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General discussion

A few things are going to be released in the forums today

Dec 14, 2006 4:14AM PST

Expect to see these additions around 2PM PST today 12/14/06.

Here is a quick run down of items:

--My tracked discussion--

Most of you probably already know that this feature has been buggy ever since the launch of the new forums--where it was sending out multiple duplicate email at once. This ultimately lead to the decision for us to shut off this feature for the time being.

Well, in this next release, we've changed it up a bit. Instead of receiving periodical digest of updates to the discussions you are tracking, you will now receive instant e-mail notifications whenever someone updates any particular discussion you are tracking.

With the next release you will also notice on the "Create new post" and "Reply to post" submission forms the ability for users to track a discussion on the fly rather than having to return to the discussion and then tracking it. You'll now see a check box on the submission forms asking if you would like to track the discussion you are posting to or creating.


--Next unread post links--

Not a new feature, but because many of you requested it back, so we will be adding this back into the new forums. This feature will be available in all 3 forum display views. The Tree view functionality will remain exactly as it was in the old forums. For the threaded and flat views, any time you land on the root discussion post (first post of the thread) you will see a link for "Next unread". Clicking on that link will directly take you to the next "Unread post" and so fourth... until there are no more unread messages.. This is extremely helpful in an event that you are return to a long discussion and just want to go through what you haven't read.


--Forum preferences page--

We have added a Forum preferences page which will be available through a link located on the forums left hand navigation under the subheading "CNET forums". This page will allow you to select which forum display view you'd prefer --tree, threaded, or flat and in addition allow you to select the number of post displayed per page in the threaded or flat views.


--Back to top link--

In the thread and flat views we've also added a "Back to top" link so that if it is a long thread you can easily navigate back to the top of the page without scrolling.

I think that about covers it. Tell me how you like theses little additions to the forums. We are working on others, so stay tune. As you all already know--things don't always go out the door near perfect, so if you see any weird stuff going on--you know the drill--duck and run for cover Grin.

Thanks everyone!
-Lee

Discussion is locked

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(NT) Thank you, Lee:)
Dec 14, 2006 4:44AM PST
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(NT) woo hooo
Dec 14, 2006 4:52AM PST
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--My tracked discussion--
Dec 14, 2006 5:16AM PST

"you will now receive instant e-mail notifications whenever someone updates any particular discussion you are tracking.

--Back to top link--
"

Thank you!

"--Next unread post links--
--Forum preferences page--
"
Great!

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Works for me :)
Dec 14, 2006 6:23AM PST

I particularly like the option to track the discussion before submitting a post. That's really handy.

Thanks Lee.

Mark

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(NT) Ditto !!!
Dec 14, 2006 6:26AM PST
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I just noticed another feature
Dec 14, 2006 6:35AM PST

Under the message body

"You are currently tracking this discussion".

Thats a handy feature

Tom

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THANK YOU!
Dec 14, 2006 7:04AM PST

Tracked Threads: I don't use it much, but I do visit forums I don't frequent now and then, so it comes in handy. I hope I didn't forget to respond to anyone. Confused

Next Unread Post: The most important feature we lost. For the past month+ I have been skipping most long threads because it has been so tedious going from one unread post to the next. A big thank you! Love

Forum Preferences: I don't really see the point right now, though I'm sure its purpose will become clear as more functionality is added.

Back to Top: I've never used it, though I know it's quite popular in SE, BOL, etc.


So far so good, though I've postponed today's test of the emergency broadcast system until we know for sure. Happy
John

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Hey John look at the bottom of the thread
Dec 14, 2006 7:09AM PST

Green return arrow: "Back to xxxxxx forum" is now at the bottom also. Just for you bud... Grin

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It doesn't display in tree view. :(
Dec 14, 2006 7:34AM PST

I must say that's one of the little things I'm glad to be adjusted, though it does not display in tree View...only Threaded and Flat. Sad

Two other comments, though:

1.) When you said immediate notification of tracked threads you weren't kidding...I was notified of this post just seconds after it was submitted! Happy Unfortunately we are no longer told which thread the replies are in response to, though, something I miss. Sad

2.) After using the Next unread Post feature I absolutely love one new added touch...it loops back around! Previously if you are reading through a thread and someone submits a reply above your current level it would do nothing. Now, however, the Next unread Post function tells you there is a new post in the thread and takes you back to the begining. Yeehaw! Grin

Overall it looks like a success, one that I am very happy with.
John


P.S. The submit button is still 2-3 pixels higher than the edit buton when previewing. Any chance of getting that adjusted?

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Doh! Must have overlooked the tree view--making notes now
Dec 14, 2006 7:44AM PST

1.) Let me see if that is something we can implement--but I'm not sure if it is possible in this new format.

For the PS... I've asked for it... but it buried under all the other bugs that you have reported, we'll get to it next year Grin

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Dec 14, 2006 8:32AM PST

I've done it to myself again, have I? I need to figure a way out of being a victim of my own success. Mischief

John

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John
Dec 14, 2006 7:51AM PST
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The original title...
Dec 14, 2006 8:26AM PST

It used to display the title and link to the thread starter, and then indented under that tell you the name of the new post and give you a link to it. That way at one glance you would know what topic the new post was in regards to if you had tracked multiple threads. Below is a copy of a notification from November 28th.

John


===========================================================================
1. Cnet Ripped me Off. What do you think?
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?forumID=97&threadID=220164

(NT) Equal opportunity.
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?forumID=97&threadID=220164&messageID=2333174#2333174
posted by LifeStar at 11/28/06 1:39 PM

go crawl in a ditch
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?forumID=97&threadID=220164&messageID=2333361#2333361
posted by 7fatcat at 11/28/06 5:42 PM

you got your prize already
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?forumID=97&threadID=220164&messageID=2333828#2333828
posted by beelissa at 11/29/06 8:20 AM

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(NT) Thanx john
Dec 14, 2006 9:02AM PST
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also...
Dec 14, 2006 9:16AM PST

Take this thread for example.

There could be many posts added after i enable track discussion,so therefore one can receive many e-mail notices for one thread.

Is there away to set track discussions to limit e-mail notices to one notice per thread?

Tom

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Next revision Tom--we are going to go that route eventually
Dec 14, 2006 9:35AM PST

but for now... baby steps...

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The method I'd like to see is...
Dec 14, 2006 10:33AM PST

After you track a thread the first time a reply is posted you are sent an e-mail notification. After that no further notifications are sent until the member visits that thread. (Tied into the message marking system.) A second notification is only sent if a new reply is posted after the member's latest visit to that thread.

That would be a pretty large overhaul of the functionality, though, and would also require message marking to work at 100%. There are other changes I would like to see before this, though.

John


P.S. Are these functions provided with Jive and just need customize or do the engineers have to construct them from scratch?

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(NT) Sounds good :)
Dec 14, 2006 11:02AM PST
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(NT) i dont see the next unread message
Dec 14, 2006 8:49AM PST
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Woot. Works great in threaded.
Dec 14, 2006 9:20AM PST

Got to second page without a burp. Means I can keep threaded as default and still quickly navigate long threads.

Thanks.

PS. Also thanks for the track this thread check box. Just saw it as I was getting ready to preview this post.

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(NT) Next Unread, AWESOME! Thanks, Lee!
Dec 14, 2006 8:10AM PST