What's Coming in Physics Forums 4.0?

[LCKurtz]

Thanks. Must be loosing my memory.

Your memory is loose?? Better bolt it down. Wouldn't want you to lose it.

 

[Rocket50]

I like XenForo, but I've been using a lot of it lately so I'm getting tired of its layout.

I have a question though. For the reputation you can give to a post, did you pick the version with only "Like" or with "Like, Agree, Dislike, Disagree, Funny, Dumb, Information etc"?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I like XenForo, but I've been using a lot of it lately so I'm getting tired of its layout.

I have a question though. For the reputation you can give to a post, did you pick the version with only "Like" or with "Like, Agree, Dislike, Disagree, Funny, Dumb, Information etc"?

We have a custom style. Just the like. I'm not fond of the addon that gives you the other options.

 

[Rocket50]

We have a custom style. Just the like. I'm not fond of the addon that gives you the other options.

OK.

Hope everything goes smoothly with the update.

 

[Overflowing]

I like XenForo, but I've been using a lot of it lately so I'm getting tired of its layout.

Gonna be a bit of this with every forum software

I can't tell you how "bored" I am of the VB layout. Most forums run without a custon style and just tweak the colors a bit.

There are always, of course, certain basic functionality that you cannot really change without a highly customized style.

Here are a couple examples of some highly customized styles:

www.xenadmins.com
www.3reef.com
www.crazyengineers.com

 

[Evo]

Gonna be a bit of this with every forum software

I can't tell you how "bored" I am of the VB layout. Most forums run without a custon style and just tweak the colors a bit.

There are always, of course, certain basic functionality that you cannot really change without a highly customized style.

Here are a couple examples of some highly customized styles:

www.xenadmins.com
www.3reef.com
www.crazyengineers.com

Those are horrible! They don't even look like forums where people are able to participate! I participate at a number of forums. I would be put off.

What a mess!

And that first forum, WTH are all of those numbers?

I tend to gravitate to forums that are very simple and straight forward, see a comment, see a reply option, make reply. Done. I guess if I was a registered member they might make more sense.

The forums I belong to make sense even without being registered.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Those are horrible! They don't even look like forums where people are able to participate! I participate at a number of forums. I would be put off.

What a mess!

And that first forum, WTH are all of those numbers?

I tend to gravitate to forums that are very simple and straight forward, see a comment, see a reply option, make reply. Done.

www.crazyengineers.com has some nice things. In fact I think we're using the same framework.

 

[Evo]

They look more like a news source instead of a forum. Are they a forum? They remind me of Yahoo News where they report a story then people comment below. That's not what we will be like, right?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

They look more like a news source instead of a forum. Are they a forum? They remind me of Yahoo News where they report a story then people comment below. That's not what we will be like, right?

They use one of their forums for news/article type content and then display it from the homepage. I am testing something similar with a featured threads function.

 

[Overflowing]

Eco, I was giving those as examples of the flexibility of the software. And yes, they are forums, with a summary type home page or other front-end type of addon acting as a home page. Then you just click the 'forum' or 'community' link in the nav bar to see what you would consider the traditional forum layout (category, sub forum, etc) it's all there just a bit different.

The first one is highly specialized, specifically for people who are Forum admins of only Xenforo forums. So there are a lot of things being used to show off a bit. It's not a site anyone who is not an XF admin would ever use so forget about it.

All I got to say is don't fear change. XF is taking over the forum world more and more every day.

 

[Evo]

I don't fear change. I just welcome change if it's necessary, not because someone can do it. But I understand that Greg needed to make changes that VB didn't have, so a drastic change was necessary, although not ideal. I think due to this need we all need to get behind Greg because of the need, even if what comes with it is not what we really want. We need to understand this isn't something Greg is doing lightheartedly and he is doing all that he can to have as little impact as possible on our members. And I say kudos to Greg for what he is doing and not taking credit for.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Just want to remind users to backup their PMs they wish to keep. I'll be making a more prominent notice in the near future. The plans are going well and we are still on target for next weekend.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I wanted to speak of a couple interesting alert features.

One is the tagging system allows for watched tags. So if you are interested in photons, you can watch the tag photons and when a user tags a thread with that, you'll get an alert.

Another is that the system will check if you have new alerts without refreshing the page or even having the window in view. You can be at a different tab doing your banking and look over and see the number of new alerts in the title. Facebook does this.

 

[Rocket50]

Unfortunately for me, the alerts never refresh by themselves. :(

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Unfortunately for me, the alerts never refresh by themselves. :(

We haven't upgraded yet :)

 

[mfb]

One is the tagging system allows for watched tags. So if you are interested in photos, you can watch the tag photons and when a user tags a thread with that, you'll get an alert.

Tag photos with photons, okay. *scnr*

Sounds very nice.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Tag photos with photons, okay. *scnr*

Sounds very nice.

oops! proof reading has never been my strong point

 

[dlgoff]

I don't fear change.

But there may be many old members that do?

 

[Rocket50]

We haven't upgraded yet :)

I meant on all the other XenForo forums I've been on.

 

[Overflowing]

That is a setting or tweak. The addon that Greg is referring to makes more calls to the server to update the alert notifications, specifically for the tab alert.

 

[Evo]

But there may be many old members that do?

I should say that I pretty much hate change if what I have works, but I don't fear it. Now, that doesn't mean I don't like something better, but what I think is better and what someone else thinks is better often aren't the same.

 

[LCKurtz]

I should say that I pretty much hate change if what I have works, but I don't fear it. Now, that doesn't mean I don't like something better, but what I think is better and what someone else thinks is better often aren't the same.

As an example, pretty much everything Microsoft did to Excel, Word, and Access after version 2000 made things more complicated, even if they were supposedly "easier". You shouldn't need a learning curve to upgrade.

 

[Evo]

As an example, pretty much everything Microsoft did to Excel, Word, and Access after version 2000 made things more complicated, even if they were supposedly "easier". You shouldn't need a learning curve to upgrade.

Exactly, older versions of many things were far better. All of the bells and whistles that are added are, for me, just junk that I don't use, and in many cases the great things I really loved went away. Oh well. One man's meat is another man's poison. I will be quiet now.

 

[DataGG]

You could show us a screenshot of PF 4.0 homepage...

 

[kith]

I don't know if this has been asked before: how will the urls of threads/posts change? Will it be possible to easily adapt old bookmarks?

 

[Mr.maniac]

What the hell is going on I can't understand the ANYTHING.

 

[DataGG]

I don't know if this has been asked before: how will the urls of threads/posts change? Will it be possible to easily adapt old bookmarks?

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=4834828&postcount=26 --> Page 2 of this thread.

What the hell is going on I can't understand the ANYTHING.

Have you tried reading this thread? Perhaps it might help..

 

[kith]

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=4834828&postcount=26 --> Page 2 of this thread.

Thanks!

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

You could show us a screenshot of PF 4.0 homepage...

No, I don't want the complaining to start early :D

I don't know if this has been asked before: how will the urls of threads/posts change? Will it be possible to easily adapt old bookmarks?

All thread URLs will be automatically redirected to the new address

 

[Doc Al]

No, I don't want the complaining to start early :D

 

[RJLiberator]

Awesome news. I can't wait to post on the new forums :D. Everyone here is very helpful and this is my go-to place to learn more difficult math/science.

Thank you.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Evo is opening chat on Thursday. I'll be in chat hosting a Q&A Thursday night from about 8-9pm -5 GMT.

 

[Mayank_Jha]

What are VMs and Blog-entries?

 

[Mr.maniac]

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=4834828&postcount=26 --> Page 2 of this thread.



Have you tried reading this thread? Perhaps it might help..

tried but didnt understand anything

 

[Rocket50]

What are VMs and Blog-entries?

VMs are visitor messages (i.e. messages people post publicly on your profile).

Blog entries are posts you created in your blog, found at https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php

 

[adjacent]

Blog entries are posts you created in your blog, found at https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php

Attention Blog Owners: The blog system is scheduled to be removed September 2nd. Please copy your blog entries that you wish to save. Feel free to post them in the forums. Thanks!

Isn't this September 16?

 

[Rocket50]

Isn't this September 16?

I think they are getting removed with the PF 4.0 update.

 

[PaulDirac]

When somebody posts to a threat that I have already been in I tend to not take any alert of knowing it. Also when I receive a private message I don't usually get informed after having refreshed my browser. Does this upcoming version improve these weaknesses at all?

 

[DataGG]

When somebody posts to a threat that I have already been in I tend to not take any alert of knowing it. Also when I receive a private message I don't usually get informed after having refreshed my browser. Does this upcoming version improve these weaknesses at all?

It's amazing that none had picked that username until you came, just about a month ago.. Good Find!

I've also noticed that "MY PF" seems to be bugged for the last few days.. I'm positive the new version (xenforo) will address that. I'm a member on some Xenforo forums and the alert system is flawless. I'm not sure about the PM thing though. Just wait a day and check for yourself :P


EDIT: For example, in the new PF, you would have been notified that I quoted you in this thread..

 

[Radarithm]

Nice one, Greg. Can't wait for 4.0!
Now, back to lurking...

 

[Rocket50]

When somebody posts to a threat that I have already been in I tend to not take any alert of knowing it. Also when I receive a private message I don't usually get informed after having refreshed my browser. Does this upcoming version improve these weaknesses at all?

Posting threats is against the rules. :)

 

[PaulDirac]

The admin Greg Bernhardt should explain:)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The admin Greg Bernhardt should explain:)

You will get an alert in the new version and the alert system will auto check without you having to refresh, every 20 seconds or so.

 

[Overflowing]

When somebody posts to a threat that I have already been in I tend to not take any alert of knowing it. Also when I receive a private message I don't usually get informed after having refreshed my browser. Does this upcoming version improve these weaknesses at all?

In XF, you will have a notification bubble next to the "Alerts" on the nav bar that indicates that you have alerts (and the quantity), such as when you were quoted in a post, tagged in a post, a reply was made to a thread you are subscribed in, etc. Some of these are configurable on the admin side. These alerts get cleared when you hover over the Alerts item and see the drop-down list.

Also similarly, when you receive a message via a conversation, you will have an similar notification bubble next to "Inbox" on the nav bar for any unread messages (including quantity), and this does not go away until you actually read the message (meaning, hovering over them does not clear the notification like it does with Alerts)

 

[mfb]

When somebody posts to a threat that I have already been in I tend to not take any alert of knowing it. Also when I receive a private message I don't usually get informed after having refreshed my browser. Does this upcoming version improve these weaknesses at all?

Those things depend on the user settings, you can change that now.

 

[Ritzycat]

I've seen many Xenforo websites. Excellent framework, quite a step up from vBulletin in terms of versality and aesthetics. Hope the transition goes smoothly.

 

[Vibhor]

Hello Greg ,

Suggestion for PF 4.0 : The Non Gold members do not always get the "Delete" option while editing the post (within a limited time period) .Sometimes I see a "Delete" button , sometimes I don't .This happened to me a couple of times when I had to delete the contents of the post and then report the post so that some mentor/admin could delete it.Quite unnecessary two step process .

I would request you to give this option (i.e Delete in the edit option) to all the members in PF 4.0 .

 

[StevieTNZ]

Hello Greg ,

The Non Gold members do not always get the "Delete" option while editing the post (within a limited time period) .Sometimes I see a "Delete" button , sometimes I don't .This happened to me a couple of times when I had to delete the contents of the post and then report the post so that some mentor/admin could delete it.Quite unnecessary two step process .

I would request you to give this option (i.e Delete in the edit option) to all the members in PF 4.0 .

The delete option while editing is available, as far as I'm aware, to all members. However, as you say, there is a time-limit to do this.

 

[Vibhor]

The delete option while editing is available, as far as I'm aware, to all members. However, as you say, there is a time-limit to do this.

I am not sure if it is a bug or something else ,but "Delete" doesn't always show when the edit button is clicked .

But I agree it shows everytime if one is a Gold Member (just like you) .Regarding the time limit ,it is for the "Edit" option .

For a Non Gold member like me it doesn't always come .

 

[StevieTNZ]

I am not sure if it is a bug or something else ,but "Delete" doesn't always show when the edit button is clicked .

But I agree it shows everytime if one is a Gold Member (just like you) .Regarding the time limit ,it is for the "Edit" option .

For a Non Gold member like me it doesn't always come .

That's the same for me. For example my first edit won't let me delete the post. When I edit it a second time, it will give me the option.