Forum Upgrade

Posted by: Ryan Latham on 22 November 2015

Dear Forum Members

 

This is an advance notice that there will be some significant changes happening to the site architecture as our forum provider is upgrading their platform. Of course with all changes some will be welcome, others will feel less familiar and may initially feel alien to regular contributors,  please rest assured we have been working hard to migrate as much consistency as possible, and think we are very close. Luckily the new structure does provide plenty of admin tools and design flexibility, so your feedback on this thread will help us to fine tune as needed post launch.

 

This Upgrade is scheduled to occur -  December 2nd, 2015 between 11:00 AM and 9:00 PM Eastern Time (Some disruption should be expected)

 

So what will be different?

The most important overall change for community members is that the site is fully responsive now.  That means that no matter how you access the community, you will have a great experience that automatically adjusts to the device and screen size (no app download required)… with no loss of features.

 

If you blog or use our clips module, you will also notice an improved interface… and for blogs especially if you use our new Title Image feature, the posts can be much more visual. 

  

Here is a little more detail on some of the site improvements as part of the upgrade.  

 

Responsive Design: Say goodbye to a separate "mobile site" that was missing features and looked nothing like your main site, a new responsive platform where the interface automatically adjusts to each user's device, with no loss in features.

 

Navigation Menu: With responsive design, the navigation has to be much more flexible, and as result site navigations menu is automatically adaptive.

 

Title Images: Version 2.0 enables much more visual content. Title images are now supported for blog posts, audio clips, and file clips.

 

Video and Audio Download Option: Hoop.la now supports downloading video and audio files (excluding clips embedded from 3rd party sources like YouTube), There is a new user permission that controls whether who can download video/audio.

 

Widget Enhancements: Widgets have been greatly improved. The management of widgets on a particular page is simplified and there is a brand new Manage Widgets control panel, used for managing your custom widgets and embedded widgets (widgets embedded on outside sites). You can now create an embeddable widget in your control panel without having to display it somewhere on your site, as well. The "View All" links at the bottom of widgets have also been made more accurate, to reflect the parameters of the specific widget.

 

Kind regards and thank you for your continued support.

 

Ryan Latham

Director Marketing and Communications

 

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by ChrisSU
Originally Posted by Polarbear:
Originally Posted by Polarbear:

Thanks Chris, I never did work out how to add photo's, that helps immensely.

Sorry Chris still not seeing a green + anywhere on my reply page!

 

IMG_1751

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by GraemeH
Originally Posted by ChrisSU:
Originally Posted by Polarbear:
Originally Posted by Polarbear:

Thanks Chris, I never did work out how to add photo's, that helps immensely.

Sorry Chris still not seeing a green + anywhere on my reply page!

 

IMG_1751

I don't have the + Add Attachments visible either.

 

G

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Polarbear
Originally Posted by GraemeH:
Originally Posted by ChrisSU:
Originally Posted by Polarbear:
Originally Posted by Polarbear:

Thanks Chris, I never did work out how to add photo's, that helps immensely.

Sorry Chris still not seeing a green + anywhere on my reply page!

 

IMG_1751

I don't have the + Add Attachments visible either.

 

G

 

 

Certainly not there  

 

Lets hope the new upgrade makes posting photo's easier as I find it impossible 

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Richard Dane

As I previously posted, the attachment function should be disabled. However it appears to have become re-enabled for Beta group members. Possibly this is needed for the purpose of the Beta group.

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by ChrisSU

Richard, this has always been enabled for me - it's the only way I've ever posted images on the forum, so definitely pre-beta group. 

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by hungryhalibut

I've got the add attachment option. Never used it before today though. 

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Don Atkinson

Perhaps we've been too previous in assuming that Hoopla was no longer Hopeless. Who is paying for the storage of all those green + images ?

 

For Naim's sake and Ryan's I do hope they manage to get this up-comming "upgrade" right !

 

As they often say "past performance is no guarantee of future performance" - Let's hope on this occasion they are right

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by dsc:

I hope that the updated forum will allow photos to be added to posts from files stored locally on one's computer.Annoyingly, I have tried adding photos stored on my Mac but cannot get it to work. Currently it only appears to be possible to add photos by means of a link to a photo-hosting website, to which I do not subscribe nor do I have any desire do so.

+10000

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by dayjay
Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:

I can't see a green + either.

 

However, as Richard says, you really need to post your pictures on a hosting web site such as "flickr".

 

Its a bloody pain to set up and do so. Flickr keep changing their web layout. I now have to load via Explorer but retrieve via Firefox !!

 

But if you do set up a Flickr account (which is free) and you do manage to copy your desired picture(s) to that site, then Richard has still got a permanent topic in the Padded Cell explaining how to copy a picture from Flickr into a forum Post

I have a flickr account and use it to host my photos but I lack the patience to take a screen shot, or download an album cover, and them upload it to flickr and then copy the link and post it here, by the time I've ddone so the album has finished anyway.  I know others are doing it differently but I'm damned if I can make it work consitently

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Don Atkinson
Originally Posted by dayjay:
Originally Posted by Don Atkinson:

I can't see a green + either.

 

However, as Richard says, you really need to post your pictures on a hosting web site such as "flickr".

 

Its a bloody pain to set up and do so. Flickr keep changing their web layout. I now have to load via Explorer but retrieve via Firefox !!

 

But if you do set up a Flickr account (which is free) and you do manage to copy your desired picture(s) to that site, then Richard has still got a permanent topic in the Padded Cell explaining how to copy a picture from Flickr into a forum Post

I have a flickr account and use it to host my photos but I lack the patience to take a screen shot, or download an album cover, and them upload it to flickr and then copy the link and post it here, by the time I've ddone so the album has finished anyway.  I know others are doing it differently but I'm damned if I can make it work consitently

Its a while since I posted an album cover in the "What are you listening to" thread, but I recall struggling to figure it out. I know I didn't use my Flickr account, ISTR going to Amazon and somehow copying a link to paste into the "Post Reply" . Someone very helpfully posted step-by-step instructions to help me. I feel embarrassed to admit that I have forgotten what to do ! As I think most of us are implying, It ain't easy, it ain't intuitive, but I ain't holding my breath that this upgrade will improve this particular aspect of the forum.

 

If Ryan sorts this one out I think he achieves status of Super-Hero. Otherwise if all else goes to plan the status will have to remain as Hero.

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by dayjay

Agreed, Don, a super hero in green no doubt 

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Richard Dane

Don, 

 

inserting a linked image such as an album cover from the web is straightforward.

 

1) choose your jpeg image - copy the url from the address header bar.  Amazon or Wikipaedia is a good image resource for album covers.  You will need the specific url of the image itself, so right click and open image in new tab helps here, or else search on google and press view image on the one that you choose.

 

2) In the post reply box, click on the button with the image of a tree in it (insert image button). The insert/edit image dialog box will open.  Paste into the Image URL box.  You should then see a preview of the image.  A very large image will mean you will only see a small part of it as it's not scaled in the preview box.

 

3) Press the green insert button at the bottom of the dialog box.  The dialog box will vanish and your picture will appear within your post.

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by Richard Dane
Originally Posted by ChrisSU:

Richard, this has always been enabled for me - it's the only way I've ever posted images on the forum, so definitely pre-beta group. 

Interesting Chris, thanks.  I shall investigate.

Posted on: 25 November 2015 by garyi

You can link files from dropbox, which is as easy as from the desktop.

 

Sign up to drop box. Install.

 

In the dropbox create a folder called public.

 

Put any pics your want in there.

 

Right click one of those pics and 'share public link'

 

paste it into a forum post or in image tags in the usual way.

Posted on: 26 November 2015 by Don Atkinson
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Don, 

 

inserting a linked image such as an album cover from the web is straightforward.

 

1) choose your jpeg image - copy the url from the address header bar.  Amazon or Wikipaedia is a good image resource for album covers.  You will need the specific url of the image itself, so right click and open image in new tab helps here, or else search on google and press view image on the one that you choose.

 

2) In the post reply box, click on the button with the image of a tree in it (insert image button). The insert/edit image dialog box will open.  Paste into the Image URL box.  You should then see a preview of the image.  A very large image will mean you will only see a small part of it as it's not scaled in the preview box.

 

3) Press the green insert button at the bottom of the dialog box.  The dialog box will vanish and your picture will appear within your post.

Thank you Richard, that's great.

 

If others show an interest in this (simple, but none too obvious) process, you might consider posting the instructions as a "Stickie" at the top of the "Music" forum ?

Posted on: 26 November 2015 by Richard Dane

Don, it's now in the forum FAQ.

 

Posted on: 26 November 2015 by Don Atkinson
Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Don, it's now in the forum FAQ.

 

Thank you Richard, i'm sure others will also find it very useful.

Posted on: 29 November 2015 by DavidDever
Originally Posted by Simon-in-Suffolk:

Interesting news. However please ensure the iPad and iPhone version can still be expandable by the user and allow scroll around the 'virtual' screen,  and not a locked down resolution which can't be scrolled around.

ergo "responsive".

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by hungryhalibut

Well, where is it?

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by Gianluigi Mazzorana

Behind you.

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by hungryhalibut

Eek!

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by Mike-B

.........  are you saying you don't have it yet HH?

hmmm  ????  very fishy  

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by Dave***t

Just arrived at the updated version, and can no longer find a persistent option to view the desktop version on my phone. The mobile version I'm seeing is much less pleasurable to read (more monochromatic, less scalable, etc).

Am I just missing it?

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by The Strat (Fender)

Well it certainly is easier to use on the phone.   Thanks - good job.  

Posted on: 02 December 2015 by Mike-B

Negotiatling around my PC,  will take some getting used to as expected.

First impression is there seems to be far to much open space & nothing much to read,   line spacing too much,  size of font etc..  I can use it & read write without glasses (spectacles)  ......  it takes up far too much screen for very few entries,  I want to be able to view as many previous posts as possible,  this change only allows one maybe two posts in a string.  Sorry but this alone is a big thumbs down from me.   

Doesnt have a spell check