Bob, first off, thanks very much for keeping forums going for all of us to enjoy. I appreciate your efforts. Now I have a design suggestion. I find the sub-topic folders under the main topic folders a pain. The main reason for this is you lose conversation threads which are highlighted on the main topic folders if someone comes along and contributes to another sub-topic folder under the same main topic folder. For example, I do a post on a 968 RS turbo I found abandoned in a junkyard under the sighting section of news and events [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] . This exciting post is clearly displayed on the last post info of forum main page for all to pick up on. But two minutes later Joe968 comes along and posts in the News sub-topic that he saw a pink 968 in a movie called "The specialist" on TNT last night [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img] . Now, my post is "buried" as far as the main page is concerned. I understand I could take the time to "dive" into each rollup category and see if there is something that interests me but as a quick visitor with just a minute or two to look around and see if there is anything of interest to me I don't have the time. I would like to see all the main topic folders like "mechanic recommendations" without sub-categories. If you feel the need to maintain a sub-topic category then promote it to a main category. Just a thought and again, thanks.
there is no way to do what i think it is you are asking - the breakdown of categories is for very specific reasons of archiving - unlike the other site, which is totally useless for information retrieval, this one is actually pretty easy to go through and find things, without the jumble of comingled threads - for example, if i wanted to know about suspension mods, i certainly don't want to have to sift through 100 thread about turbo wet dreams - consequently they have their own categories
i had them all on the front page originally, but it looked very jumbled and hard to read - the software was very limited in how it displayed things, so the secondary pages arose
the thing to remember is that while the site is a social meeting place, this is not a chat board - it is an information archive as much as a discussion forum - with nearly 7500 threads, there is no way to keep them organized without at least this many categories
if you want to track a particular thread, subscribe to it or bookmark it - that will allow you to stay on top of it and go to it whenever you want
alternatively, you can expand your search of new posts to extend beyond today if you only check in every so often - you can also search specific areas and not everything - search is your friend, but you must use the extra options
i appreciate the thoughts, but less categories is exactly the opposite direction we want to go
the next software upgrade might allow for you to customize areas so that certain things come up automatically - this might be helpful for that kind of use - i will look into that
there might also be a way to create drop down menus from the categories - i'll look into that too
rss feeds might work for you too
I understand what you are saying. Like I said, my real world experience with the site, based on the design, has resulted in me missing a few threads that I never knew existed based on my quick visits to see what's new. I guess I'll just have to find more time to check the sub-categories. Thanks for listening.
lol - don't feel bad - i've missed hundreds - the only way i found many of them was by going through them and putting them where they belong - i still have about 1500 threads to sort through - one of these days i'll get to them
could be worse - could be a site where every thread gets buried in one heap, never to be found again, and relegated to having threads constantly repeated
<!--quoteo(post=73707:date=Jun 11 2009, 10:31 AM:name=flash)-->QUOTE (flash @ Jun 11 2009, 10:31 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->lcould be worse - could be a site where every thread gets buried in one heap, never to be found again, and relegated to having threads constantly repeated<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I can think of one excellent Porsche site, but it has this exact problem. So what's the deal with "View New Posts" that really doesn't view new posts? Software glitch? While I'm on practically everyday, that is my go to when I log on. Makes me wonder what I'm missing. Jeff has a valid point about requiring a significant amount of time to have to click on each category to see if something is bold faced indicating new posts exist. Is there another way to see what's been added since your last visit?
- Darryl
How does one find anything at the other place???
Their search function barley works as it is.
I feel this layout is great.
Most things catogorized, where one could find things like a liberary.
As noted this is an archive of information for future generations.
Should be cool to see this site in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
<!--quoteo(post=73733:date=Jun 11 2009, 03:57 PM:name=PorscheDude)-->QUOTE (PorscheDude @ Jun 11 2009, 03:57 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->How does one find anything at the other place???
Their search function barley works as it is.
I feel this layout is great.
Most things catogorized, where one could find things like a liberary.
As noted this is an archive of information for future generations.
Should be cool to see this site in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
quoted for truth.
not sure what is going on with the "view new posts" - i'm looking into it though - there seems to be a void between the session time out and the search - might be able to work that out - i'll let you know
<!--quoteo(post=73733:date=Jun 11 2009, 12:57 PM:name=PorscheDude)-->QUOTE (PorscheDude @ Jun 11 2009, 12:57 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Should be cool to see this site in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Makes me think.....
In 2039, a kindly old geezer named PorcheGramps requests a DIY on how to affix his oxygen bottle to the passenger's seat. He had previously clamped it to the circa 2005 Design-1 cross brace, but had been harrassed by the CHP (in a Fiat Roadrunner no less - big on style, but only 120kW - what's with that?) for running an illegal modification. And this was after he had repainted his beloved Polar Silver 968 white with silver metalflake, according to new CA law, to better relfect global warming solar energy back into space.
As PorcheGramps waits for days for a response, a newcomer pops into the forum, properly identifying himself as Chavez968, from Venezuala, the only place on the planet that allows gasoline powered cars, and the only place that has any petrol left. Venezuala has grown, naturally, to cover all of central and most of South America. PorscheGramps wants to do a DE in Rio, but he can't find a vehicle with enough power to pull his metalflake pearl 968 to Tijauana, the Northern-most city in VZ. So it sits on his driveway, attracting more dust than attention.
Fortunately, our favorite tinkerer, the president of Natural Design Racing for Profit and Fun, (Gordo on the forum) is developing a 4000KW turbocharged conversion kit - bolt on, instructions included, no worries design. You know it.
Unfortunately, most of those who remember what a 968 felt like can barely remember their names, and so Gordo will likely eat the development costs again - but he doesn't mind, as long as this community gets the POWER it needs!
Ah, for the good old days...
Wow you should write books.
You come with that over morning coffee???
LOL
rxter....good stuff. When does the movie come out?
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]
Brilliant, I can't wait for the next chapter...