New Forum Software & Template

[Grant]

Hi everyone,

Last night we took the opportunity to upgrade the forum, this also meant having to change the template as the new forum software wasn't compatabile with our existing template.

Hopefully the new template will meet with your approval, its very similar to the old template but slightly larger and more spaced out with few graphics so it should be faster to load, easier to use and clearer to read.

There are also a number of new features, the first is a wysiwyg editor when you post on the forum, this means that you see a live preview of how your message will look, make something bold and it looks bold in the editor...

If you notice any problems, please let me know via pm.

Cheers,

Grant

[steppenwolf]

Love it so far, seems 'cleaner' at first glance and in particular the panel at the top RH corner where you select the viewing 'filter' is much clearer

[trevboyd]

Love it too Grant - thanks for all the hard work you put in keeping SGL up and running. I like the feeling of extra space in the new template.

Trev

P.S. "Quick reply" is a very handy feature too

[anthony]

Yes sir - cool - just used the live preview!

Nice and clean, well spaced and pleaseing on the eye.

The effort is much appreciated

Anthony

[Ant]

Nice one Grant.

Trev, the quick reply was there on the template as well - it was an option you have to turn on in your profile.

You can turn off the WYSIWYG live preview - it's the right hand button (Red A) above the smilies - although I doubt many will.

Ant

[daz]

Just to say a HUGE thanks to Grant - it takes him some considerable time to get these themes in a workable stable condition for the forum.

We appreciate not everyone will like the changes straight away but we hope it will grow on you! There is no way back, as the new release of the forum engine has some important fixes, security patches and some cool new features.

[peeceeTal2M]

Totally agree with what's been said, a nice improvement, great job Grant.

[Vega]

Lovin the new look, Great job Grant :hello1:

Matt

[jgs001]

Another nice job Grant.

[Becky]

New layout looks great

Peace and Clear Skies.

Becky.

[themos]

Let's try this quick-reply thingy, then

[Black Shuck]

Looking good Grant - looks very neat and logically set out. 8)

Cheers

Bill£

[dogfish]

The changes look fine. Thanks for all the effort that you put into the forum Grant. It's much appreciated.

Cheers, Martin

[radioactive]

You once again have excelled yourself Grant comments from the forum members are all very happy ones a pat the back springs to mind for you sir :hello1:

[Grant]

Thanks everyone, I'm always very apprehensive about making massive changes to the forum because people spend so much time on here and get so used to how it works.

Thanks all for your kind words, I need some sleep now!

Cheers,

Grant

[BWBlackett]

Grant,

Sorry to be the sole voice of opposition but I don't like the new format, there is too much space which means you have to scroll a whole lot more to see all the boards or posts.

Is it possible to loose some of the space ?

Brian.

[SteelRat]

(Awww - gotta get used to it again now )

Saw it, came looking for this thread, read it, got used to it, like it, replying in this thread, like it even more 8)

Good work mate. Get some sleep

Cheers

Matthew(SR)

[Ant]

Grant,

Sorry to be the sole voice of opposition but I don't like the new format, there is too much space which means you have to scroll a whole lot more to see all the boards or posts.

Is it possible to loose some of the space ?

Brian.

Sorry you don't like it mate - hopefully it'll grow on you.

We didn't really have a lot of choice, we needed to upgrade the forum software to stay ahead of the hackers etc. The old style wasn't compatable with the new forum software.

Personally I really like it as it is (but then again I'm biased ).

I'm not sure Grant will be able to lose any of the space, but I'm sure he'll look into it.

Cheers

Ant

[rawhead]

[Grant]

I've made some tweaks based on feedback - if you refresh the page you should see the minor changes.

I've reduced some of the padding and text spacing so there should be less scrolling, I've also increased the contrast on a couple of things a bit.

There are a few really negative comments kicking around - I expecting a few people to really dislike the new look, it happens every time we have to make a change (and we did have to change templates in order to stay up to date and get the new features). What I would say though is, please bear in mind there are over 2000 members to please, all with different screen resolutions, laptop screens, eyesights etc.. etc.. we aren't going to be able to please everyone, also, everything on SGL is volunteer based, we do not profit in any way from the forum and it does take a lot of time to do these things.

The other thing I would say - which most of you have been briiliant at is - constructive criticism or suggestions are warmly welcomed, in fact without the help of the mods/gms/admins in looking over the new template, we wouldn't have got this far. If you don't like something, or something doesn't work etc.. please let me know, I will make changes and tweaks to try and get the best possible end result but don't just shout stuff down, offer an alternative and I will listen.

Cheers,

Grant

[Grant]

Hehe - you got me Ant, I was already working on trimming off some of the fat Refresh the page and it should already be better...

[AJE]

New look looks great!

Well done Grant.

Cheers

LB

[aries]

absolutely Fab Grant,,,,,,,,,, well done, love it! :hello1: :hello1:

[CELESCOPE]

well done Grant ,looks just Purrfect for me

Rog

[Sam]

Nice one Grant - the new look looks great!