<** Changes are afoot **>

[blantonl]

Ok folks, changes are afoot.

1. As you can see, I've removed the latest posts portlet from the front page. It generated way to much server load to do all the thread/forum/post database joins - and as such bogged down the site. You should be seeing better performance with the site. This leads to...

2. Changing the forums software. This week, we will be migrating to vbulletin from phpbb. The version of phpbb used for this site is a heavily customized version for the portal solution - and doesn't scale well to the size that we need. We should see a substantial improvement in both features and functionality. Very exciting stuff.

3. The wiki was updated with the latest version, as well as paths updated to /wiki. Short URLs were also implemented. I'm really hoping that more users will get in there and update the wiki with great information - it is a powerful tool.

Lots more on the way - I am excited with all the new things coming for all the users here.

Don't forget to keep those donations coming. All the data here is free, however we are user supported.... ! :wink:

 

[Joseph11]

2. Changing the forums software. This week, we will be migrating to vbulletin from phpbb. The version of phpbb used for this site is a heavily customized version for the portal solution - and doesn't scale well to the size that we need. We should see a substantial improvement in both features and functionality. Very exciting stuff.

I just have a small question about that, why did you choose vBulletin? I've seen alot of message boards using Invision Power Board and phpBB, not that many using vBulletin.

 

[blantonl]

Because Vbulletin is by far, the absolute best forums software there is...

 

[Joseph11]

Interesting. I've never been to a forum using vBulletin before, but I can't see it as being bad. Thanks for all of the good changes.

 

[rdale]

Any chance that the "view posts since last visit" button can reappear on the homepage?

 

[DaveH]

Any chance that the "view posts since last visit" button can reappear on the homepage?

Yes, I too was hoping for some form of this. Otherwise, one has to search all the different forums, with the possibility of interesting posts being missed (because they may be in a forum that's not usually checked, and it takes too long to check all of them).

Thanks...Dave

 

[mancow]

Just go to RRForums at the top then hit the view posts since last visited link.

That's what I've been doing and it's the same thing as the front page.



mancow

 

[loumaag]

In addition, when you are browsing on the Forum Index page, all forums with new posts since your last visit are highlighted on the left. This is a realtime highlight (well of course it does require a page refresh) and every time you return to the index page this is as of that moment.

 

[rdale]

"Just go to RRForums at the top then hit the view posts since last visited link."

I understand, however there's no reason to go to the Forum page if that link was placed back on the frontpage as it's been for years.

- Rob

 

[K5MAR]

Lindsay has stated elsewhere that that feature is very resource-intense and was slowing things down so he has dropped it for the time being. Apparently it's one of the reasons why the site has been so slow lately.

Mark S.

 

[rdale]

"Lindsay has stated elsewhere that that feature is very resource-intense"

No he didn't! He said that showing the new posts on the homepage was - that's not what we're talking about.

 

[K5MAR]

Sorry, didn't know there was any difference. Never used them, myself. I've always found the colored identifiers on the Forum Index more useful.

Mark S.

 

[loumaag]

I understand, however there's no reason to go to the Forum page if that link was placed back on the frontpage as it's been for years.

Rob, it hasn't been there since this became RadioReference.com. And yes I know exactly what you are talking about, why don't you cool your jets for a bit while Lindsay finishes the update to the new forum format. Since you want that link it is only one extra mouse click away at the moment.

Better yet, use this link and add it to your favorites. It will be good until the new forums go into effect. Probably will be good for the next few days at least. :?
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&amp;file=search&amp;search_id=newposts

 

[n4voxgill]

If more people supported the site with their finances, many improvements could be made. I would be embarrassed to complain and not have a $ by my name

 

[click23]

What you might want to try is an RSS reader. I like RSS Bandit
because once you delete a post it doesn't come back, unlike the other readers that I tried. This way you know when new posts or replies to posts are made.

 

[rdale]

"why don't you cool your jets for a bit"

My jets are just fine... Two clicks is not a big deal, but since MANY people are noticing that it's gone I thought it might be good to ask for it back.

 

[DaveH]

If more people supported the site with their finances, many improvements could be made. I would be embarrassed to complain and not have a $ by my name

First off Gill, I'm not "complaining". Second, I am a substantial contributor to the trunked part of the DB for Eastern Ontario (there aren't a whole lot of people doing that). No amount of $ contributions is going to compensate for lack of that. So, I don't a bit guilty about politely asking, or making a suggestion.

Dave

 

[mikey60]

FWIW, the Chat function might be a good one to remove as well, the one room has been messed up for awhile, and might also be contributing to the slowness of the site. I do recall a mention that the chat module was very resource intensive.

Mike

 

[DaveH]

Folks, let us not get too far off the original topic, which was Lindsay advising of coming improvements. Lindsay, you do a fine job and have been receptive in the past to ideas and suggestions. I am sure that there will be a net benefit.

I tend to field more questions than I ask (and not just to get my post count up). Lou, I realize the forums have status symbols down the left side, but that doesn't make up for having a quick-jump summary column; or perhaps I am missing something? So this helps people help other people, which, I repeat, may be missed by having to search the forums one by one.

Dave

 

[loumaag]

Okay, lets get things in order. At least the way I see them posted.

Lindsay stated that the portlet for new posts in the forums was removed from the home page of the site because it was a resource hog. That was the list of new posts that appeared underneath the chat room links.

Then Rob asked:

Any chance that the "view posts since last visit" button can reappear on the homepage?

To which a couple of people comment and then:

Just go to RRForums at the top then hit the view posts since last visited link.

That was followed by a comment from Rob again saying there would be no reason to go to the forum page if that link was placed back on the frontpage as it's been for years.

Mark then replied:

Lindsay has stated elsewhere that that feature is very resource-intense and was slowing things down so he has dropped it for the time being. Apparently it's one of the reasons why the site has been so slow lately.

Rob's comeback is:

"Lindsay has stated elsewhere that that feature is very resource-intense"

No he didn't! He said that showing the new posts on the homepage was - that's not what we're talking about.

Well based on that comment you are either talking about the exact thing that Lindsay took away recently or you are talking about the search link (which I provided to you) and has not been on the home page of RadioReference.com ever. That is why I told you to "cool your jets". So indeed I did not misread your posts, I read them exactly as you wrote them. If you didn't mean to write what you did, then that is a different matter. But based on what you wrote, I responded appropriately. Now as to this:

I'm not sure why it bothers YOU that people make suggestions, but I think it's the wrong attitude to have about a public forum. Telling everyone that you are happy with the forum so they can't post their thoughts seems to be excessive.

I am not sure what you mean by this. I am not bothered by your suggestions, indeed anyone's. Your posts never bother me, I merely pointed out that you were wrong and you should calm down.