Forum Ideas

[vicky whitworth]

What are you guys talking about?

Am I missing something? Have I been disenfranchised?

 

[MdB]

http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/new-browser-windows.shtml

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm with MdB, for the reasons in point 4 of his link:

Using a new browser window is a little disrespectful to web users. If they want a new window, they'll ask for one. Don't force a new window upon users unless there's a very good reason to do so.

The CTRL key is all you need to control new link windows.

 

[Flyfisher]

What are you guys talking about?

Sorry Vicky. I suppose Joce will be here soon trying to get us back onto shoes or something. :wink:

 

[JoceAndChris]

No, I don't disagree with you boys, and 'Marm, on this one. Plus my poor arms are aching so I can hardly type, and I'm utterly lost in rapt contemplation of my new mustard-coloured walls.

 

[MdB]

... and I'm utterly lost in rapt contemplation of my new mustard-coloured walls.

Have an accident involving a power drill and a jar of Colman's did you? ;-)

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: You'd have been proud of me Colin. For a week I had mess to rival even yours.

 

[Penners]

Should clicking on a link in PPUK open the link in a new tab/window?

• [ ] No
  [ ] No - No - No
  [ ] I really mean No.
  [ ] Those that think it is a good idea should be slowly tortured
  [ ] CowboyNeal (who thinks No is a good answer)

My beef with this is it takes away the option. With the current method, I can either open the link in the same tab/window (by clicking on it - the same way as (almost) every other link on the interweb) or I can open it in another tab/window (by press the <ctrl> key and clicking on the link). If the site was changed so that clicking on the link opened up a new tab/window - there is no way for me to either to know it is going to do this or for me to anything to stop this behaviour.

One solution which I would just about accept is to have the links as they are now but to have a symbol after them which opens the link in a new tab/window. That would probably keep everyone happy though it would require a small bit of clever programming of the phpBB code.

Good grief - I would never have imagined that this modest point could have generated such passion.

I'm mildly in favour of links opening in a new window, but frankly the difference isn't really worth more than a shrug of the shoulders. :|

 

[Schoolmarm]

I may have misunderstood.

My problem is the way that if I click on a link, the address still says PPUK.

So if I bookmark it, I just get a load of saved PPUK sites.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I think that would be a site-wide default set by PPUK. I always find it odd that sites allow links to open in the main window - thereby losing traffic the first link that is clicked.

Of course if you use Firefox as a browser then you can set this as an option also - but not in every case, sadly.

 

[JohnB]

Changing it involves alterations to the code in several files. It's not difficult to do, as there are clear instructions available. The problem is that every time there is an update to the basic phpBB files, you have to redo the changes! I made various changes to a forum I run, and as soon as I'd finished, an update was released. I haven't been able to face redoing all the changes yet, so I haven't updated, although I probably should!

I do prefer external links opening in a new window though.

 

[MdB]

I may have misunderstood.

My problem is the way that if I click on a link, the address still says PPUK.

So if I bookmark it, I just get a load of saved PPUK sites.

Isn't this an old problem that was due to accessing the PPUK site from an old web address?

I do not have the above problem at all. If I click on a link (example) then I go straight to that website. The PPUK website doesn't hang around.

What does it say for the address at the moment? Does it start exactly like the following: http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/ or does it have something else?

 

[Schoolmarm]

It says exactly this; http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/discussion_forum.htm, for here and also after I have clicked on the link. It does go straight to the new site.

 

[MdB]

It says exactly this; http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/discussion_forum.htm, for here and also after I have clicked on the link. It does go straight to the new site.

Yes that is your problem, you are using an old link. Change your bookmark to http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/index.php and you will remove this issue.

(The old link you are using sets up a frame which then loads the new forum. As you don't escape the frame when clicking on a link, the old address stays)

 

[johnandrew]

On reflection, I agree with MdB

I hadn't realised I could make a choice with the Ctrl key.

John

 

[Schoolmarm]

Ok changed my "thing" for opening PPUK. Links now work with correct address but now I lose my tab at the top.

Is this the window thing you all meant?

 

[MdB]

Ok changed my "thing" for opening PPUK. Links now work with correct address but now I lose my tab at the top.

Is this the window thing you all meant?

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

For those that having links open in a new window, an alternative to the <ctrl> key is to click on links using the middle mouse button (yes that scroll wheel is a button and can be pressed). This opens the link as a new tab/window but keeps the screen focus on the current page.

 

[fjpdesigns]

Thank you chaps, all these little tips are most useful.

 

[ilona73]

How about an introduce yourself to the forum section?
Nothing big just a couple of lines to say hello introduce yourself and a little picture maybe? When i had a website and forum for collectors we found it helped people to relate to each other more if they could put a face to a name. The internet is such an anonymous entity it was nice to see actual faces of our members.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Good idea i73. We're kind of covering that through the new "Birthday Threads" - you can see some very engaging photos of Nigel and Joce this week!