Layout sugestions

[Jive Turkey]

I have been on other forums in the past and they are easier to navigate then this one. Here is what I think could be done to aid in the site.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

The above is a key from a different forum, those icons are beside each and every thread. Which icon is seen, depends on the person viewing.

The key stays at the bottom of the site, so it can be seen at any time. Any guest or new member can easily know what is what and where.

For example:
Every icon would go beside the folders on the far left side of the screen.

All users will see the first icon ( blue dot) beside every thread that they have not read.

That dot becomes the second icon (red dot) when they have read the thread and no one has replied to it yet.

The dot then becomes the third icon (green dot) when a new reply has been made to the thread.

The fourth icon (fire ball) is for a hot topic, however this site has its "hot" setting set up. I see all you have now is a red folder for hot topics. A fireball would stand out more.

The "?" icon is really not needed as I see you have a poll icon already. You can keep yours, I am only mentioning the others to help me and others view all the threads easier.

The "pin" icon is for stickied thread, you all have the thread title a different color for stickies. Which is ok, but would be nice to have the icon to aid, some people change the color of the thread titles which may make a problem.

The staff icon is not needed unless it is a staff only thread. But even then I don't think we need it here. The icon is really used for when staff of that site made the thread, since it is from a huge site with a lot of members. The staff rarely post, thus it nice to see them do it. (It could be for like MMAWold interviews, or if a fighter joins here and make a blog or post from time to time)

The next icon is a lock, you all have a lock that is shown over top of locked threads so this is not needed either. Unless you wanted everything to match, this key and we use it here.

The final icon goes for when a poster has replied to a thread.

The final outcomes then become any combo of the above. As shown below.

Regular thread: (could be used in place of folders on the far left side of screen): [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Stickies: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked stickie: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Stickie with a poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked stickie with a poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Fighter created stickie: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Fighter created Thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Fighter created poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Fighter created stickie with poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked Fighter created stickie: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked Fighter created stickie with a poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Locked Fighter created thread: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Topic with a poll: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Do not reply more to come, I can not add any more images.....

[Jive Turkey]

These icons would be beside the folders or beside the the new icon above that replace the folders.

Every unread post: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Every post that I have read but not posted in: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

A Thread I have replied to and has a new unread posts: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

A Thread I have once posted in and no one has posted after me: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

An Unread Hot Topic: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

A Hot Topic, that I have read but has a new reply: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

A Hot Topic I once posted in that now has a new reply: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

A Hot Topic I replied to with no new posts: [Only registered and activated users can see links]

Let me know what you all think.

[Easye1982]

WOW!! Only your forth post and already trying to show me up....lol I like the sound of it, but we all will vote on the idea. And the big wig must give it his final ok. (brvheart)


lol, love the sig too BTW

[welsh_lad_04]

I like these suggestions :thumb: we will definately have to vote on this and get brvhearts input

[Boo]

Hate to be a wet blanket, but there may be something else that will come into play. Are these options available for this particular forum program? Me, I have no idea.

I haven't found this forum difficult to navigate, but then I use the unread posts option in the upper right hand corner.

On the other hand Jive, you are not the first person to say that they find this forum difficult to navigate. I do think we need to consider some sort of changes/redesign.


Thank you for going to the trouble of sharing your ideas with us.

[welsh_lad_04]

I haven't found this forum difficult to navigate, but then I use the unread posts option in the upper right hand corner.

I love that button, only one`s i seem to use are the unread posts and user CP but i do like the little picture`s that are in the orginal posts

*shuts up now* lol

[Easye1982]

I just added a poll to this thread.

@ Boo : I use that "new threads" a lot myself. But have you ever tried to surf our site as a guest. Or have you go into any of the sections with 12+ pages and try to know what you read or have not read? It is rather difficult to do. I think his idea(if it will work in our site) is a good one. But I agree with you, we need brvheart to let us know if there will be any features that would not work software wise.

I voted yes it would help, only because its colorful. We do have the folders on the far left as Turkey said, but they get an arrow over them for when you have read the thread and turn red when its hot. Turkey's ideas are a little more in depth then what we currently offer.

Still awaits brvheart's thoughts.....

[Boo]

This wouldn't help to know if you have read a thread or not, but you can at least see whether you have responded to a post by the little check mark by each thread.

If you have responded, you have a check mark, if you haven't then no check mark.

Easye, I did say that I think changes are needed. I don't have to have difficulty myself to recognize that others may. I have been on a forum that has a similar layout. I was used to it. The subforums I had no interest in I clicked the double upward arrow on the right side of each section and closed it. That made less areas to look at on the front page.

[Easye1982]

Very true boo closing unread sections will make things easier to view on the main page.

[rightcrosslefthook]

JT, I like your effort to improve the site however I think you will find it easier to nav through the forum the more you do it. Your idea is based on a gaming forum (unless I'm mistaken) and although it applies well there I do not think it would make it easier or necessarily better here. Again, I like it that you are new and making suggestions, that's rare in most places. I have gotten used to the way this site is set up and prefer it over the other forums that I am a member of.

But hey, if your idea is voted overwhelmingly in favor of and if Brvheart is willing to implement the change then I hope it makes it better for everyone.

[Jive Turkey]

Thanks guys, even though they may be from a gaming site tyhey would still make it easier to see what is what on this site.

The icons with the "fighter's post" we don't have to us it at all since there are no big time name that post here. That was only an option if we can get or ever had a pro fighter on here.

I just like colors and the way it is now it is kind of hard when your scrolling fast down a long list, to see the difference in topics. They all blur as one, unlike if they were different colors.

Like you all said we will be voting on it, and thanks to Easye1982 for adding the poll.

[brvheart]

basically...all you are asking for is new icon sets because the one that we have are hard to tell what is what right?

Also which style do you use - light or dark? If I make any changes they are to be done to both to keep them uniform.

[Uber]

It's a great idea...but I love the site how it is.

[Jive Turkey]

basically...all you are asking for is new icon sets because the one that we have are hard to tell what is what right?

Also which style do you use - light or dark? If I make any changes they are to be done to both to keep them uniform.

In part yes. The paper gifs would replace the folders. And where the current poll gif is, that is where the other icons would go. (all the dots)

I have seen both styles, but am not sure which I prefer the most. I like the light stlye cause it light. Not trying to be funny, its just easier to view and less noticable at work. The dark setting is ok, but I think its subcountious (sp) and it makes me sleepy :noidea: But you all can't fix that part. lol


BTW I love the HUGE selection of Smiles. I will try my best to use them all!