why it would not be a good idea that I have not thought of.  

Zach

fitch5string - Posted - 09/27/2017:  18:06:35

quote:

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Originally posted by schlange

quote:

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Originally posted by fitch5string

Eric, I cant edit the title of a classified ad for some reason.

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Appears to be working fine for me. What happens when you try to edit it?

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False alarm! Im sorry. I had ran out of space on the title line and didnt realize it ;(

rudy - Posted - 09/28/2017:  06:48:14

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

quote:

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Originally posted by rudy

quote:

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Originally posted by Texaspaul

I am trying to give this change a fair trial and not react to my resistance to change. The new site feels and looks like one made to a retail instrument site I frequent. That change was made some time back. I have never liked the changes and go to that site far less than I did before the change. I do not like tge new interface and menus. It is in my experience so far to not come to this site as frequently as before tge changes. I miss tge old site.

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Elderly's site changes don't get any points from me, either.  I love stuff that makes it EASIER for everyone.  It seems the BHO site may be improved for mobile device users, but leaves me a bit underwhelmed.

There's just SO much stuff that doesn't work or is buggy or effects my ability to read or post on the forum now.  Virtually every feature I utilized on the forum is now much more difficult to use.  I'm not a Luditte and I accept change if it's for the better, even if it takes me some time to adapt.  After a couple of weeks the new format isn't giving me warm and fuzzies.

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Rudy, you wrote "Virtually every feature I utilized on the forum is now much more difficult to use."

Can you give me specifics? Because from my standpoint, virtually every feature of the forum is either the same or improved. I can think of two things that could use improvement over the old site, and those are:

1. We aren't listing icons for members when they have, say, classifieds or MP3s. We'll be improving that soon.


2. The rich text editor is a bit wacky when using shortcut keys for formatting (lie Ctrl+B for bold). Working on this too.

Anyway, like I said--just looking for specifics. General comments like "I don't like it" or "It's not as good as the old one" aren't going to help us improve things.

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Hi Eric,

I DID list a few specifics in my previous post to this one (if you noticed those.)

Here's just one example:

When I try to use the "add link" feature the box pops up where you add the link, but it's mostly behind the left sidebar.  Normally I's say "No problem..." and click the top of the box and drag it over where I could then paste my link.  That doesn't work the first time.  I have to click back in the center section again and then the SECOND time I can grab the box and pull in over where I can see it.

Wouldn't you consider that odd?

I'm NOT complaining just to flap my jaws.  If, as you say, virtually all things were no different of have been improved I WOULD NOT post here.  I'm not a moaner by nature.

I'd spend most of my time typing if I tried to list all the things that don't work as well for me, and I'm really much more interested in passing on my knowledge about banjos.  I'm going along for the ride in the meantime and hoping things eventually settle down.  I know it takes time to work out bugs in programming, so my thanks to you for that.

I used to do all my own html programming for my website and I do think the layout here tries to cram too much onto a page.  I know you've decreased the right side box, but I fail to see what advantage it is (at least for me) to see the exact same items on the right side each and every time I come to the Hangout.

Tom Meisenheimer - Posted - 09/28/2017:  08:18:31

I don't like it.

The "old" BHO format worked just fine.

There is an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

I had another "publication" I liked change it's format and to no good purpose either...

MY problem with the digital "cloud" and with all things webby is you guys change things just to keep it looking like its "NEW" or "SPECIAL".

Content not appearance. Why is that so hard for you "Millennials" to understand?

schlange - Posted - 09/28/2017:  08:32:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Meisenheimer

I don't like it.



The "old" BHO format worked just fine.



There is an old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"



I had another "publication" I liked change it's format and to no good purpose either...



MY problem with the digital "cloud" and with all things webby is you guys change things just to keep it looking like its "NEW" or "SPECIAL".



Content not appearance. Why is that so hard for you "Millennials" to understand?

---

Sigh...

To answer each of your lines...

• The "old" BHO format did NOT work just fine. It was broken in many ways, often not immediately apparent to the typical user.


• Yes, there is that saying, and I've had it quoted to me numerous times in the past few weeks. What's your point?


• In the Internet world, you keep evolving or die. It's that simple. As computing power increases, web technology becomes more powerful and users expect improved features. If you don't build them, someone else will.


• Change for change's sake is silly. We didn't make this change to "keep it looking like its "NEW" or "SPECIAL"." If you want to know why we made the change, read my initial post in this thread.


• I'm not a millenial, but after building websites for 20 years I'm pretty sure I understand that content is king. Has the content of the BHO changed? Nope.

schlange - Posted - 09/28/2017:  09:03:39

Rudy: those popup boxes should be opening on top of the left nav bar now. Give it a try and let me know!

rudy - Posted - 09/28/2017:  19:25:07

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

Rudy: those popup boxes should be opening on top of the left nav bar now. Give it a try and let me know!

---

Thanks Eric, All better now.  (They open in the center; not on top of the left sidebar, but that's fine with me.)

That was one example, and I'm sure you'll agree that it wasn't "as good or better" than what we had before.  As I said, I'll hang loose and see how it all shakes out.

I'm sure I'm not among a few who would like to see the right sidebar vanish.  You could incorporate the ads and login box on the left and it wouldn't hurt my feelings a bit.

Edited by - rudy on 09/28/2017 19:26:47

Boadicea - Posted - 09/28/2017:  22:34:34

There are formatting problems in the blogs area, I can't get the fonts to change size - I select all the text, and it doesn't work. So I have given up and will return to that later. But the font sizes are not adjusting. I am on a Windows 7 Desktop.

Boadicea - Posted - 09/28/2017:  22:40:10

Hello Eric,

please cancel my previous post. I changed over to Chrome and there are now no formatting problems. It was an Opera issue - probably because I was using an old browers.

Cheers,
Kate

banjopaa - Posted - 09/29/2017:  06:43:05

Hi Eric... I really like the new web site and it's layout, for the most part.There are a couple items having to do with the video search screen:

1. There doesn't seem to be any scroll bar on windows within a window.


2. The Advanced search parameters portion of the page takes up a disproportional amount of screen space. Is there any way to reduce that space to allow more space for search results? e.g. the date windows are unnecessarily huge, ditto the criteria windows for "Rating" and "Plays".


3. There is no way to scroll between months in the "Date posted" search parameters. You have to key in the date if you want to jump to a month other than what is presented to you.


4. It would be nice if the search results were scroll-able independently of the "play" window. As it is, (and previously was on the old site) when you're reviewing videos in the search results column, you have to keep scrolling up and down from the video search results, to get back to the playing screen. This is real time consuming and unhandy if you have many results to view/play.

Thanks for the many improvements.

I'm using Mac OS Sierra.

John

potterz - Posted - 09/29/2017:  10:10:01

Unfortunately, I still have a problem viewing it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Android). The black bar on the left (with its selectable items) is moved by the same width immediately/adjacent to its right. This is blocking the view of the center of the page. To the left is still a black bar (same width), but with only the white search box in it. Hope it's fixable. Steve

rockybottom16 - Posted - 09/29/2017:  16:21:15

As a user who does not spend my day glued to a smart phone, I find the new version of this site bothersome to the point where I just don't visit it that often anymore.   I remember long ago when I first discovered this site everything was intuitive and easy to find.  Now everything I want to do takes twice as long, assuming I can even figure out how to do it.  I really think you will lose more visitors with this new version than you'll gain.  Banjos are such a small, niche market that I find it hard to believe that this change was necessary in order to keep ahead of the competition.  What competition?

Iderhobanjer23 - Posted - 10/01/2017:  05:59:03

Hey Schlange,

I don't really come to participate in the forums as much as I used to, but I still browse and use the classifieds section regularly. (Money for BHO). I'm young, sell software for a living, and don't believe in "change is bad" (i.e., I want to contribute positively to this conversation, not just dump on it because I don't know how to work it).

But this just looks unprofessional. I'm not at all trying to discredit the amount of work that went into it. We appreciate what you do for the community. But this is confusing to use and does not look nearly as clean as the previous layout. It's actually harder to use the classifieds section now, and I can't easily see "promoted" classified as distinguished (so why pay for them, other than they show up on top?)

Not sure if it's a matter of design, or a prebuilt theme, nor was I here to see input before the rollout, but there just has to be a better option.

Thanks

davidppp - Posted - 10/01/2017:  12:49:32

The PREVIEW button still doesn't seem to do anything when I'm composing an addition to a post thread. I tried three current browsers. Is it me?

schlange - Posted - 10/01/2017:  14:03:53

quote:

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Originally posted by davidppp

The PREVIEW button still doesn't seem to do anything when I'm composing an addition to a post thread. I tried three current browsers. Is it me?

---

I believe the preview button is broken on quick replies. But not broken if you click the "reply with quote" or "reply" links. 

I'll get it fixed tomorrow!

Tobus - Posted - 10/02/2017:  06:43:31

Eric, something new that cropped up this morning is that when I hover over the "Forums" link at the left nav bar on the main page, it no longer has any links in the pop-up menu.  It works on other pages, but not on the main page.  I mean, it pops up like it should, but it's just empty.  I'm on Firefox.  Below is a screenshot of what it gives me.

schlange - Posted - 10/02/2017:  14:42:28

That's very odd, Tobus. Do the other menus work, it's just the forum one that is blank? And you say that only happens on the site's homepage?

lyndabee - Posted - 10/02/2017:  15:09:02

Today I can't view anything in the classifieds? Whatever I click on shows me this:

 

schlange - Posted - 10/02/2017:  16:48:51

quote:

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Originally posted by lyndabee

Today I can't view anything in the classifieds? Whatever I click on shows me this:

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Fixed!

lyndabee - Posted - 10/02/2017:  18:02:09

Thank you schlange :-)

Tobus - Posted - 10/03/2017:  06:05:49

quote:

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Originally posted by schlange

That's very odd, Tobus. Do the other menus work, it's just the forum one that is blank? And you say that only happens on the site's homepage?

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The problem solved itself some time yesterday.  Yeah, it was just the main page where that pop-up menu was blank when I would hover over the navigation bar.  But it worked fine everywhere else.  And it's working fine this morning on the main page too.

Laurence Diehl - Posted - 10/03/2017:  08:21:32

The newest posts in the right frame now includes all the classifieds which I usually have filtered out. Can you tell me how to suppress those?

schlange - Posted - 10/03/2017:  09:32:33

quote:

---

Originally posted by Laurence Diehl

The newest posts in the right frame now includes all the classifieds which I usually have filtered out. Can you tell me how to suppress those?

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You can't... yet! We'll be adding that option though.

schlange - Posted - 10/03/2017:  11:07:58

quote:

---

Originally posted by potterz

Unfortunately, I still have a problem viewing it on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (Android). The black bar on the left (with its selectable items) is moved by the same width immediately/adjacent to its right. This is blocking the view of the center of the page. To the left is still a black bar (same width), but with only the white search box in it. Hope it's fixable. Steve

---

Trying to replicate/fix this issue. Can you tell me what browser you're using on your tablet? Also, have you tried clearing your browser cache? It shouldn't matter, but we've seen stranger things...

Please let me know, thanks!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/03/2017:  17:37:49

No... I miss my friend feed in the right hand column. My friends are people that are into what I am into and who follow what I follow. they are a constant FRONT page feed. Half the stuff in newest posts I don't care about. Please.
ken

Nancy - Posted - 10/03/2017:  20:36:13

How do I use the preview? I cannot find it..use to correct my post. It's gone.
Nancy

schlange - Posted - 10/03/2017:  21:10:09

quote:

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Originally posted by Nancy

How do I use the preview? I cannot find it..use to correct my post. It's gone.

Nancy

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Are you on a mobile phone? We've got the preview button hidden for mobile users currently... just a way to streamline the interface. 

Nancy - Posted - 10/04/2017:  04:34:34

No. I am on my desktop computer. No preview button.

n1wr - Posted - 10/04/2017:  05:17:04

Eric - what happened to the "Report to moderator" link - I tried to flag the new member that posted "Personal, Urgent Money Loans" but no way to do it.

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/04/2017:  12:02:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by From Greylock to Bean Blossom

No... I miss my friend feed in the right hand column. My friends are people that are into what I am into and who follow what I follow. they are a constant FRONT page feed. Half the stuff in newest posts I don't care about. Please.

ken

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never mind. got me cheese moved but found it anyway.

ken

rudy - Posted - 10/06/2017:  06:19:22

When I click "add photos" after selecting the "Media" tab it brings up the "Members" page. (sigh...)

I'm running Chrome on Samsung Chromebook.

Shake-Boy - Posted - 10/06/2017:  07:47:54

quote:

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Originally posted by rudy

When I click "add photos" after selecting the "Media" tab it brings up the "Members" page. (sigh...)



I'm running Chrome on Samsung Chromebook.

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Same thing here.  Windows 10 / Firefox

Members page also comes up when clicking the "add MP3" link.

Shake-Boy

potterz - Posted - 10/06/2017:  08:09:14

Hi Eric - the tablet is on Android 4.2.2 and all I can determine is that it uses "the standard" Android browser" I emptied the browser cache but no change. Thanks for continuing to try to fix - Steve

Boadicea - Posted - 10/06/2017:  23:02:32

I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I tried to tag @n1wr and @Wayne Conrad but it didn't work. I am not sure what I am doing wrong? Then I tried to tag them again in my blog and I got one tag but not the other. Any suggestions?

banjohangout.org/blog/35379#comments

Using

Google Chrome is up to date

Version 61.0.3163.100 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Cheers,

Kate

Boadicea - Posted - 10/06/2017:  23:06:10

banjohangout.org/blog/35379#comments

@n1wr and @WayneConrad - the blogs did have Plain Text and Rich Text and don't have that distinction anymore? Is that is what is going on? 

Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/07/2017:  04:38:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by n1wr

Eric - what happened to the "Report to moderator" link - I tried to flag the new member that posted "Personal, Urgent Money Loans" but no way to do it.

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It's still there, just in a different place.  Look at the bottom left hand  side of the text window, just below your text and it says "report post".  Click on that to make a mod report.  

schlange - Posted - 10/07/2017:  05:11:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by rudy

When I click "add photos" after selecting the "Media" tab it brings up the "Members" page. (sigh...)



I'm running Chrome on Samsung Chromebook.

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Confirmed bug! And now fixed.

schlange - Posted - 10/07/2017:  05:14:44

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea

banjohangout.org/blog/35379#comments

@n1wr and @WayneConrad - the blogs did have Plain Text and Rich Text and don't have that distinction anymore? Is that is what is going on? 

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Tagging only works in plain text mode... or if you do a "reply with quote" in the forum, it will automatically tag the person you're quoting (like in this case).

rudy - Posted - 10/07/2017:  05:55:49

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea

banjohangout.org/blog/35379#comments

@n1wr and @WayneConrad - the blogs did have Plain Text and Rich Text and don't have that distinction anymore? Is that is what is going on? 

---

Tagging only works in plain text mode... or if you do a "reply with quote" in the forum, it will automatically tag the person you're quoting (like in this case).

---

I wondered why I was suddenly getting messages in my e-mail in box about Banjo Hangout posts.

I have enough to deal with in my e-mail already and would prefer not to get notified about "tagged posts".  Is there some way to disable or change that as a user?

schlange - Posted - 10/07/2017:  07:06:58

Not yet, but we'll add that feature soon, rudy!

rudy - Posted - 10/07/2017:  09:06:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

Not yet, but we'll add that feature soon, rudy!

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Thanks, Eric.  That would be a welcome addition.

Boadicea - Posted - 10/07/2017:  17:34:18

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea

banjohangout.org/blog/35379#comments

@n1wr and @WayneConrad - the blogs did have Plain Text and Rich Text and don't have that distinction anymore? Is that is what is going on? 

---

Tagging only works in plain text mode... or if you do a "reply with quote" in the forum, it will automatically tag the person you're quoting (like in this case).

---

So how do I choose to use plain text mode in the blogs where there seems to be no choice and above the reply box there is this text? "Leave a Comment use @username to tag in plain text mode"

rudy - Posted - 10/07/2017:  19:50:50

I have noticed that topics that are six months old can now be replied to.  Is that a bug or "new feature"?

Here's an example:

https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/327810/2

schlange - Posted - 10/07/2017:  21:00:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by rudy

I have noticed that topics that are six months old can now be replied to.  Is that a bug or "new feature"?

Here's an example:

https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/327810/2

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Not sure what you're asking. We've always allowed people to respond to any topic that is not archived. 

rudy - Posted - 10/08/2017:  05:11:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by schlange

quote:

---

Originally posted by rudy

I have noticed that topics that are six months old can now be replied to.  Is that a bug or "new feature"?

Here's an example:

https://www.banjohangout.org/topic/327810/2

---

Not sure what you're asking. We've always allowed people to respond to any topic that is not archived. 

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I guess I don't know the rules of archiving.  What's the time frame for that? 

schlange - Posted - 10/08/2017:  05:29:19

rudy: each forum has its own timeframe. More active forums get their topics archived more quickly (say, after 60 days of no replies) while less active ones are longer (say, 180 days).

schlange - Posted - 10/08/2017:  05:33:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by Boadicea

So how do I choose to use plain text mode in the blogs where there seems to be no choice and above the reply box there is this text? "Leave a Comment use @username to tag in plain text mode"

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You'll know tagging is working when you type "@" and three letters then a little popup appears near your cursor with member names matching your search. 

If you're not seeing that popup when replying to a blog post, you must be using a browser that lacks JavaScript support. 

schlange - Posted - 10/09/2017:  12:02:15

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shake-Boy

quote:

---

Originally posted by rudy

When I click "add photos" after selecting the "Media" tab it brings up the "Members" page. (sigh...)



I'm running Chrome on Samsung Chromebook.

---

Same thing here.  Windows 10 / Firefox

Members page also comes up when clicking the "add MP3" link.

Shake-Boy

---

Fixed!

deestexas - Posted - 10/11/2017:  16:16:41

the preview button still does nothing.  Mac using OS 10.13