Recent Changes @ FreeRepublic

[John Robinson]

A few changes have been made to the forum over the past couple days.

• All replies, and for consistency all articles, are now wrapped in HTML <BLOCKQUOTE>s. This indents the text on both left and right margins. It should no longer be possible to convincingly spoof replies.

• An HTML filter has been installed into the forum software. The primary job of this filter is to remove unsafe HTML constructs. As a side-effect and benefit, it closes open tags. No more HTML shotguns.

• Due to the above mentioned filter, the STYLE attribute has been disabled. Though it has many legit uses, it was used to position text and images at the top of a thread, or in other unsavory places. The STYLE attribute will make a comeback once a style filter is written.

• Since the STYLE attribute was disabled, the use of <SPAN STYLE="background-color: xxxx"> to highlight portions of text was also disabled. To compensate, the <EM> tag has be enhanced for highlighting purposes. At a later time the HTML sequence used to highlight text may change.

• <BLOCKQUOTE> has been enhanced for it's intended purpose: quoting blocks of text. Unfortunately, <BLOCKQUOTE> is often used to indent text without implying a quote, and therefore at a later time the HTML sequence used to quote text may change.

• A quick-and-dirty program now exists allowing you to customize the appearance of Free Republic articles. To use a custom style sheet, use your favorite style sheet editor (or plain text editor) to create a style sheet, save the file to your hard drive, and then follow this link to upload your style sheet to Free Republic.

  This is a technological preview and is geared for a technical audience. At a later date a kinder gentler interface will be created.

A sample customized style sheet:

BODY
{
    BACKGROUND-COLOR: ivory
}
EM
{
    FONT-STYLE: normal;
    BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eeee00
}
BLOCKQUOTE
{
    FONT-FAMILY: "Bookman Old Style"
}
BLOCKQUOTE BLOCKQUOTE
{
    BORDER-TOP: black thin solid;
    PADDING-BOTTOM: 1%;
    PADDING-TOP: 1%;
    BORDER-BOTTOM: black thin solid;
    FONT-STYLE: italic
}

[tomkat]

john, check out this post of mine from another thread.

thought this scenario was supposed to look different ??
[copied a partial post from one thread to another...]

[afraidfortherepublic]

This is a technological preview and is geared for a technical audience. At a later date a kinder gentler interface will be created

I need it ASAP! (The kinder, gentler explanations.)

Seriously, I think the new format is great and I'll be looking forward to learning all the new methods. Thanks for keeping us on our toes!

[afraidfortherepublic]

When you have time, could you include an explanation of how we make bullet points. They look so neat.

[swampfox98]

I love that yellow highlight. From now on I'll use it when I write Bill Clinton.

[Bonaparte]

Thanks for all your hard work, John! Now I know why blockquote has been hanging around even with closed tags -- and why my shotgun misfired last night. :-)

I don't know why so many use < blockquote > when < ol > serves essentially the same purpose.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Filing at tech_index

[SuziQ]

Questions?

SAY WHAT?!!

[Hugh Akston]

You mean like:

• This
• and
• this?

Those are created with the "unnumbered list" tag, with "list item" tags for each bullet item.

The HTML I used to make that bullet list was

<UL><LI>This<LI>and<LI>this?</ul>

And if you use the "ordered list" tag of <OL> instead of the UL one, you get a numbered list.

And if you want just a single bullet item, just make an unordered list of one item, such as this:

<UL><LI>This</ul>

which looks like this:

• This

[Scuttlebutt]

Geezz, this is getting worse than my wife. Every couple of months she gets a wild hair to rearrange the furniture and cons me into helping her. It always winds up in the same place after 4 or 5 moves.

Drink another 6-pack of Pepsi and let us know when you are finally finished.

[Valin]

As a side-effect and benefit, it closes open tags.

Hallelujah!!!! Life...is....good

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thanks. I'm copying instructions and posting on my monitor until it's committed to memory!

[anguish]

Comfort :)

#define m(i)(x[i]^s[i+84])<<
unsigned char x[5],y,s[2048];main(n){for(read(0,x,5);read(0,s,n=2048);write(1,s
,n))if(s[y=s[13]%8+20]/16%4==1){int i=m(1)17^256+m(0)8,k=m(2)0,j=m(4)17^m(3)9^k
*2-k%8^8,a=0,c=26;for(s[y]-=16;--c;j*=2)a=a*2^i&1,i=i/2^j&1<<24;for(j=127;++jy)
c+=y=i^i/8^i>>4^i>>12,i=i>>8^y<<17,a^=a>>14,y=a^a*8^a<<6,a=a>>8^y<<9,k=s
[j],k="7Wo~'G_\216"[k&7]+2^"########;*k+>/n."[k>>4]*2^k*257/8,s[j]=k^(k&k*2&34)
*6^c+~y;}}

(DVD decoder, parts omitted [########] - 1st amendment vs. Digital Millennium Copyright Act)

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Ok I am lost........................................................................HELP!!!!!!

[Incorrigible]

John,

While we're talking about style sheets and such, I might want to put a plug in for WAP phone access.  Yes, I just can't get enough!

I use the Google Wireless Search system and it works well to view FreeRepublic articles and replies with a WAP phone.  I have the articles page bookmarked.  That's sufficient for me but just something you might want to think about down the road.  Maybe way down the road.

Thanks again for everything.

[afraidfortherepublic]

How would I make a numbered list? Is there a nifty way to do that?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Excuse me. I see you have already answered my question on the Ordered List. Waaaaaay Coooooool!

[afraidfortherepublic]

Today, I have:

1. Learned to make a numbered list, and
2. Learned to make an unnumbered list

This has been fun, and I thank you kindly, Mr. Akston. Now I gotta go pay my bills.

[Askel5]

Wow ... that was beautiful. I'll trade blockquotes for that blue line.

What do you mean by "reply spoofs"?

[super175]

On the reply page, can you please include one more line of instruction beneath the line that starts "HTML codes:"?

The only thing I am really looking for is how to make a link without posting the actual address...A template of sorts is fine.

HREF something or another, I can't remember the exact formula.

That spot right there will be really handy.

[Taliesan]

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