Having some problems with the Forum

[tinkthank]

In the past two weeks, I have often not been able to load this forum page. Sometimes it loaded, but I have not been able to call up any posts.
Then, a couple of hours later, everything is fine again. Rinse, repeat.
This happens from two different computers in two cities; in Hannover, I use win2000 as a client on our server with a DSL connection and a router; havent had any problems with that. In Berlin, I have a win98SE laptop connected to a DSL modem (D. Telekom), and when I have problems with this forum I have none elsewhere. In Berlin, under Win98, I have a little icon in my task manager thingy at the bottom right of my screen, two little green monitor-looking thingies, and they light up when they are transfering information, and when I wait for one of these forum pages to load they are dark.
Is this a problem with me or a problem with the forum, and can I do anything about it?
Thanks much

[johan osterman]

We have the same problem. So I i magine it is either Shrapnels server or connection that is the problem.

[Alneyan]

The forum is virtually offline for a couple of hours every day, between 1100 and 1300 my time (I think you live in Germany, so that would be the same time; it is between 4 am and 6 am EST). Could it be the reason for your problems? I think it may begin at 1000 (it was around 1015 this morning), and the length of this backup varies depending on the day.

[tinkthank]

It is earlier too, or at least sometimes it is. I notice it anywhere from between 0800 and 1300 in Middle Europe Time.

Does Shrapnel know this? (I am guessing they are seated in the US?)

[Alneyan]

It used to start at 0800, but it should no longer be the case (they moved their backups at a later moment, though it is less convenient for us in Europe). Have you seen it start at 0800 in the last few days?

If it is linked to the backups, they are aware of this. Here (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=332693) is the thread where Mindi spokes of this matter (on the SEIV forum).

[tinkthank]

Hm ... still having problems, but now I have this ... "facelifted" banner thingy on the left side of the screen, which does sort of distract from the forum. Is there a way to remove this^?

[Arryn]

tinkthank said:
Hm ... still having problems, but now I have this ... "facelifted" banner thingy on the left side of the screen, which does sort of distract from the forum. Is there a way to remove this^?


Not that I can find. This new "feature", ostensibly "news", is implemented as HTML table code rather than as a more traditional frame. Thus you cannot use browser add-ons like Firefox's Adblock extension to strip the side pane away. I guess we're stuck with losing roughly 140 pixels (at 1280 res.) of our browser window's width to advertising. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Sick.gif

[Chazar]

This 'facelift'-new sidebar is really annoying if you're stuck with a low resolution laptop display like I am! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[alexti]

Probably this new "improvement" is in some transitional state. Just this page alone contains 270 errors. Hopefully, when the errors are fixed everything will be ok http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Boron]

It is extremely annoying . And i don't think that the ingenious sidebar will net in additional sales anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif . It is so annoying that you rather boycott shrapnel then buy another game from them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/smirk.gif .

Hopefully it is away in a few hours http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif .

[Endoperez]

I agree that the sidebar is little too much, but something similar would be ok. The forums are always buzzing when a patch appears or official mod/scenario is added, but it is always nice to read the official Shrapnel news. And it is nice to know about special offers.

Besides, when we had a discussion about "what is SE4?" in the forum, I have to say that the sidebar might net them quite some more sales. Shrapnel Games has many interesting titles, and by reminding me of the other games every time I visit these forums might make me buy one.

[Gandalf Parker]

If an off-topic post was moved to the shrapnel general forum where it belonged, some people complained that they come straight to the forum of choice without ever seeing the other forums or the front page of the shrapnel site. I always said that was a bad thing to declare. Well actually, in the Dominions forum we had less of that than some other forums here. And I already see some of those gripers suggesting ways to block the new format from being seen! And they are suggesting it IN THE FORUMS! (can we say "shoot self in foot"?)

As to the size, Im guessing they are going for ease of use. Something where creating one to go on the main page www.shrapnelgames.com (http://www.shrapnelgames.com) works for the sidebar at the same time.

[Richard]

Speaking of the backup issue, that is something I am working to resolve tonight. The process that was installed with out server to do daily backups leaves a lot to be desired, so I am working on modifying it so we do not have these issues in the future.

[Legacyspy]

UG i hate this new thing it is so anoying

[Endoperez]

I wasn't against it earlier, although my post was quite negative, but those bright picture they added distract from the forum. I don't mind it being there, as long as it fits in with the forum colors. So no blue/black, thanks.

[Arryn]

Worse, IMO, than the non-removable advertising sidebar is the elimination of the link to mark all posts as "read". You now have to navigate to My Home first before you can do so. I sure would like to know who's the genius who gave them "feedback" suggesting they make forum use *more* awkward?

[Saber Cherry]

I don't care at all about the sidebar as it is now. The only things that scare me are global thermo..., ah, I mean, the only thing that bothers be is pictures with motion. If a forum / website / anything has flashing or moving frames, and I cannot eliminate them (this browser has no flash plugins installed, for example), I leave the site and never return. But static ads don't bother me unless they are repulsive or offensive in some way.

[Agrajag]

The new forum has become a hassle to read... I can't read properly with a hint of an ad waiting for me on the left and all that contrast between colors (the colors of the posts themselves seemed to have changed as well and are now very annoying).
I have to stop for a strong blink every now and then, and its getting on my nerves.
I don't expect to read the forums much in the near future, atleast until those ads are removed or if I can disable them somehow.

[Alneyan]

Good point Arryn about the "Mark all read" button, which seems to have been sucked into the Void Gate.

Agrajag, you can disable the banners if you want. The relevant information on how to do so is available in the SEIV thread about the forum changes, here (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=336922). It implies Proximotron and Shrapnel seems to be fine with this (Richard say so at least). Whether you choose to go this way is up to you.

[Arryn]

Alneyan said:
Agrajag, you can disable the banners if you want. The relevant information on how to do so is available in the SEIV thread about the forum changes, here (http://www.shrapnelcommunity.com/threads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=336922). It implies Proxomitron and Shrapnel seems to be fine with this (Richard say so at least). Whether you choose to go this way is up to you.


Richard being fine with users employing 3rd-party tools (such as a HTML proxy) to reformat viewed HTML is one thing, but the proper and user-friendly solution would be for Richard to add an option in My Home / Display Preferences to permit forum users to relocate the bar to the right side, or the top, or do away with it entirely.

That the "thoroughly-tested" facelift managed to overlook/remove the important "mark all read" link is symptomatic.

[Gandalf Parker]

Arryn said:
Richard being fine with users employing 3rd-party tools (such as a HTML proxy) to reformat viewed HTML is one thing, but the proper and user-friendly solution would be for Richard to add an option in My Home / Display Preferences to permit forum users to relocate the bar to the right side, or the top, or do away with it entirely.



I dont quite follow that. How would that be a "proper and user friendly solution"? I mean if you understand why shrapnel pays to host the forums then Im not sure that would be a "solution"

After all, they are there now as a solution. So if a solution to a solution is to remove the solution then... never mind.. my head hurts now

[Arryn]

Thank you, Richard, for restoring the "Mark all read" link. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Endoperez]

"We have thoroughly tested these changes on our test board, but if you happen to run into a problem, please PM Mindi."

This is at the top of the page. I'm not sure about how much they have tested, but they surely listen. Thank you! I'm sure you can get this to work!

[Mindi]

Actually, the 'marked all read' link disappeared on accident when we were trying to change something that other people wanted changed. Even though technically there was nothing 'broke', we were trying to make a small change that we felt would satisfy some users without changing the functionality that we were trying to achieve.

As for the original problem that this thread was created about, we hope you find some vast improvement with the back-ups slowing down the forum. We've worked at optimizing the back-up system and I think you will find the time has been greatly reduced.

We try to listen to everyone's suggestions and we often implement the ones that are attainable and don't distract from functionality and intended purpose. However, ultimately everyone will disagree, even among the users. That doesn't mean that we haven't listened to everyone's concerns, but it is impossible to please everyone and we're not even going to try. Like all changes, these changes will take a little time to get used to, but this is something we go through everytime we make any change as most people are creatures of habit. That being said we often have people later say that they like the changes now that they are accustomed to them and would complain if we went back to whatever the 'old way' was.

[Agrajag]

Well, its not exactly what I was hoping for, but changing the pictures on the side to a brown color that blends with the rest of the forum makes it readable again.
Finally, I can read the forum without risk of being blinded!