Administrator

June 08, 2009 09:37

This topic is for any ideas/suggestions/requests for new features. Leave a post here with a description of the feature you would like added.

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Moderator

June 14, 2009 15:42

Am i going crazy or is there no other way to pm other members?
Also in profile in chose your style judo is mentioned twice, delete the repeat

Administrator

June 14, 2009 18:18

Extra judo has been removed, thanks.

There's no PM functionality yet but it is definitely on the list. Still figuring out the best way to implement it.

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Member

June 15, 2009 13:42

How about forum signatures?

Mike Salway
mikesalway.com.au : Astronomy | Photography | Karate
IceInSpace: Australian Amateur Astronomy

Administrator

June 15, 2009 15:13

Have just added forum signatures to the list, thanks.

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Member

June 16, 2009 10:38

Kudos, or ratings systems. Ability to 'thank' other members which contributes to their rating.
This goes to show members how well respected other members are in the community.
Been meaning to add this to SAU for a while now.

(Oh, and from this box sends me up the search box, and not to the 'add reply' button)

-----------

I dont get swine flu. Swine flu gets me.

Member

June 16, 2009 12:30

Perhaps a bread crumb style navigation for the forum. so it's easy to find out where you are and how to get back one level.

Member

June 16, 2009 19:07

I'd like to see topic titles hyperlinkable. there have been a few times I've seen a heading and gone to click on it only to have it not work.

Administrator

June 17, 2009 07:31

All good suggestions, all added to the list. Keep them coming....

Edit: I've just uploaded a few changes to fix button/link tabbing and made heading on the home page clickable as well as a few other bits and pieces.

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Member

June 19, 2009 18:28

If, as it appears, the site will largely be forum based, then why not use phpBB software? Its free, open source, relatively secure and stable, built using php, and is used by many millions of people and many thousands of sites. It already has signatures, PMs, a rating system, and lots of other features built in, and has piles of ready made modifications. Seems you may be reinventing the wheel a bit.

Administrator

June 20, 2009 09:50

I did consider using phpBB (had a copy of it running for a few months) and a few other pre-built options when we first started the project. It was not easy but I made the decision to build something from scratch for a number of reasons.

I think it's too easy to slap up a pre-made package, give it a logo and call it a community. Starting with something simple and building the site with the community, adding things as the community needs/wants them is an approach that will result in a site that the community actually wants to use.

1. phpBB might look nice and have lots of features on the outside but the code is fairly messy. Christian will testify that dealing with messy code constantly would just drive me bonkers and maintaining it (with all the customisation needed etc) would be a nightmare.

2. Styling phpBB to fit in exactly with the rest of the site would have been a LOT of work. Nearly every site you visit that's running phpBB just looks like a phpBB site, even if it has had new themes applied.

3. Although a big part of this site is the forum there's lots of other area and I suspect they will continue to grow. The custom site will allow for easier forum integration with the other areas. The forum is simple but all the bells and whistles will be added over time as the community grows.

4. As part of building this site I have built a framework (named Milk) for Fliquid Studios that will be used for a number of other projects we've got on the horizon. For me building the actual site (not the community) is as much about creating something Christian and myself can reuse many times as it was about building a home for the community.

Cheers,

Michael.

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Member

June 20, 2009 14:02

Thanks for the explanation.

My only suggestions, at this time, are:

1. Including a listing of what BBcodes and smilies are available. The link at the bottom, "BB Code is available for formatting your text.", only points to whatever page you are on.

2. A preview system for posts, similar to phpBB. Always useful the check your spelling and formatting, before posting.

Member

June 21, 2009 14:56

We need list support in the bbcode...

-----------

I dont get swine flu. Swine flu gets me.

Administrator

June 21, 2009 15:28

Thanks for the suggestions Bill. I've added the second one to the list.... I'm not sure about the first one. Currently the BB Code link opens a popup with examples. I'm guessing that popup is not working for you?

Christian, I agree lists would be useful. Feel like releasing an updated version of your library or should I do some more customisation?

Now slightly more bruised than before.

Member

June 21, 2009 15:51

No, no, I'll do it.

-----------

I dont get swine flu. Swine flu gets me.

Member

June 21, 2009 22:01

Well, not sure what was happening with the popup. For me, before, it was just reloading the page. Working fine now though.