Allotments 4 All
General => The Shed => Topic started by: Admin aka Dan on September 04, 2012, 21:17:44
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All
I am preparing to upgrade the software the website uses, this should result in improved performance, easier use and in general more lovelyness :)
In the short term some features may be unavailable as I move them back into place, but all should return email eventually!
I'll update you when I have planned the upgrade, but it will hopefully be completed by the 16 September,
If you want a sneaky peak at the new possible layout let me know and I will set up a public test site.
Thanks
Dan
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An upgrade sounds good, forum has been great for a while but I noticed it getting a bit sticky just lately.
I'm quite excited to see how it will look once it's done ;D
Cheers Dan
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Hi Dan, would it make any difference if you got rid of peeps that have not posted in a couple of years only new peeps that registered & never came back again.
Just wondered!!!.
Hope you are keeping good. ;D
Rosebud.
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Yes Rosebud it would save me trolling through the names on the calender to see whether they are still active before I wish them happy birthday
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Thanks Dan,look forward to it. Hope you and your plot are keeping well
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Thanks Dan for all your hard work.
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Sounds good, but I hope you will continue having the current topics being discussed on the front.
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The list of current topics will still be on the home page... and I'll have a think about the birthday issue.
Thanks
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Worth a bump so folks dont get too much of a surprise.
I am looking forward to it!
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It'll be a bit like a birthday surprise... something to look forward to - sounds exciting (as well as lots of hard work).
Some people may be getting a bit of a surprise that they know nothing about.... guess it's up to them to snoop look around.
Eight days to go and counting......
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How about a few more smilies Dan :)
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Nice one the man. ;D
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How about a few more smilies Dan :)
(http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s12627.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email) Now there's an idea.
Something to help us express our inner selves (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11932.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email)
(http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11838.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email) Each to their own.(http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11916.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email)
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HAPPY NEW UPGRADE, or whatever, I thought I'd logged on to the wrong site for a moment. Hey, don't get rid of peeps who don't post very often, I look in on a regular basis to keep up to date although I don't post very often, don't obliterate me! ;D
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There is no front screen of latest posts very disappointed.
Sorry this is like every other forum now. No idea of what is being discussed.
Sorry but please can we have the old format back asap.
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I miss the old home page. It was a place to start for me. This is going to take some getting used to. Glad to see that you still have the new replies and new pots by yer name though
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Got a solution.
I found the recent post page. Now I have set that onto my favourites tool bar.
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Yayyyy upgrade, looks better now the new homepage has arrived ;D
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There is no front screen of latest posts very disappointed.
Sorry this is like every other forum now. No idea of what is being discussed.
Sorry but please can we have the old format back asap.
New version of old home page is up
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I'm very confused I clicked reply and got directed to a download ? >:(
but I guess it's like everything new it just takes some getting used to (old brain :-[)
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How do I get the recent post page please.
Feel utterly lost so far.
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You're not losing your marbles Macmac, its one of the advertisers, Ilivid, who seem to have a particularly aggressive advertising method. The bumsteads!
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I found the link to the recent post page on the homepage early this morning but it has now disappeared
Here is the link to it.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=recent
Sorry Dan but I still do not like the home page. The new one has far too much info. I cannot cope.
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It works for me and seems faster so thumbs up and thanks Dan.
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Looks good, just need to get used to it - well done
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Im sure Dan is busy working on this behind the scenes. It is a difficult task to work on live systems without losing access or disturbing users.
Lets give him a bit of time to get it as he wants it and enjoy and explore the new site. There are things that will be different but he has promised the home page will show the latest posts so just bear with him for a day or two..
if the homepage is too busy for you - you can remove some of the elements yourself - particularly the left and ride side colums.. On the right hand side just above the top poster element there are two +/- buttons with which you can toggle the left and right hand colums on or off....
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thank you Dan :)
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It's looking nice a modern ;) Just need to get rid of the adverts :-X :-*
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The ads have always been here - in fact there doesnt appear to be ads at the bottom of the topic screens like there used to be.
Also ad revenue does of course help to pay for the upkeep of the site!!
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Only pulling your leg :-* I have found some adverts usefull dare i say it :-X
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The only way to get rid of adverts would be to pay Dan's server costs ourselves, I would imagine.
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I like it Dan, thanks for your hard work. It does seem faster in any case.I just ignore ads :)
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The ads do indeed pay for the site hosting, sadly I don't get income for you viewing them, only when they pique your interest and click on them.
At least they tend to be relevant, a benefit of Google ads.
Glad you are mostly liking the changes :)
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Hi Dan.. Looking good and faster.... although there could be a bigger white space between threads ... they seem to be crowded... but all in all a good new format.. thank you.
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I like it! Makes me feel feel younger somehow! Thanks Dan. ;D
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;) Well it's sad to see the old way go
But then again it needed a revamp Good with me just takes a bit of getting used to ;D
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So pleased that we have home page thanks Dan
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Does this site get spidered as much as the front page would suggest - 53 spiders online now???
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Does this site get spidered as much as the front page would suggest - 53 spiders online now???
Yup, bit mental isn't it. There is a spiders log that shows all the fetches they do.
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Spiders ??? I can see it on the list..but who/what are they?
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Hello all.
Yes, it certainly has a bright new look, but I'm not certain how the detailed posts on the home page contribute. I would rather see more 'recent posts' so that you can follow what is currently being discussed.
Overall this is a great site and many thanks to Dan for maintaining it
Regards
Bluecar
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seems to be working much faster; what are 'spiders'
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It'll take a bit of getting used to but there are enough "old friends" to keep me happy! I don't know what spiders are either. ???
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I want to know about the spiders too!
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spiders are bots sent out onto the internet to find content for search engines.
They are the things that populate google / bing / yahoo etc.
Hope that explains things!
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well it looks nice and new in here tonight
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much easier to find unread posts too
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If I look through this thread I can't see bluecar's post at 1835, but I can see it in recent posts?
anyone see it?
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I really like the new look
The old site had become a bit tired and dated tbh!
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If I look through this thread I can't see bluecar's post at 1835, but I can see it in recent posts?
anyone see it?
You are right... Very very strange, one for investigation tomorrow I think.
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Clean, clear, modern and professional.
Excellent. Thanks Dan.
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spiders are bots sent out onto the internet to find content for search engines.
They are the things that populate google / bing / yahoo etc.
Hope that explains things!
Hi Dan - How do you see or find them here??
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Hi Dan - How do you see or find them here??
Look wither to the left of the main page, or at the bottom of the main forum page and you'll see something like
116 Guests, 21 Users (49 Spiders)
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I like the update ...thanks Dan
I assume you will in time restore the wiki and the amazon shop ?
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If I look through this thread I can't see bluecar's post at 1835, but I can see it in recent posts?
anyone see it?
You are right... Very very strange, one for investigation tomorrow I think.
Similar happened with Tomatoada's post this morning 11.22, but it's there now :o
Sooooo glad it's not just me seeing - or not seeing things!
ps forum looks great, well done you :)
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I like the update ...thanks Dan
I assume you will in time restore the wiki and the amazon shop ?
I will and the gallery, hopefully in improved format and by the end of the week :)
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seems to be working much faster; what are 'spiders'
I was going to ask the same. * I don't do spiders!!!!* :o
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Mmm not sure about this, I don't like change and just logged on, it sort of looks bare and weird to me but I will wander around and try to keep up to date.
XX Jeannine
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Like it ;D, still a lack of smilies ::).
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Think it will get a bit of getting used to....................
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I love the new format. It's so much easier to use! Looks nice too.
Well done.
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Fine, except I used to have a setting that had an entire category ignored - it's now appearing in the new posts list, and I can't find how to get it ignored again. Can anyone enlighten me?
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Hi,
Hopefully the ignore board will be fully working later this week.
Thanks
Dan
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Thanks Dan. I'll use my common sense till then.
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Hi,
Can you let me know if it is now working, it should be effective and you should not see the board you are ignoring at all.
Thanks
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It's different, there seems to be a lot of white space! - but I guess we'll all get used to it. One thing though, Dan - why does the last post header on each page repeat itself at the bottom of the page?
Tricia
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It's different, there seems to be a lot of white space! - but I guess we'll all get used to it. One thing though, Dan - why does the last post header on each page repeat itself at the bottom of the page?
Tricia
Not sure I follow, can you explain a bit more and I'll check tomorrow.
Thanks
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If you look at your reply to my post you will see that the reply is #65 and the subject line is repeated below the message. This is probably reply #66 and will be repeated underneath the reply. Do you see? It only happens to the latest post on a page.
Tricia
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Dan - thank you for all your hard work. I suspect it took more than 30 mins of your time!
What I'm now missing is that little list that used to be on the left hand side of the Home page, where you could click on "own posts". What would come up was all my own replies/posts, and then I could quickly find if there had been any further posts on that subject. I used that frequently.
Also I don't quite understand why now the Home Page has to have long posts which don't necessarily interest me. I was happier with the list of recent posts. I have got my computer set up to go straight to the recent posts page now. I think it is the Home page that has changed in its appearance the most.
Keep up the good work!
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Dan, I've found "show posts' in the profile bit, but that is a rather convoluted way of getting them! It used to appear under my Peanuts photo of a choc cake. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!
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I for one like your new upgrade Its crips and clean and very smart. Just one thing "what are or who are Spiders" ??
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I for one like your new upgrade Its crips and clean and very smart. Just one thing "what are or who are Spiders" ??
It's discussed further back- and an explanation (I'm still not sure though ;) )!
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I hate the new layout, but maybe I am not seeing the same as everybody else.
In my recent posts box, I only have 5 posts, then under that box I have 5 more boxes each with the start of what looks like random posts.
Anybody else get this?
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The top box is the last five posts made , then the box underneath has the first post made in each of those threads. (That's how it looks to me anyway)
Just on a personal note, at present we are getting about 20 -30 spammers a day trying to join the forum, with this new upgrade it is much easier to check them out and ban them. The huge number of spammers trying to join started before the upgrade and we do not know why it is happening (nothing to do with the upgrade) Therefore from the mods point of view it is much better so I think I can say we are pleased- Thanks Dan. ;D
I'm also trying to cope with a brand new computer system at work so my brain is very addled by bed time! :D
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Please can we have a lot more recent posts on the home page .
I also like to call up my own recent posts quite regularly, to check for responses.
I suppose the joke on the front page shows we have a sense of humour.
Any chance of a green with envy emoticon?
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My twopenneth so far ...
In general more white space is good ... it makes for a clearer less busy presentation.
I am not sure what the long posts on the home page bring to the party. What is their purpose ... are they just selected posts? From my perspective they clutter up the page. I would prefer more links (than 5) to recent posts. Of course it all depends what is feasible with this new software.
A bit more on spiders ... search engines such as Google need to trawl the Internet to find the information to populate their systems so that we can do our queries. This activity is typically called crawling. The software that is launched on each website to find and extract information for a search engine is called a spider. The more popular a website the more search engines will launch spiders and the more frequently they will launch them. Also the larger the website the more spiders will be required to get through their work in a reasonable amount of time. Hope that helps a bit.
Bottom line ... Allotments4All is a popular large website which means that it attracts lots of spiders ... perhaps bees would be a more appropriate term but there you go. In the world of IT they are called spiders.
Keep up the good work Dan.
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Actually it has improved enormously from my first view of it yesterday morning when there were no recent posts on the Home page at all.
It is great if it is easier to control the spammers.
We often have a large number of guests and I often wonder who they all are.
I do not mind the white, I just would like to be able to change the blue. What about salmon pink for a change? Or perhaps cabbage green.
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SMILIES ;D
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From what I've seen I like he upgrade, it's easier to read on the white background, as it's been mentioned before more smilies would be good ;)
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Hi Dan,
I just want to say thank you for all the work you do, this must have taken a big chunk of time, researching first and then implementing it. I really like it, nice and crisp and clear :) :)
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Thanks Dan, I've found where to do it but it had remembered my options once it reappeared. Getting there!
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As someone says above, more posts added to front screen...
More smilies should arrive, going for stability first;-)
Thanks for all the kind words.
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Thanks Dan, I've found where to do it but it had remembered my options once it reappeared. Getting there!
Hopefully you can no longer see the board in question.
Thanks
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Dad, just an idea while you are still 'fiddling' with A4A! is it poss to have the possibility of even more posts on the front page, like page 1 and then page 2, for those who only log on once a day or once every two days? I would really like that, as I want to know what has been posted in the last 24 or 48 hours, but only have ever been able to see the ones in the last 3 or 4 hours.
Is that possible? If not, son't worry and thank you!
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Dad, just an idea while you are still 'fiddling' with A4A! is it poss to have the possibility of even more posts on the front page, like page 1 and then page 2, for those who only log on once a day or once every two days? I would really like that, as I want to know what has been posted in the last 24 or 48 hours, but only have ever been able to see the ones in the last 3 or 4 hours.
Is that possible? If not, son't worry and thank you!
Try this link and favourite it if it is any use...an endless list of recent posts!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=recent
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Or this shows unread posts since your last visit:-)
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=unread
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The missing post arrived!
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The missing post arrived!
Wish I could say I'd fixed it!
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oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom very fancy looking - love the new look and feel of the site - vey nice
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Ok...noticed new thingy. What's this 'add to buddy list' funtion is? How does is work out/show up when used? Does others see who your 'buddies' are?
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Thank you Dan, and Barriedale
I'll put these links into my bookmarks and then I can go straight there - at last!
Or this shows unread posts since your last visit:-)
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=unread
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The gallery has gone- is that you Dan? or have I done something!
I meant the random pictures whenI wrote this!
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Pumpkin, I can still see the gallery on mine. Oh uh ... you broked it ;D
This is all looking rather nice, Dan. I think I might start charging on the door... ;D
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No gallery and random pictures here either. I did see some random pictures yesterday for a wee while.......
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Those spiders look really unpleasant (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11735.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email)
I'll catch this one later before it drives anyone gently round the bend. ;D
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Haven't been on here much lately but just getting the hang of the 'update', so far looks OK to me.
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Thank you to Dan for sorting out the forum. I know not many folks use it but wondering if you will be putting the "chat" back on?
I too was wondering about the spiders and read this thread and educated myself ;D
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Thank you to Dan for sorting out the forum. I know not many folks use it but wondering if you will be putting the "chat" back on?
I too was wondering about the spiders and read this thread and educated myself ;D
A new version of chat should be up and running very soon :)
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Nice having random pics back :)
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Hi Dan, thanks very much for your efforts with the upgrade, and thank you for A4A!
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Ok...noticed new thingy. What's this 'add to buddy list' funtion is? How does is work out/show up when used? Does others see who your 'buddies' are?
It looks to me like you can set your email and PM preferences to only accept messages from those on your buddy list, and like your ignore list I don't think anyone else can see who's on it.
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Those spiders look really unpleasant (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/skin/smile/s11735.gif) (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/free-smiles-smileys-emoticons-blog-forum-email)
I'll catch this one later before it drives anyone gently round the bend. ;D
Brill - thanks for the smile ;D
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Hi Dan, I don't seem able to post photos at the moment just get the message 'The attachments upload directory is not writable. Your attachment or avatar cannot be saved.'
Also I'm not able to view the gallery? Sorry if I'm seeming impatient I'm just not sure if it's back on line yet or not :)
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Hi Dan, I don't seem able to post photos at the moment just get the message 'The attachments upload directory is not writable. Your attachment or avatar cannot be saved.'
Also I'm not able to view the gallery? Sorry if I'm seeming impatient I'm just not sure if it's back on line yet or not :)
Try attachments now, when you say can't see the gallery, what happens when you click on a random photo?
Thanks
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Trying a picture...
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Brilliant Gallery is back in play, big thank you :)
when you say can't see the gallery, what happens when you click on a random photo?
All fixed now but if it is of any use it was along the lines- Error you don't have permission to view.
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Bit late on this one as haven't been about much recently - combination of short holidays and long working hours (need to work on that).
Think the new layout looks great. Easy to find new posts but would suggest more differentiation between the icons for "New Posts" and "No New Posts" on each forum. The new posts icon (http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/Themes/default/images/on.png) just needs a bit of colour adding to it to set it apart, like this maybe (http://www.ectdemostore.net/graphics/on.png) - no big deal and just a suggestion.
Thanks for all the works that's gone into it.
Cheers!
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Dan, if you are still working on the new look A4A (which I imagine you are, thank you) is it possible still to have "own posts" somewhere? I used to use this most days. I know there is "show new replies to your posts" but this comes up with lots of very old posts, that there have been replies to, which is not the same. I used to like looking at what else had been said to subjects I'd previously posted to. It's a different category, and I really liked it. Does anyone else agree?
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Not sure what you mean, do neither of these view offer it ?
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=unreadreplies
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php?action=unread
Dan
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Dan, if you are still working on the new look A4A (which I imagine you are, thank you) is it possible still to have "own posts" somewhere? I used to use this most days. I know there is "show new replies to your posts" but this comes up with lots of very old posts, that there have been replies to, which is not the same. I used to like looking at what else had been said to subjects I'd previously posted to. It's a different category, and I really liked it. Does anyone else agree?
Hey peanuts... You can find the link you want in your Profile then click summary then Show posts..
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Peanut..did you mean with 'own post' the 'show the posted messages' that was on 'old' profile page?
I used to use quite a bit that..
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Hmmm
Se if the attached picture gives you a clue ;)
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Dan - under the profile pic there is the link "show posts" I spoke about earlier on..
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Brilliant work Dan... thanks so much for all of your time and effort. It is looking better and better every time I visit. :)
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Thanks Dan, yes going into Profile does give me what I want 'show posts' and the list of my own postings, thank you. Then I click on any one of these, even if old ones, to find easily any replies that I might want to follow up.
Before, there was 'show posts' that appeared on left hand side of home page just below our individual photo (my choc cake!) so it was very quick to get them up, without having to go into profile each time.
I just wonder, if there are enough of us who used it, as e.g. Goodlife did, why this can't still be an option next to our own photo and "hello Peanuts' which now appears at the top, with "Show unread posts, and show new replies"?
But Dan, this is a tiny thing, so don't worry if it isn't of interest to others. Thanks again.
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I can't recall who asked for more Smilies but they certainly got their wish!!
There's so many to choose from it took me ages.
Brilliant :sunny:
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Loving the smilies Dan. :kermit:
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Seems strange all these changes but no doubt will get used to it. :nike:
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Hi Dan - I like the look of this but it seems much slower (have tried navigating round other sites alternately with this and they are ok - same speed as normal). Is there something I should do to make it go faster?
thanks
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I know that we must all accept the change but I do find that I'm not staying on here for as long as I used to. I do find it very bright.
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What happened yesterday at around 2300? One error message after another and so slow that I gave up in the end, Too many users apparently (there were only 7 regulars when I checked). And searches gave error messages too - something along the lines that my last search had been less than 5 seconds ago, when I had actually no done a search before at all.
After a few days of excellent performance, last night was pretty bad. It is of course possible, even likely, that Dan was working on it, but if that wasn't the reason, there is a problem.
Attaching pictures now works fine, thank you.
Jayb invited for a chat the other day - when I noticed and tried to join it was all over - sorry. But - we used to be able to see from the home page whether there was anybody in the chat room and I don't think this feature has been installed yet.
Thanks for all your work, Dan
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Hi Galina, 'users in chat' can be found on the Home page just below the list of Who's online.
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There was a problem yesterday with the company who host the website.
I was in touch with them all day, looks like they resolved the issue overnight.
Performance and reliability seem better overall since the upgrade, hopefully after a hiccup yesterday that will continue :)
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Hi Galina, 'users in chat' can be found on the Home page just below the list of Who's online.
Thank you Jayb - clearly need to learn how to look and 'see' :glasses9:
need a big 'duh' icon!!! Does :coffee2: help?
Thanks JayB and thanks Dan.
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Dan - Hi, I posted a couple of q's in the mod section if you can have a look at them.
Cheers
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A cuppa always helps :toothy10:
Cake too!
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Hi Dan, I'm finding the forum a bit sticky at times this evening, one error message re too many users, but not many about at the time. Other sites are loading fine.
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Dan, I'm still finding it very slow to get in to start, and if I want to look at my own posts, I keep getting "an error has occurred" due to high volume, etc . . . . Hope you aren't really spending ALL day on A4A problems!
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Hi Dan - today for a while I'ts been impossible to open the site... now it seems ok but a bit slow..
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Dan, we used to have a list of all the members logged in during the day at the bottom of Users Online, could we have it back if possible please? I used to enjoy seeing who had been about even if they hadn't posted.
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Hi Dan, :wave: the update looks great nice & clear with being white.
Love the new smillies. Thank you very much for all your work for this forum. :thumbsup:
Rosebud.
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Works well now - thanks Dan!
Surprised to see that MSN, Yahoo and Google are registered members - how
come?
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Hi Dan
Came across this and thought you might like to add it to the site although not founds are rare on here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19741350
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Hi Dan
Came across this and thought you might like to add it to the site although not founds are rare on here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19741350
Looks like a great idea, I'll look into it :)
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One thing I have noticed tonight Dan is I cannot see an obvious link to a users gallery either under their profile or on profile part of a user post.
I am pretty certain there used to be a link(icon) if you had any images in your gallery. Is this just a setting that needs to be changed?
Also is the wiki now gone for good?