CPCWiki forum

I already put the following in the shoutbox, but am posting it here for those who, like me do not usually read the shoutbox messages.

This new chatroom feature is a bit annoying, I see a black box with "chatroom" inside obliterating part of the post I am trying to read, there is also a much larger blue and white box that says "getting list of users" yet never seems to find any users, it too covers up part of the screen. it seems to me to be totally redundant, just like this shoutbox, as we already have a forum to talk in.

Now, now.


You know I test things all the time :) This time I was looking for a way to remove the shoutbox from the forum's home page to free up space there, and this app looks nice... The full version is $10, so let's discuss it before proceeding.


I don't see how the Chat Room black box "obliterates" anything, unless you're running a VGA resolution (and probably not even then). But I moved it to the bottom anyway.


The User List box has never failed to poll the users for me; what browser/OS are you using? Also, it can be minimised.


The role of the chat room is completely different, yet complementary to the forum; it's for small talk (and this particular iteration also allows file sharing among other things).


It's not perfect, it's got some known problems and I'm discussing it with the developer already. Asked him to make it so it's user-selectable whether it appears or not.

T

PS edited the title of your post to discuss it here...

I played about with it yesterday, but I doubt I'd use it much if ever. I'd be much happier if you could fix things such as attachments in PMs.

Bryce.

Sure, it's not for everyone. There are those who like it and those who don't, and won't use it. Personally, I couldn't care less. But others do use it.


As for the PM attachments, that's not a forum functionality, so there's not much to 'fix', but I'll try my hand at it again :)

Why does the chatroom tag (bottom right) say that I'm offline, when I'm obviously not? That's confusing.

Bryce.

Have you set it manually?  Saw it too at some point, but it went away.

No, but as soon as I click on it once it changes to Available for a while.

It's also a bit annoying that every time I refresh the main window, that box appears first open and then minimises.

Bryce.

I find it nice, but I do agree that it can be a bit of annoying sometimes.


Maybe give an option (checkbox or whatever) to enable/disable it?

That's what I asked for...

Quote from: Gryzor on 09:55, 13 June 13
That's what I asked for...

So you haven't paid for it, but you're still asking them to add features for you? I respect your blatancy! :D

Bryce.

Nope, that's the free version as I told you yesterday :p

Ah, so there's an official free version.

Bryce.

Quote from: Gryzor on 08:26, 13 June 13

I don't see how the Chat Room black box "obliterates" anything, unless you're running a VGA resolution (and probably not even then). But I moved it to the bottom anyway.
The longer lines of text in a post disappeared under the chatroom label.

PS edited the title of your post to discuss it here...
Yes, I noticed that, I preferred the original title :P

@Bryce: oh yes :)


@Steve: well, "obliterates" is a heavy word for "cutting off the end of one line or two whereby I have to scroll a tiny bit" :D


Sorry about the title change, I thought I wouldn't start another thread for the discussion...

Oh well, you guys can make a poll for pro and contra. But before people should have time to get aquainted.

That's what I have in mind. Let's talk about it, then create a poll: Shoutbox, Chat Room or none.

I am not against any chat room, but I really do not like the way it is currently integrated on the forum

  1. You have it on ALL pages. Why not only on main index, or a dedicated one?
  2. It is split in two 'zone', the user list being expanded by default. Why not only one zone, collapsed by default or by option in account settings ?
  3. Well, I just hate thinks floating over all the pages. Why not having this in its own area that does not overlap the content of the page ?

This feature is a major league pain in the arse if you're using a iPad or iPhone and are viewing the full (i.e. not mobile) version of the website - any zooming of the page makes the chat apps foreground boxes massive and it becomes hard to navigate the site.

-Such radical changes as gerald suggests are not possible. I didn't program the thing, I just implemented it :D
-iCraps and mob devices are why we have the mobile skin... but I see your point.
-Poll now open.

I think I prefer the shoutbox, but since I don't have my browser open all day, neither are really all that effective for chatting.  Much prefer IRC, myself. :)

So which one do I use on my iVirus?

Picking up on mahlemiut's comment, would it be worth it installing an IRC server or something, separate from the forum? (poll updated, you can change your vote if so inclined)

Even just creating a channel on an existing network would be fine.  I already idle on two channels on EFNet as it is. :)  But it's entirely up to you.

Yes, that too; though the thought being of integrating stuff, maybe installing an IRC client somewhere on our server could be of interest? I don't know...

A more decent system is Comet Chat.

As I use it here:

http://cpc.devilmarkus.de/news.php (http://cpc.devilmarkus.de/news.php)

And no, it's not free...

Yeah... I'll be removing the new chat thingy; much too intrusive and overall not very handy, after some use.  I'll try Markus' solution (cheers!).

Anyone noticed...?

Quote from: Gryzor on 08:35, 17 June 13
Anyone noticed...?

??   :'(

Wooooooooooo!


Me likes bottom chat bar!


Nobody can tell now that it is intrusive  ;D


I think the solution is nice, as it doesn't disturb the ones that don't like the chat feature and allow for the ones that like it to actually use it.


Great work!

Nice new "chat" management.
Now, I suggest to remove the shoutbox from the top and put it as default public chat room. :)
And remove the game icone feature from the chat bar, while it will not offer CPC games exclusively!  ;D

@Robcfg: yeah, and it gets even less intrusive since you can click on the small arrows at the right and hide the bar altogether!


@TotO: yes, I will remove the games. Still toying around with it... and yes, I guess if people like this, Shoutbox will go - no meaning in having two similar things...


Poll will be updated now, please update your votes... (changing votes was locked, I allowed it now)

@Gryzor:

You can get the iframe embed code for a direct chatroom in admin center... ;)

So, perhaps you can exchange the shoutbox vs. the iframe for this chat.

Something like this:
<iframe src="/cometchat/modules/chatrooms/index.php?id=1" width="500" height="300" frameborder="1" class="cometchat_embed_chatrooms"></iframe>

Threw out the *stupid* flashgames and added CPC games and demos for your entertainment ;)

(Requires Java)

What Markus did was fantastic :D Now the forum has full access to all games and demos via his emulator... whooooo!

Nice done.
Don't forget to update your votes! :D

Yeaa, now I can see 15 people online... and click on the chat to see... Nobody's there.

Bryce.

Added CPC+ emulation...
Does someone also want the GX4000 cartridge games?

Also if there was no feedback, I added the GX4000 cartridge games, too :P

I prefer the shoutbox, it is unobtrusive yet you can see the messages without needing to enter a chatroom to find there are no messages. ::)

And the games seem to have taken away anyone's desire to chat entirely.

The shoutbox can be replaced and show the chatroom instead.

(Job for Gryzor)

To keep the chatbar clearer, I removed 4 icons, and added only 1 for the games.

If you have several chatrooms, it will not be as unobtrusive as the shoutbox.

It's pretty unobtrusive no matter what. What you call 'obtrusive' is a user choice... In any case, I removed (or Markus did? I forget) the possibility to have more rooms, because there's no need for it really.


And I don't see how going to the front page is less obtrusive than having access to the chatroom everywhere?


@Bryce: sure, one thing is being online, another joining a room! Though it should now keep you in the same room you last visited?

Quote from: Devilmarkus on 21:19, 17 June 13
Does someone also want the GX4000 cartridge games?

Only if you have Chase H.Q. II :P

Quote from: MaV on 13:58, 24 June 13
Only if you have Chase H.Q. II :P

I have Chase H.Q. II.

Then what are you waiting for to dump it and release a 'Special JavaCPC Chase H.Q. II version' with the game embedded?  ;D

I don't think the amiga version works on an Amstrad CPC+...
(MaV didn't say something about the platform of Chase HQ II)

There is an 68000 emulator for CP/M, try it!

Quote from: Devilmarkus on 18:48, 24 June 13
(MaV didn't say something about the platform of Chase HQ II)

Well, I answered to your post about the GX4000 cartridges, so the platform was implicitly mentioned. ;)