Forum Layout

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

The forum as you see it here is laid out into a series of categories and subforums designed to capitalize on the myriad interests of our worldwide readership. In the old format, everything was lumped into one, and too often, older topics on specific subjects would disappear rapidly as new topics pushed them down the list; here, the most popular subjects in past have been assigned their own forums, such that readers with specific interests, for example carriers, can easily access the existing pool of expertise without wading through pages and pages of other topics they may not be interested in.

Does this work for you? If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment here.

In addition, you'll note that the 'B' Echelon category allows a general area for topics not associated with any of the other fora, plus an Events forum and an area where people can post stuff they'd like to buy or sell. In the latter two cases, this is probably the fastest way to reach your potential audience, whether they're regular members or just lurkers.

In the case of the For Sale or Trade forum, we will restrict posts to items applicable to the general interest of the members of the MLU Forum as a whole. Non-applicable items will be deleted, and if the offending posts can be considered "spam" by popular definition, the posting privileges of the individual(s) responsible will be withdrawn. It's the best we can do when offering a service of this type.

Again, your comments on this overall layout are welcome; feel free to post in this thread. At the beginning at least, what you see here is not necessarily "cast in stone", but I do feel it best exemplifies our range of mutual interests.

Geoff

[gordon]

We'll give it a try and see if it flies Geoff, no problem.

I rather liked the old 'one size fits all' format as it was very easy to catch up to whatever was going on and very difficult to miss something 'important'

Can I make an initial plea that the number of sub-fora are strictly controlled please ? I would expect that the majority of the messages would end up on one sub-forum as that's just the way people are.

Well done anyway for setting this up. I take it I can delete the other two formats from my favorites now ?

G

[Richard Farrant]

Geoff,
I found the original forum very easy to keep up with and when you ran the trial one, it was not so easy. But this one looks good, will look forward to some interesting discussions and debates on our favourite subject from now on on your new site.

Well done for finding such a user friendly format for those of us who are a little unsteady on computers.

Richard

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Jif..
Is there a way to tell what you have or haven't read..??
i.e:When I enter the forum site I start at the top and read all the catogories starting from the top down..By the time I get to the bottom,other than writing down the numbers on the sides of the catagory ,how do I know when a new one has posted while I'm still reading farther on down the page..??
I think the old format was easier that way to track and read,but this format is more fun..Nice work..

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Alex Blair
Is there a way to tell what you have or haven't read..??
i.e:When I enter the forum site I start at the top and read all the catogories starting from the top down..By the time I get to the bottom,other than writing down the numbers on the sides of the catagory ,how do I know when a new one has posted while I'm still reading farther on down the page..??

Personally, I just do a quick date scan...

As long as you're logged-in, the cookies set by the system will keep track of what you have and haven't yet viewed. When you first log in, the icons to the left of the forum or thread will show yellow for "unread". Once you've gone through the forum, refresh your page and they should turn gray unless something new has been added in the meantime. I'm not sure what triggers this action exactly, though... I'm still getting used to this software too!

The colour codes for those left-side icons are at the bottom of forum and thread pages.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Thanks Jif..
I'll get used to it too..

[Dana Nield]

Totally Awesome!

Geoff, this is incredible! Thanks so much for implementing this change!

Cheers!

Dana

[Nigel Watson]

Even this capercaillie could get used to this forum!! Its great, problem is discovering what all the wee bitties are: PHP, IMG, Close tags, Open tags, Have a fag, parse, Enhanced, vB, CD and VD!!!

Still its good!

Cool tac sign Geoff, how can I get one beside my name? Would be great if all members put up one! Colourful and all that!

http://www.sol.co.uk/n/nwts/images/c.../beltring3.jpg

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Nigel, you mean like that ugly red one underneath your name?

[Steve Guthrie]

Hello Geoff

How do you get the AoS marking by your name.

Is it done in the profile section?

Steve

[Nigel Watson]

Don`t knock the infantry, especially when it is attached to light armour me old tyreless one the class of 50!

Thanks for doing that Geoff its cool, glad you chose the right one!!

Nigel

Come on everyone else get your tac sign numbers to Geoff...give him something to play with apart from....

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
Hello Geoff

How do you get the AoS marking by your name.

Is it done in the profile section?

Steve

Steve, it's called an avatar, and it's a graphic of any type, maximum 50x50 pixels and 20 kb, which you can upload through user cp >> options. I did Nigel's for him because... y'know... he's kind of...........

[Chris Shillito]

Re: AOS,

Oh choices, choices - I think cast my net wider a go for a whole brigade!

[Chris Johnson]

If anything, the proliferation of AoS avatars will be educational for us all.

Hey Steve ... A Sigs AoS?

[Dana Nield]

I just got to be me!

I really like this application you are using, Geoff. I may recommend it to the owners of some other boards I frequent.

Cheers!

Dana

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Chris Johnson
If anything, the proliferation of AoS avatars will be educational for us all.

Chris, I find it really cool that most have chosen tac signs! Gives a sense of the mindset here, doesn't it?! We are indeed unique in our own right...

If anyone needs help with an avatar, email me. As time permits, I'll do what I can for you.

Geoff

[gordon]

Sigh, I can't afford a TAC sign so I'll just have to find something appropriate.

Gordon 8-)

[Chris Johnson]

Okay. No question about it. You win, hands down. That's the best avatar yet.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Chris Johnson
Okay. No question about it. You win, hands down. That's the best avatar yet.

Methinks Sean's gonna be pissed he didn't think of it first!

[Mark W. Tonner]

Geoff;

With spring and summer on the way, do you think the 'THEN AND NOWS" will make an appearance again, that is, if the boys across the pond have the time to find the "NOWS".

They were interesting when posted on the old forum.

BTW - Love this new format - "Even I can post pictures now!!".

Great Work Geoff!!!

Cheers

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

If you guys keep feeding me "then" pics, I'm sure we'll be able to rouse our wonderful Dutch Connection into investigating the "nows"...



In the long run, the subject may be worth a forum unto itself, but in the meantime, let's keep this to separate threads in the Sergeant's Mess...

[Mark W. Tonner]

Sounds like a plan........................

Cheers