TowersTimes Software Update

[Blaze]

I love the quick reply box, but the ability to add smileys and the buttons for bold and that kind of thing would be a nice thing to see return.

The preview really does need to come back I think.

Other than that I'm really liking the update, cheers!

[Chris W]

I'd rather have a quicker and much more usable forum than the post previews

[Big Dave]

Ermmm, the quick reply is good and I like the fact it is so plain, but maybe you could have a button that launches the smiles in a pop up a bit like the full editor does? Keeps the quick reply clean, whilst giving access to more features quickly.

[Craig]

Thing is, quick reply was another mod, another thing to keep updated and thus another thing to have issues with everytime we go through a phpBB update. The mod we had isn't compatible with the current version so we've had to leave it off. In addition, we've also got to look at things long term. The forum had a number of customised modifications in the past which we've been slowly trimming down. They caused both server load (noticed how the forums are quicker tonight?!) and also either a potential security issue as we're faced with waiting for them to be made compatible or issues like this where we have to remove them each time. We really need to get into a position where we have a fast forum, with maybe a couple of modifications but mostly standard phpBB software to allow decent forum performance .

Since phpBB have only recently added the quick reply mod, it's possible they may develop this feature themselves to include emoticons etc, we'll just have to wait and see .

[Big Dave]

Yeah and I totally agree with everything you say. I love the simplicity of it all and agree that keeping load times down is key, especially with such a large and popular forum. Im sure Joel will tweak and adjust things over time. Hes always tweaking/breaking things :P

[Sam]

[quote=""Chris""]I'd rather have a quicker and much more usable forum than the post previews [/quote]
The forum seemed perfectly fine for speed before...?

I dunno about anyone else, but I find by not having to click open a topic to see if I've read the last post the forum is a LOT less usable and quick.

[Chris W]

It seems quicker tonight though, so it was worth removing the mod. (For 2 reasons really, to aid upgrades in the future and for speed)

The number of queries that needed to be done by the server for that one mod was too much really.

[oldgitBEN]

YEY to: quick reply box being here all the time and the tag tag [tag:18k1gp8a]Joel[/tag:18k1gp8a]
BOO to: losing the post preview, it was a great feature and so far I havent noticed a speed difference anyway

[Islander]

Have to chime in here that I've noticed no speed difference at all - forum was very quick before, and is just as quick now.

Having said that, I understand the problem with upgrading etc. 'Tis annoying...

[.Will]

Seems a little slow tonight TBH. Love the new Fast Reply box I never used the old one because it disapeared when I typed in it but the new one doesn't so it shall be whored.

Thanks Joel.

:P

[DiogoJ42]

I don't want to rain on your parade of hard work, but I've not noticed any difference in speed either. TTF has never been a slow loader for me, even with my sh¡tty internet speeds.

I do like the new quick reply box though Does exactly what it says on the tin.

If we can just have the adittional smilies back, along with the spell checker, I'll be a very happy bunny

[Big Dave]

The whole preview thing was never a big thing for me. I knew if I read the topic by the colour coded images. One thing that is bugging me is that by clicking the topic title, you get taken to the first post. I know this was commented on before, but its sooooo annoying as Im so used to clicking the topic title and being taken to the last post.

[Craig]

I never even knew people even bothered to click smilies these days? :P. Anyway, bottom line is that the server performance IS physically better now that this work has been done which is what we desperately needed to achieve. The feedback is appreciated and we'll certainly look into what we can do, but as we've already highlighted we do have an urgent need to reduce our reliance on mods from multiple developers to make upgrading easier in the future.

I'm sure people would rather have a few features removed either permanently or temporarily in return for the forum being secure and not risk losing it altogether if it got hacked etc!

[s:2da8yogh]Edit: Although it's not ideal, clicking on a topic title from the main page should now take you to the last post rather than the post - so better than nothing for those of you complaining about it [/s:2da8yogh] Forget that bit, it stops the black arrow from appearing - sorry!

[.Will]

Where has the little arrow in the box gone?

[Craig]

Fixed! See above

[.Will]

Ah. A thanking you.

[WillPS]

Will I continue receiving a tonne of emails relating to topics which claim to have had a reply but haven't in months?

[Big Dave]

Nope that should be sorted apparently.

[Blaze]

Just a small issue. When opening a topic from the index it goes to the first page, not the latest post.

Small, but annoying.

[Nightfall]

Big issue that hasn’t been noted:

View Active Topics isn’t working anymore. I’m getting to the page but it’s just saying no results. I’m surprised nobody else has spotted it

I also liked post preview. I said so before it was removed so I might as well repeat it again. However if it was causing trouble when making later changes I see why you removed it. Just keep an eye out for a future, more efficient version.