Post by: Gary S on April 24, 2003, 04:13:00 PM
Great work Kris and everyone!
Post by: Xairbusdriver on April 24, 2003, 04:36:00 PM
Post by: krissel on April 24, 2003, 06:59:00 PM
This new board is based on the same principle as the other but allows for greater control in the daily workings. I know it's tough to jump around from one to another but this one is a definite improvement featurewise and we hope ultimatey a bit of a speed boost. Of course until we totally convert we won't know for sure.
Go play...
Post by: Bill on April 24, 2003, 08:47:00 PM
Which is which when you're referring to "new board" and "the other" Krissel?
Post by: krissel on April 25, 2003, 12:26:00 AM
UBB is the present board where this post sits.
The phpBB board is the one we set up a couple weeks ago.
The "new" board is Invision and is the one to which I was referring in my previous post as having more features and ease of use from the administration point of view. The phpBB was so convoluted I spent days shaking my head trying to figure out where anything was located.
At least with the Invision (IB) Board there is a structure that makes a bit of sense. Still a pain to work with compared to straight html files but manageable.
Post by: Spartacus on April 25, 2003, 06:15:00 AM
Hence, I'd prefer a different skin.
But I bet you guys are already working on it, right?!
Post by: pendragon on April 25, 2003, 06:55:00 AM
Harv
[ 04-25-2003, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: pendragon ]
Post by: Gary S on April 25, 2003, 11:11:00 PM
I was talking about this one:
http://www.techsurvivors.net/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1 phpBB
Post by: Gary S on April 25, 2003, 03:23:00 PM
I still like the phpBB board better.
Post by: Bill on April 26, 2003, 01:33:00 AM
Thought I'd better ask just in case.
Post by: jepinto on April 26, 2003, 04:06:00 AM
Cause, I've gotta tell ya, it's a whole lot simpler for the admins....
Post by: Spartacus on April 26, 2003, 06:52:00 AM
I didn't like these
icons too much, though...
Post by: Xairbusdriver on April 26, 2003, 10:27:00 AM
Biggest complaint was the skins available, I too ended up with the TS special. Is it possible to allow some of our graphics experts to create the parts. I suspect it is basically a collection of parts (mostly corners, lines, etc.), some of which are stretched as needed. I assume that bckground colors and boxes are done in the CSS.
Anyway, I can live with either. And I think the ease maintenance factor should be the deciding one.
Jim C.
Post by: Gary S on April 26, 2003, 11:54:00 PM
No big deal. I could live with either.
The other one was easier on my eyes or something. I don't know.
But really, it doesn't matter. What ever is easier for you guys!
Post by: snuffysbluff on April 26, 2003, 09:58:00 PM
quote:Right on, Gary.
Originally posted by Gary S:
But really, it doesn't matter. What ever is easier for you guys!
Post by: Gregg on April 26, 2003, 10:17:00 PM
And keep it simple, I'm getting a headache.
Post by: krissel on April 27, 2003, 02:51:00 AM
ABD and others, if you had any idea of how this code was set up you would shudder. It is fairly easy to subsitute a particular graphic image but that is where the simplicity ends.
In order to add particular graphical changes or reconfigure the layout you don't just change the css or merely the html for that page. The css governs the basic flow of the page in more than just colors, fonts, etc. It consists of about 60 separate indicators for the overall general look. Each of which affects several items depending on which page of the forum is being drawn.
Further changes are accessible and alterable through various macros that are coded within the html. There is a basic wrapper that describes the setup of the page. Then there is the css, then the macros, some of which access the images and some change the parameters of the particular request. Then there is the html which contains the macros within it.
Confused yet?
You should be.
If you want to get an idea of the css, go up to View source on this page and look at the first list of the 60 items in the css. When you get to /style then the basic html for the page starts. But remember that is not what we see when we go to alter a page. We deal with macros that are imbedded within the php code and finding the right macro and knowing how to change it is quite daunting. If you want an idea of what we are up against in trying to change things, take a look at these shots of the control panel.
This page shows part of the main control panel with the HTML section open to choose which sections to look at. Note the scroll bar indicates that there is much more below the end of the screen.
Here I've opened one of the sections from the previous screen and am confronted with many more items from which to choose.
This show a small part of the html that makes up the code for post buttons and boxes.
Here is more of the code for the same parameter.
As you can see it is not all that simple to alter things.
Oh, BTW, the phpBB was worse in that it had virtually no consistent structure.
If anyone wants to make their own skin they are welcome to download one from an IB site and try to change it to suit their own desires.
Start here.
Good luck.
Post by: Gregg on April 28, 2003, 07:35:00 AM
Post by: jepinto on April 29, 2003, 05:13:00 AM
Why? Gremlins? Bernie?
Post by: beacher on April 29, 2003, 01:02:00 PM
Post by: Gary S on April 29, 2003, 02:27:00 PM
Post by: taliesin on April 29, 2003, 03:43:00 PM
quote:and, er...
If you want to get an idea of the css, go up to View source on this page and look at the first list of the 60 items in the css.
quote:Almost all I can say to that, Kris, is
If anyone wants to make their own skin they are welcome to download one from an IB site and try to change it to suit their own desires.
I did it both on this board and the "new new" board with this in my lap (recently found a second-hand, virtually untouched copy at a price I couldn't resist):
Templates, macros or not, what you've been up to is quite phenomenal!
Don't you think seven skins might be enough?
As for speed, I'm beginning now to think my feeling that Invision is faster is more than wishful thinking.