SORRY - NEW template for the moment, I broke the other one

[admin]

Well, I was TRYING to do the right thing...
"More space" they cried!
"More attachments per post"
"Chat, we want chat!"

Well, I changed...
Max member folder size to 50Mb
Max attachments to 20 images
Max overall upload size to 3Mb

All good...I thought...until

Then I had to go and load a bloody Chat module which just threw the site into the mulching machine.
It has messed with the templates language files in the default set up, so in a made panic, I have been trying non-standard templates and came up with this one. Not bad either, is it??

I'll have to go and try and find an entire new copy of the default files and start again.
The gallery button needs to be manually coded in to the language file, and I don't rememebr how I did that, but it is there. So I'll get it sorted, please make do for a minute while we go to a commercial.
No seriously, I'll try and get it fixed ASAP

[Tim N]

I think it actually looks pretty cool ! There are a few things missing but it LOOKS cool

As long as we can still participate and the site keeps running I am sure lots of people will be happy !

[bigbob]

not bad for a mistake

[admin]

Other than the gallery and Links buttons and a resize on the logo, Let me know what else you can find or doesn't work please. It might be easier to plough on with this than unscramble the eggs!

[tommykelso]

The links are missing at the top of the home page which directs you to posts/replies since last visit!

That was a cool feature!

P.S.  I ranted and raved in the FAQs about this issue before I had read this post and realised this new look is tempory - sorry! lol

[OZZI-BLOKE]

I like the new look, the change is good.

[admin]

OK...All sorted (in the new template) I think / hope.
We now have:
> A logo of sorts working
> Unread & Replies are there and working -they are at the top right immediately below your login in the header.
> "Gallery" & "Links" are now linked and lined up like lttle soldiers on all pages
> The News panel is there but is a fader thingy. Too late for that now, after midnight.

However you also now have:
> 50Mb per user image folder (unlimited at Light Art Photo  - don't want to rub in)
> 20 images per post in stead of 10
> 3Mb per upload limit
> Karma installed
> Online now installed next to Posts
> I am wounded after todays Chat attempt, but have a new one in mind called 'FlashChat' - sounds naughty doesn't it?

Now be good kids and go over and load some images into your nice big huge galleries at www.LightArtPhoto.com too please, c'mon then. Everything now just goes into your personal gallery and you can include it or series of images, or a slideshow into any post. Just remember to add a category and tags to your post. It is pretty straight forward.

[Analog6]

I opened it ans went 'Ooh!'.  I like it, looks good. We've got the Gallery & so on across the top.  Plough oin with this one, I think.

[Tim N]

Whats the Karma vote under peoples name ?? I just voted Yeay for everyone

[bigbob]

sorry have to say this but i did worn you if it ain't broken don't fix it

[admin]

When you add third party modules, some edit template files. When this occured, the original template which was based on a modified version of the deafult install template got trashed.
I had two choices, one was to spend a few hours trawling through code, or get on with it and get live again ASAP. I don't have enough time to do the first and the references to the error files I found in the support forum related to language files. I checked these and could find nothing obvious.
When I looked for a new template, this stood out as clean and functional.
I must admit that I am trying to do a few too many things at once here and despite best efforts, drop the ball occassionally. At the end of the day, we were partially (home page) off the air for about an hour and as far as I can tell, we are back to a fully functioning site and live Chat will still get here.
The increase in attachments per upload and files storage increase, should find popularity of some sort.

In answer to Tim, Karma is a simple way of averaging popularity of a post without without commenting.
High Karma stands out, as does bad Karma. You don't have to use it at all. The standards is 'Applaude' & 'Smite'
I changed it to yeay and boo. Like a thumbs up or thumbs down.

I guess forums become a bit like people's houses, some like to move the furniture around from time to time and some want it to stay put. Like photography, there's no wrong or right. I am also going to move the order of some boards up the ranking and suppress a few that remain unused...but not this week. Enough excitement for me.

Please let me know if there are any components that do not appear to work as they should.

[Cygnus]

Caught me by surprise also. I like the new look.

[Truckman]

Mark, this is much better...It looks more like the forums I'm already used to elsewhere...This one was always hard to get around in for me...Ya done gooder and didn't even know it...

I vote leave it like it is, just add in the extra buttons as needed...As for chat, I've never used it anywhere, probably never will...Ben

[admin]

I'm not big fan of chat, and prefer to post, but it has been raised (as late as couple of days ago).

Thank you for the positive comments, I kind of like the "crisper" look of a bit more white, others may disagree... I need to get a few things sorted like the news spot and space for a banner or two. No rush on that.
A change is refreshing and an update newsletter might just encourange a few past participants to call by for a look

[Tim N]

Chat was only a suggestion and not a necessity ... I dont mind if we dont get a chat module ... especially if its too much trouble and going to crash the site !

[Analog6]

I'm not a chatter either.  I don't like ti at all.  If I want o chat I'll do it face to face.  I don't even like the phone much!

[tommykelso]

Yes i like the newer look... Got a bit scared wen things disappeared! But now i understand all the problems. As long as we get the same functionality as the older site within this crispier site.... It's all good! Dont mind if we dont hav a chat facility. We hav msn for that.

[Ross and Cher]

Haven't got a note for our absenteeism - work got in the way as it does!

So our two cents worth (like the royal our?):-

Admin Dude - you might have broke it but it was yours to break and only ever ours to borrow! At the end of the day, we will support whatever format YOU choose to maintain. If you want us to choose, fine, but then youhave the right to charge for your time!

Those that haven't - I/we suggest you at least have a play on LIGHTARTPHOTO.com (much better as of yesterday when MJ switched on the dahboard lights)  - yep it is different, but is that all bad?? Pros - have a look at image quality and some of the functionality that is missing here, cons it doesn't automatically generate a post in the forum (given the number of images posted here, is that really a problem??). Again - at the end of the day, maybe the will of the Admin Dude has a bit of clout here - never maintained a forum, but can't but admire the effort he puts in for Gratis - so which is the lowest maintenance for him has a big bearing!

Whatever the format - here's to the spirit of LIGHTART and thanks Admin Dude for the opportunity to enjoy the ride!!!

[admin]

Awww, gee gawsh!
The Light Art Photo site is ruly truly not an attempt to migrate away from here.
It is a parellel attempt at discovering what the possibilities are (otherwise we'd all be watching B&W TV, listening to our Hi-Fi 8 tracks and wearing safari suits OMG!...and while a slightly different angle, it does do some things very well.
Just the reverse, Load all your images into one personal gallery...then include them as an image OR several, or a slideshow in ANY post in one or more categories.It is actually more flexible...but a bit different to get used to.

I figure if I don't try some of this stuff no ones going to do it for me, and the "Other" version, will appeal to some and not others. Tommy K made the reality bite when he said he hoped he didn't have to upload to two seperate sites...which unfortunately he would have to. We all have some kind of life outside of photography, cat, truck and coin forums (the first that came to mind  )

I struggle some weeks with getting paying work done, post producing my wife's shots, doing the kids sport thing and the various responsibilities we all have, and backing up for these two , and two other websites. But, I very much enjoy this little community and the challenge of making it the best that it can be. However, this is often late at night, so it won't happen as quickly as I'd like. This version has its faults too. Currently even if we had afew thousand members it won't oblige with showing ad modules...and on Light Art Photo the RSS feed thing on the front page has had minor prolapse.
Anyway you are all good company, there is not to much uppitiness - if any, and hopefully a few more like minded people will find their way here. I should perhaps go for a walk with my camera!

[Mike]

Nice work Mr Admin Dude, the forum looks very modern now No need for chat module for me either.

Mike

[Truckman]

Mark, is it possible to have a duplicate "Mark Forums as Read" button at the top of the main page in addition to the bottom one and also a "Return to Top" button at the bottom?...Ben

[admin]

" Return to top" is handled by the "Go up" link next to pages at the bottom. I'll investiage the other.

[Truckman]

" Return to top" is handled by the "Go up" link next to pages at the bottom.

Maybe I'm blind but I don't see that one on the main page...Ben

[admin]

Just below the last post:

[Ross and Cher]

Awww, gee gawsh!

I struggle some weeks with getting paying work done, post producing my wife's shots,

Gees thanks Admin Dude - how to get the rest of us into the ... - bad enough that I cook clean and iron now you know who is going to be demanding post production!!!!!!!! (Well at least I cook!!!!!)

[admin]

Moi aussi (me too).
We do a lot of verandah BBQ, Andrea does the bulk of indoor cooking but I do love a glass or two of the good stuff with the music cranked, while making a mess in the kitchen from time to time. No better way to spend a rainy winter afternoon. (not wishing the summer away)

Post production has its carbon credits too.

[Truckman]

Just below the last post:

Yessir, I can see that one on every page but the index page, which is what I meant by main page...(Now where did I put that American to Down Under dictionary?)... ...Ben

[Tim N]

I never use the go to top / go up etc. because scrolling up and down webpages seems to be the only exercise I have been getting since the arrival of the baby !!

[admin]

Right you are too Trucky, sorry about that. A deficiency in this template, I'll put it on a list of things to do.
I will continue a search for the most suited template, but most that I have looked at miss a feature or two.
You can edit them easily enough, but it is undone when upgrades are undertaken and it can become a dog's breakfast in re-editing changes that have been made. This one doesn't appear to cater for the small announcements module either, but that is no big deal.

[Truckman]

A couple of missing buttons is certainly not a deal-breaker for me, Mark...The more I use the new layout, the better I like it...Like Tim, rolling the scroll wheel is as close to a cardio-vascular workout as I get... ...Ben

[admin]

Only because I couldn't let it win, I have finally sorted out the original Theme problem and it is working again.
I am kind of liking this one now, what do you think or don't care.
A quite straw poll follows

[OZZI-BLOKE]

I reckon you've done pretty well with this one, yeah there might be a couple of differences but its not a problem. This new template looks better and more modern, its got my vote.
Cheers on a job well done.

[admin]

I have just widened the "body" to 1200 pixels up from 1024 to take the full width of the larger images.
Does the white part run off the edge of te screen for anyone? Most PC's and laptops seem to have a resolution of 1024, 1200 or 1600 these days. It should shrink done to fit slightly older screens with lower resolution

[OZZI-BLOKE]

Mine is on the screen, I only got an Acer notebook, don't know if that makes a difference.
I just click ctrl and + or - to change sizes on screen.

[Ross and Cher]

At the risk of being branded a ... stirrer - I (was going to use the royal we but she who must be obeyed is watching  ) prefer the lightartphoto layout! That aside, whatever is easier here works!!!

[admin]

Ooooer, very good Mr Ross.
I don't believe it. If we could only get a few members to post some images up there.
You can also create multiple galleries eg Ross & Cher - Lamington National Park end embedd in your home page.
Just create, open your personal page and click on the insert image / galley tab...but I digress.