The Pub Discussion Board

Eric

I can't open a story and read it on my laptop.  When I click on the title it opens to the information page and when I click on the forward arrow to go to the next or first chapter it goes directly to the end where you can leave comments on the story

Don

I used to have about a hundred lines of custom CSS to rearrange the story pages so they were actually usable on my desktop screen -- mainly breaking the story text out of its tiny short box, then dealing with the consequences of doing that.

I don't need any of that anymore. Scrolling now works properly, I have the whole of my monitor height to play with, the width is comfortable and centered, and the menus are always accessible in a better way than my hatchet job could do. You've done a fantastic job and I greatly appreciate it. Keep up the good work!

A couple things about the new page (and the announcement article)

First: If the front page has a LOT on it, the announcement seems to be centered at the "full height" of the contents... which is well below the visible portion of the screen.  When first looking at the site, I wasn't logged in and the front page was short, then I logged in and it was quite long...  So that has something to do with it, but when trying to look at the announcement once logged in, I initially thought it wasn't coming up for some reason.  Then I scrolled down to look at more of the stories just posted...  and there it was.

The other thing...  This would limit saves to JUST the device, but a thought about the text changes and such that you've offered (great idea for those of us with bad eyes, even if a browser does have a zoom feature)  If you are making a change to this without a login, why not use the browser "local storage" options?  You can save the information you need there and the user wouldn't have to change it every time time come onto the site.   Once for every device they use, but not more. 

Granted, saving them to the user on the server makes it even more versitile, but only for those that are logged in.  Local storage (only when a user is a guest) would help with re-entering it each time.

Saran wrote:

First: If the front page has a LOT on it, the announcement seems to be centered at the "full height" of the contents... which is well below the visible portion of the screen.  When first looking at the site, I wasn't logged in and the front page was short, then I logged in and it was quite long...  So that has something to do with it, but when trying to look at the announcement once logged in, I initially thought it wasn't coming up for some reason.  Then I scrolled down to look at more of the stories just posted...  and there it was.

I will look into it, but I cannot reproduce what you're seeing.  For me, the announcement box opens at the top of the page.

The other thing...  This would limit saves to JUST the device, but a thought about the text changes and such that you've offered (great idea for those of us with bad eyes, even if a browser does have a zoom feature)  If you are making a change to this without a login, why not use the browser "local storage" options?  You can save the information you need there and the user wouldn't have to change it every time time come onto the site.   Once for every device they use, but not more. 

Granted, saving them to the user on the server makes it even more versitile, but only for those that are logged in.  Local storage (only when a user is a guest) would help with re-entering it each time.

Because leaving it the way it is encourages people to register, which removes one of the barriers to them actually leaving feedback (which you can't do without being logged in.)  There are several features that are completely disabled unless you're logged in.  Saving that number is one of them.  It was intentional.

Eric Storm

When I click on a story name, instead of going to the old page where there was a navigation panel on the left, now there's a synopsis column on the left and the discussion thread on the right. Firefox 146.0.1, maximized, 1920x1080, any story I click on.

sadimlonely wrote:

Not sure if this is the right place

It's not, but I'll answer you anyway. 

Can I manually set it so that it shows "updates since (x) date"?

Unfortunately not.  That's a feature I never built into the system.  Even the "Browse Stories" feature was tacked on well after the site was built.

If/when I have a chance, I'll look at updating the Browse Stories feature to allow you to sort by specific things.

Eric Storm

Eric Storm wrote:

Hakhazar wrote:

When I click on a story name, instead of going to the old page where there was a navigation panel on the left, now there's a synopsis column on the left and the discussion thread on the right. Firefox 146.0.1, maximized, 1920x1080, any story I click on.

There should be a toolbar across the top of the screen, with controls for navigation.  Is it not there?

Eric Storm

Ah. There's a bar across the top, but it only has one recognizable icon on it, plus some sort of partial boxes. Hovering over them does give text about what they should do. The "Previous Chapter" icon is recognizably a rewind icon, but the rest are not. I can at least get to the stories now, thank you. I'd attach a screen shot, but I don't know how here.

Eric Storm wrote:

That is VERY strange.  Does it look like the boxes just aren't big enough for the icon?  Also, what kind of device/browser are we working with?  If you have a problem, others have the same problem, so I'd like to get it cleared up.

Eric Storm

It's my Window 10 PC, Firefox 146.0.1, maximized, 1920x1080. They aren't really quite boxes, they're semi-connected lines, the same size as the rewind (previous chapter) button.

At the left edge there's a box shape made of six dots (maybe small dashes) (hover text is Open Menu).
Next about 1/3 of the way across there's one with a solid left edge, very light top edge, and a short dash for a right edge, nothing on the bottom (Give Feedback).
In the middle is the rewind icon.
Next about 3 icon-widths to the right is one that has dark dashes for the bottom, right, and right end of the top, dark dots for the left edge, and a light line for the rest of the top (Table of Contents).
Same distance to the right is one with solid left and right edges, light dots near the middle of the top and bottom, and a dark dash at the right end of the top (Next Chapter).
Twice the distance from there is a solid dark bottom, dark dash in the middle of the top, and partial left and right sides, also dark (Make a Donation).
Past that there are a couple that are just two dots each (Text Size and Help With This Page).

Hakhazar wrote:

It's my Window 10 PC, Firefox 146.0.1, maximized, 1920x1080. They aren't really quite boxes, they're semi-connected lines, the same size as the rewind (previous chapter) button.

I have a hunch... are you using a non-default color theme?

In any case, yes, it's a pain to post a screenshot here, but if you would, email one to me.  I'd like to be able to see exactly what's going on.  storm + "that little symbol above the 2" + the website domain.

Eric Storm

And... that's what I figured.

You're using the "System Colors" theme.  As might be expected, trying to determine an appropriate color to use for icons is pretty much impossible with a theme that can be any color at all.  So, the icons are there, you just can't see them.

My suggestion, (obviously), is to use the site's primary theme, in either its dark or light version.

Eric Storm

Eric Storm wrote:

And... that's what I figured.

You're using the "System Colors" theme.  As might be expected, trying to determine an appropriate color to use for icons is pretty much impossible with a theme that can be any color at all.  So, the icons are there, you just can't see them.

My suggestion, (obviously), is to use the site's primary theme, in either its dark or light version.

Eric Storm

Is the "System Colors" theme you mention my WIndows theme, or a site-specific theme? If the latter, I have no idea why (or how) it would be selected, I don't change sites' themes.

I can definitely see the icons now, and I appreciate the effort you put into making it work for me. Thank you!