UBB.Developers Forums General Discussion Suggestions and Feedback postlist.pl/.php NEW icon

After so much time using WWWThreads and I still get confused by that NEW icon in postlist. It is right after the number of replies that automatically will make you think thats the number of new replies there are.

I suggest taking the icon out of there and placing it in a new column... OK, so then we would have too much columns taking space. Solution: simple, change the text "Replies" (7 letter word-width) and change it to "RE:"

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Personally, I still think that would be a waste of a column. Mine would almost always be empty. []/w3timages/icons/frown.gif[/] Perhaps just changing the graphic to an icon as opposed to the word New would make it more clear. And this could be done on an individual basis, being only a graphic replacement.

Yes, to very active members like us it would seem like a waste of column, but you´ve gotta think of what your usual member sees, not what you see.

I cant think of any icon implying there are new posts, that being right after the number of replies wouldnt make you think there are that number of new replies.

And if you change the icon, to a non text one, then it is pointless as you do have the orange title icon anyway...

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Even if it just says "new" all the way down the column, it would seem like a waste to me. Just my preference, I guess. You make a good point, though. Why not just remove the New icon entirely? It is really redundant in the first place anyhow...

The thing is that if we want to show them there are new posts that is not the place to do it because it leads to confusion once you get to the post and see there arent as many new posts as you expected.

Improvementes:
- Delete it.
- New small column somewhere else.
- Other.

If it was deleted, postlist.pl/php should show at the bottom an orange and yellow icon explaining what they mean. The text "new" is helpful, just not there...

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Kind of like there is a column for N and R with the private messages.... this could work. Real simple... you could even use text if you wanted... or an image.

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

What about a text inserted next to the subject as the (pages 1 | 2 | 3) is inserted... but (4 new) as in 4 new replies to that thread.... maybe?? Replies column could stay the same but maybe without an image...

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Exactly, kind of like that, actually, just that. []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]
That would be cool.

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Keeping a similar theme as they find on the main index... making some sense.

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

If you mean the [:red](X new), as far as I remember, for some reason that isnt possible in postlist.pl
So since there is no check to the actual number of replies we need either a "new" text or "new" icon. This is done.
So back to where we started... change it!

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Ugh.... hmmm new text might be ok... I'd have to see/use it. I go by the folders/icons anyway. Would be neat to see the number, though. []/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/] If it would mean more resources, forget it... as usual. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Citing Scream on this:
This would require doing an extra query for every thread listed, doing a COUNT(*) of the posts within that thread that are new. It's not bad doing it on the main screen because it's just one query per forum, but on the postlist screen that could turn into alot of extra queries.

So the only option is that, moving it or deleting it, oh yeah, or keeping it there bugging everyone...

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

What about highlighting the cell bgcolor on posts with new messages? I think this is an option if all that is being done is checking to see if there are new posts and then rendering somehting...

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Thats an interesting suggestion!

On the other hand, "new" is more descriptive than a highlighted row or different color title icon. Maybe a combination... or is that too much? []/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

How about this:

Highlighted table cell colors
New icon
New text
Bold text
Colored text

Think they would figure out which were NEW? []/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]

But seriously, maybe a combo of two of them would work. If it can't have the # of new replies, then I don't think it would look that great in that spot next to the subject.

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

There is another option. We could add a new small column on the left of all subjects on the postlist page. Get rid of the different colored icons for new messages, just stick with one color and then put some sort of icon in this new column to denote a new thread or a thread that has new replies.

-------------------------------
| N |  This is a new thread
-------------------------------
| N |  This thread has new replies
-------------------------------
|   |  This thread has no new replies
-------------------------------

Would need to come up with some sort of descriptive icon to put in there that would work, with alt text of "New"


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Scream
WWWThreads Developer

As I might have mentioned in another post, I would hate to lose the folders... but maybe it would work out, and maybe it would even be better. (Hmm as I am writing this it is sounding better and better []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/])

Let me go surf around and see if I can find something to give me an idea of what such an icon could look like....

BTW are the cell bgcolors an option?

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Not too bad...we could even use that icon in the private messages section []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/] I would personally like to see separate icons for new thread with new replies, new thread, and new replies. Of course, still nothing for fully read threads. Perhaps that's too much though?

You could still use your folders. The new column wouldn't effect the folders or icons, we just wouldn't need to use the 2 different icon colors any more.

If we did this, how would you want to use the cell bgcolors? Yeah, it can be done with a new class in the stylesheet.

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Scream
WWWThreads Developer

UBB has a similar method. They use a picture of a folder to the left, and it's yellow if the post is fully read, and red if there's new replies/new post. Also to the left.

I like it. I like it. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Hmm, the only problem with using a folder is some sites still use the folder option, so they would have a folder next to a folder. That might be a bit confusing[]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]. What other type of icon makes you think new messages?

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Scream
WWWThreads Developer

[:blue]You could still use your folders.

Ok, ok, cool! I thought you were talking about replacing them with the new images.

[:blue]If we did this, how would you want to use the cell bgcolors?

Well on my original customization of the forum, I had changed everything over from alternating colors to solid colors for columns... now I just have them all white. If they were all one color, then if a row were another color, it would stand out... as it is now you would have to bring a standout color in, and I am not sure how things would look then.

I think the whole row could have the different bg color. Also, if a forum uses non-bold links, the entire row for that thread with new posts could be in bold in addition to having the different bgcolor...

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Yeah, I use folders and two folders wouldn't make any sense. []/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

You dont need separate icons for new threads as you do for new replies. If in the CSS file you make visited links different than new links the browser will do the job for you, this can be cursive text, or different color...


Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Ok, get me a good icon to describe a new post/thread and I'll work on getting this in[]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/].

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Scream
WWWThreads Developer

Ok, I'm on it... []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

How about this? I got the idea from eBay's rusing sun... but as you see, mine is different! []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]
[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]
[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]
[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]
[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]
[]http://www.wwwthreads.com/files/25981-newsun.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Fine to me, we can always change it if we find something better.

--offtopic: How did you make that gif inline when it was attached with the same message? You dont get to know the name (number) of it until after the message is posted. Or did you go in and edit your message?

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

You can modify your post after you attach the file. That's the trick I use for a long time.[]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]

But maybe Muhammad has a more creative way.[]/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

Quick answer: I edited the message... []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

[:blue]But maybe Muhammad has a more creative way

Yes, magic! []/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/]

The only other way I would do it would be to FTP it to my images directory and just use the image tag... but only if I didn't want to attach it.

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

A sun for when there are new messages and a moon when they are all read!
That would be cool! []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

You are really a [:red]Creative dIRECTOR[]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/]

[]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/] I don't know if I would want a moon on my forums!

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

That title can mean almost anything... []/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

Haha, dont like moons?
It could mean that the thread is sleeping. The sun meaning the thread is awake.

Haha, or se could have an open/closed eye icon...

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com

Hey, they're an idea...

See what happens when we are waiting for a feature? I just can't wait to see Eileen's face when she sees another column on postlist! []/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/]

Muhammad Chishti
Creative dIRECTOR
[:white]http://www.imcuniverse.com

I like the sun, looks cool. Now, what it would be currently is a sun when there are new replies or the thread is new, and nothing if there are no new replies. So, is that what we want to go with?

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Scream
WWWThreads Developer

Yes, that was the original idea, nothing if there are no new replies.
But I am starting to like the idea of showing another icon if there arent new replies... this couldnt be configurable in w3tvars, could it? []/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/]

Mateo Byler
CruceDeCaminos.com