Changes in the works

Danny Stewart · #1 February 17, 2008, 1:36 AM

Change is in the air at DannyStewart.com. In the coming months, there are numerous changes that I would like to implement in regard to the design and indeed the function of this site. Some of them may be closer than others, but most of them will require the input and assistance of our staff and member base. Any ideas or contributions would be most welcome. I will outline some of the changes I am thinking about below.

Non-portal-based main page
I would like to take down the current portal-based system that I have up on the main DannyStewart.com page, and replace it with a content-based home page. Suggestions for content would be welcome, as would assistance with the design.

New style for the forums
I must admit that I'm very pleased with the style this forum uses right now. From the day I first installed it, I thought it looked clean, professional, and elegant. However, in keeping with the idea of a site relaunch/upgrade, I think it is time to move on to a new look, assuming we can find one that meets the high standards set by the current style. I have always longed to have a custom-designed style crafted just for this site, but sadly I don't think we have any members who are proficient enough at HTML, CSS, Photoshop, etc. to make this happen.

New forum layout
I'm all about consolidation and keeping clutter down to a minimum wherever possible. For this reason, I think the current forum layout could stand to undergo some streamlining. Suggestions and thoughts in regard to what forums could stand to be merged with other forums or even removed completely would be welcome.

This is all I've got for now, but be advised that things are going to begin changing around here. Please feel free to make suggestions in any of the areas above and start thinking about what you would like to see in regard to the future of the site. Thank you all for your help!

Recurring Villain · #2 February 17, 2008, 3:51 AM

I can do teh photoshupz but as for coding I fail hard cores.

If you can find a better style, by all means go for it, but I remember last time you changed it, it didn't go down too well. I do think that something other than brown would be a nice change, but it's a good idea not to sacrifice usability for aesthetics.

I definitely recommend getting rid of the portal, even if you just replace it with the forum index. The portal just adds an extra step to go past when I forget to click on the /index.php option in the URLs dropdown box and makes me one hella sad n*gga.

May I inquire as to the reason for this change? Just for the sake of it or what?

Danny Stewart · #3 February 17, 2008, 4:04 AM

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

I can do teh photoshupz but as for coding I fail hard cores.

I'm looking for different people with different strengths so that's no problem. Hopefully the coding needs will be pretty basic -- just some rudimentary HTML and CSS. Pete will hopefully be able to do all we need.

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

If you can find a better style, by all means go for it, but I remember last time you changed it, it didn't go down too well. I do think that something other than brown would be a nice change, but it's a good idea not to sacrifice usability for aesthetics.

I haven't forgotten the last time either. This change, if/when it happens, will be a little more thought-through. What I'd really love is to do a totally custom style from the ground up, and make a main site that utilizes that same style. Realistically, with the people we have, that's just not going to happen, so instead I will have to settle for finding a new style myself.

That said, I really like the current style. I think it looks subtle yet very functional, and above all, extremely professional. I have very high standards when it comes to aesthetics, and any subsequent styles will have some big shoes to fill. I'm not going to move away from this style unless I find a very good one, and one that members here find agreeable (even if it takes some customization/modification to get it there).

I also just discovered today that vBulletin is currently churning out beta releases of version 3.7, which incorporates some pretty substantial changes and feature additions. I am considering doing a fresh install of vBulletin and importing all the data so that there are no leftovers from the various modifications installed that would conflict with the new version (not to mention I like the idea of a clean start on the board while preserving members and posts).

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

I definitely recommend getting rid of the portal, even if you just replace it with the forum index. The portal just adds an extra step to go past when I forget to click on the /index.php option in the URLs dropdown box and makes me one hella sad n*gga.

It made sense to install the portal at the time, because it provided some functionality of a "main page" while retaining the forums as the main function of the site. In practice, however, I am disappointed with just how useless it is. I don't know if it's my fault for not putting it to more effective use or the software's fault for not doing enough (but then what else should it do?), but either way I don't think it works and I doubt whether anyone uses it. I'm happy to replace it with a redirect sooner rather than later if you think that would be better.

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

May I inquire as to the reason for this change? Just for the sake of it or what?

I do think it's a good idea to change things around every so often. There is no specific reason for these changes at this time, but I have been feeling more and more that this site is not living up to its full potential lately, and I would like to do what I can to correct that. I definitely think this site can be more than it is, and to do that, we need to keep people focused on it and keep the energy going. I feel it's been lacking in energy and motivation in recent months, and I'd like to consolidate what we have now and begin thinking about expanding into other areas, if that makes sense.

Danny Stewart · #4 February 17, 2008, 4:18 AM

See here for a preview of the changes in vBulletin 3.7.

Recurring Villain · #5 February 17, 2008, 4:30 AM

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

What I'd really love is to do a totally custom style from the ground up, and make a main site that utilizes that same style. Realistically, with the people we have, that's just not going to happen, so instead I will have to settle for finding a new style myself.

We can extensively edit a style you find, though. Even if it is just making lots of new pictures for it

.

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

I'm not going to move away from this style unless I find a very good one, and one that members here find agreeable (even if it takes some customization/modification to get it there).

I'd recommend that, if you do find a theme, you set up a temporary extra vBulletin which we can test it on and edit until you think it meets the site's standards, then we can 'launch' it here.

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

I am considering doing a fresh install of vBulletin and importing all the data so that there are no leftovers from the various modifications installed that would conflict with the new version (not to mention I like the idea of a clean start on the board while preserving members and posts).

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

I'm happy to replace it with a redirect sooner rather than later if you think that would be better.

That would be nice, at least until you decide what you're going to put there in the portal's stead.

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

I'd like to consolidate what we have now and begin thinking about expanding into other areas, if that makes sense.

Just as long as it doesn't mean I have to start being nice to people

Josef Kenny · #6 February 17, 2008, 4:38 AM

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

See here for a preview of the changes in vBulletin 3.7.

I like it!

Danny Stewart · #7 February 17, 2008, 4:39 AM

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

We can extensively edit a style you find, though. Even if it is just making lots of new pictures for it

.

Sounds good to me. The more I think about actually creating a style from scratch, the more I realize just how ridiculous the amount of work required would be. Modifying an existing style would be perfectly acceptable and infinitely preferable.

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

I'd recommend that, if you do find a theme, you set up a temporary extra vBulletin which we can test it on and edit until you think it meets the site's standards, then we can 'launch' it here.

Possible, but not really necessary. You know you can just append ?styleid=X to the site's URL to access a different style. Try it now:

http://www.dannystewart.com/forums/index.php?styleid=1

If we do it that way we can keep the site running using the default current style but us developer types can work with the new style for as long as it takes until we're all ready to switch over.

By the way, if you clicked that link, you're going to want to click this one to put the site back the way it was before:

http://www.dannystewart.com/forums/index.php?styleid=2

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Agreed. I think that's what I'll do.

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

That would be nice, at least until you decide what you're going to put there in the portal's stead.

Tomorrow perhaps. Right now I must head to bed -- it's 4:38 am.

Originally Posted by Recurring Villain

Just as long as it doesn't mean I have to start being nice to people

Of course not. I don't know why you would assume that it would.

Chris Britton · #8 February 17, 2008, 3:50 PM

I will remind the people here that i suggested a classic Doctor Who layout for those who may prefer it, any chance of that possibly showing up?

Danny Stewart · #9 February 18, 2008, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Chris Britton

I will remind the people here that i suggested a classic Doctor Who layout for those who may prefer it, any chance of that possibly showing up?

Not unless you can either find one online or design it yourself. I very much doubt such a thing exists.

I don't even really know what you mean by a "Classic Doctor Who style." How would that work?

Josef Kenny · #10 February 18, 2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

How would that work?

Probably just Chestnut but with an olde-worlde TARDIS pic at the top

Chris Britton · #11 February 18, 2008, 12:32 PM

The old style designs and fonts they had in Tom Bakers reign.

Danny Stewart · #12 February 18, 2008, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chris Britton

The old style designs and fonts they had in Tom Bakers reign.

Still no idea how that would look, beyond the fonts, which frankly would look a bit crap.

Chris Britton · #13 February 18, 2008, 2:52 PM

Unless you want the forums to have a retro feel to them

Jez · #14 February 18, 2008, 4:00 PM

Originally Posted by Danny Stewart

I'm looking for different people with different strengths so that's no problem. Hopefully the coding needs will be pretty basic -- just some rudimentary HTML and CSS. Pete will hopefully be able to do all we need.

I've just had a quick look and, as I feared, they've over-complicated it completely. I'd need to play around to see how OCed it is though. It might just be complicated to actually get to the settings.

(I've now broken my settings - As I type this, I've got evo as my skin...)

(DITE (yes, "DITE"....): Fixed)