Posted on 03/06/2008 7:53:34 PM PST by John Robinson
What do you think? Suggestions, comments, complaints?
Another thing. I just checked out my Profile Page and almost all of the pictures I had there are now gone. I know the majority of them were there just a couple of days ago.
HUH? I use FR's SEARCH constantly... that's how I find all kinds of threads, and search on FReepers' posts. Sometimes I know I can find tough-to-find threads only by searching certain FReepers' posts. The search box is far from "useless".
Unfortunately I guess we have to re-learn to use this "new and improved" search box that doesn't do as much as the old one...
Some of us are stuck in our ways and resist change, but once we get use to the new way...it’ll be as easy as it was before, possibly even more so.
You're more optimistic than I am. I don't know about how up to date FR was, but it certainly was more user friendly than it is now. For example, just to search on a FReeper's post now takes three steps, when it used to take one or two. Another click or two may not sound like much, but it all adds up.
From one "FReeper's posts" search you could do another search, and another. Now you have to go back to the "Latest Posts" page to start a new search all over again. It's totally ridiculous.
Also, it would be nice if there were some explanations/simple tutorials as to what's going on, rather than hitting us all at once with these changes.
Also, does it work for both Mozilla and IE? (I actually use both browsers)
Enter by:poster name in the search box. One step.
For example, try entering “by:nutmeg” into the search box at the top of the page and hit return (or click on Go).
RSS = "Really Simple Syndication"
Sounds stupid, used widely in Firefox to subscribe to live bookmarks, don't know about IE since I don't use it.
Thanks for the info and link on "RSS". I use Mozilla Firefox and IE. I honestly had never heard of "Live Bookmarks" before. I'll check out the Firefox Live Bookmarks tutorial when I have some more time (and I'm not so tired). ;-)
Hey Jim,
First registered here 10 years ago today...And now I need a tutorial....LOL Sounds like it will be good when all the bugs are fixed. The “Edit”, and “Video embed” will be really cool when they are implemented.
I did learn to do the by:poster in the search box:
1. by:nutmeg
2. The page automatically defaults to articles that I've posted on FR (it no longer goes directly to my posts).
3. Click on the "Full" tab to see all my posts 'in full'.
Actually, it's kind of interesting to see what articles I've posted over the past few months... I had forgotten many of them. I would prefer that it defaults to "Full", like we were used to in the past, though.
Also: What's the difference between "Articles" and "Activity"?
One more: Should I add that RSS thing to my sidebar? If I don't like it, can I take it off?
Thanks in advance...
Nah...I wouldn’t do that if I were you. It would look like Tinky Winky. You remember from the past what happens when you start changing the basic fonts and colors of the posts...LOL I know they are not exactly like your dad created them, but they are close. Somehow he was guided in the beginning to pick out a pleasing font and color. That is a part of him that should always remain in the software IMHO.
John’s planing on upgrading the defaults and preferences system. Should be coming soon. He’ll also be updating the search routines as we go. “Articles” are the latest articles. “Activity” lists the articles that have had recent comments posted. You don’t need RSS in your sidebar. RSS is a news feed system. Other sites or individuals can get a news feed from FR using that URL. There’s an RSS news feed URL for each forum, each topic, each keyword, etc.
you must be getting old!:)
I've always wondered what RSS is.
Thank you for the explantion.
You should write a FR for dummies booklet. ;o)
Thanks, Jim, and I do appreciate all you and John do for us. I admit change can make me cranky, though.
I guess I kind of understand what RSS is... Syncro recommended putting it on the sidebar, but maybe I'd better not mess with it.
One FR feature I really miss: The ability to sort our FReepmails "by sender".
By the way, the “Put in sidebar” link is not referring specifically to the RSS feed. It’s the forum, topic, keyword or poster and view that you’ve chosen to list (named on the left side directly across from the “Put in sidebar” link). In other words, you can add (or remove) a sidebar section to your sidebar for any forum, topic, keyword or poster you choose. You can click on “Configure sidebar” (down at the bottom of your sidebar) to set preferences to how the sections in your sidebar are sequenced, and how many items to include in each section, etc. For example, if you are following some hot keyword (or forum or topic or poster LOL), you can add it to your sidebar and you will easily see all new articles (or comments) posted for that forum, topic, keyword or poster.
No need to bring me into this...
One more question: Can we still search by title? Search box seems to only accept keywords, and of course, by:poster.
He’s also planning on rebuilding the mail system. The one we have now was just a quick and dirty he threw together one night and never got around to refining. He didn’t know at the time that it would be so popular. He had to disable the by sender feature because it was killing system performance. He’s going to redesign the database and add lots more features to the mail system as he rebuilds it. For example, he wants each user to be able to download their mail boxes so they can manage them off line and purge the older stuff from FR. He also wants to allow “party line” multiple user freepmail so three or more people can carry on a private conversation and all parties invited are sharing the same “freepmail” thread.
"For example, if you are following some hot keyword (or forum or topic or poster LOL),..."
Poster? My goodness! What a silly thought. lolol
"...you can add it to your sidebar and you will easily see all new articles (or comments) posted for that forum, topic, keyword or poster."
Thank you for all of the information. I had no idea the configure button would do all of that. But, as I said, I'm not a button pusher.
Usually, when I push a button, it's to an alarm that needs a code, and I don't have the code. ;o)
Hey, I think I just did it... I typed title:nuptials into the search box, and found the thread I was looking for:
Nuptials for the Warrior Nurse
:o)
I think the default is if you enter one word, it automatically searches as a keyword. If you enter several words, it searches as a title. Or if you enter “by:” it searches by poster. You can also enter “keyword:” to search by keyword or “title:” to search by title. I also noticed that if you leave it blank, it brings up a page with the regular search by title box.
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