View Full Version : Is having the hack description on every page really a feature?
Because some of these hacks, their descriptions, their revisions, their FAQs, their template edits, theie screenshots, and many other things can make that initial post quite long.
If I'm trying to read through a 10+ page thread to find problems people have had, not only can it be a pain to have to scroll through the entire first post, but I also find that it breaks up the continuity of a thread. Once I'm in a thread, I already know what the hack is about, so scrolling past it on every other page seems somewhat pointless.
Am I missing the really good reason why its done this way? Is there a way for me personally to turn it off?
tehste
03-18-2006, 12:52 PM
I agree. It does mean I have to use my scroll wheel more and these buggers wear out :(
Borgs8472
03-18-2006, 12:57 PM
Asked this before. Apparently we should collapse the hack-bit in every thread we browse through...
Andreas
03-18-2006, 01:10 PM
I like it as it is, this way you got the hack information on every page.
If it wasn't this way, people would ask "Where are the files? I can't find them" and such.
Paul M
03-18-2006, 01:23 PM
It's a pain in the a*** when hacks have long first posts, and collapsing it affects the first page as well. An option to turn it off would be nice, I won't hold my breath though. ;)
Xenon
03-18-2006, 05:58 PM
Well there is a collapse button, which should be enough
and to answer the first question: yes it is a feature and working as designed, especially for the reason Andreas already posted
tehste
03-18-2006, 06:46 PM
can you make a user field:
field9993
and then yes no and call it: prevent unnecesary mouse scroll wear
and then in the template add: <if condition="$vbulletin->userinfo[field9993]=='No'"> Template Hack</if>
:)
I like it as it is, this way you got the hack information on every page.
If it wasn't this way, people would ask "Where are the files? I can't find them" and such.
Since 90% of forums only have the first post on the first page, I really don't see that happening. You need to have more faith in us!
Xenon
03-19-2006, 08:24 PM
that has nothing to do with faith, but with experience...
we have had the old way before, and got that questions....
Talisman
03-19-2006, 08:40 PM
I know it's not going away, but it truly gets in the way. Those first instructional posts are so long that it's very annoying.
Some of us really do read all the posts... page by page. This layout is very tedious and discourages people from reading through all those pages because they tired of seeing that same extra-long post over and over.
Xenon
03-19-2006, 08:57 PM
Why is it that hard to click the collapse button, if the first post annoys you.
sorry but i don't get it....
hiiped
03-19-2006, 10:14 PM
I like it the way it is
sometimes I have 10 Windows® open so with the info at top of every page I can reply accordingly to that topic
instead of going back to first page to see what the topic was about .
Paul M
03-19-2006, 10:27 PM
Why is it that hard to click the collapse button, if the first post annoys you.
sorry but i don't get it....Because it collapses it on the first page as well, or at least it used to - actually testing it again now it seems completely broken, it uncollapses everytime you change page here, which is pretty useless ......
lazytown
03-20-2006, 07:20 AM
Agreed. Repeating the first post is annoying, but I guess it can be helpful for newbies. If collapse affects the first thread, then it is kind of pointless.
-vissa
tim356
03-20-2006, 09:37 AM
I agree - very annoying having to scroll past the paragraphs of installation instructions.
I like it the way it is
sometimes I have 10 Windows? open so with the info at top of every page I can reply accordingly to that topic
instead of going back to first page to see what the topic was about .
The thread title in the firefox/IE title bar doesn't give it away to you?
And yup, the collapse is broken.
amykhar
03-20-2006, 11:43 AM
What we need is to train the hack posters to stop writing a novel in the first post. A brief description in the first post with the remaining info in the text file should be sufficient.
tehste
03-20-2006, 01:12 PM
maybe we could just put the text into the next post :)
By the way: minimize is brokened like Master Paul said.
Talisman
03-20-2006, 01:19 PM
Why is it that hard to click the collapse button, if the first post annoys you.
sorry but i don't get it....
First of all, there's nothing anywhere to tell people you CAN collapse the thread to get rid of the first post at the top of every page. So who's going to know that unless they just read it here?
Secondly, because it UN-collapses again every time you change pages. Having the first instructional post reappear again, then having to move over to the button and click it to make it go away accomplishes nothing. By that time, we would have otherwise scrolled through it already.
What we need is to train the hack posters to stop writing a novel in the first post. A brief description in the first post with the remaining info in the text file should be sufficient.
Putting that all relevant information in the first post is very important. Most of that needs to be available BEFORE people know if they want to download the hack or not. Besides, that first post gets edited and revised along the way to inform everyone of bug fixes and upgrades or optional features.
Throughout the expanse of the thread, that's the best place to point people to when they repeatedly ask the same questions. So I don't agree it's a good idea to chop all those notes out of the first thread.
Logikos
03-21-2006, 07:51 AM
Because it collapses it on the first page as well, or at least it used to - actually testing it again now it seems completely broken, it uncollapses everytime you change page here, which is pretty useless ......
Yea, it used to collaspe and stay there. I would collaspe the first post, and go threw the pages without having to see the long firstpost. Once I found what I was looking for, I would uncollapse the first post and move on.
Though now it doesn't work at all, and it rather anoyying. Go yell at brad to fix this! ;)
What we need is to train the hack posters to stop writing a novel in the first post. A brief description in the first post with the remaining info in the text file should be sufficient.
But that's likely to cause the same "problem" that was seen before (although I think I was here during the old way and don't remember hearing people ask where the files were.)
If you ask me, if they can't find the files on the first page, they shouldn't be installing these hacks. Why should vb.org have to cater to the lowest common denominator at the expense of others?
Princeton
03-21-2006, 11:50 AM
I don't like it but I can see it's value.
I guess the solution would be to fix the "collapse" save feature and use 2 different "collapse" values. eg. 'hackinfos', 'hackinfos2' One for the first page (first postbit) and the other for the subsequent pages.
hiiped
03-21-2006, 12:08 PM
The thread title in the firefox/IE title bar doesn't give it away to you?
And yup, the collapse is broken.
How many characters are visible in the Titlebar ?
your titlebar can hold the entire post description / update info ?
How many characters are visible in the Titlebar ?
your titlebar can hold the entire post description / update info ?
If you just want to see what the topic was about, then all you need is the title bar!
hiiped
03-21-2006, 06:55 PM
If you just want to see what the topic was about, then all you need is the title bar!
this is the title of THIS thread ( discussion )
" Is having the hack description on every page really a feature? "
right ?
this is the title of THIS thread ( discussion )
" Is having the hack description on every page really a feature? "
right ?
ok...
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