What do you want from the HEXUS.forums

As the weekend approches quicker than I want it to for once the HEXUS forums will be changing soon.

We will be running some major maintainence to the forums this coming Sunday - including full script upgrades instead of just the security patches and also updating all the skins on the forums. Optimisation is key and the aim of all of this is have your forums runnning quicker than ever.

The main thing here is whilst we do this on Sunday we obviously have time to look at other things - is everything where you want it to be or do you have any suggestions on things being moved round on the layouts - are there features you would like to see added?

Let us know in this thread - anything submitted before 11pm Friday will be considered and we will then test everything on Saturday before migrating Sunday morning.

Many thanks

Matt.

A next link instead of a last link at the bottom of each forum when searching

Can you explain where you mean?

The Acon 5 Subforum removing from gaming .... its been inactive for nearly a year since the event ended

a beer'd be nice

I would like somewhere to talk about books in lifestyle, i asked a while since and was told if there were enough posts about books then it was possible, but i've never pushed it since then.

Thanks

Andy

Ooooh suggestions! I'll be back in this thread with a whole host of stuff. Watch out! :mrgreen:

Alas, right now it's my 24th birthday so I'd better go do something else! :lol:

I wonder if its a good idea to merge HEXUS.help with HEXUS.hardstuff. I find them serving similar purpose and I'm always confused on which of the two should I post in.

Nah you need help seperate imo

How about forums that are always fast and don't go down?? :P

Free moneys!

Erm constructively though, this forum is pretty refined. I have absolutely no thoughts of how to improve this place, lol

removing images from signitures to keep them tidier?

I'd like a new bike, a PS3, two open minded thai girls... Oh you mean for the forum. I can guess whats coming already, phpbb is pretty universal.

I'm just a big fan of overall speed, so nothing silly that looks awesome but takes 5 mins to load :P

Aha, just had one, more emotes. I'm a sucker for emotes :embarrassed:

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Originally Posted by kempez

How about forums that are always fast and don't go down?? :P

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That is the intention.

Our recent problems were down to network issues outside of our control - you should notice it is now much faster and much more reliable.

Matt.

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Originally Posted by chuckskull

phpbb is pretty universal.

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Im sure PHPbb is pretty universal - but we run Vbulletin :lol:

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Originally Posted by chuckskull

I'd like a new bike, a PS3, two open minded thai girls... Oh you mean for the forum. I can guess whats coming already, phpbb is pretty universal.

I'm just a big fan of overall speed, so nothing silly that looks awesome but takes 5 mins to load :P

Aha, just had one, more emotes. I'm a sucker for emotes :embarrassed:

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Oh yeah snap, same here!

I demand for these to be added!
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smiles/unibrow.gif
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smiles/eusa_think.gif
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smiles/headbang2.gif
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smiles/eusa_doh.gif
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smi...on_scratch.png
http://www.beatclubv3.com/images/smi...fschuettel.gif

Pleasepleaseplease :)

hmm possibly a few different multi-media forums:

1. Hints and tips for music production (seems to be quite a lot of muso's around here now!)
2. Photo editing hints and tips (see above reason)
3. Video Editing

Plus anything else you can think of.

Please add information to the FAQ that lets people know they can only have an avatar after 500 posts :)

In that case .. please make people unable to post before reading the FAQ as well :)

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Originally Posted by Matt D

Im sure PHPbb is pretty universal - but we run Vbulletin :lol:

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Remind me not to post just after waking up :P thats what I meant :embarrassed:

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Originally Posted by DavidM

In that case .. please make people unable to post before reading the FAQ as well :)

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Quite a clever move

Not a change as such, but I have noticed with some forums as they grow and develop, so does the size they take up (on the screen). Its not a problem when I'm using my desktop (1280x1024) but on my laptop (1680x1050) I prefer to run 2 windows side by side (effectively 800ish width). On hexus atm that works well, some other forums, various bits (such as menu bars) mean that it doesnt fit, width wise :(

Dave

I allways liked the QT forum, since it has been moved into GD as a sub forum it has been much less busy. I would suggest making it a forum in its own right again.

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Originally Posted by dave87

Not a change as such, but I have noticed with some forums as they grow and develop, so does the size they take up (on the screen). Its not a problem when I'm using my desktop (1280x1024) but on my laptop (1680x1050) I prefer to run 2 windows side by side (effectively 800ish width). On hexus atm that works well, some other forums, various bits (such as menu bars) mean that it doesnt fit, width wise :(

Dave

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Seconded - I would prefer to have a system that's more flexible to different sizes so I can read the forums in multiple, non-full screen windows.

I actually have signatures turned off because they're so messy/distracting. Something to tidy them up/enforce size guidelines would be great.

Other forums I use have a kind of chatbox function, which can be interesting to pass the time, and get more 'live' help and feedback - it also serves to reduce more chatty spam from the forums proper.

But such systems shouldn't be java/activeX based - I enjoy reading Hexus without needing plugins.

I'd suggest moving the first 3 forums on the main page plus the care@hexus ones to be lower down the page as I don't think they're what most people visit hexus for. Surley the hardware forums should be near the top for a predominantly hardware site, along with gaming and general discussion?

Some kind of menu bar on the front page that updates with all the latest threads etc.

Would be good for getting more people to visit the forum.

I know its nothing to do with the forums but a live chat feature would be cool. The only real problem is moderating it would be a right PITA I could see it being filled with immature idiots (like myself)

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Originally Posted by Matt D

Can you explain where you mean?

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When you do a search on the forum and it brings back loads of pages of threads you get

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[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [>] [Last]

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Well wouldn't the ">" be the next link?

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Originally Posted by ajbrun

I'd suggest moving the first 3 forums on the main page plus the care@hexus ones to be lower down the page as I don't think they're what most people visit hexus for. Surley the hardware forums should be near the top for a predominantly hardware site, along with gaming and general discussion?

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Agreed on that one. Though i'm guessing the care forums didn't get there by accident.

How about collapsable clusters of forums? They're already arranged in groups, so have a toggle to collapse or expand groups.

edit: infact that's already there, however the button is misleading and has no label and points to '#top' rather than 'collapse group' or something.

I noticed you can't collapse the first 3 forums. Could that be changed please.

I don't know if this is possible, but could you maybe make it so that the layout is customisable, so if we want hardware at the top for example, we could choose to have it like that. This way, the current layout is kept by default, but the user then has to change it to how they like it, maybe through options in the userCP.

More user customisation of layout would be cool, good idea :)

It neededn't be a full blown sharepoint style thing, but I think yahoo used to have some neat options years ago about customising your own news page layout along the lines suggested by ajbrun.

i think ppl should beable to close there own thread by a tools option ect

cus i have seen ppl saying to others to stick to the thread ect yet they dont so that person then wants to close the thread but cannot as only a mod can do so

i dont meen like everybody being able to close anybodys tho i mean like closing ur own threads only

i think u will find quite a few cud agree with that :P

or maybe a hell of a lot more competitions would be nice

even if the prizes are small things like ipods mp3 players hard drives ect

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Originally Posted by bad boy

or maybe a hell of a lot more competitions would be nice

even if the prizes are small things like ipods mp3 players hard drives ect

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Hexus don't make up their own prizes, they are usually generous donations from the sellers, Manufacturers, etc. Hence why you always get the "Sponsored by *retailer here*"



We need a spell checker for post's like yours, lol.

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Originally Posted by kalniel

Other forums I use have a kind of chatbox function, which can be interesting to pass the time, and get more 'live' help and feedback - it also serves to reduce more chatty spam from the forums proper.

But such systems shouldn't be java/activeX based - I enjoy reading Hexus without needing plugins.

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This idea sounds good - I like the idea of being able to instant message other Hexus users whilst I'm browsing the forums. As Kalniel says, it would be ideal to get further support/advice this way, rather than using the pm system.

Edit: And yes some system of getting people to even attempt to use punctuation and correct their spelling would be great :) (Please note, I know this wouldn't be possible :))

Isn't that what IRC is for? Hexus has a channel - #hexus.net on quakenet, although it's been dead for months now because people just done know about it.

#hexus.cs for CS:S too :D.

IRC isn't the same - it's not embedded and requires third party programs and additional ports.

I was thinking something more along the lines of the chatbox like the one on the left here:
http://www.websterscafe.com/news.php

Some kind of spelling/grammer/txt/chav corrector would be great :p

Never heard of this IRC thing before?

How about the option to turn signatures off completely for other people? I've seen this on the MediaPortal forum, it's at the bottom of their CP preferances. Would make it a lot quicker for people of slow connections. Turning off Avatars would also be good for the same reasons.

Alos, what about having more advanced controls next to the Quick Post box, would mean a few less page loads a lot. Or a button next to a post that quotes that post *into* the Quick post box. then you could easily quote multiple items quickly without going to advanced and doing a lot of copy and pastes.

I'll try and think of more :)

The ability to hide threads from certain forums when clicking "new posts"

persnally i dont want to view threads from german speaking ati forums, or for that matter the cars forum, as i have tno interest in them.

im sure this could be a useful feature, and there may already be a vbulletin plugin for it.


also a forum that doesnt take ages to loads, and has less downtime. surely u can get some half decent hosting?


you also have too many forums and subforums that it makes browsing via the main forum view painful. What the hell is a turnkey pc system? your-buys forum? never used.

wasnt meant to be a rant btw, just think there are a lot of things that need improving

• Editable templates and layouts is not something we want to do - especially with the number of skins we run on the forums.
  
• A spell schekr (heh) might be possible - but it would be an impact on the server over all so unlikely.
  
• The categories and forums we have are currently being discussed, we may implement some changes there.
  
• I will look into the possibility of hiding some of the non native language forums or maybe manipulate them so that they can be minimised as needed.
  
• We are currently looking at alternative layouts for the index of the forums, but we will have to see what we can come up with.
  
• The hosting - the problems we had recently were NOT our, nor our hosts fault - they were to do with connectivity elsewhere - our hardware and our hosting is top notch overall.

Matt.

How about a "New Posts Since..." search? Really annoying when there are a few pages of new posts iæve not read and then my connection dies or something happens and i have to log back in (also happens if i get called away at work and the session times out etc). It's difficult to track down what i missed.

Does anyone actually use the buddy list system?

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Originally Posted by ajbrun

I'd suggest moving the first 3 forums on the main page plus the care@hexus ones to be lower down the page as I don't think they're what most people visit hexus for. Surley the hardware forums should be near the top for a predominantly hardware site, along with gaming and general discussion?

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I agree with this. It would be nice if the modding stuff was a bit more prominant too - I like seeing peeps mods :)

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Originally Posted by Funkstar

How about the option to turn signatures off completely for other people? I've seen this on the MediaPortal forum, it's at the bottom of their CP preferances. Would make it a lot quicker for people of slow connections. Turning off Avatars would also be good for the same reasons.

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You can already turn of displaying of signatures and avatars, if that's what you mean (under edit options on your CP). I do for signatures, but I'd rather have sensible sized/non-distracting ones and see them - the number of times I've said 'What link?' or 'What spec?' and it's been in their signatures is embarassing. :embarrassed:

If there was a chatbox thing then i think it should be restricted to at least 250 posts, etc.

i agree with kempez - more emphasis on the modding ;)

erm.. not having read through any prior posts and all.. the same. but more people here to get threads moving along faster

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Originally Posted by kalniel

You can already turn of displaying of signatures and avatars, if that's what you mean (under edit options on your CP).

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Doh! I looked for them and just didn't see that bit at all. now I do feel like an idiot :Oops:

I think Hexus shoppers could do with tidying up a bit. A few too many sub forums in my opinion.

At the moment there are about 59 forums/subforums excluding the 14 customer support ones and I think there are too many overspecialized subforums that get very few posts, merging them will i think increase the number of posts.

dos that meen hexus will be down tomoz then ?

HEXUS forums will be down tomorrow afternoon - only the forums.

The downtime will be in the region of three hours - and will likely be in the afternoon to early evening only.

Please understand i will get it done as soon as I can but I only have so many hairs left to lose :)

Matt.

A spell checker would be the number 1 thing for me, that would be great.

A new 'gadget's forum too, for all those toys that dont quite fall into other catagories.

However, the most need new foums is an "MP3" or "music tech" forum would be bery nice too, for stuff ripping guides, what MP3 player to buy? What the best format? etc, etc, that crop up all over the place in various forums like the software forum, audio visual, hardstuff, GD etc. Its such a big and popular topic i think it needs a dedicated forum (probaby more so than photography, which has it's own forum).

Either way, good luck Mat!

:)

more moderation, removing of pointless threads, more keeping content good rather than just random posts.

I'd love to see a forum for webmasters, html, css, php, etc, etc. Maybe I'm asking for something which you feel may not fit, but I think it would make a good addition to the current cluster of topics up for discussion and calls for help. ;)

http://forums.hexus.net/forumdisplay.php?f=9

Like that one?

I was about to say, "If you see a white stick lying around, its mine" :), but on the other hand maybe Hexus could do with a more dedicated forum for that kind of thing. It looks a little out of place in 'Software Development'.

The HEXUS team will be meeting soon in regards to the categories - we will see what we come up with :)