New WBForum Look

[rbgarr]

Scot (or anybody), can you tell us what the advantages of the new forum format are?

[Ken Hutchins]

Well for one it's got spell check, that will reduce the number of posts from Donn.;)
The search thingy actually works.;)

[gert]

What happened to "If it aint broke..."?

Spell check is good

What with the rules "you may not" do any thing

And when did I become a senior member ?

I'm ONLY 54

[Delboy]

Hey I'm a junior at 39....I'll take it :D

[TomF]

It weren't broke ... but just by the skin of our teeth, likely. The software was getting very creaky, as evidenced by the crash of Misc Non-Boat Related not too long back.

I don't like change much either, but this software works pretty well, once you get used to it.

t.

[Rick Starr]

I'm coming to love it; everything but the colors.

Advantages: it's fast, versatile, intuitive once you've learned your way around, all the bits seem to work, including the SEARCH, the value of which can't be overstated.

Disadvantages: It's new (Wooden Boat nuts are by definition anachronists) and did I mention the color?

Thanks for all your hard work, Scot.

[Jonas]

Just posting to see how this new system works.

[Bruce Keefauver]

Seems slower than the old one.

[Robert W. Long]

Hello:
Just looking to see if this works, thanks wb.

[ssor]

There is a miracle. I last visited at 11 pm in December 1969.;)

[Figment]

I'm coming to love it; everything but the colors.


Same here. I preferred the warmer tones of the old forum. The blue scheme smacks a bit too much of sailinganarchy.com for my taste.

picky, picky, picky!

[Skiff Junkie]

Just giving it a try. So far, so good.

[michigangeorge]

I'm a dinosaur who hates change and anything techy so this just can't be a good thing! To me it just feels somehow removed- the old forum just felt warmer and more like a bunch of folks typing letters on an old typewriter. You know, most new frozen snot boats will perform better than many of the old woodies but we keep hanging on to them for very good reasons. I'm hoping this can be tweaked to make it a bit more human.

[essaunders]

Same here. I preferred the warmer tones of the old forum. The blue scheme smacks a bit too much of sailinganarchy.com for my taste.

picky, picky, picky!

I agree. vbulletin appears to be 'skinnable'

http://demo.nbsdesignz.com/vbulletin/index.php?styleid=14

Maybe someone here has the skills to create a custom skin for WB?

[Norske3]

HEY...my last post was 1969?...ha....that was the year I got married.....?????????????????

The blue is ok....its the "skinny letters" that I no like and do I need to find another window to use smiles?...I can't be bothered.

Have you all checked out the "BOAT LISTINGS" in "CRAIGS LIST"?.....all kinds of low prices with people in a hurry to sell so they can buy new again....I found a 23 foot boat trailer...value about $1800...got it for $500......and a nice, very clean, fresh water use...no salt corrosion 1985 90 hp Evinrude outboard....almost got a 1985 pop top trailer under the FREE SECTION....HA!...its taking up all my time on the internet......tons of free patio blocks.....pianos.And its a great FREE place to sell all my boat stuff...I have a garage full...collecting for the last 20 years...time to sell out....and no ad fees.

[Norske3]

One guy is selling a 28 Bayliner sailboat...early 70's....in good condition he says...also has a very good Volvo engine..pics look good...its in his friends yard and MUST be gone by May...only $400!...??

[Stiletto]

It is a pity they dont have a 'choose your stylesheet' option.
I like the new features but the broad blue band across the top of every post I find irritating.
It seems slower too.

[Uncle Duke]

The other advantage, not mentioned here, is that WB/Scot can get some support for the current software version, but not for earlier versions. If you fall too far behind, then when you call the vendor/supplier with a problem they laugh and hang up on you. None of use need that kind of abuse, and we don't need our suppliers/support folks (Scot) to put up with that either. Pay now or pay later, etc.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Me likes it. After a bit my guess is we will wonder why it took so long.

[kc8pql]

Interesting. Spellcheck shows up in IE but not Firefox.

[Y Bar Ranch]

My first post in heah...

I like it. I'll like it more if search function works. And I'm usually a luddite with regards to updates. But the old interface was cuh-lunky. Insert :) here...preview...

A skin that made it look more like a nautical log book would be way cool. Maybe some background tunes from Master & Commander, or the sound of Old Ironsides relaxing in a moderate swell.

Props to the sitemaster.

[John Weigandt]

ok not bad

[Paul Girouard]

Interesting. Spellcheck shows up in IE but not Firefox.

I don't see spell check on either one:confused: ,IE or FF. Where is it located , what does it look like ? Thanks :) , Paul

[kc8pql]

In IE, it's on the right side of the reply window next to the little scroll arrows. Looks about the same as the spellcheck button in Outlook Express or Thunderbird.

[Old Sailor]

Spiffy and moderne.
Old Sailor

[Ron Carter]

I'm in favor of the change. Like others change is unsettling but after a couple of trips through the board I'm now definitely a supporter of the move.

[johngsandusky]

I do notice that it says my last visit was 12/31/69. I must have been an 8 year old prodigy. Someone call Al Gore and tell him I invented the internet.

[Y Bar Ranch]

After looking at it more, I find myself distracted by all of the lines and colors the rest in between actual block of text. A one word reply gets almost as much "hub-bub" as a 300 word reply.

I think this site has a much cleaner presentation (ignore the colors).

http://www.crossfit.com/discus/messages/board-topics.html

Or this one...

http://www.rockclimbing.com/topic/110203

(Can you guess some of my other hobbies?)

This Woodenboat forum software has a pretty poor "text to googaw" ratio at the moment. The only thing that matters is the text (or boat porn). Everything else is just icing. It should be there easy to find when you need it, and not noticed when you don't. The page should read almost like an unbroken story or a play. Not quite there yet.

If there is to be a lot of googaw, at least make it nautically flavored googaw. The current choice of colors smacks of carbon fiber and roto-molded plastic in colors that God never intended to be seen in nature.

[Bob Perkins]

Well,
Here is my test post..

To the Scott and the Woodenboat people who provide the FREE forum, thanks. This particular forum software seems to be in a lot of places so I'm sure it has had a lot of the major kinks worked out.

For all who hate change (I'm no big fan myself) - Give them some time - once things settle down - many changes can be made - like colors, etc...

If the new software makes Scott's job easier - I'm all for it.

Now... how do I make a little picture thingy...

(edited: Yay!! Signatures are back! It's so much easier to follow others projects with a pointer I don't have to go look up!)

Edited again: One feature I just found (you should all go through your preferences) - is one I really like on other forums. You can set up email notification to not only tell you when someone posts a response to a thread you have started, but now - you can get a notification when someone posts a response to a thread that you have responded too.

There are so many threads - its hard to keep track (In my head anyway) of all the ones I responded too - and I want to see what others have to say . That is a really cool addition.

[Y Bar Ranch]

I checked on the vBulletin site to see what provisions they have for modifying the style from the standard Version 1.0 Mod 0 style (this one). They have a page with links to people who have made mods. Gives you some idea of ways to change things. Here's one site that seems to be easier to read (ignore colors).

http://new-england.restaurantnotes.com/t22897/s&.html

Another one that allows you to read the text in a more flowing manner (put on sunglasses first before clicking link)

http://www.thefuselage.com/Threaded/showthread.php?t=42980

Nice flow...

http://www.thesti.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42

I prefer having the user info in a block to the side, the you can read the text down in the middle uninterrupted. Here's the link to them all.

http://www.vbulletin.com/links.php

I bet it would be possible to really "nauticalize" the style. I do like the operation of this software...faster than the old one.

[crawdaddyjim50]

I'm coming to love it; everything but the colors.

Advantages: it's fast, versatile, intuitive once you've learned your way around, all the bits seem to work, including the SEARCH, the value of which can't be overstated.

Disadvantages: It's new (Wooden Boat nuts are by definition anachronists) and did I mention the color?

Thanks for all your hard work, Scot.

If you are using FireFox as a browser. You can go into Tools and under Options choose your font size and background color. I am currently using a light green color with black type. It is really easy on the eyes. Jim

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Like most technical things we see today this set up is jam-packed with "features".
"Features" are neat little technical tricks that tickled the heart of the designer but that will be ignored by most of us users.
If this set up will do what the old one would do and not crash that's super. One complaint. The guy who designed the picture posting "feature" must have studied totrture under Torquemada. I'd rather shinney up a mast in a force 5 gale than try to figure it out. The fact that it's buried under vCard and e-mail preferences and a lot of other junk shows that it was not very high on the organizational chart.
It may be that the fault lies in my abilities or that of my browser but I have successfully posted a picture or two on other sites.
It wouldn't hurt to have a menu item with the word "picture" on it. Preferably up front so the seeker knows he is on the right trail. I have heard that the computerese word "image" appears somewhere in the guts of this program but I have never been able to unearth it.
Thanks for letting me spill my guts.

Charlie

[Y Bar Ranch]

test of image attaching...

http://www.personal.psu.edu/~may106/hawkeye.gif

Kind of secret squirrel hidden method. Why no easy method to insert URL?

[Bill Perkins]

Paul go to the Control Panel , chose edit options . Then chose the 3rd ,advanced edit option and you'll find spellcheck upper left .

[Mike Vogdes]

Is it any easier to post pictures?

[Y Bar Ranch]

Test of the full-blown WYSIWYG interface, accessed through quick links/user controls/edit options/miscellaneous

Testing of Book Antigua
Comic Sans font
ARIAL BLACK
Big
small
red
:eek:

Insert pix into text,

center my text
so it looks cool

bulletized list
of key pointshttp://www.personal.psu.edu/%7Emay106/carrier1.gif

quoted text

Quite a lot of functionality!

[Paul Scheuer]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid27/p008aafb5fd191cc5b0be4d5b978ed05b/fd788c02.jpg


Bummer :( I expected that to work.

It should be this image


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid27/p008aafb5fd191cc5b0be4d5b978ed05b/fd788c02.jpg

[Russ Manheimer]

To show all of the Post editing tools go to Edit Options and scroll down to the last section. Use the drop down menu and select Standard Editor.

The reply box will now contain the icons for all editing needs. Better than the last software.

Here's a recent picture of Sjogin to test posting images: Oh oh.. Tried to link to a Flickr photo (114KB) but Vb said it was too large! Now the Attachment icon is disabled. Will try later.

Note that the "A/a" icon on the upper right lets you toggle between Standard and WYSIWYG modes.

Russ

[Paul Girouard]

Paul go to the Control Panel , chose edit options . Then chose the 3rd ,advanced edit option and you'll find spellcheck upper left .
Here's the display , using the 3 rd option editor wys yeyall the letters , choisen.
I've clicked on all the dealie bobs and still can't find spell ckeck,

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/apr81.jpg

Help would be good , :) The use of more smilies , priceless;)
Edited to add:
Oh ya and spell check would be good as well:-)))

[Northernguy59]

could not find the spell check

[Paul Girouard]

Guess I'll have to go with your tag line Northernguy, and do without, while doing more :)

[Russ Manheimer]

Here's another attempt at photo posting. Never mind....

Found a photo under 39.1KB, pasted the Flickr link, hit upload and got a message that I've exceeded my quota by 11KB!!!! Haven't posted any.

Help. Scot?

Russ

[DanO]

I've got the same problem with trying to upload an image. Guess I need to sit down and figure this out. The rest looks great, though.


Yeesh... I just saw that I'm a "senior member"...maybe its time to subscribe to AARP!!

Dan

[Stiletto]

Paul, that's interesting. Spellcheck on my screen is to the left of the box at top right with A/A in it. I'm using IE. I dont know why it doesnt show for you. I never use spellcheck, maybe we should swap browsers.;)

[ddeaton]

Spell check does not show up in Mozilla either

[Hughman]

Paul, that's interesting. Spellcheck on my screen is to the left of the box at top right with A/A in it. I'm using IE. I dont know why it doesnt show for you. I never use spellcheck, maybe we should swap browsers.;)

I'm using IE, don't have spellcheck.

(what, only one smiley per post???)

OIc ya gotta type them in :confused:

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Spell check in any program is part of all Mac OS but ask Don[n] I never use it :D

[rbgarr]

Hey Joe, thanks for the tip about Mac OS and spellcheck. I see it now, and the 'Check Spelling As You Type" function is handy.

[Bill Perkins]

Paul I ment to say upper right of screen for the spellcheack .(abc)

[Bob Perkins]

hmm. The email notification of a post thing doesn't seem to work - For me at least.

[ChuckG]

sweet! much smoother than the old version.

[J. Dillon]

I guess I can get used to the new look but initially the Wooden boat plaque displayed over this blue fore mat looks out of place.... kind of like an elaborate name board on a fiberglass boat. The old look was distinctive, elegant ,compatable with wooden boats. The new look?? Eh, like a lot of other forums that use the same basic format ,so this one is blue .

The added features are an improvement and I expect to blunder through them like other cyber ignorant members here.

JD

[Ocean Spray]

Slower!!!

[htom]

I don't see a spell check option in Opera 8.52 .53?. I'll survive.

[J. Dillon]

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5277/capehornbeaglechsmaller6rn.jpg

I shows on my screen. Beagle channel

JD

[Sailor]

Why not just right click in this text box I'm typing in to get an option of "Insert file/photo/etc" and just click insert. Then you browse your HD for the pic you and and click accept or ok or something easy like that. Why post to imagestation or some other web doohicky and then into a buried function at the bottom of the page? Seems like an easy thing to build into the new software. Who's got Scots ear?

[Ocean Spray]

Test 12345

[Hughman]

Ok I found the Spellcheck/smilies/fonts/ etc.

Go to User CP or Quick Links/Edit Options/miscellanous, and change the basic option (default) to either of the other options.

too :o simple :rolleyes: :p :confused:

[mdevour]

I'm working on a vBulletin project as well, and I can tell you that support is very good for this product. There are lots of folks hacking and adding/changing functionality to the program. Support staff is right there, like 24/7. You have to climb a learning curve, but once you get beyond the early hand-holding stage, staff and the community are quite responsive.

It's famed for being secure, reliable, and, most of all, scalable to very large installations without things breaking or overtaxing server capacity.

The downside? Yep, it's heavy on gadgets and features and can be intimidating to less technically inclined users. In fact I am going to great lengths to customize my new forum to strip out as much of the gadgetry as I can and give my members a streamlined, simple, easier to read interface.

So, really, choosing vBulletin was close to a no-brainer for Scot, I'd imagine. That it took a little while to get going is not surprising, but it will give him a lot more flexibility and convenience as admin... and that can only be a good thing for the rest of us! :)

Way to go, Scot. Thanks for the hard work.

Be well,

Mike D.

[JormaS]

I think the old forum´s format was the most user-friendly I had ever seen on the web. I´ll explain.

A forum is for discussion, and discussion means talk. Therefore, ideally, the visual format should convey a sensation of closeness between the people taking part in the conversation. All disturbing or distracting elements should be kept to a minimum. Those present should ideally think they are in the same building, in the same room.

In this new format, a post is more like an entity of its own, visually cut off from the preceding and the next post. It´s like the speaker is hollering from a window across the street, promoting himself in the process as best he can. The quote is written on a piece of cardboard: "Hey, here´s what you said." When you quote somebody in a discussion, you repeat what he said. You don´t wave a placard at him!

An air of intimacy is what should be strived at. Maybe it will come back when we get used to the new surroundings and learn to neglect the features which have nothing to do with the discussion itself.

And I certainly understand the forum-keeper´s view point. The meeting room should function without the lights going out and without the participants having to think they suffer from memory loss once every month!

BTW, how do you write a word in italics here?

[JormaS]

And how do you get the smiley where you want it?

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Too many do dads to get this forum to work on my phone :(

[Sailor]

you can get this on your phone? no wonder I get lost when they talk about retrieving old threads and bumping and all those other techno gobldygood things I hear you guys using.

[J. Dillon]

Jorma, I thought your comment well said and I agree with you completely. The old Woodenboat format was a classic amongst the usual run of forums. Kind of reminds me of the old phrase "KISS"

JD

[Russ Manheimer]

Another attempt to post a photo.....

http://static.flickr.com/34/122701053_c4d7cf0e55.jpg

It worked! The above photo is of the new Flatfish being constructed at my Boatyard. Here the pattern for the sheer strake is being fitted. In order to duplicate the shape of the molded strake and how it bends, a batten is fastened to the upper (lower here) edge.

Any reason why the spell check feature only works in IE and not in Firefox?

Russ

[Hughman]

And how do you get the smiley where you want it?

Jorma, go to User CP or Quick links/ Edit options/ Miscellanous, and select anything but basic in the drop box.

It took me a while to find it also. :rolleyes:

[JormaS]

Thanks, Hughman.:)

[Tom Mac]

To Russ Manheimer; Good Luck with the flatfish. A great boat, good to have another flatfish around. Build one 4 years ago, sail out of Long Island, on the Great South Bay. Let me know if you have any questions, be glad to help a fellow flatfisher. Tom Mac

[1stnewyorker]

Here goes:

http://www.1stnewyork.org/IMG_2273.JPG

spell check: It louks lYke ayel half to werk on thatt won.

[J. Dillon]

Looks good from here . How much of a charge can you put in that gun?

JD

[1stnewyorker]

Inch and a half bore. We use 500 grains FFF for blank firing; 400 grains for live.

[Trog]

Wha the... I want one of those on my boat. :(


I am so glad these forums upgraded. I spend a lot of my time on other forums that are on the bleeding edge of VBulletin, so I'm very used to them.

It's nice to see at a glance if you're still the last poster in a thread at the index page.

Kudos to the admins :)http://www.woodenboat-ubb.com/vbulletin/upload/images/icons/icon14.gif

Now we just need to stock up on smilies. ;)

[bagpiper]

(Test posting...)

My take... Not too bad of a look. It is rather generic, though. Any CSS experts care to take on the challenge of creating a "WoodenBoat" look to the forum?

Wow, a calendar! That oughta get filled up right quick...

[Paul Scheuer]

Very good, Scot.

[Wild Wassa]

"Now we just need to stock up on smilies."

Please no.

Smiles are another form of canned laughter and canned laughter leaves no room for imagination.

It is like writing 'LOL'. Who really gives a rat's arse if people think their own jokes are funny?

Leave room for a touch of irony and a bit of trickness in humour. Being subtle is real humour ... and a lot more funny than dragging down all humour to that of tacky slapstick.

Less smiles is good. Both Rumsfeld and I are finally in agreement about something ... he doesn't finish any of his tragic jokes with a smile ... ever.

Warren.

[Rick Starr]

Well, subtlety doesn't carry over at all in this place, esp where humor is concerned, I've found. It's gotten me in more trouble unintentionally than anything else around here. I'm not big on smilies, but they do provide a vehicle for succinct communication, like the acronyms, and should be available for those who like them, are proficient with them, etc.

Wait a minute. What do you know about subtlety? ;)

[Hughman]

Wait a minute. What do you know about subtlety? ;)

ROFL! ;)

[Wild Wassa]

Rick, I know subtle doesn't work here ... I ain't no newbie.

After "ROFL! ..." I rest my case.

Warren.

[CarlZog]

I am so glad these forums upgraded. I spend a lot of my time on other forums that are on the bleeding edge of VBulletin, so I'm very used to them.

Same here. I've found this to be one of the most effective and increasingly widely used forum softwares.

Hopefully the admins will adopt some alternate skins, customization options for those put off by the colors.


Carl

[bamamick]

I am sorry everyone. Sorry Scott. I just don't like this new format and I can't tell you why. Just doesn't feel like home. The old forum was home. I probably haven't put up five posts since we went to this format.

May be illogical, but it is what it is. I am sure that I'll get used to it in time.

Mickey Lake