New Added Features & Changes to the RMP Forums... - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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New Added Features & Changes to the RMP Forums...
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Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone...

I wanted to create a thread to introduce some of the new features that I just added to the RMP forums, which I hope will make the forums easier and more fun to use.

The changes that I've made thus far are:

***

1) the New "Post Quick Reply" option..... I just added a new "Post Quick Reply" text box at the bottom of each thread when you are reading it, so that you don't need to open an entire new page to reply to a thread. This means that you can reply lightening quick to a message, making conversations and discussions seem almost like chatting in a chat room, rather than at more sluggish forum speed

The Quick Reply box is going to speed up the conversations with quicker responses back and forth... The "Quick Reply" box also has bold, italic, underlined and other formatting options.....

2) Registered Members Online Today... added a "Registered Members Online Today" table on the bottom of the index page (that resets to zero every day at midnight, GMT, or either 7 or 8 p.m. New York time, depending on Daylight Savings Time). It lists how many members visited the forum today, as well as listing their names, and what TIME they last were active in the forums.

3) Different Colors for Members, Mods & Admins on Who's Online... created different colors for members, mods, and admins in the "Who's Online" row on the bottom of the index page. Now we can quickly see by color if there are any Moderators or Administrators online.

4) Private Message Flashing Indicator... the "Private Message" bar (on the bottom of the index page) flashes when a logged in member has a new unread message. It stops flashing when that member has read the message.

5) Reduced Images on Non-Index Pages for Faster Page Loads... In the search, who's online, memberlist, cpanel, and other non-index pages, I reduced the images on the page by removing the Photo Galleries and Russian User Review thumbnail sections so that those areas take less bandwidth and pages load more quickly.

6) Random Smilies..... I just installed a change that displays random smilies (instead of the same list of smilies) when you post a full reply or new thread (but smilies do not appear not in the new quick reply box)... Sometimes, when a particular smilie size is wide, it makes the reply screen a bit big, and may push the text reply space to the right, but that doesn't happen most of the time, and I think that the random smilie feature is interesting enough to be worth the occasional widening of the window...

***

Please let me know how you like each of these options.... If I add more features to the forum, I will post a note about it here....

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I am also working on allowing everyone the option of making their usernames the color of their choice......

It would involve everyone using HTML hex colors, but I could post a list of HEX colors for everyone to choose from, or.... we would point them to a list of hex colors on the internet....

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

You can now create a color display of your username in threads....

Go to your usercp (user control panel), and then go to "Edit Profile," and look for the color option of your username...

You can type in a standard color name (all-one-word) like: Blue, darkblue, mediumblue, green, purple, grey, darkgrey, goldenrod, etc..... or, you can choose a hexadecimal html color code (which begins with a "#" sign, and has letters and/or numbers.

You can do a google or yahoo search for "html color chart", or for "html color code", or for "hexadecimal html color code", and then create a color for your name....

(you can find one color chart here: http://www.brobstsystems.com/colors.htm)

Have fun with colors

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

P.S.... at the moment, you will only see a colored username when you open a thread....

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Here is a list of 140 html and web browser-safe colors (to select for your username):

(I posted a color visual chart for them here:
www.russianmeetingplace.com/color-chart.html)

aliceblue
antiquewhite
aqua
aquamarine
azure
beige
bisque
black
blanchedalmond
blue
blueviolet
brown
burlywood
cadetblue
chartreuse
chocolate
coral
cornflowerblue
cornsilk
crimson
cyan
darkblue
darkcyan
darkgoldenrod
darkgray
darkgreen
darkkhaki
darkmagenta
darkolivegreen
darkorange
darkorchid
darkred
darksalmon
darkseagreen
darkslateblue
darkslategray
darkturquoise
darkviolet
deeppink
deepskyblue
dimgray
dodgerblue
firebrick
floralwhite
forestgreen
fuchsia
gainsboro
ghostwhite
gold
goldenrod
gray
green
greenyellow
honeydew
hotpink
indianred
indigo
ivory
khaki
lavender
lavenderblush
lawngreen
lemonchiffon
lightblue
lightcoral
lightcyan
lightgoldenrodyellow
lightgreen
lightgrey
lightpink
lightsalmon
lightseagreen
lightskyblue
lightslategray
lightsteelblue
lightyellow
lime
limegreen
linen
magenta
maroon
mediumaquamarine
mediumblue
mediumorchid
mediumpurple
mediumseagreen
mediumslateblue
mediumspringgreen
mediumturquoise
mediumvioletred
midnightblue
mintcream
mistyrose
moccasin
navajowhite
navy
oldlace
olive
olivedrab
orange
orangered
orchid
palegoldenrod
palegreen
paleturquoise
palevioletred
papayawhip
peachpuff
peru
pink
plum
powderblue
purple
red
rosybrown
royalblue
saddlebrown
salmon
sandybrown
seagreen
seashell
sienna
silver
skyblue
slateblue
slategray
snow
springgreen
steelblue
tan
teal
thistle
tomato
turquoise
violet
wheat
white
whitesmoke
yellow
yellowgreen

(visual color chart: www.russianmeetingplace.com/color-chart.html)

Posted by: vanir

I like the new options

Posted by: Khashyar

Thank you Vanir... I'm glad that you enjoy them.

I am trying to find out how to add our color usernames to the front forum page, and the forum index pages....

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

Hi Khashyar,

It sure looks a lot differant,may take a little time for some people to get use to.
Looking good,

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Randy...

(by the way, Lena told me today that she is going to meet with your lady friend in Mogilev tomorrow.. She also should have written you an email tonight

)

I am going to have to add some of the features that we had in the old forum...... (like colored usernames, photos on front page, etc....).... as well as adjust the color of the header, etc...

This really does have many more features than the old software did, and....... there is a lot of room to expand.....

There are LOTS of interesting adjustments I can make to the forum now...

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

Khashyar,

It is very interesting what can be done with a program.I am excited to see and try the new looking site.I am sure it will be very easy to navigate through it.

I have not recieved an email from Lena yet but will be watching,I have not had a chance to call,been working 12 hour shifts.Now tomorrow I will be taking off till Sunday night...."drag racing" I am 18th in the points, so I can't miss a race now,only one more to go after this one.

I may try to call tomorrow before I leave.
Thanks for the up date Khashyar,
Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

You're welcome, Randy...

It was late at night when I stopped chatting with Lena today via Yahoo.... But, I emphasized to her that she needs to wrote you at least a quick email

Are you sure that you don't have one in your email box??

She is just so comsumed with the wedding, but she said that she would write you tonight.

I will ask her again tomorrow

But, she is meeting with your friend tomorrow.

Khashyar

Posted by: ConnerVT

Where is the link for:

"View Posts Since Your Most Recent Visit" ?

I use this link almost exclusively!!! I have not the time to navigate through 50+ forum titles to search for what is new...

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Where is the link for:

"View Posts Since Your Most Recent Visit" ?

I use this link almost exclusively!!! I have not the time to navigate through 50+ forum titles to search for what is new...

Ditto - but everthing else looks good.

PS where is the quote feature, I had to do this manually.

Posted by: Chrismc

Great job Kashyar...when you get used to it ...it becomes easier to navigate. I also like the fact you can now log in and out at the top of the home page instead of having to scroll down everytime.

Chris

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConnerVT

Where is the link for:

"View Posts Since Your Most Recent Visit" ?

I use this link almost exclusively!!! I have not the time to navigate through 50+ forum titles to search for what is new...

Hi Conner...

Just click on "New Posts" on the blue bar near the top of the screen

It's still there... That's an important feature.

Chris... when you are logged on, there is a "quote" button to the bottom right of each post.

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Chris... when you are logged on, there is a "quote" button to the bottom right of each post.

Khashyar

Yes I saw this, but I was wanting to quote from another thread also, but I managed to just do it manually.

I found the New Posts button now and it works fine, much easier.

Thanks Kash for all your hard work.
Chris

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Chris...

To quote from another thread, you would need to open a "New Reply" window, and then press the Quotes icon, which is the last one on the top.

The quick reply box, in this software, doesn't have a quote option to quote from other threads, but the regular "New Reply" window does.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Our upgrade to the new forum software is complete (and successful), and our move to our newer and bigger server also was completed without too much trouble.

Now, I am working to add some new additional features to the forum, as well as features that we had in the forum before I upgraded the software.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just added a couple of new features to the new RMP forum software:

1) "Top 10 Posters" lists (for the past 24 hours, 7 days, 28 days, and Overall) to the bottom of the RMP forum home page.

2) "Members who posted today" -- a table, also at the bottom of the page, that shows which members have posted in the forums since Midnight (at the moment, since Midnight Los Angeles time).

I am going to work to add some additional features in the next few days before I leave for my trip to Belarus on Sept. 6th to join Lena for our wedding preparation.

Please feel free to post your thoughts on the new features.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Two more features that I just added to the forums (both of which are accessible in your "usercp" in the "edit profile" option:

1) Username Color - You can choose from amongst 32 colors for your username, to be displayed in your username heading in messages that you post within threads.

2) Username Font - You can also choose from among a few different fronts for your username to display in your posted messages.

Have fun with these new features.... Feel free to play around with them...

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

1) Username Color - You can choose from amongst 32 colors for your username, to be displayed in your username heading in messages that you post within threads.

2) Username Font - You can also choose from among a few different fronts for your username to display in your posted messages.

Khashyar

These features don't seem to be working? or am I doing something wrong?
Chris

Posted by: povlhp

You still need to replace the ugly cyan color of the front page

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Khashyar

These features don't seem to be working? or am I doing something wrong?
Chris

Hi Chris...

I see your font color and style in this font...

At the moment, the font color is only displayed to logged in users, and not to guests... (I had to go to sleep before addressing that).

povlhp... Which cyan color on the front page do you mean?

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I can see Chris' username as a greenish color, and my username is a brownish-red...

Does everyone else see that on their computer also?

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

Hi,

No I do not see it,everyones user name is in blue on my computer.

Randy

Posted by: lester

Hi.Khashyar,
the colours have gone on my system too,
all are blue now.

lester

Posted by: Khashyar

Mmm... so you can see the font changes only if you are an administrator

I'll have to look into this...

Khashyar

Posted by: lester

Hi, Khashar,
they were in colour yesterday, if that's any help.

lester.

Posted by: Khashyar

Well.... I'm pretty sure that you can see them now, but....

The colors you chose are displayed on your public user profile at the moment...

I'll have to think about what to do about that (or whether it's necessary to make your font color and font choices private or public).

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by lester

Hi, Khashar,
they were in colour yesterday, if that's any help.

lester.

Hi Lester.....

Yes, yesterday, I had colors only for moderators.

But, I wanted to allow everyone to be able to choose their own color for their username.

Khashyar

Posted by: lester

That's corrected now,
I can see chrismc in colour now also.

lester.

Posted by: lester

But, they are all blue in the "Whats going on" section.

lester.

Posted by: Khashyar

Yes, Lester...

The font colors and fonts that you choose will only display in the forum message.

Oh, you mean on the front forum page....

Yes, I had to turn that off to make the font color show in the posted message. I can see about trying to change that, though

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I also turned off the "bold" on the username texts....

(Before, I added a "bold" setting to each username because I thought that the color might show better)....

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Seems to be working now

Posted by: Khashyar

Yes...

Guys, do me a favor, and look at your (or my) user profile...

In order to make it possible for a user to choose his or her font color and style, I had to make it so that your choice displays on a person's member profile...

Do you think that this is a good compromise???

Is it an interesting enough feature to then display the color and font settings on your user profile?

I could TRY to find a way of it NOt showing on your user profile.

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Kashyar

Yes it shows up to me when I view your profile or my profile. I don't see as it matters if it shows or not really. But the User names look a little better and more interesting with different colours and font styles. I also like the way you can customise the posts etc. like this....

Chris

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Chris...

Did you just change the way that your font text was looking???

(These font changes are starting to get into my head

)

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Hi Chris...

Did you just change the way that your font text was looking???

(These font changes are starting to get into my head

)

Khashyar

YES....... I did it just playing around, the default is Verdana 2 I changed it Comic Sans MS

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Kashyar

Yes it shows up to me when I view your profile or my profile. I don't see as it matters if it shows or not really. But the User names look a little better and more interesting with different colours and font styles. I also like the way you can customise the posts etc. like this....

Chris

I just answered my own question about whether you changed your post's font text and color...

I also decided that I liked to have all of the user's information on the left side of the post, and the written message on the right side...

It looks better to me that way.

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

I also decided that I liked to have all of the user's information on the left side of the post, and the written message on the right side...

It looks better to me that way.

Khashyar

I agree too, it is easier to view it and find the info you are looking for

Posted by: mistermopar

I also like the user info on the left and message on the right.

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

I might try a couple of daring changes to the forum, now

I would like to install this "awards" or "medals" system, whereby a user can be given an interesting-looking small medal for different kinds of "Achievment," like raeaching the 1,000 post level, and whatever we choose to give the awards for...

(There are other additions that I am considering adding as well.... but I'm doing this one step at a time -- so I don't make the forum my full-time job

)

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

I thought it was your FULL time job

How do you find time to do a any other job

Posted by: lester

Steady on there!
You're racing away from the " silver surfers" out here!

hehe

Posted by: Khashyar

There's this other change that I am considering adding, whereby eaech user can choose a "mood" icon, to be displayed in their messages (under their name)...

For example:

Posted by: lester

I like it!

Khashyar, this HAS to be the bestest forum out there!

Posted by: Chrismc

Khashyar

If you keep adding features not only will you have this as your FULL time job, we will also have to start loitering FULL time to keep up with all the changes

Posted by: lester

Ah!
But remember the old saying Chris,
"When the cat's away, the mice will play!"

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

I thought it was your FULL time job

How do you find time to do a any other job

I get a lot out of the forum, but it is only a satisfying hobby

We make VERY little from the personals and for Lena's translation efforts (what we do receive is only a token amount, to help cover the costs of the website).

I'm doing this because I feel like it is useful to others, and because it gives me satisfaction also...

We have established a community, here, and Lena and I both enjoy the people we meet here.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Khashyar

If you keep adding features not only will you have this as your FULL time job, we will also have to start loitering FULL time to keep up with all the changes

You can loiter here all you want, Chris

Posted by: lester

Personally, Khashyar,
I regard the forum "As Family"
Although most of us have never met in person,
there is a lot of personal friendship and trust here!

lester.

Posted by: Khashyar

Here are some examples of the medals that I am considering adding (which would be displayed underneath your name and location in posts)....

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by lester

Personally, Khashyar,
I regard the forum "As Family"
Although most of us have never met in person,
there is a lot of personal friendship and trust here!

lester.

I see it in a similar way, Lester...

It is like a little town... a cyber neighborhood.

A little city that keeps on growing

Khashyar

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by lester

Personally, Khashyar,
I regard the forum "As Family"
Although most of us have never met in person,
there is a lot of personal friendship and trust here!

lester.

DITTO....and it is extremely useful and a fantastic source of good quality, reliable information.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Here are some examples of the medals that I am considering adding (which would be displayed underneath your name and location in posts)....

I know what would earn someone here a Purple Heart, but what would you need to do to get a Medal of Honor?

Posted by: Jutman

Quote:

You still need to replace the ugly cyan color of the front page

I have to 2nd that. If there is any bad things at RMP is that cyan colour.

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jutman

I have to 2nd that. If there is any bad things at RMP is that cyan colour.

Hi Brian...

What ugly cyan color are you referring to????

I don't understand?

Khashyar

Posted by: Jutman

Hi

Just, when I am somewhere and use other computers or so and I type www.russianmeetingplace.com then you get a brigth blue color.

But it could just be something cultural... since its 2 danes who has mentioned it.

Its a detail, absolute a minor but you asked. But I think it would look nice, if it was the same colour you used at the frontpage and here in the forum. I will not destroy the setup with the picture of you and Lena.

Posted by: Khashyar

Oh, Brian....

You mean on the Russian Meeting Place HOME page, not in the forum home page???

Yes, I agree about the color of the RMP.com home page... I am working on a new design (and color) for it....

Is that what you meant?

You did NOT mean the forum home page, right?

Khashyar

Posted by: GreenBarb

I think all of us here appreciate all the hard work you put into this Forum. I know you think of it as your hobby but it has grown into something much more than that. It is a community in of it's self and the proof of that was the LA meeting and up coming European meeting. It has helped forge friendships, I for one can testify to this as Chris (Leprechaun) and I have actualy met because of this forum.
Both of us are hoping to meet many more from here at the European Meeting.

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenBarb

I think all of us here appreciate all the hard work you put into this Forum. I know you think of it as your hobby but it has grown into something much more than that. It is a community in of it's self and the proof of that was the LA meeting and up coming European meeting. It has helped forge friendships, I for one can testify to this as Chris (Leprechaun) and I have actualy met because of this forum.
Both of us are hoping to meet many more from here at the European Meeting.

Thank you very much for your kind, heart-felt words, Greenbarb...

I look forward to our 2006 RMP Irish meeting next year, and look forward to meeting all of our Irish and European friends there.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just added a Mood indicator below each of our usernames that we can change instantly while in the thread...

1) can you see the mood that I have selected?

2) are you able to select and see your own "Mood" in your post?

I thought that this might be another interest to express ourselves here.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Green...

I see that you chose "buzzed" as your mood

A very green buz you've chosen....

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I just added:

A "Register Infobar for Guests," which appears quietly at the top of the guest user's window, and encourages them politely to register in the forums.

You can see this bar if you log out, and look at the home page of the forum as a guest.

My hope is that it will provide an easy way for guests, visitors, and lurkers to register.

I am hoping that the appearance of the bar will not be annoying to anyone....

What do you think?

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just added a new feature whereby our "RMP_News_Editor" periodically visits news sites and will "grab" news article headlines and story summaries about Russia and post them in the new "Russia in the news..." forum section (which is in the Culture Forum section).

This "RMP News Editor" will automatically go to certain news sites ("Yahoo News", "Mosnews", and the Russian Government's "Kremlin News", grab a story about Russia every few hours, and post it in the "Russia in the news" section in the forum.

Once an article is posted, feel free to post your thoughts and ideas as a reply to those news posts....

I am trying to decide how many articles, and how often the news editor should grab and post news in the forum.

I thought that having the RMP News Editor grab and post a few stories every day, that this could stimulate ideas and discussions...

Let me know what you think.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just added RMP "Russian Hangman" to the RMP forums.

You can find the game in the "Miscellaneous" forum section near the top of the forum front page, or.... you can go right to the game here:

http://russianmeetingplace.com/forums/hangman.php?

All the words have to do with Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Enjoy,

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

That sounds like fun,I'll have to try it later.
Thanks

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

Let me know what you think, Randy.

There are easier, as well as more difficult words used in the hangman game.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

I just added a new feature to the Russian Meeting Place forums, whereby each member can choose to add the flag of their country in their messages, under your name and above the "mood" image.

To select your country's flag, here are the steps:

1) go to your "User cp" (the "User cp" link can be found as an option on the forum's top blue bar)

2) choose: "Edit Profile"

3) Scroll down to the "Additional Information" table, and then you will see an option for "Country/nation" as well as "State" (if you are from the U.S.), and "Province" for Canadian members.

I like being able to see the visual representations each country by flag...

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

I noticed that the smilie images (to the right of the message write box when you are poqsting a full "reply," was not displaying smilies randomly anymore after we moved to our new website server a couple of months ago.

So, I changed a bit of code, and now smilies will appear at random to the right of the message text compose window when you are replying to a message.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Privet Everyone,

I just added a couple more features to the forum:

1) I added gold Lenin heads (that appear underneath a member's user title in a post) as a reflection of how many posts they have contributed to the forum.

For 100 posts, a forum members receives one Lenin.
For 250 posts, a member receives two Lenin heads.
And for 500 posts-- 3 Lenins, 1000 posts-- 4 Lenins, and 2500 posts-- 5 Lenins.

2) I also mainstreamed all of our user titles, so that an individual's title is based upon number of posts:

"New Member" 0 posts
"Junior Member" 10 posts
"Member" 50 posts
"Contributing Member" 200 posts
"Veteran Member" 500 posts
"Elite Contributing Member" 1000 posts

Let me know what you think of these additions.

Khashyar

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

What's this reputation thing that you have added and how does it work?

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Oz...

I opened a thread about "User Reputations" here:

http://russianmeetingplace.com/foru...read.php?t=6965

Feel free to add your thoughts and comments about it.

Khashyar

Posted by: mistermopar

Hey Khashyar,I had tried the hangman game and I had fun.It will also help me with learning Russian,if I don't know the word means, I look it up,a fun way to learn.

Randy

Posted by: Khashyar

I'm glad that you enjoy the hangman game.

Some of the words take some thinking (and luck) to figure out, and some of the words are easier.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Did you know that we already have the ability to RATE threads from one to five stars?

When two people have rated a thread, then the thread's star rating appears next to the thread name in any particular forum's view. (As an example, Lena and I are going to both rate this thread with 5 stars, and you will see the star rating appear).

To rate a thread, click on "Rate Thread," which can be found near the top of the threa's window on bar with different options such as "Search this Thread" and "Thread Tools."

By rating threads, other users can discover which threads have been useful to other forum members, and find useful information more quickly.

Khashyar

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Just to get the "Thread Rating" feature started, I will set the thread ratings to appear when only one person has rated a thread.

Once the system has been established, and forum users are familiar with it, I may set the minimum number of thread ratings needed to display a thread rating to "2."

Khashyar

Posted by: RBS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khashyar

Hi Everyone,

Just to get the "Thread Rating" feature started, I will set the thread ratings to appear when only one person has rated a thread.

Once the system has been established, and forum users are familiar with it, I may set the minimum number of thread ratings needed to display a thread rating to "2."

Khashyar

Tha's a great idea Khash! Keep up the good work!

Gib

Posted by: spyros

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