Forum UI updates

borpin · 2018-12-07T08:57:48.351Z

BTW you may need to force a browser refresh to see the changes if (like me) you leave browser windows open ad infinitum.

Paul · 2018-12-07T14:58:04.133Z

Badly missing the View latest button!

I realize that it appears if you scroll down, but it was so easy to simply load up the forum and select View latest.

I may not visit the FAQ for weeks, but I do use view latest probably a half dozen times a day.

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T15:06:40.385Z

Paul:

I do use view latest probably a half dozen times a day.

Same here.

Clicking on

whilst not intuitive, does the same thing.

Paul · 2018-12-07T15:22:14.771Z

It doesn’t here on my Android phone, I’ve refreshed the browser, but if I click there, I get;

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pb66 · 2018-12-07T15:24:40.580Z

[edit - I drafted this post earlier today but chose not to post it in case it was taken in the wrong way, but following @Paul’s post, I’ve decided to post it]

[edit2 -

Bill.Thomson:

whilst not intuitive, does the same thing.

that is dependent on your settings, see below.]

glyn.hudson:

* “Latest” button has been removed from top bar since clicking the “Community” icon does the same function

Update: the latest button appear when you scroll down a page.

Can we please have the latest button back in permanent residency on the lower navbar?

Having a consistent location that doesn’t appear and disappear depending on how close you are to the top of the page for such a frequently used button is important, it is likely to be used more often than any of the FAQ, Archived or CoC buttons by most users.

This change has effectively made the page I view most a 2 step process either via the cog then “latest” or scroll down (to reveal the button) and then “View latest” or as I’m currently doing due to muscle memory and years of habit, accidentally into FAQ’s (because that’s where the button was) and then to latest as the latest button then appears where it used to be.

glyn.hudson:

Clicking on the “community” icon will take the user back to the category view

No. In fact it actually it takes you to the users chosen “default home page”

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Which is categories by default if the user has not changed it.

IMO changing this to latest is NOT an acceptable workaround for the above change to the latest button as even with latest set as the home page, navigating to said page on a mobile device is either via the “view latest” button top left or via “community” button top right depending on whether you are at the absolute top of the thread or even a fraction off the top, this is both inconsistent and awkward IMO.

If the decision was based on limited space on a mobile device, I would think that users are more likely to check the “latest” threads than do hardcore research into the archived forum from a mobile device so perhaps just show latest and faq buttons rather than faq and archived (although on my mobile there appears to be room for all 3)

BTW I’m really not wanting to enter into a long debate on this, I have expressed my opinion on that change alone and will leave it at that since it appears to be a done deal, there was no consultation prior to changes nor any request for feedback in the announcement of the changes.

My opinion on the decision to drop the latest button from the 2nd navbar (some of the time) doesn’t mean I do not appreciate @Gwil’s work, that decision seems have been executed very well and the overall appearance and operation of the navigation is great overall, but for me, this one point means I preferred the pre-updated navbar to the updated navbar. If this one change could be reviewed I’m sure I could then appreciate the entire update as a whole. Either way, @Gwil, your efforts to improve the site are appreciated, I wouldn’t want my comments to be misconstrued as anything but well intended.

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T15:28:56.150Z

Paul:

It doesn’t here on my Android phone,

I tend to forget about that as I don’t use my phone for any web browsing. (the screen is too small)

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T15:30:00.043Z

pb66:

that is dependent on your settings, see below.]

I should have qualified that. i.e. for me it does the same thing, as that’s how I have it set.

Robert.Wall · 2018-12-07T15:54:34.858Z

I never use a phone and ‘g’ ‘l’ on the keyboard is my preferred way.

Robert.Wall · 2018-12-07T16:04:43.601Z

As navigation has been mentioned, would it be possible to have anchors in the ‘Learn’ navigation pane, so that it’s possible to give users a link to (say) the section Electricity Monitoring → Current & Voltage instead of typing that out?

Gwil · 2018-12-07T16:15:26.049Z

All fair comments - I’ll bring the link back.

Robert.Wall:

As navigation has been mentioned, would it be possible to have anchors in the ‘Learn’ navigation pane, so that it’s possible to give users a link to (say) the section Electricity Monitoring → Current & Voltage instead of typing that out?

Yes, that would be a good idea.

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T16:24:47.425Z

Robert.Wall:

‘g’ ‘l’ on the keyboard is my preferred way.

Wasn’t aware of that. Tnx for sharing.

pb66 · 2018-12-07T16:32:21.698Z

Bill.Thomson:

Wasn’t aware of that. Tnx for sharing.

There are loads of shortcuts listed at cog => keyboard shortcuts, (although these are not so useful on a mobile device)

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[edit - notice the “= opens the burger menu” actually means “opens the cog menu”.]

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T16:34:25.368Z

pb66:

cog

cog? What’s that a reference to?

Robert.Wall · 2018-12-07T16:35:31.980Z

Selection_339

pb66 · 2018-12-07T16:36:19.952Z

Bill.Thomson:

cog? What’s that a reference to?

Cog or gear! same difference! It used to be a burger menu see edit in my last post.

Bill.Thomson · 2018-12-07T16:36:29.957Z

Ah yes. the cog.
Tnx RW!

I’ve got acronym on the brain. We use 'em like there’s no tomorrow where I work.

Robert.Wall · 2018-12-07T16:39:51.113Z

Keep takin’ the tablets.

pb66 · 2018-12-07T16:41:07.016Z

Bill.Thomson:

Ah yes. the cog.
Tnx RW!

I’ve got acronym on the brain. We use 'em like there’s no tomorrow where I work.

C.O.G. (Cog or Gear) button

Robert.Wall · 2018-12-07T16:42:03.210Z

pb66 · 2018-12-07T17:25:08.662Z

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Thanks @Gwil much appreciated!