1. Web Forum Topics
Rob/Junko,
can I request that you find a way to segment the messages being placed
in the Listfilter EUforum. It would be useful if people could select a
topic for their message and the display of messages was then able to be
presented on a per-topic basis.
For example, I have no or little interest in the many Linux and CGI
messages currently being posted. It would be nice if I could easily put
those aside so that they didn't 'waste' so much screen space.
I'm sure you have seen other Web based BBs and seen how they have multiple
message lists broken up by topic area. The reader can then select a topic
area and just see the messages within that area.
Currently the EUforum is servicible, but not optimal. On the plus side,
it is fast and has a clean UI. On the minus side, it allows almost no
user-customizations, no attachments, no topics, etc... Although software
like phpBB maybe total overkill, some of their capabilities might still
be useful for your forum too.
What are the plans or ideas you have for the EUforum?
--
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia
2. Re: Web Forum Topics
I second this request.
In the good old days of modem based BBS's most everything showed as big long
lists, but we're now in a better time that used a more object-oriented approach
to things. That includes forums.
Personally I see no reason to show an unprofessional mish-mash list of topics
and then have the viewer go seeking out where the previous or next replies are.
Dave Probert
Professional Programmmer
Thailand
3. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
>
> Rob/Junko,
> can I request that you find a way to segment the messages being placed
> in the Listfilter EUforum. It would be useful if people could select a
> topic for their message and the display of messages was then able to be
> presented on a per-topic basis.
>
> For example, I have no or little interest in the many Linux and CGI
> messages currently being posted. It would be nice if I could easily put
> those aside so that they didn't 'waste' so much screen space.
>
> I'm sure you have seen other Web based BBs and seen how they have multiple
> message lists broken up by topic area. The reader can then select a topic
> area and just see the messages within that area.
>
> Currently the EUforum is servicible, but not optimal. On the plus side,
> it is fast and has a clean UI. On the minus side, it allows almost no
> user-customizations, no attachments, no topics, etc... Although software
> like phpBB maybe total overkill, some of their capabilities might still
> be useful for your forum too.
>
> What are the plans or ideas you have for the EUforum?
>
Derek,
I appreciate very much the possibility of Listfilter-Euforum to see ALL
posts, there are not to much, even for modem users. The main purpose is
not Windows nor Linux nor CGI, it's EUPHORIA.
I'm interested in both systems and don't want to get this list splitted.
By the way, Rob or Junko, would it be a helpful feature to mark a new
subject with a special marker, similar as "Re:" is the marker for
referenced posts? It would be easier to find the initial thread and then
to 'trace' the complete thread.
Sincerely,
Rolf Schröder
----------------------------------------------------
| Dr.Rolf Schröder | E B |
| Möörkenweg 37 | C |
| 21029 Hamburg | D |
| Deutschland | A |
| Earth |-------------------------------|
| Solar System | Earth Phone : +49-40-724-4650 |
| Milky Way | National Fax: 0721-151-577722 |
| Local Group | mailto:Rolf at RSchr.de |
| Known Universe | http://www.rschr.de |
----------------------------------------------------
4. Re: Web Forum Topics
Dave Probert wrote:
>
> I second this request.
>
> In the good old days of modem based BBS's most everything showed as big long
> lists,
> but we're now in a better time that used a more object-oriented approach to
> things.
> That includes forums.
>
> Personally I see no reason to show an unprofessional mish-mash list of topics
> and then
> have the viewer go seeking out where the previous or next replies are.
It would seem easy enough to have an index page which showed all the
unique Subject: lines, then clicking on one of those subjects would lead
to a page like the one we now have, but which was filtered to show only
that particular topic. Good demo of EDB, eh?
Of course, that would require us (the users) to be more careful to
post on-topic or to change the topic when appropriate. But it would
also make the forum more useful, since several days worth of
postings on a given topic would be visible. More likely to find
an appropriate answer that way.
Irv
5. Re: Web Forum Topics
Hi
How a bout a compromise - 2 windows on screen at same time, split by
- for example - frames - top frame lists messages in scrollable box, bottom
frame shows message body.
Would enable quick screening of messages, and not having to flip back to
message list, or hit 'next'
Chris
6. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
> can I request that you find a way to segment the messages being placed
> in the Listfilter EUforum. It would be useful if people could select a
> topic for their message and the display of messages was then able to be
> presented on a per-topic basis.
>
> For example, I have no or little interest in the many Linux and CGI
> messages currently being posted. It would be nice if I could easily put
> those aside so that they didn't 'waste' so much screen space.
>
> I'm sure you have seen other Web based BBs and seen how they have multiple
> message lists broken up by topic area. The reader can then select a topic
> area and just see the messages within that area.
>
> Currently the EUforum is servicible, but not optimal. On the plus side,
> it is fast and has a clean UI. On the minus side, it allows almost no
> user-customizations, no attachments, no topics, etc... Although software
> like phpBB maybe total overkill, some of their capabilities might still
> be useful for your forum too.
>
> What are the plans or ideas you have for the EUforum?
We don't plan any major structural changes to EUforum until
after we get the next release of Euphoria out. It's been almost
a year now since the last release. After that we can take a hard
look at major ways to improve EUforum.
Any method of categorizing messages will inevitably be "sloppy".
Some people won't bother to choose a category. Others will
choose incorrectly. Some messages will rightfully belong
to two categories. Some threads will start in one category
but drift into another. A lot of us, maybe most of us,
will end up skimming through *all* new messages, in all categories,
rather than trusting the categorization system.
Regards,
Rob Craig
Rapid Deployment Software
http://www.RapidEuphoria.com
7. Re: Web Forum Topics
Robert Craig wrote:
>
> Derek Parnell wrote:
> > can I request that you find a way to segment the messages being placed
> > in the Listfilter EUforum. It would be useful if people could select a
> > topic for their message and the display of messages was then able to be
> > presented on a per-topic basis.
> >
> > For example, I have no or little interest in the many Linux and CGI
> > messages currently being posted. It would be nice if I could easily put
> > those aside so that they didn't 'waste' so much screen space.
> >
> > I'm sure you have seen other Web based BBs and seen how they have multiple
> > message lists broken up by topic area. The reader can then select a topic
> > area and just see the messages within that area.
> >
> > Currently the EUforum is servicible, but not optimal. On the plus side,
> > it is fast and has a clean UI. On the minus side, it allows almost no
> > user-customizations, no attachments, no topics, etc... Although software
> > like phpBB maybe total overkill, some of their capabilities might still
> > be useful for your forum too.
> >
> > What are the plans or ideas you have for the EUforum?
>
> We don't plan any major structural changes to EUforum until
> after we get the next release of Euphoria out. It's been almost
> a year now since the last release. After that we can take a hard
> look at major ways to improve EUforum.
That sounds fair enough.
> Any method of categorizing messages will inevitably be "sloppy".
Disagree.
> Some people won't bother to choose a category.
So force us to.
> Others will
> choose incorrectly.
Yep. Oh well I guess they get flamed then.
> Some messages will rightfully belong
> to two categories.
Provide 'linkages' then.
> Some threads will start in one category
> but drift into another.
A new thread gets started.
> A lot of us, maybe most of us,
> will end up skimming through *all* new messages, in all categories,
> rather than trusting the categorization system.
"skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
I look forward to this being looked at soon.
--
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia
8. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
>
>
> "skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
> to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
> Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
Derek, did you (will you) make use of Euman's forums,
or the new ones by William H? I'm sure if you said, "Official
support for Win32Lib will now be at [some other location than
EUforum], the Win32Lib users would follow... mostly. I suspect.
Don'tcha think?
-ck
9. Re: Web Forum Topics
cklester wrote:
>
> Derek Parnell wrote:
> >
> >
> > "skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
> > to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
> > Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
>
> Derek, did you (will you) make use of Euman's forums,
> or the new ones by William H? I'm sure if you said, "Official
> support for Win32Lib will now be at [some other location than
> EUforum], the Win32Lib users would follow... mostly. I suspect.
> Don'tcha think?
I did and these forums kept disappearing. I'm not quite sure that anything
but an RDS sponsored forum is stable enough. I'm happy to participate
in other forums, as I have done, but I like RDS's forum and hope it
will improve.
Even though RDS seems to prefer a minimulist approach (as defined by RDS)
to most endevours, I hope they see the benefit in providing a real service
(rather than a tool) for their customers.
--
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia
10. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
>
> Robert Craig wrote:
> >
> > A lot of us, maybe most of us,
> > will end up skimming through *all* new messages, in all categories,
> > rather than trusting the categorization system.
>
> "skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
> to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
> Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
>
Perhaps a way around this is for someone to build a 'EuForum viewer'
(in Euphoria, of course) It could fetch messages from the board, store
them locally, and display them by thread, date, etc. It could also
remember your password and allow you to post. It would be easy to
customize displays, and would even have more of an email feel--although
you'd have to check frequently, since there's no way to easily get the
previous messages.
Matt Lewis
11. Re: Web Forum Topics
Matt Lewis wrote:
>
> Derek Parnell wrote:
> >
> > Robert Craig wrote:
> > >
> > > A lot of us, maybe most of us,
> > > will end up skimming through *all* new messages, in all categories,
> > > rather than trusting the categorization system.
> >
> > "skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
> > to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
> > Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
> >
>
> Perhaps a way around this is for someone to build a 'EuForum viewer'
> (in Euphoria, of course) It could fetch messages from the board, store
> them locally, and display them by thread, date, etc. It could also
> remember your password and allow you to post. It would be easy to
> customize displays, and would even have more of an email feel--although
> you'd have to check frequently, since there's no way to easily get the
> previous messages.
Yes, and maybe that 'someone' should be RDS, no? They already have access
to the messages etc...
Well maybe I should start playing with winsock 
--
Derek Parnell
Melbourne, Australia
12. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
>
> Matt Lewis wrote:
> >
> > Perhaps a way around this is for someone to build a 'EuForum viewer'
> > (in Euphoria, of course) It could fetch messages from the board, store
> > them locally, and display them by thread, date, etc. It could also
> > remember your password and allow you to post. It would be easy to
> > customize displays, and would even have more of an email feel--although
> > you'd have to check frequently, since there's no way to easily get the
> > previous messages.
>
> Yes, and maybe that 'someone' should be RDS, no? They already have access
> to the messages etc...
>
> Well maybe I should start playing with winsock
I absolutely agree, however, the reality is that it won't happen (at least
for a while). OTOH, there are several people around here who play around
with HTTP and the like (I guess that's neither of us :). If they wrote
something that threaded the existing forum, I'd sure vote some MicoEconomy
money for it. Plus, it would be a good way to throw some ideas out into
the marketplace here, and it might speed up RDS development when they
get around to it.
Matt Lewis
13. Re: Web Forum Topics
Derek Parnell wrote:
> I did and these forums kept disappearing. I'm not quite sure that anything
> but an RDS sponsored forum is stable enough. I'm happy to participate
> in other forums, as I have done, but I like RDS's forum and hope it
> will improve.
The problem is that the other forums are generally hosted for free, and
free stuff doesn't last long. Plus, they require some volunteer to moderate
and maintain the site, That doesn't last long either. At least RDS has
a financial stake in seeing that the forum remains viable.
The other problem is that useful info posted to these other forums never
makes it into RDS's archive system, so it's lost to people who might need
it later.
> Even though RDS seems to prefer a minimulist approach (as defined by RDS)
> to most endevours, I hope they see the benefit in providing a real service
> (rather than a tool) for their customers.
It's not out of the question to write a consolidator program which
would connect, download the current messages, and then display them
in some user-defined format. I'll give it a try - but my version will
only work on Linux. I don't do Windows (not for free, anyway :)
Irv
14. Re: Web Forum Topics
This would be alot easyer if there was a
.EDB file that could be downloaded, containing
all of the messages (and maybe another with just
the latest ones). EUforum would use these to store
the messages, which should make it easier to make
a previos page button, and a search button in
EUForum, as well as allowing other EUforum
viewers to be created.
Matt Lewis wrote:
>
> Derek Parnell wrote:
> >
> > Robert Craig wrote:
> > >
> > > A lot of us, maybe most of us,
> > > will end up skimming through *all* new messages, in all categories,
> > > rather than trusting the categorization system.
> >
> > "skimming" is a euphamism. The current UI does not easily allow us
> > to "skim". Quite a lot of clicking and mousing is currently required.
> > Plus there is a lot of 'noise' in the list. No easy way to follow a thread.
> >
>
> Perhaps a way around this is for someone to build a 'EuForum viewer'
> (in Euphoria, of course) It could fetch messages from the board, store
> them locally, and display them by thread, date, etc. It could also
> remember your password and allow you to post. It would be easy to
> customize displays, and would even have more of an email feel--although
> you'd have to check frequently, since there's no way to easily get the
> previous messages.
>
> Matt Lewis
>
15. Re: Web Forum Topics
Hello there,
I dont think those side topics last that long anyway, because
everyone here generally wants to talk about Euphoria and
very closely related subjects. This means a topic might come
up and be very active for a period, but then die out.
This allows people to be what they really are:
people first, programmers second.
Take care,
Al
And, good luck with your (Eu) programming!
My bumper sticker: "I brake for LED's"
16. Re: Web Forum Topics
Al Getz wrote:
>
> Hello there,
>
> I dont think those side topics last that long anyway, because
> everyone here generally wants to talk about Euphoria and
> very closely related subjects. This means a topic might come
> up and be very active for a period, but then die out.
> This allows people to be what they really are:
> people first, programmers second.
Well, so far I have a program which will download the EuForum
topics, save them in an EDB, and display them in a tree-view.
You can ignore subjects which don't interest you (at your own risk),
expand the ones which do to see the replies, (date, sender)
and then click on and download the message bodies for those
which you want to read.
There's also an option to download and store all message bodies
automatically for archival purposes.
You could run this a few times a day, perhaps in the background,
and have it pop up only if there were new messages.
Perhaps I can add an option to "watch" certain topics, and only
notify you when those get new replies.
Of course, all of this depends upon us being courteous in our use
of the "Subject:" line - so we'll see how it works.
Once the bugs are out, I'll upload it to my webpage:
http://ellijay.com/users/irvm/
Regards,
Irv
17. Re: Web Forum Topics
Irv:
Looks great!
I'd like to try the windows version first i guess, since
im most familiar with that platform.
Who did the graphics design for the buttons and things?
Take care,
Al
And, good luck with your programming!
My bumper sticker: "I brake for LED's"
18. Re: Web Forum Topics
Al Getz wrote:
>
> Irv:
>
> Looks great!
> I'd like to try the windows version first i guess, since
> im most familiar with that platform.
See my other message for DIRE WARNING!
> Who did the graphics design for the buttons and things?
Erm.. I'm guessing you were looking at the screenshots?
They were done running Linux and one of the GTK themes,
probably an Acqua theme. With GTK themes, you can
get just about any look you want. Even XP, if you wish.
And switch when you get tired of them. There are lots
to download.
Regards,
Irv
