[Joe Chapline]

@5555624 6849 wrote:

When I browse to the main page (http://www.bikearlingtonforum.com/forum.php), I get the yellow text box (“If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ. You must register to post…. “). Today, I didn’t bother to log in, before reading some posts.

I typically read posts by opening threads in new tabs. I had already replied to a couple of threads before I realized I had not bothered to log in. On each of the open tabs, I am logged in. (When I log in, I do check the box to keep me logged in.) If I go back to the main page, from one of these tabs, I am logged in.

If I open a new tab/window and use the URL, I get the yellow text box and have the log in boxes. (As I am posting this reply, I opened a new tab, pasted the URL and got the yellow text box.) If I do log in, I get the “Invalid Redirect URL (http://www.bikearlingtonforum.com/forum.php)” error message. It seems I am getting that message when I log in, but I am already logged in. Yet another Opera/Windows glitch.

5555624: I was making some changes to the forum templates this morning, that may have something to do with it. I’m finished with that for now.

[Joe Chapline]

@Riley Casey 6827 wrote:

Right up to the point where riding in the rain jumps up and bites ya’. I was riding in Lowell MA last week in a light rain along one of the cobblestone lined rail road tracks. I jumped the track with my front wheel as I always do but apparently the cobblestone I landed on beyond the track was just angled enough that when wet it kicked the wheel out sideways and me over the handle bars. I’ve done this sort of thing before but apparently the difference between doing it at 40 or 50 and doing it at 60 is the difference between riding away and going to the ER. Now I have to drive to work, the grocery store, every where I can’t walk for six weeks. 😡

Riley, so sorry you were hurt, get well soon. It took me a minute to figure out you were talking about your age — at first I thought you went over the handlebars at 60 mph.

[Joe Chapline]

@acc 6752 wrote:

I can access this site on my phone now. In fact if there is something strange going on trail-wise I’ve pulled over and posted.

Good to know. What kind of phone are you using? I don’t think vBulletin’s mobile suite includes anything new for mobile web. I think it’s just apps for Android and iPhone.

Any reports about how well the forum works on mobile devices now would be appreciated. It works fine on my iPad.

[Joe Chapline]

@txgoonie 6729 wrote:

https://www.missionbicycle.com/about/news/8-1-11/lock-and-roll-secrets-rear-triangle

Sheldon Brown illustrated this method, too. I don’t doubt that it works, but it doesn’t look like it would. My worry is that some thieves won’t know that this locking method is effective and will bust the bike up trying to solve the puzzle.

[Joe Chapline]

My two cents: I’ve been riding a hybrid for at least 20 years and still prefer it. I don’t have any statistics, but I know that not everyone follows the same progression to road bikes and racing gear. It seems that those that do go down that path end up upgrading their bikes anyway, plus buying additional bikes, so I don’t see any harm in starting with the hybrid.

[Joe Chapline]

@StopMeansStop 6523 wrote:

My only issue is the like “box” is disparate from the comment, so you can’t tell if the likes belong to the comment above or below

I agree. I worked on that for at least an hour yesterday, without success. Perhaps when I look at it again, after a break, I’ll see how to change that.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6517 wrote:

Joe..

If you change http://bikearlingtonforum.com/images/icons/icon1.png to a 1 pixel transparent image you’ll lose that icon

I can do that. I have a feeling it won’t collapse the space for the title, but maybe it will. It might look better anyway.

[Joe Chapline]

@StopMeansStop 6516 wrote:

This seems to be more of a reputation system then a comment rating, no?

Edit.. Nvm. Though most “like” systems put the like at the bottom of the post

There are two displays associated with the “like” feature. Above the post, there’s information about the person who posted it, and that includes the number of “Likes” he/she has given and received. I will see if I can hide that, that’s a feature we didn’t ask for. Below the post, it should show a list of members who “liked” the post. The way I think it’s going to work, there won’t be a number displayed for “likes,” as there is in Facebook. Instead there will be a list. We’ll still be able to quickly see if there are a lot of “likes,” without having to actually read the names. I prefer the Facebook way (maybe because that’s what I’m used to), but this is the closest thing we’ve found that’s available to us.

I notice that when I’m logged out, the “likes” at the bottom do not display. I might be able to change that if there’s a reason to, but I’m fine with it being there only for members.

Forgot to mention… there is a way to keep track of reputation points in vBulletin, but we’re not using it. If we were using it, the new “like” feature could be set to add reputation points. It doesn’t affect reputation now.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6508 wrote:

It’s the default icon for the post title. I know that you have the ability to title an individual post (I just did), and it displays for the title. I attached one to see if it changed. Effectively the “Post Icons” at the bottom of the reply when you reply in advanced formatting mode versus quick reply. That may be something you need to turn on or off in the back end. Been a while since I’ve been in the admin back end of this software.

Or it might be one of the “fixes” in the new version.. LOL

Thanks CCrew — that makes sense. There’s a placeholder icon whether there’s a title or not. I’ve noticed that the title field is hardly ever used for posts; only for new threads.

[Joe Chapline]

There are more questions and answers about the forum software update and the “like” modification on this thread. Please post any other questions there.

[Joe Chapline]

My own question: Does anyone know what the blue icon is for, the icon above each post? That’s a space-waster. And a complaint: There’s already a new version of the forum software out. They didn’t let us be up to date for even one day.

[Joe Chapline]

Thanks for the feedback. Thanks to CCrew for answering some questions. I emailed 5555624 to see if there’s still a problem logging in — that’s the most serious problem that’s been reported. Responses to other questions:

PotomacCyclist: Any way to shrink the size of the “Post Thanks/Like” feature?
No, at least not at my skill level. It picks up the styles from the top lines of the post, there are no separate style controls. I also spent some time trying to move the “Like” feature closer to the post it goes with, and have a larger space between posts. I haven’t found a way to do that.

WillStewart: Is there a Firefox ‘switch’ that can be thrown?
It works in Firefox for Mac. CCrew indicated it works in newer versions of Firefox. There are no browser compatibility settings I can change.

Steve the tech: Is the signature feature new?
I don’t see any signatures, but we have always had the option to display signatures. I don’t think it’s enabled, because it’s attractive to spammers.
And autosave? I think that’s new.
Where’s auto save go? I imagine it’s cached on your computer somewhere; not sure. I don’t know how we would access it, perhaps there’s a prompt when something goes wrong.

[Joe Chapline]

For those subscribed to this thread — you should see a “Like this post” link under all posts now.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6469 wrote:

Looks like the “like” functionality is working. Smart enough to not let you like one of your own posts. What’s the matter with colors? Looks fine in Safari.

I can’t get the post background to be a different color than the body background. It separates the body of the post from the member information and the links under it — confusing which pieces go together. I think I have the correct style variable, it just doesn’t work. I’m pretty sure this broke when I installed the modification. I’ll figure something out.

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 6466 wrote:

Hmm.. Somehow got into a “Moderation tools” menu. Unless I’m a moderator and don’t know it. Seeing if I can duplicate it. You changing things right now? May just have caught something on a refresh

Yes, I’m changing things, trying to fix the background colors. I have a test login, I’ll take a look later and make sure mod tools aren’t showing.

[Author]

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