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
}

[Movemout]

Thanks much!

[dennisw]

Won't happen in netscape I think

[John Robinson]

What message? O :-) (That silly looking think is a smiley with a halo. It's askew, you know.)

[Hugh Akston]

If you are getting an error that says "Connection with the server was reset" or "Connection was reset by peer" as a modal dialog box (not a webpage with an error message), and you are posting with IE 5 for Windows, the problem is almost certainly with your browser. Try upgrading to IE6, or use Netscape, or get a Mac, or get Linux, and the problem should go away.

[SERE_DOC]

Laz, did you forget your meds again?

[MeekOneGOP]

I get articles from a specific topic (Culture/Society, Current Events, etc.) instead of from every topic.

---

Ah, so it's NOT just ME?

And we don't need to close tags, i.e., my "bold" text here? Great!

[AppyPappy]

No doubt he was naked when he posted that.

[Lazamataz]

I will repost the message over ther -- OMG! YOU deleted it!

YOU CANNOT HANDLE DEFEAT! I bested ya fair and square! :o)

[Syncro]

LOL I gave up sleep for stress...but Glenn is a good campanion....heh heh

[John Robinson]

If you want to try it, copy the sample style sheet I posted above and change the color, then upload it. If you come up with a really snazzy style sheet, and don't mind sharing, I will make it the default style sheet.

[VaMarVet]

John, Not sure this has anything to do with the recent changes but.. For about a week now whenever I click on Activism/Chapters it has taken me to what I think is Latest Articles. I made no changes to my preferences and this just seemed to happen on its own. Thanks, Dave

[It'salmosttolate]

Does your father know what you're do'en?

[Lazamataz]

Laz, did you forget your meds again?

No.

But I am doubling up on them.

[John Robinson]

A spell checker would be very nice. Also very difficult to implement. It's on the wish list.

[Syncro]

Hay you know if you REALLY won that means the end of FR...chill out and admit da feet...lol

[SERE_DOC]

"No doubt he was naked when he posted that. "

Talk about a scary graphic that pops into ones mind!

[John Robinson]

I can't spell either. Oh well.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

I hear a lot of people complaining about the use of blockquote to prevent reply spoofs.

What is a reply spoof? I guess I'm not guilty of doing one since I don't know what it is.

[Syncro]

Does your father know what you're do'en?

ssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[John Robinson]

Topic listings are broken for the time being. I rearranged the database, sped it up considerably, and am now contemplating how to re-enabled certain features.