Beta Test - feedback and bug reports welcome

[HB]

Soon the site will be migrated to the next version of phpBB, version 3.0 "Olympus." In preparation for the migration, a test version is available for feedback and bugs reports. It includes new features and an updated look. You can help by trying the various functions that you normally use and reporting if there are any errors or just something that doesn't work as you expect.

Note: The main "live" forum and the test forum run from two separate databases. Nothing you enter there will be preserved. The test site is a copy of the live site from today; your login/password will work on the test site if you haven't changed it very recently.

The test site is available here: http://www.home-barista.com/forums3/ (link intentionally suppressed)

[Jasonian]

So, it's just like the new stuff at coffeed?

I dig it.

Common complaints over there were things like not enough contrast of colors, and aesthetic things like that.

Just something to look out for.

[HB]

Yes, coffeed and HB are both based on phpBB, though I've customized it with my favorite tweaks from the last three years (e.g., related topics, simplified image uploading instead of generic "attachments", topic URLs, etc.). Randy G. already mentioned the color choices in the test forum; I'm trying to keep an open mind because it's easy to get locked into the same habits.

My bigger concerns are performance and bugs. The phpBB version 3 database conversion is one way... so best to get the bugs out before going live because there's no turning back.

[cafeIKE]

First impression : change for change sake.

Just like bloody Vista, move all the stuff around to what end.

[HB]

First impression : change for change sake.

Yeah, I've tracked the follow-on version for over a year and thought the same thing many times. The majority of the "interesting" features are geared towards heavily moderated forums. For example, reporting posts and moderated posts (i.e., approval required). Some of the new user features are modestly interesting, e.g., bookmarking and friends/foes. While not proven, the phpBB developers claim the new version scales better than the old one. Assuming the CSS is cached correctly, it's hopefully true since the actual unique page content is significantly lower with the new version.

[cafeIKE]

Can I have a telnet interface

[TimEggers]

Dan anyway to get the new features while keeping closer to the traditional/classic look? The new look is pretty bold (user info on the right?!?!:shock:)and I suppose it will grow on me but I do prefer the looks of the forums now. Then again its what I'm used too and I don't take change well (ask the Mrs.).

[HB]

Can I have a telnet interface

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.coffee/

...I do prefer the looks of the forums now.

Sorry, I can't take credit or blame for the template style; all I do is tweak the colors slightly from the standard phpBB V3 look. My reaction was the same as yours, but it has grown on me (mostly), even the avatars on the right.

[hbuchtel]

I'm curious why the "view your own posts" link is so prominent? ("egosearch" cute)

You can get that info easily from the user control panel.

Also the 'forum home' link is a repetition of the link above (in the horizontal brown line of links under the header)

Regards, Henry

[HB]

I'm curious why the "view your own posts" link is so prominent?

That's standard phpBB. It's not in the current live board and I can't say that I miss it ("egosearch" is also their keyword choice).

Also the 'forum home' link is a repetition of the link above (in the horizontal brown line of links under the header)

In the standard template that space is for a navigation "breadcrumb trail," i.e., forum index > general (category) > forum name. That's handy if a mega board uses nested forums, but HB doesn't need it because its structure is flat. Since the "forum home" link shows up in the bottom link, I figured it is symmetrical.

For the record, the current board has the same thing.

[TimEggers]

Dan I did click the new features link in your original post and most of that stuff went right over my head. What are some of the features you're most exited about getting and what has inspired the upgrade (the site has always seems to run good on this end)?

Just curious.

[HB]

From a user's point of view, the best features are:

• New look / CSS - there are lots of little UI improvements; the CSS layout in theory should be much faster. Once your cache has the CSS loaded, the content sent is 1/2 to 1/3 the current design without CSS.
• Friends & foes - you can filter out those you would prefer to read less of and highlight those you don't want to miss.
• Bookmarks - your private list of favorites; if it turns out to be popular, I would rework this to community favorite bookmarks.
• Improved searching - search by topic title only, text only, within a single thread, etc.
• Drafts - you can save a post and finish it later (who hasn't "lost" a long post because of a bad browser click)
• Moderating - a long list of features for handling bans, pre-approved posts, spam reduction, etc.

As Ian suggests, it isn't a "must have" list of features. It did provide an excuse to modernize the site's look and make it easier to integrate in future changes.

[welone]

is there a print button I'm missing?

I like the new design and also that you can manage all the subscriptions (in the profile; subcat 'overview')

[jmcphail]

I would actually suggest a "Home" link on the right somewhere, to make life easier for laptop users. When you're dragging the scroll thumb on the right side of the browser window and get to the last post, anything to reduce the amount of right-to-left cursor movement to get to navigation would be helpful.

... the 'forum home' link is a repetition of the link above (in the horizontal brown line of links under the header)

[Matthew Brinski]

I like it. When viewing the Coffeed update, I thought it was a bit of a weird layout at first. However, I quickly became used to it, and I now prefer it to any other board I've seen.

One thing - Can you justify the layout to center screen rather than left?

Matt

[HB]

I would actually suggest a "Home" link on the right somewhere, to make life easier for laptop users.

There's a "Return to <forum name>" that could serve this purpose. Or I could swap the Forum home link at the bottom of the page to the right (i.e., under the assumption you would be at the bottom of the page anyway). Make sense?

One thing - Can you justify the layout to center screen rather than left?

I don't see why not, it's the latest thing. Just have to figure out a background color for the dead space; probably a very light shade of gray (otherwise the main content looks like it's "floating" in a sea of white).

[Matthew Brinski]

I don't see why not, it's the latest thing. Just have to figure out a background color for the dead space; probably a very light shade of gray (otherwise the main content looks like it's "floating" in a sea of white).

I'm not saying that you need to follow others' design, it just strikes me as more balanced especially when the user names/info are on the right side of the screen. In the current format, I think left justification looks good. In the upcoming format, it looks "pushed left" to me. But this is just my opinion. Other users with more sanity are probably indifferent.


Matt

[HB]

In the current format, I think left justification looks good. In the upcoming format, it looks "pushed left" to me. But this is just my opinion. Other users with more sanity are probably indifferent.

To test your theory, I changed the current format. It's not bad centered.

[cafeIKE]

Second impression : In the profile section, the Equipment, Real Name header vs the data is bass ackwards.

The high contrast should be the data, not the header :

Real Name: Ian Eales

[HB]

The high contrast should be the data, not the header :

I agree the subheading font is too bold, but it's standard for headers to have some sort of emphasis (e.g., the font size); it helps with scanning. I'll look at toning it down.

For the record, 98.2% of the look is the standard template. I tweaked the colors and images, but otherwise left it as-is. I hope to get some time with a professional web designer to get his opinion / improvements.