Torchmodders
TorchModders => Suggestions & Feedback => Topic started by: Phanjam on August 11, 2014, 08:58:12 am
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Okay this is a thread to talk about features other than the big ones (forum discussions, managing mod projects and building/storing modding knowledge).
So here are my ideas...
1. Members-only shoutbox or chat-room
I think a is a good thing because it provides something fun to come to the site for. It's easy to get into and get your "social fix" :P It might even promote the germination of ideas to be worked on in the future.
2. A mod concepts ranking feature
You know how some sites allow people to put up their wish-list items AND rate the other items that are already there? I see something like that, but for mod concepts/ideas.
EDIT:
3. Some kind of member status feature
Something you can just write like under your avatar. For me it could be a way for members to give more context to what they're currently doing on the site. Like if it says "tired" at least you'll know why his responses don't seem to make much sense :P . The other nice use for this is when you sign-out; you can say "getting sleep. see you all later" or stuff like that. It's like keeping in touch even when you're not around :)
Would love to hear other's ideas too! and reactions to the above :mrgreen: Will post if I think of more
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+1 For shout box. I'll see about that ASAP.
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Chat/shout-box now at the bottom of the forum index page.
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Great ideas. One more, how about a Featured Mod thread? Each day a thread in the mod showcase is randomly selected and featured -- perhaps a line underneath the logo panel up top.
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That's a cool idea Slacker. Gues sit would be possible to have it displayed on the front page too.
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Since the shout-box went mental. I've shut it off. I'll try to figure out how to tame it.
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Hiyya Slacker! Yeah I like that idea :) should it be random or based on downloads you think?
@Wolven - LOL! I have complete faith in you :lol:
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I was wondering where the shoutbox was. :P I think random is a fairer option, and it'd also require a lot less effort to code.
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The shoutbox needs styling in the active forum theme to work properly. So I'll get back to that once the visuals are more in place and we have an official/default theme here.
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...once the visuals are more in place and we have an official/default theme here.
Do you wanna try recruiting for someone with css skillz?
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We now have a working shoutbox. Huzza for SMF and SimplePortal.
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3. Some kind of member status feature
Something you can just write like under your avatar. For me it could be a way for members to give more context to what they're currently doing on the site. Like if it says "tired" at least you'll know why his responses don't seem to make much sense <!-- s:P -->:P<!-- s:P --> . The other nice use for this is when you sign-out; you can say "getting sleep. see you all later" or stuff like that. It's like keeping in touch even when you're not around <!-- s:) -->:)<!-- s:) -->
I looked for a mod to do this, but found none that where up-to-date. However it's possible to create custom profile fields, so I'm in the process of creating a list of Statuses to choose from. Just go to Profile --> Forum Profile and select your Status. Default is Neutral
So far I've created:
Status: Neutral
Status: Happy
Status: Sad
Status: Busy
Status: Idle
Status: Sleeping
Status: @Work
Status: @Home
Please come with suggestions and I'll add/remove accordingly. You can use BBcode on the text, so the statuses could be colored.
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hmmm lemme try something with highlights...
[highlight=pink]I is Pink![/highlight]
Haha! It works! Will the statuses take this kind of highlighting bb code too? :P
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We now have a working shoutbox. Huzza for SMF and SimplePortal.
This SMF version is very nice/neat :D !
But located alongside a forum thread, I'm afraid it's easy to not notice the shoutbox :( Can it be on it's own page, like when you tried the first one?
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hmmm lemme try something with highlights...
[highlight=pink]I is Pink![/highlight]
Haha! It works! Will the statuses take this kind of highlighting bb code too? :P
The status can use any BBcode, so high light should work. The "problem" is that you'll see the BBcode when you select the status in the Profile, so it will be hard to see which status you're selecting with all the code there.
It is possible to pair this with an image, so each status could have it's own icon/emoticon, looking something like this:
Status: Happy :D
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But located alongside a forum thread, I'm afraid it's easy to not notice the shoutbox :( Can it be on it's own page, like when you tried the first one?
I've checked and that particular shoutbox is featured with the TinyPortal mod. So it's only possible to have it located in one of the blocks, either left/right side, at the top/bottom or in the header/footer.
I saw some other shoutbox mods, so it probably possible to have one on other locations. Let me try a few options for the current one.
Edit. It's now located at the bottom of the forums. How's that?
Edit2: That location was very intrusive, it was displayed in every forum too. I've moved it back to the right side again for now. I'll keep experimenting with it a bit.
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...location was very intrusive, it was displayed in every forum too. I've moved it back to the right side again for now. I'll keep experimenting with it a bit.
Yes this is fine for now Wolven, thanks for looking into my suggestion. sorry to be a pain :P
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No problem. We want the best possible solution, so we need to explore and try different things and see how it works.
Additional features I've added to the boards are: Team Page (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/?mod=2167), Code Highlighting (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2925), Additional Authors (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3903), @mention members (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=3860) and Download System (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=992).
Edit: I think we should have a place for external links as well, such as the Runc wiki, RGF, Etc. I'll experiment with a placement for this.
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Wow! you been busy ;D I like the @mention feature - that will enhance interaction!
Thanks for the links to the mods, since I would like to read them (someday, LOL!)
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I've created some simple "status badges". You can (optionally) set your status under: Profile --> Forum Profile. At the bottom you'll see the Status filed, where you can choose a status from the drop down menu.
Not a very useful feature maybe, but still a bit fun.
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Thanks Wolven! Yes it's fun...but I discovered the "custom title" field in your profile is very flexible :D
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Hiyya WOlven! Can we install this mod (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1313) on our SMF? It allows readers to rate threads - I'm thinking we can use it in the "Modding" main board to identify particularly helpful threads, which we could then re-work into a wiki page or something ;)
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We need to find an updated version of it, or a similar one for our boards. That mod is for SMF version 1.1.X while we're on SMF 2.0.X.
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Hi Wolven!
Super-minor suggestion (at least, I hope it's minor :P )...
On the joomla portal, since we've got the site logo already linking to "home", there's no need to have the "torchmodders home" link button :) This should save about one row of link buttons (depending on viewer's screen res)
;D
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I see your point, but Joomla won't let me disable that menu item.
Error
Cannot unpublish default home
If screen resolution issues is something we get feedback on, I guess the wording of the menu elements could be shortened to: Home, Forums, Wiki and Tracker.
I also know that the logo is not in the best position in relation to the menu, but even if I disable the logo and use an image block over the menu instead, the menu will still start in the same spot. This is probably declared in the theme's CSS, but I've not gotten around to looking at it yet.
Setting up the web services and making them talk to each other is one thing, but the whole business of designing the website, making the portal, forums and wiki look and feel the same, will take me ages...