2009-06-06 This has been done, images are not displayed for users with less than 10 posts.
This document lays out our requirements of a new system for Accessify Forum. This is a work in progress started in December '08 and ongoing (see discussion threads listed below).
The discussion that occurs on the threads below is being distilled into this document by Nigel Peck. I have not cited individual comments, simply to save the time it would take to do so. The help of all concerned is very much appreciated (and can be seen by visiting the threads listed below).
We want to know what you'd like to see changed about Accessify Forum, visit Accessify Forum - Feedback and Requests and tell us what you think.
The new system is being discussed in detail on the following threads:
Please join in the discussions.
All demos, mock-ups etc. can be found at Redesign Mock-ups for Accessify Forum.
The following people have agreed to help out with the re-development, as and when they can.
Our requirements for new forum software are as follows:
We would also like the system to have the following features:
It may be a good idea to not allow images to be posted until someone has made x number of genuine posts (say 50).
2009-06-06 This has been done, images are not displayed for users with less than 10 posts.
The registration process should use different 'name's for the <input>s. This is being discussed at: Accessify Forum Developer's Group.
2009-06-06 This has been done, the username input has a new name.
Do the categories need to be reviewed and changed? This should be done at a different time to changing the software/design of the site, to give users some continuity.
This is has been mentioned in "Accessify Forum Developer's Group".
Which forum software should we use? What are the options? These questions need to be answered.
Current software proposed for consideration is:
This is being discussed in "Should we move to PunBB?".
The new site should have a number of RSS feeds.
2009-06-06 This has been done, an RSS (Atom) feed is being tested out.
The site should have authenticated RSS feeds to show new posts since last visit.
This is being discussed in "RSS Feeds For The Forum".
A new, useful, FAQ page should be written.
Do we need "Back to top" links on every post in a thread?
This is being discussed in "Should every post have a "Back to top" link?".
What skip links should we have?
This is being discussed in "Accessify Forum Demos".
A search feature which actually finds what you are searching for!
A BBcode implementation that avoids causing massive vertical gaps in the message when newlines are placed logically, between blocks of BBcode.
Alt text should be supported for images, possibly using the format: [img caption="Example Alt Text"]http://www.example.com/images/example.jpg[/img].
It would be nice to have a forum-wide feed which displays new topics across the board.
We would like users to be able to configure the following:
The special pages that the new system should have are as follows:
The smilies should be updated.
This is being discussed in: Smiley vs Snarly - you decide.
Users should not have signatures displayed until they have reached, say, 10 posts.
2009-06-06 This has been done, signatures are not displayed if a user has 10 posts or less.
The visual appearance, and functionality, needs consideration. This section states where we are with that.
The discussion concerning the design is currently taking place in the "Discussion of Demo Pages" thread.
The demo pages being discussed, by Ben Millard (Cerbera), are available here.
A fixed position reply box on topics, as demonstrated here, would be a useful addition to the site.
However, it takes up screen space. In order to avoid this, I suggest that the fixed reply column be hidden until it is popped out, possibly with a bar down the right of the page with arrows pointing to the left (hope that makes sense, mock-ups will help, working on these).
This should be extra to the usual reply links, so that it can be used if required and ignored if not.
How should metadata relating to a post be displayed when viewing a topic? As a column on the left or across the top of the post content?
The metadata that should be included is:
For discussion of whether we should show location on posts, visit "Show "Location" on posts within topics?".
The following links should be provided for each post:
These links may work best in the bottom-right of each post? Mock-ups needed, working on this.
Each page, except the homepage, should have a breadcrumb trail to help with navigation.
A feature should be provided to allow staff to highlight a post as being "hot" or a similar term. These posts would then appear in a sidebar to draw attention to them, and could also feature in an RSS feed.
This can be used to draw attention to current affairs etc.
To get involved, please see the threads listed at the top of this document.