Whilst the new format/software has it’s merits = The search function is great!
I miss just clicking on my bookmark that immediately led me to new topics that I could easily look through. Yes the new format has that in a way, but it annoys me, can’t say exactly why, it just does, I don’t like the topic I just read disappearing from the list when I click back for example.
I totally miss the fact that my posts no longer contain an automatic footer signature.
I really dislike the tiny window that opens up to allow me to compose my message, for instance what is all that rubbish going on about to the rh side?
I think that the post rate has decreased since the changeover, that’s a personal opinion based upon my perception of perhaps my own engagement declining.
The old format is the old format, long live the new format, but fettling is definitely required to retain old posters like myself.
Maybe we need to be proactive to help Jeff.
The old can no longer work, I believe. Hackers, time etc
I suspect how the page is organized (how many have tried preferences) I cant seem to make the preferences my preferred way.
Maybe its like a engineer and mechanic fighting over function and form (fourm)
Hi all,
For me the new format is not soo easy for the moment.
It’s a bit like “teaching an old Dog new Tricks” i have old habits.
I’ll give myself a little more time to learn “the new tricks”.
Alan
It takes anywhere from 60 to 120 days for new habits to form. We have been on the new format for 32 days. Give it some time. There are also so many options to customize, you haven’t found yet.
Latest posts:
Use the latest option on the menu. Everything above the red line is new since your last view. They don’t disappear after you read them.
Creating posts:
The blue box are search results of similar topics based on your title. It is an attempt to reduce commonly asked questions.
You can close the blue box, by clicking the X in the upper right area. It is now a preview screen of your post.
If you don’t like the blue box or preview screen, in the lower right, find this: << this will collapse the area. Click on the >> to reopen. You can have just an input screen.
Not enough room to type. Use your mouse to grab the blue bar on top of the posting area. Resize it to the size you like. I normally have mine at about 60% of the screen. In the right area are two arrow heads pointing down. Click to minimize. Click on the upper double upper arrow heads to reopen it.
The last time I looked at the metrics, overall topics and posts counts are up. There are less chit chat posts as people can ‘ like’ a post instead of typing a “like” comment post.
After 120 days on the new system, I will begin to ask for feedback. Asking now is like getting feedback on new tires that have not been scrubbed in.
I also miss having the “coveted 5th gear” and not seeing my total post count as well as the post count of others.
Member since 2007, and all that stuff that is now hidden or deleted in pursuit of a new clean look.
Kindest regards
Alan Thomas
Member since who knows with a post count of lots more than most.
I was firmly in the camp liking the old format better until I sat down and gave the new format an thorough test drive. I focused on what it did better than the old one and not on how different it was. IMHO the plusses totally out weigh the niggly things I didn’t care for. With the Gallery online and easily searchable, I prefer it.
@Spyder_fan
First,
A video showing how to adjust the post area on an iPad.
Second,
I would suggest you ask for assistance or help. Being rude is not how to ask for help or assistance.
Third,
Please stop the snarky and negative comments you have sprinkled throughout the website today. I am ok with constructive feedback. I am not okay with your comments in various posts today. Your tone and negativity stepped over the line.
Fulfill all that requirement with both being able to be bookmarked
One thing to note is the iPad reply window resizing Jeff mentioned above only works when in portrait mode (iPad air 5 with iPadOS 18.3.1) that isn’t the way I would normally use my iPad but it’s no big deal.
After being here for a very long time (17th September 2003) I can barely remember the old site now, but that’s old age for you
I too admit to still struggling with navigating the new forum. I can do it and find my way around now but it is not as simple and immediately easy on the eye when opening as the old forum format. I now have to search around the forum for topics of interest…
I also wonder if the reason some of us are struggling with the new forum format is because perhaps it works better on a phone or Tablet for those who like to do their forum reading whilst on the go?
Oldies like me do prefer to do my forum reading on a PC desktop computer with teas/coffee and biscuits!
A particular struggle of mine is ‘Latest’.
Currently clicking on ‘Latest’ doesn’t actually take me to latest post it takes you to a thread that maybe started in 2015 and then you have to scroll through 150 or something pages to get to the latest post. Am I doing this wrong or does ‘Latest’ have inner options that I haven’t found yet? i.e Latest Post or Latest thread option?
Jeff is still doing amazing work on updating old posts for the new site so a lot of items in the latest are old posts this should only be a short term issue
Not me! Generally I like the new format & functionality, thanks Jeff.
A couple of areas for improvement though:
The overall appearance is a bit drab, no colors, graphics etc. Perhaps this will come with time…
How do you go straight to the bottom of a long thread e.g. the dreaded " What did you do to your Lotus today…" thread? I don’t have time in this lifetime to scroll through 604 posts… though there are some good ones in there
Jeff,
Please accept my sincere apology for my attitude vis a vis the new format and my non constructive comments. I should have thanked you for your attempts to guide me instead of having a rant, in fact I should have posted on Free Parking to have a moan and a whinge rather than in this category where you are duty bound to respond.
I have now “bothered” to look at all the little tweaks that can be done to customise the user experience and find it all very usable, much more so than the previous format.
It’s no excuse but in a world where everything changes so quickly and everything wants to update at ridiculously short intervals it was always good to open a website where I could find the functionality basically unchanged since joining back in 2009.
I will get used to it, and thanks for being patient, even if I did test that patience!
I have added the Picture Search function to my list of good points along with the standard search function and will no doubt add other things to my list of likes until I have forgotten about what I miss.
The only aspect I’m a bit worried about is the automatic closing of topics after 6 months on the new plateform, as I remember that new discussions would at times spark up at the end of former ones, and if this may marginally create spurious entries in a thread I had the feeling that was more efficient (Lotus) than risking creating new threads on a topic (duplicating discussions and diluting content, which I try to refrain from whenever interacting to preserve the essence of the forum)… I’ve noted that “closed” threads can be reopened, I guess we’ll see in a few month how this takes place.
I’m an er… older user of the forum and I also use my PC desktop over coffee in the morning. As for the timeline bar, you can quickly scroll down to the latest post by clicking your mouse wheel anywhere on the page and pulling down. You don’t have to be on the blue time line.
