We've replaced our old forum software with this new system (built by yours truly). It has a number of advantages over the old system, including:
Tight integration with PM: The forum uses your Pocket-Monkey login, so you don't have to create a separate forum login and people can't post anonymously or under a false username.
Forum tags: It supports "forum tags," sometimes called UBB tags (because of the system that first used them) or vB tags. These let you decorate your messages with boldface, italics, lists like this one, etc. They also offer a nice way to do web links and email links. I'll do a separate thread on the forum tags, with examples and such. If you've used UBB or vB tags elsewhere, you'll find the ones here quite similar (we don't currently allow [img], though).
Proofreading: You can proofread your message, exactly as it will appear in the forums before you post it.
Better replies: The old system didn't show you the message you were replying to when you were typing your reply, and its "quote original" feature was (quite frankly) terrible. The new system uses the [quote]...[/quote] forum tag for quoting, and when displaying the quoted material makes it look like this:
This is the quoted stuff
...which is much nicer to look at than the other system (but then, I would say that!).
Better admin features: It also has some nice admin features for Jock and I. :-)
So those are some advantages; there are some disadvantages as well:
Testing!!!: The old system had been around for a while and was well-tested; by contrast, this new system is virtually untested. More on that below.
Automatic URLs: The old system had a nifty feature where it automatically made URLs into links. I'll add that feature soon, but it's not here yet -- you have to use the [url]...[/url] forum tag intentionally.
Searching: I think the old system had a search feature (I don't really recall); this new system doesn't have one yet.
Update flags: The old system put a little exclamation mark next to sections that had new messages since your last visit, threads with new messages, etc. The new system doesn't do that yet; you have to look at the "last updated" time yourself. I also haven't done the nifty time display, where it said "Five minutes ago" and such. Both of those things are coming.
Here's a mini-FAQ:
It's not tested? I always test things a fair bit as I write them, but no, the new forum software hasn't received much user testing. So why are we putting it on the site? A couple of reasons. One is that when we had to rebuild the server after the recent hard drive failure, it meant reinstalling and reconfiguring all of the software Pocket-Monkey uses, including the old forum software. And if this new system turns out to be completely unready, that's exactly what we'll do. But we were about ready to take this system to testing over on the testing site, and decided to take a chance that it won't be too buggy to use.
Where are the old messages?? I'm working on importing them into the new system. Should be here before too long.
I think I've found a bug, what do I do? Please post a new thread about it here in the beta test forum. I'd like to confine bug reports and such here rather than having them spread all around the various sections. You're also welcome to email them to me at tj@pocket-monkey.com.
I have an idea for a feature, can I request it? Twist my arm. :-) Seriously, I'd love to hear about it, please post it here or email me. I make no guarantees, but...
What are these "forum tags"? -or- How do I get that nifty boldfacing and stuff? I'll do a separate thread on that, here in the beta test forum, soon.
What features are coming? At least these (not in order):
Automatic web URLs
Searching
Update flags
Signatures
Enabling/disabling forum tags, so if you don't want to use them, you don't have to worry about them
"Themes" so you can choose your colors and such (also a PM feature that's in the queue)
glad to see your are back. you were missed. big time. I got a lot of messages on other site . asking were you were. looks good and runs fast. good job. now get some rest. we can wait for the rest. Palmarge
Hi Guys!! thanks for working around the clock on this!! I hope you didn't burn yourselves out too much!! :-) (jey TJ how about a smilies system in here(i already built a nice library of them) *wink*
THAT was the other thing! I knew there was something missing from the list of coming features, was driving me nuts. ;-) Smileys are definitely in the pipeline!! -- T.J. Crowder Pocket-Monkey.com
Now if only we knew of a good source of monkey themed smileys...
:-P aren't you funny !!!!!!!!!! *grin*
- no actually I would love to add to the library so If i can get a smilie's only thread, I can link to the smilies, and everyone can see them, and request ones i hadn't thought of......... *HINT* *HINT*
posted by pint of beer (john shields) on 11/30 at 09:34
hi i think your site is very good, i am new here and was missing the site when you had your down time. but it looks like you have got it up an running good again, well done. ;o) :@} couple to add to your smiley collection LOL
posted by pint of beer (john shields) on 12/14 at 22:18
hi t.j. is there any plans for showing a list of completed games for each player and will you be getting a feature to be able to see old games? thanks for the site really enjoy it
Hi I'm new here but recogize a lot of nics already. Good luck getting all these features up and running, looks very interesting and can't wait to see what happens.
Good luck getting all these features up and running, looks very interesting and can't wait to see what happens.
Thanks! The only existing features of the site that aren't running again after our recent maintenance are Turn Notifications and Game Pausing, both of which we expect to get back online today. But you're right, there are several other features (Tournaments being top of the list) that we're looking at adding in the near future. -- T.J. Crowder Pocket-Monkey.com
On the outer Barcoo where churches are few and men of religion are scanty On a track never crossed 'cept by folks that are lost One ________ had a shanty
Ya'll did a great job I think. I am so glad to have you back here :oD
LOVE YOUR SITE
Message #356 Replies: 0
posted by Snowman2 (Steven J. R.) on 03/14 at 06:16
SAY POCKET MONKEY I REALLY LOVE YOUR SITE IT IS ONE OF A KIND OF GAME SITE TO PLAY GAMES ON AND CHAT WITH PEOPLE YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW ALL OVER THE WORLD. I REALLY LIKE THIS SITE A LOT THANKS FOR LETTING ME JOIN.
double clicking
Message #384 Replies: 1
posted by gabbybrook (gabbybrook) on 04/11 at 00:43
Does anyone have the problem on games and especially bg that u have to click and click the dices...or when sending game to go to next game u have to click that more then once...Just wondered as mine is like this on this site.
HI TJ I THINK THIS SITE IS REALLY COOL MY SIS, (KIMMY)GOT ME TO COME HERE.. IM NEW ON A COMPUTER MORE OR LESS A GAME SITE ..YOU HAVE MADE IT EASY FOR ME TO FIGURE IT OUT..AND WHEN I CANT THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE TO HELP ME.. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH AND I CANT WAIT TO LEARN NEW THINGS ON THE COMPUTER AS WELL AS THIS SITE THANKS SOUTHBELL
posted by mikeant (Michael Anthony) on 06/21 at 16:08
Where is my Bumber Stickers you promised me. I want to stick them on my 2 taxi's i have In New york. Gotta get POCKET MONKEY BUMBER STICKERS!!!!! mikeant
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