Website Wishlist

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Hello all, I'm not sure if there is already a topic for this – I can't find one. I use all kinds of websites and apps and I think this one could be greatly improved in usability with some simple upgrades. A few that I suggest:

• When a URL is pasted in it becomes a working link without having to use the "link" tool – some people insert URLs properly so they work directly but not everyone. This is a real bugbear when using an iPad as copy/paste links is broken in the latest iOS AFAICT.
• Allow images to be inserted directly into a post rather than via an album. The number of times people have problems with putting in images shows the need.
• Provide the ability for a moderator to make a post a "sticky" so it always appears at the top of a particular subject area (like this one could to attract user suggestions).
• Allow additional file types as well as jpg to be uploaded. The obvious one is pdf for documents, dare I say it txt to allow gcode, but why restrict?

I assume that MHS does have web development resource to upgrade its sites?

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

[wheeltapperParticipant @wheeltapper]

Could I also add the ability to "view latest posts" like most other forums do, instead of having to wade through everything.

this topic has come up before tho and because this is such cheap**s forum software I doubt it will ever happen.

Roy.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by John Haine on 16/03/2016 10:21:29:

Hello all, I'm not sure if there is already a topic for this – I can't find one. I use all kinds of websites and apps and I think this one could be greatly improved in usability with some simple upgrades. A few that I suggest:

• When a URL is pasted in it becomes a working link without having to use the "link" tool – some people insert URLs properly so they work directly but not everyone. This is a real bugbear when using an iPad as copy/paste links is broken in the latest iOS AFAICT.
• As you say its more down to who posts the link
• Allow images to be inserted directly into a post rather than via an album. The number of times people have problems with putting in images shows the need.
• That can be done now using external hosting sites, attacments would be nice but then you get people posting massive images that can't be viewed on slow connections or small screens
• Provide the ability for a moderator to make a post a "sticky" so it always appears at the top of a particular subject area (like this one could to attract user suggestions).
• We can do that already
• Allow additional file types as well as jpg to be uploaded. The obvious one is pdf for documents, dare I say it txt to allow gcode, but why restrict?
• Agree

I assume that MHS does have web development resource to upgrade its sites?

When the topic of having a more use friendly website has come up many times before ther is not likely to be an upgrade any time soon.

My Comments in Bold above, J

Edited By JasonB on 16/03/2016 13:43:15

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Roy, Latest posts is on the right of the page, Use more latest posts to see them all.

I know when I last looked at the forum and simply just start looking from that time up the list

The only thing lacking is it takes you to teh top of the last page rather than the actual post but is it that hard to scroll down?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Updates are not coming in a hurry, although there was a rumour the editor would be updated which could change some of these issues.

Directly hosting images in posts slows things down and massively increases the size of the database. I have had my wrist slapped by mods on another forum for crippling one of their threads in just that way!

The publishers are very wary of allowing upload of any material other than images. I can't change that policy. However, I can put pdfs or excel files up if they are emailed to me with a link to the relevant thread.

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 16/03/2016 14:17:57:

Updates are not coming in a hurry, although there was a rumour the editor would be updated which could change some of these issues.

.

You had me worried for a moment there, Mr. Editor

MichaelG.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Maybe rather than say why ideas can't be adopted moderators could just take them on board without comment? It's called "listening to your customers".

[Roger VaneParticipant @rogervane67137]

I have something further to add …

When I try to highlight text or a web-address, I find that everything is highlighted except what I actually want – a kind of 'negative' highlighting, and of course I can't then copy it. (Windows 7 / 64 bit using IE 11).

This method works ok on all other websites that I use, so I can only assume that the facility is either blocked or there is a fault with the website. Does anyone else have the same problem?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Seems to work on Apple Mac (for a change)

When I try to highlight text or a web-address, I find that everything is highlighted except what I actually want – a kind of 'negative' highlighting, and of course I can't then copy it. (Windows 7 / 64 bit using IE 11).

BobH

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by John Haine on 16/03/2016 15:14:04:

Maybe rather than say why ideas can't be adopted moderators could just take them on board without comment? It's called "listening to your customers".

We have to face up to reality. This platform serves several other publications as well, and the cost of moving over to another platform is significant – decent commercial platforms charge per user and there are a LOT of users.

Significant changes are NOT going to happen in the foreseeable future.

I have to have the courage to change what I can and the grace to accept what I can't.

> Does anyone else have the same problem?

Not here – do you use compatibility mode in IE?

 

Final thought –  although many forum users ARE our customers in that they subscribe to our magazines, the forum is a free service; we have forum USERS but no forum CUSTOMERS.

Perhaps if we started charging people to use the forum, there would then be an additional resource we could reinvest in new software

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 16/03/2016 21:27:21

[Roger VaneParticipant @rogervane67137]

Neil

"Not here – do you use compatibility mode in IE?"

I had the website set to compatibility mode in IE – have just removed it and select & copy works perfectly ok.

Many thanks for that, Roger

[Anonymous]

I'd like the ability to split up the quoted part and interleave responses properly (see Jason's first response for the kludgey way it has to be done now). Hopefully, if a new editor is forthcoming it will include that.

[Author]

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