Hard to navagate on the forum

[loz]

Hi All

I have only been here a few days and like the feel around here so please don't think I'm a new member winging

But this forum is so hard to navigate around like others with time I may find my way around .Posting pix is a pain and when using a small screen I cant see the right hand side unless I scroll across no problems on the 24"iMac but I dont carry it around with me 

[Analog6]

AT first I found the photo posting problematic, but now I really like the way you put it into the Gallery and it makes a post, it's neat and easy, I think. 

For large pictures on a small screen, click once on the pic and it brings it up on its own and resizes it for you.

Personally I now find this one easier than the others.  If I want to find a pic I've already commented on I need only go to the Gallery and check the title, date it was posted, and who by, much easier than trawling through screens of thread titles trying to find the one you wanted when you are not sure of the exact title.

And I like the unread at the top, much better than just New Posts where you don't get any idea of now many there are.

Try it for a few weeks and see if it gets easier for you.

[Tim N]

Once you get used to it then I am sure it will be easy enough for you !
Dont give up on us we always like new members to stick around !

[admin]

Hi loz, having been away a lot over the last few weeks, I have only just come across this post.
All of the forum software that have reviewed have positive an negative points.
On balance the creation of a discussion post automatically, when an image is added to a gallery has proven popular. However, it can be a bit of a learng curve - particularly when the gallery module, also allows comments.

While, like other forums, you can add an image inline within a post, the best practice here is to go to the gallery section, navigate to the gallery of choice and select add image from the bottom of the page.
you will find the resulting post in the corresponding discussion board from the front page.

[kiwi]

Hi guys/gals

You may be aware that I am on a few forums, am a mod on a couple, and they each have their strengths and weaknesses

I have not been a regular contributor here, or a long term one, but, I would like to suggest that you simplify that taxonomy of the thread structure significantly to make it easier to navigate/view the main board and less confusing at to which thread to post into.

It's also to me anyhow quite hard to see the last few posts simply

I do like the vibe of the place and that there seem to be a few regulars that post replies to almost everything.

It's OK to create sub-threads where there's lots of specialised activity, but, I dont think this is where you are at right now.

The front page currently is actually about four pages

[Analog6]

I like this one much better than all the other forums I've been on.  The auto post generate when a pic is put in the gallery is fantastic, and I just go to unread posts to see the new things.  I think it is  far, far easier to navigate here than on the other 'normal format' forums.

[Carmyllie]

Personally I believe if you want to contribute, learn, browse or merely participate in a friendly and kind, selflessly spirited place, there's nowhere else I'd prefer to be. LAF is navigable as much as you want to navigate , in my opinion, making the choices readily available for all.

[bigbob]

I fined LAF much easier than other sites i belong to. Posting pictures is a 3 step process click on gallery click on category scroll to bottom click on upload done and this is the only site of the 4 that I'm on that has spell check

[tommykelso]

When I first joined I was confused as to where I actually comment on the pic... In the gallery?? Or in the thread it automatically creates??  But after a few days I actually found it easy to navigate around.

[Derek]

Yep, it can be a bit tricky for newbies but then what software isn't.

[kiwi]

Yep, it can be a bit tricky for newbies but then what software isn't.

the point is that people will look, try, fail then move on.

[Truckman]

the point is that people will look, try, fail then move on.

Are you saying that the attention span for some of us is so short that we - oh look, something shiny... ...Ben

[Analog6]

If they are that lazy, let them move on.  I found it perfectly clear right from the get go.  Just because this forum is different to the other forums does not automatically mean they are better.  look at Mac computers . . .

[Truckman]

look at Mac computers . . .

I'd rather not...I'm an HP guy...Ben

[kiwi]

its the internet age, with so many sites each site needs to be simple to hold attention - your own blog/website etc as well.

just a few threads back people were wondering why people signed up but then weren't active ? This is one reason IMHO.

[Big Pix]

look at Mac computers . . .

....... I do .... all the time, just so simple to use...... anyway, looking at web sites, should appear the same on all systems

[admin]

Interesting comments from all, and Kiwi, the constructive criticism, is appreciated (really).
The fact is, each fromat has strengths and weaknesses.
This particular template or 'skin' came about as a matter of urgency, when we had an upgrade failure several months ago, (subsequently rectified) the new version, Quickly chosen to get the site back up, was deemed preferable, but misses a coupe of modules, like the ability to run ads off the front page (Yay you say, but useful for deriving a little income to pay for all this stuff).
The image gallery module was selected because it seemed to be unique in automatically generating discussion threads - at the expense of a little confusion for some about the choice of commenting on threads or directly against the image. Equally, users can still include images inline with a new post, but the add image and create post automatically has seemed to find favour. Spell chaeck seemed like a good idea (though we don't always use it - me included).
Too many topics? well on reflection now there probably is. When we started, I reviewed other forums and had a go at creating what I guessed would be a good mix. Maybe now it is time for a cull - happy to go with the popular opinion.
To comply with all browsers, I'll need to test and check a lot of templates and one day will get back to that, but right now, I am struggling a it balancing other real life committments to family and business.
Please put any thoughts forward for discussion and perhaps over the next couple of months we can come up with a concensus of regularl users as to teh where what why and how of what is useful, useless and desirable in moving forward.