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Forum presentation styles
There is this issue that the Drupal comment system presents replies to a forum posting in a method different from e.g. phpbb or invision. I really don't know one can say one is superior over the other as there are perhaps advantages to each.
If you prefer the non-indented style of some other forum systems this site supports a theme which offers non-indented forums. Go to your 'My Account' link, click on Edit and scroll down to the theme choices. You'll see flatgarland and if you select that from then on your forum experience will be non-indented.
However that only changes the indentation, it does not change the presentation order. I am looking at an add-on module for Drupal which also changes the presentation order, so let me first explain what the distinction is about.
Out of the box Drupal organizes the comments on a posting so that a comment directly follows the thing to which it is a direct reply. If you reply to another comment, your comment will immediately follow the comment it is a reply to. The indentation is there to help you find your way through the conversation trail.
My experience with non-indented forums are with the invision system we used on the old VV site. In that case replies always went to the end of a forum thread. It did not matter which thingy you were replying to, your reply always went to the end. I think this makes it hard to associate the reply to what it's replying to, but obviously others feel that this presentation order is easier to navigate. I suppose the difference is that it's easier to find the new replies on a given thread (which it is).
I'm investigating a module to add to the site which changes the presentation order for comments. It's supposed to list comments by the time the comment was made .. hence this, along with the flatgarland theme, should make the experience more like the phpbb/invision style of presenting discussion threads.
- David Herron, webmaster, http://www.7gen.com
------------
- David Herron, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, http://www.7gen.com/store
- EVT 4000, Charger bike (rebuilt), Vego 600sx (rebuilt), Electrified Electra Townie
- Lectra motorcycle
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Re: Forum presentation styles
I think the way its setup now makes it more difficult and time consuming to find new content posted. If a thread gets particularly long (like 3+ pages) than that is a lot to sift through for new replies.
Thanks for trying to find a solution.
------------KZ750 Motorcycle Conversion
900 watt scooter
Pic from http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
Re: Forum presentation styles
Right. There are these 'New' markers on the new postings, but I am wondering how well they stand out. They're a little small but they're orange.
------------- David Herron, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, http://www.7gen.com/store
- EVT 4000, Charger bike (rebuilt), Vego 600sx (rebuilt), Electrified Electra Townie
- Lectra motorcycle
Re: Forum presentation styles
reikiman,
Is there a way to link the url of the reply to the recent page under Last Comment or Last Update, so the time becomes a link, or has a link under it?
Example: From the Recent Page, http://visforvoltage.org/tracker2 there is a Last Comment column, some where there could be a link in it or next to it to the url of the last comment rather than to the page or original post.
One problem seems to be, getting the last comment url to go to the correct or close location of the last comment or reply on the page.
With the new RE: feature it helps in locating the initial post and all replies, maybe they could be listed in chronological order as long as they had the same subject of the original post.
I know out of the box, Drupal is probably not designed that way, but a smart person like you can figure something out.
Peace Out,
------------Gman
Your encouraged as a community stakeholder to share your preferred future vision of our growing community
Peace Out,
Gman
Re: Forum presentation styles
I use the recent posts page all the time. On the recent posts page there is a 'new' marker which itself a link. If you click on that 'new' it takes you directly to the topmost of the new comments on the given page. This works perfectly for me while browsing the site in the 'garland' theme, but I think in the 'flatgarland' theme it might not work ...
- David
------------- David Herron, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, http://www.7gen.com/store
- EVT 4000, Charger bike (rebuilt), Vego 600sx (rebuilt), Electrified Electra Townie
- Lectra motorcycle
Re: Forum presentation styles
reikiman,
My Bad, I learn something new everyday. I'll start using the "New" link.
Peace Out,
------------Gman
Your encouraged as a community stakeholder to share your preferred future vision of our growing community
Peace Out,
Gman