Drop Box

[joeb]

WOW. All this fun.....

I am currently muddling through the documents on setting up templates which is where I believe I need to do the work. I'm also going to need to figure out the file structure so I can put the graphics where the YaBB engine can find them.

Ruby and Python? haven't used Ruby but Python is highly integrated into the Poser environment. Just about all of the 3rd party tools for Poser are done in Python.
Perl. Most of the ETL for extracting COBOL data and putting it into the IBM DB2 server is in a tool called DataStage which is fired off from Unix and Perl scripts.

Personally I wish the server was done in php. Boy could we have some fun with that because then more then likely we could have a MySQL database running and put libraries up with just about anything in them.

Fun, fun, fun.......


Joe B

[joeb]

The YaBB Admin tool for setting up the CSS sheets is WAY less than intuitive. I got frustrated by it and have started putting the Templates together by hand so there has been a little delay in getting this project started but I am moving along now. I have four basic templates I'll be putting in place.


Joe B

[joeb]

Well, first thing I think of, is a good background colour in combination with an easy to use colour for hidden hints. One of the problems now, is that there are 2 backgrounds, so neither textcolour give good results for both of them.

First on the list!!! I just need to find out HOW to get the new graphic into a spot where the forum software will be able to locate it. Normally I'd just use some FTP tool (Fetch, etc) to put the graphic in place or work on the site in Dreamweaver, Go Live, etc. but I need to know where it's at and probably the password in.

Vern, admins???????


joe B

[Freddy]

:'( I really can't help you with this. And I wonder if Vern is able to. Maybe you need to jump on the YaBB-forums with your question?!

[joeb]

Yeah, Vern got me access and as you can probably see I've put up the picture with Jack sitting at the table. I'd be VERY interested on your thoughts by the way. I've also found a bunch of useful information out on the YaBB boards. I don't think I've munged up anything on the forum so I guess I'm doing alright.

Thanks for the support!!!!

Joe B

[Freddy]

@ Joe: Nice work! Thx. It was a very good feeling to see that after restarting the boards, all YaBB-stuff was gone and a nice picture of Sir Jack (designing his next mansion?) replaced it.

Because I was away for a while, a few things, while using Firefox btw.

1° The change of the top of our boards is now always there. But changing the colours is (still?) to be done in

profile

. Is the target that sooner or later a final choise is made, so that the backgrounds will be the same for everyone? Or is it supposed that, after logging in, everybody always find his own choise?

2° I like to test ALL your suggestions by using them long enough. So far:
- in MMT 8 I notice an unnecessary horizontal scrollbar at the bottom of my screen;
- in MMT 5 I think that something of the layout is still unfinished ---> above AND below the complete window should be shown in which forum one is working; the characters are partly in the former unlogical blue AND partly invisible till approaching the mouse-arrow make them ... red!

EDIT. MMT 9 has the same scrollbar as MMT 8.

[joeb]

Thanks for the input Freddy. At least SOMEBODY notices! I'm working diligently on 2 COMPLETE templates using what feedback I've gotten. Once I get everything cleaned up I am going to have voting (only fair way I think) on which should be the DEFAULT. The other will remain so individuals can have at least one other choice. Then I'll get the new icons in and see feedback on those. I'd kind of like to release the

COMPLETED

new look when Vern does the official XP inclusive release of MM.
Then back to being a lurker, no more RED name.

BTW, Welcome back, we've missed you!

Joe B

[Freddy]

It is nice to be back, Joe.

Unless I am wrong, I see 2 generations of MMTs you created.

The MMTs with the lower numbers all have the

problem

with blue and invisible parts of the name of the forum-in-use.

The MMTs with the higher numbers have the senseless horizontal scrollbar. I think it may have to do with a lack of margins around. The first generation MMTs DO have margins.

[aquaMat]

After reading this I went back into profile to test the new

skins

you have done, Joe....(I hadn't done so since you created the first couple of versions).

But I'm sorry to report that none of them really worked for me, they are all on the dark side.... and everytime I end up returning to the blue & white standard color scheme, which remains the one with the best legibility and

clearness

.

Why don't you try one with opaque, warm colors....say very light beige and light orange or something (as I suggested before), some

pastell-type

colors (as we call them in Germany) ?
The colors should be not more

dominant

than the standard blue and white ones....

PS: To be honest, it wouldn't bother me at all if we stayed with the standard blue/white scheme, should nothing else be found.
Luckily you have already removed that awfull YABB logo and replaced it with a nice MM graphic, which was probably the most important thing.

[Freddy]

aquaMat wrote: Luckily you have already removed that awfull YABB logo and replaced it with a nice MM graphic, which was probably the most important thing.

Indeed. But try MMT4. Doesn't feel bad at all. But I am still wondering how to place hints, because there are two different backgrounds.