VBulletin Discoveries
 

As we're all finding our way around the new forum structure, we're discovering nifty features that the old forum didn't have. Let's share them to make things easier!

I found myself wondering what the black dots on some of the envelopes were when I looked down the thread list on the main page of a forum. I couldn't find an explanation, but finally noticed that those were all threads on which I have posted! Very nice feature!! Now all I have to do to find "my" threads is to look for the dots!

You can use vB code to add colors to your sig. Just use a {color=(color)}{/color} tag with [] instead of {}. Not incredibally useful, but fun nonetheless. ^_^

Unfortunately all that does is to make your signature so intrusive that your post doesn't get read - which is not a good idea, in my opinion. We've had colors and sizes in the past, and they did not make reading enjoyable.

Indeed, both colors and sizes have been disabled for now. Also keep in mind that our usual policy on sigs -- no more than three lines of text -- is still in force.

One neat new feature is that you can click on the number of replies on a thread and get a breakdown of who posted and how many times they posted.

An other new feature is when you use the search function to find a specific word it will be marked red in the thread.

A Forum Index!!! That's a godsend! I guess you mods really were sick and tired of all the repeats in the thread topics!

And the Buddy List now tells me when someone is online...interesting.

I've been without internet for over a week now, and I come back at a very odd time! It's the first thing that's gotten me excited in several days!!

Thread ratings...? Wow.

And now that I have searched a little bit, it's off to the question thread...

Not to be the pessimist, but I find the lack of topic titles on the main page to be a slight bit annoying..

However, the easier access to the "Friends" list in the profile is a nice feature. It makes for one-click PM-ing.

Edit: I just noticed the Forum "Posts:" feature at the top. 207,000! :eek:

It's nice to go to "user cp" , then to "Forum jump", select "Who's online" and hit "go". You can see what everyone is doing currently , and join in whatever fun you wish.
What is the smilie limit per post? Only three? I hope people don't misinterpret my posts! Smilies are helpful when you're a bit of a joker! :o ;)

New Discoveries
 

To tell the truth, I don't much like the new layout AT ALL!!! The old layout was simple and streamlined, and this one seems jumbled and squashed together. I've been having quite a hard time finding my way around. And I had been off the computer for a week or two, so this was a huge surprise! However, I don't mind the user cp page. Also, that line of buttons up at the top is somewhat helpful. Well, I'm done now. Carry on...

Hmmm.... This layout is practically identical to the old one, so much so that when I go back and forth between the old forum and the new one (we're still working on the move) I usually can't tell which one I am on until I see the line of buttons at the top right of the screen. That's how similar they are to me. The only screens that are different are the ones that didn't exist on the old forum. I'm sure you'll soon grow used to what may seem to you like major changes.

We'll be upgrading to a new version when it's released in a few weeks or so, and I'm 99.9% sure that it shows the topic titles on the main page.

I find it a big improvement that you can see the last posts on a topic while posting a reply!
And also the warning when someone replied to a thread you participate in, although that's something I discovered because this function is automatically on on the new forum, and I learned that it was possible on the old forum as well...Never noticed that.

Kinda cool..
 

There are actually many cool features..:D

I noticed that you can subscribe to threads without actually posting on them. I like that!

It also seems to me that the PMs you send, will be in this "sent messages" folder. Goodies..:P

*sighes*
I suppose you're right B-W. I guess I'm sorta getting used to it already. Sorta.;) Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Good work B-W!:D

One way the layout has changed ever-so-slightly: the posts are slightly narrower. Which means my sig which was 3 lines on the old BD is now 4. Still, I like excuses to find more cool & interesting sigs.

*trundles off to check out the search feature. The old one was sooooo slooooooow*

ps: in the old forum, there would be an inline frame doovy-whatsit under the post a reply box, with the thread-thus-far. It took a while to load, but it was there. Still, the newer version, sans-iframes is much faster, which is good.

So cool...
 

I've used the word "cool" in all its meaning for...a thousand times now.

Though still saddened by the disappearance of http://forum.barrowdowns.com/ubb/icons/icon10.gif, I did admit...

Subscription is so cool...I never have to leave the Control Panel again... :)

This also depends on your screen resolution - at 1024 x 768, your sig is still three lines. Average screen resolution is getting higher and higher (meaning the specific font values will appear smaller and smaller in relation to the total viewing area) as video cards and monitors improve.

Well I am a member of antoher completely different msg board which is VBulletin, so none of the features are really a surprise to me. But here are my views on the changes:

I think it's a bit faster, which is always a good thing

I didn't know how to quote on the old board and here i know, so that is also good.

The only thing i don't like is that you can't see the first few lines of the last post like you could on the old one. For instance, on quote threads, you could see whther someone had just put up a new quote or whatever whereas on this one, you actually have to go into teh thread to look.

I don't think it feels jumbled or anything, though.

Oh yeah, and i miss the dveil smilie.

I have found this change to be actually pretty easy

The only thing I have noticed though is it seems like many people who were on the other forum have not made it over here yet. But hopefully that will change.

But there is one good feature that I had not yet noticed... On the bottom of the main page there is a place where it lists members birthdays for the day. I think this is quite cool.

But hopefully it won't lead to posts like "Happy Birthday *insert name here*" . But I highly doubt that the management of the forum would let happen things like that :cool:

I discovered that VBulletin dotted threads that I haven't posted in since EZBoard. I am impressed.

I think it's cool that you can mark all the forums as read once you're done rather than having to mark it all individually...it never seemed to work anyway on the last one. I also like how there are all the buttons at the top. Now that I've been on here for a few days I definitely like this one better.

Well, I've mucked around with the search function, and it is beautiful. So fast! It makes searching fun!

(I need more sleep! ;))

I am so happy that the search can search all the forums at once! It was so annoying that I had to search each forum separately on the old one. Not sure if that counts as a new discovery or not...

But I have discovered that when you change your profile you no longer have to make a post to show that the change has been made...now it changes it automatically.

Cheers!
Imladris

Definitely. I love this new search function. On the old forum, it would always time out.

The members page is kind of cool. It's cool to be able to look at all the registered members, now if I want to check out someone's profile or something I won't have to hunt down one of their posts. :) I like it that you can sort by name, date joined, or number of posts. Especially number of posts. I was surprised to see that I'm eleventh on the list by number of posts—have I really posted that much??

A complaint — I noticed the two new icons, the green ball and the eye. Man, I was really hoping to see a Gimli's axe or an Elven leaf brooch or something cool like that. A pointy hat! A tree! The possibilities are endless, why would you use a green ball?

Oh, but I love this: :smokin: Is that who I think it is? :D

Yes, I was hoping there would be some new, interesting icons too, but also glad to see that none were missing. :)

I really like being able to subscribe to threads, it makes it so much easier than having to look through all the forums to see if there are any new posts that I have to read. Actually, I like the entire user cp, there is so much more interesting things, and it is much more organized!

Has anyone noticed this...
 

...I've seen BW use more smilies here than in the previous forum - well, his posts in the previous forum that I've actually seen. And his posts seems...more...jovial, if I may use this word.

OK, so this is not really an observation about the actual forum.

Your account is so dead. - Adam

I know.

I like the little white dots showing what topics you've posted in, and the birthday list. So cool!

But I hate that I have lost aprox. SIX HUNDRED posts! I was well over 900, and now I am at barely 350. :( :confused: :(

~Fëa