Forum upgrade is complete...

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Comments

  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think it has been mentioned, but the link to NAWS sales site, needs to be reinstated, I think it was mentioned that the header was a link, which it is, but not even a proper link, since you can't right click and open in another tab or window. This is an important feature to bring back or fix the header link which opens NAWS site instead of the forum. Often we go there for links and info for posts.

    Auto save has never worked for me in the past and has worked flawlessly now!! Yahoo!!!
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    Vic wrote: »
    First, this has been a great, informative and useful site for a number of years. Previously, this Forum software has been the best of any of the seven-or-so Forum sites that I daily visit.

    But am disappointed with this recent "Upgrade". It seems to have taken a number of steps backward;

    1. Unable to SEE Threads that have posted in previously. This is an essential piece of information, especially on a busy Forum like this, with frequent Subject Drift. That this essential information has been deemed UNIMPORTANT by the authors of the software is astonishing to me.

    2. It IS inconvenient to have to begin at the first page (use oldest first style), in order to find how many pages that exist, and select the last page, for the most recent posts.

    3. There have been a number of situations where Threads read are not shown as having been read ... this may have been fixed by now.

    Not to nit-pick, but in the past, Forum software Upgrades were just that -- UPGRADES. This one is a RETROGRADE, IMO. FWIW. But thanks for this former-great site, Vic

    Ditto here, I 'fell' into the new format while away for the weekend, btw using a netbook that is seldom used, and now back home, am wading through it, so far... it does NOT ' feel ' as good as the previous version...

    PS what the H... is "write something ' at the bottom of the page? No explanation ...I am not going near it!

    PPS whay dowe s mry response show usp in the list of "NEW PoSTS"? I wrote it .ll i want to see its responses...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    The "write something" at the bottom of the page is what we are used to with the "Reply" button... Just a "ready to type" posting window.

    As you soon as you type something you will get the editing tool bar above the window.

    ...delete thing about visitor messages--I still do not understand them and what the forum is doing related to them.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    Photowhit wrote: »
    I think it has been mentioned, but the link to NAWS sales site, needs to be reinstated, I think it was mentioned that the header was a link, which it is, but not even a proper link, since you can't right click and open in another tab or window. This is an important feature to bring back or fix the header link which opens NAWS site instead of the forum. Often we go there for links and info for posts.

    You can use the "Home" tab to achieve this, which is a "proper" link, so to speak. Obviously that tab can renamed to "Shop" or anything else the owners prefer.
    The header, I tried to recreate what existed previously, within the parameters of the new design. There is some suggestion this is actually going to be changed so I am just awaiting instruction on what needs doing. My original aim was to replicate as closely as possible the look that was here previously. The header is now a background image which is why the link isn't a "normal" link. But as mentioned the Home tab will achieve that for you.
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    BB. wrote: »
    The "write something" at the bottom of the page is what we are used to with the "Reply" button... Just a "ready to type" posting window.

    As you soon as you type something you will get the editing tool bar above the window.

    ...delete thing about visitor messages--I still do not understand them and what the forum is doing related to them.

    -Bill

    Yes, "write something" is just the reply box, same as before. The toolbar buttons can be dropped down using the "A" button, if required it's possible to make them show all the time. In fact I may do that, it makes it more obvious what it is.
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You can use the "Home" tab to achieve this, which is a "proper" link, so to speak. Obviously that tab can renamed to "Shop" or anything else the owners prefer.
    The header, I tried to recreate what existed previously, within the parameters of the new design. There is some suggestion this is actually going to be changed so I am just awaiting instruction on what needs doing. My original aim was to replicate as closely as possible the look that was here previously. The header is now a background image which is why the link isn't a "normal" link. But as mentioned the Home tab will achieve that for you.

    Thank you, it does seem counterintuitive, as I think of the forum as a separate site and think of 'home' as the opener here. This will be very functional for me, as a regular, but might not be understood by someone new to the site.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • Mangas
    Mangas Solar Expert Posts: 547 ✭✭✭✭
    Nice job.

    I like it!
    Ranch Off Grid System & Custom Home: 2 x pair stacked Schneider XW 5548+ Plus inverters (4), 2 x Schneider MPPT 80-600 Charge Controllers, 2 Xanbus AGS Generator Start and Air Extraction System Controllers, 64 Trojan L16 REB 6v 375 AH Flooded Cel Batteries w/Water Miser Caps, 44 x 185 Sharp Solar Panels, Cummins Onan RS20 KW Propane Water Cooled Genset, ICF Custom House Construction, all appliances, Central A/C, 2 x High Efficiency Variable Speed three ton Central A/C 220v compressors, 2 x Propane furnaces, 2 x Variable Speed Air Handlers, 2 x HD WiFi HVAC Zoned System Controllers
  • gww1
    gww1 Solar Expert Posts: 963 ✭✭
    I Agree with an earlier poster who mentioned that when you replie to a thread and then go back to new threads or todays post, the thread you replied to should not be high lighted as unread. I do know it is a simple thing to look at the last poster and see if it was you, so not a giant problim but you do have to look at the last poster to see if anyone responded. Not that hard but it was better before. (nit-pick, nit-pick) .

    Thanks for explaining the home button being the store, I still think the host is going to lose sales due to unclearness.

    I still don't like that the place to type jumps around when you hit enter and you really don't know where you are going to be till you start typing. I keep having to go back and fix my spacing.

    I had one other thing that was on my mind but I too am old enough that my mind is slipping and I forget things two seconds after remembering them.

    Mostly things are better since bill has been explaining the workings to us and mark has been adressing some of the issues.

    I do miss the little check marks but not enough to go to only things I have already posted in. I hope that doesn't get lost in the things to do.
    Thank you
    gww
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    I will be reading through this thread a bit later today and summarizing the open issues and their priority. And I will post it here for a quick review that I did not miss anything.

    And many thanks to Mark (from VBulletin Support) for his wonderful help here. His work has made this upgrade a much more enjoyable experience.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    I noticed something in a post I just read
    First there is the date and
    next it appears what is the topic,
    I seem to remember that the topic was at the top of each post...??
    If it is possible , could the topic be the first line and then the date of the new post? Might keep us on topic a bit more.
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    It seemed that the Topic (Thread Title) was at the top of each post yesterday or the day before. It has now disappeared. Originally, it looked like the first line of the post--If it was a little more clear it was the title, it would have been more helpful (bold/greyed out, more at the top of the post to the right of the date).

    By the way, I don't know about others--But I do not really like greyed out text. If done too much, it makes for difficult reading.

    I know it is the "in thing" for many websites (and I hate it there too). LCD displays have highly variable contrast (brands, models, viewing angles, etc.). Black on White text is the best. Use Bold or Italics or different font to offset from balance of text (please).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Aguarancher
    Aguarancher Solar Expert Posts: 315 ✭✭✭
    I see clicking on the hosts banner now takes you to their site. I also would like to see black-bold text and maybe a few font points bigger. All should be easy fixes on their part.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Black/bold/larger text where specifically?

    Most browsers (I think) will let you change text/font size and it should "stick"....

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Aguarancher
    Aguarancher Solar Expert Posts: 315 ✭✭✭
    BB. wrote: »
    Black/bold/larger text where specifically?
    Forum upgrade is complete... by BB.
    February 10th, 2015, 9:38 PST<<<< as in right here a darker, bold and maybe a font size larger. I really don't want to mess with my other settings as they are fine on most sites.

  • Aguarancher
    Aguarancher Solar Expert Posts: 315 ✭✭✭
    Also now that you can click on the hosts banner and it takes you to their site, BUT it should be in a New window like it used to be, just my opinion
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    I agree--There should be all a minimum size font in "Black", not small 65% grey (or whatever).

    The Mark Forums Read hot link near the bottom of the FORUMs page is also "grey". Should be, at least, a copy of the link in the main tool bar in the FORUMs page: or: Another user note--The style of of greyed out text and other hot links are really anti-user friendly.

    In general, we have been trained that Hot Links are underlined. And Greyed out text/links/buttons are "not available" in that context.

    This new forum style (and not uncommon in the "wild") is really confusing to us mortals. We are left to click on everything to see if there is an active hot link/button or not. PLEASE STOP THIS!

    -Bill "end of rant" B.

    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • techntrek
    techntrek Solar Expert Posts: 1,372 ✭✭✭
    Just ran into an odd bug with the page number links to pass along to the development team. I was on page 8 of this thread, clicked on page 9 and it took me to the bottom of the page. Same for page 10, took me to the bottom. Then I noticed the end of the link it was going to had a within-page URL reference tacked on the end (see example link below, the #postnumber at the end), which is for a post much later than page 9, which explains why it was scrolling to the bottom. Normally the page number link ends with /page9 or /page10. After refreshing the whole page it operated normally.

    http://forum.solar-electric.com/forum/forum-website/solar-forum-news-and-announcements/329682-forum-upgrade-is-complete/page9#post330424
    4.5 kw APC UPS powered by a Prius, 12 kw Generac, Honda EU3000is
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    Most of the above can be done. The exception is "Mark Forums Read", we can change the color of it, but it will only actually work on the forum index page. Placed anywhere else, the link won't actually work, as things stand.
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    I've added some colors, link underlining and general contrast. the colors closely match what was on the old site.
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    How about putting a button at the bottom of the page that takes one back to the main eg '' todays posts '' on the left side rather than the ''go to top '' bottom right which just takes one to the top.

    ADD: I like the topic/ date locatioin and format . looks much better.

    tks..
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    Spell check, doesn't seem to work all the time , in the Write something box, it highlights the error but when you right click it doesn't give you options of correct words as it used to..., other times it works....???
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Spell check right mouse click (at least for windows PC) will either bring up the standard browser right click (with spelling suggestions) or a AJAX (?) right click with just cut and paste.

    For me, the PMs, right mouse brings up the cut/paste. And Forum Posts usually bring up the full right click.

    I asked Mark about this earlier--And this is a application that VB purchases to use for the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor functions. He cannot fix that, but I believe put in a VB bug report. It will be on the "list" of questions/issues.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    westbranch wrote: »
    How about putting a button at the bottom of the page that takes one back to the main eg '' todays posts '' on the left side rather than the ''go to top '' bottom right which just takes one to the top.
    Do you mean an actual Today's Posts link at the bottom? I can do that.
  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    Do you mean an actual Today's Posts link at the bottom? I can do that.

    Yes... damn too short, 1 5 charaters now...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
  • Vic
    Vic Solar Expert Posts: 3,208 ✭✭✭✭
    Just re-read all Posts in this Thread, but found nothing specifically about this;

    Have been getting an indication that there are 'Messages' . Upon looking for real Messages, there are none.
    There are, however, some indications that there have been Replies in Threads that appear to pre-date the Forum software " Upgrade ".

    In looking further, it appears that I have 49 pages of Subscribed Threads. Have NEVER Subscribed to anything here. There appears that there is no Global Delete of all of these bogus Subscriptions. Can Select All, but that selects essentially everything, and then, there is no Delete option on a Right-Click.

    Is there something that I can do to DELETE ALL of these bogus Subscriptions, short of manually deleting each/every Post individually (or asking a Moderator to do so manually) ? At least, am not getting any e-mail Notifications!

    EDIT: Also, did like the provision to not show one's Signature in a post. Looked in Advanced, but saw nothing there. Is there any way on a case-by-case basis to do this?

    Thanks, Vic
    Off Grid - Two systems -- 4 SW+ 5548 Inverters, Surrette 4KS25 1280 AH X2@48V, 11.1 KW STC PV, 4X MidNite Classic 150 w/ WBjrs, Beta KID on S-530s, MX-60s, MN Bkrs/Boxes.  25 KVA Polyphase Kubota diesel,  Honda Eu6500isa,  Eu3000is-es, Eu2000,  Eu1000 gensets.  Thanks Wind-Sun for this great Forum.
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    Vic wrote: »
    Just re-read all Posts in this Thread, but found nothing specifically about this;

    Have been getting an indication that there are 'Messages' . Upon looking for real Messages, there are none.
    There are, however, some indications that there have been Replies in Threads that appear to pre-date the Forum software " Upgrade ".

    In looking further, it appears that I have 49 pages of Subscribed Threads. Have NEVER Subscribed to anything here. There appears that there is no Global Delete of all of these bogus Subscriptions. Can Select All, but that selects essentially everything, and then, there is no Delete option on a Right-Click.

    Is there something that I can do to DELETE ALL of these bogus Subscriptions, short of manually deleting each/every Post individually (or asking a Moderator to do so manually) ? At least, am not getting any e-mail Notifications!

    Thanks, Vic

    I've deleted those for you.
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    westbranch wrote: »

    Yes... damn too short, 1 5 charaters now...

    That's done......
  • Vic
    Vic Solar Expert Posts: 3,208 ✭✭✭✭
    Hi Mark, Thank you very much for your continued Support! Vic
    Off Grid - Two systems -- 4 SW+ 5548 Inverters, Surrette 4KS25 1280 AH X2@48V, 11.1 KW STC PV, 4X MidNite Classic 150 w/ WBjrs, Beta KID on S-530s, MX-60s, MN Bkrs/Boxes.  25 KVA Polyphase Kubota diesel,  Honda Eu6500isa,  Eu3000is-es, Eu2000,  Eu1000 gensets.  Thanks Wind-Sun for this great Forum.
  • vBulletin Support
    vBulletin Support Administrators, Solar Expert Posts: 112 ✭✭✭✭
    I've had a bit of fun working on the forum style, trying to capture further elements form the old site, and also addressing some concerns over font sizes and colors, readability, etc.

    Please let me know what you think. I've used some tweaks that I have used on other sites and they seemed to work well.

    I've also added back the shop link in a yellow box near the top of the page. Pretty much as it was before, I've matched the colors exactly.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Mark,

    If you can do something "different" with the Mark Forums Read... It looks just like functional and non-functional text. And there is no "hover" note or anything other than a change to the mouse pointer.

    Just Bold-Blue text on light back ground or something... At/near the top of the page would be more obvious too.

    Thank you--The overall contrast is is much better... If you could get "white area" out of the short posts (User Badge shrink?) etc... Would be nice.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
This discussion has been closed.