Forum changes and announcements

[ghulst]

As we are reviving the forum together, I would like to keep you updated on things that are changing, that are added, that are repaired and more. This is also the thread to ask questions or request features for the forum. 


Yesterday I fixed the video embed plugin, so videos can be embedded in posts again.
Today I fixed the connection to Tapatalk, so you can once again use that to access the forum.

[Lee337]

A like button would be welcome and I know we have how to's, but  what about a how to section on the forum, covering posting videos, images & maybe for test postings.

Just a thought.

[ghulst]

Ah, yes, I tried to implement a like button, but this theme for the forum does not seem to support it. Which means that it then breaks the whole thing. :(

Great suggestion on the How-to's section. The only big question that leaves me with, is whether that would be beneficial over having specific how-to sections in the specific sections per bike.
On the other hand, we can create a separate how-to board per model where we gather how-tos. If someone can go around and gather all the how-to posts, I am very happy to facilitate that.

[Lee337]

I wasn't thinking specifically a 'how to' that was bike specific. I know this is mainly a Tiger forum, but we all have a wealth of knowledge around other subjects, from 'where can I buy wheel bearings' (a recent quest of mine), to 'I want to post pictures in my posts', or ';I'm looking for a new 10" tablet, any recommendations', that sort of thing.

Maybe 'How to' wasn't the best title, perhaps something like 'General help' would have been better.

[ghulst]

Ok, that would make sense. I can create a board for that under "Bolt-ons and Beyond" and call that "General help". Would that be an idea? Or would that leave it too motorcycle related and should we do it in "Talk" instead? At the same time, I am not sure how many 10" tablet suggestion threads we would really want on a motorcycle forum. Unless it is for navigation.

[Bixxer Bob]

All sound ideas, but to play devil's advocate for a minute, the one weakness right across this forum in past years was a reluctance to use the search function.  To be fair, it's not the most user friendly. So using my crystal ball I can see having these things gathered together in an orderly fashion will probably aid us, but won't reduce the great number of posts, especially from newbies, that start "can you guys help with ...blah".

Mustang was forever replying "look in the how to section or use the search function".  I can see the same in our future.

As a side note, I'm almost never negative, and having written that I'm not at all comfortable with the feeling.  hey ho.....

[ghulst]

Yes, that is a great point. However, instead of pointing people to the search button (which we actually even do when people register), we could also point them to a how-to.

But I get the idea. The big question that remains with me, is how can we get the forum to be as accessible as possible for everyone, so that we can be that knowledge resource, yes help them help themselves in an easier manner?

[Sin_Tiger]

That's a fair observation Bixxer, not sure how we do that and how much work we'd be giving Ghulst. Ideally it should be simple enough for admins to do tweaks from time to time to justify our titles 

I used to tweak the Steamer How To list, it wasn't hard, just a bit laborious and a couple of times I had a keyboard oops moments, a bit too easy to do and not so easy to recover from.

[ghulst]

Ideally it should be simple enough for admins to do tweaks from time to time to justify our titles 

It is easy enough for me to create a board for it. But perhaps it is an idea that you and Bob have a quick think on what it should look like and then I can help implement it. I am all for admins being able to do the work on it, so I'll facilitate that.

[Sin_Tiger]

  we'll have a chat about it.

[ghulst]

The forum has just been updated to a brand spanking new version of SMF. Unfortunately the old looks no longer work with the new forum mechanics. I have honestly tried to basically fit the Steamer looks to the new Tiger 900 Rally Pro that we now have, but alas, it does not work. But the forum works again. And better.

[Lee337]

Looks different, I'm using a smartphone at the moment but think I'll have to take a look on the PC or Tablet to get the full benefits

[Nick Calne]

Looks much better and much more readable on a smartphone.

[ghulst]

Thanks Nick and Lee. This morning I have personalized the theme a bit, to be more TigerTriple and a bit less SMF. :)

[London_Phil]

Thanks Nick and Lee. This morning I have personalized the theme a bit, to be more TigerTriple and a bit less SMF. :)

Blood pressure returning to near normal...Thanks Ghulst, looking a bit like our dear old friend again.. and a general thank you for all the work you have done on this.
Different far better than gone....