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Update to Forums Coming Soon
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Idyllwild
Jackson County, OR (Zone 7b/8a)
37 Posts
(Offline)
1
May 26, 2021 - 11:18 am

Dear Community,

Jafar and John have asked me to announce the upcoming changes that are coming to this forum. The forum software that we are using has not been updated in some time. While it is working well, we want to keep up to date with the latest features, bug fixes, etc. We have renewed our license so that we can update to the latest version.

In addition this forum's design will be updated to a new theme. For the most part it should feel familiar but it will be a bit cleaner and it will work a bit better on larger and smaller screens.

In the process of upgrading we are also reviewing new features available to us. Once the upgrade is complete we will be offering the addition of the following features:

  • Search results will display by posts, rather than by topic
  • Ability to search by user under advanced search
  • Ability to @ mention other forums members in new topics/replies
  • Ability to post a poll in a new topic
  • Add a brief description to new topics
  • Ability for moderators to pin important topics
  • A new page for displaying unanswered topics

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions, otherwise you can look forward to these updates in about a week or so.

Thank you!

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Rooney
Vancouver SW Washington
770 Posts
(Offline)
2
May 27, 2021 - 10:13 pm

One of the things I liked (when over a year ago) was when private messaging was opened up for making it possible to file images in online folders. May it please never disappear with the new changes.

Loading of images without content allows official date stamps on each image for the purposes of long term grafting projects that can later be linked in order to validate one. There are other situations besides grafting for later use towards the scientific community. 

If it were possible, with newer themes being considered here, to keep a gate open for those of us recognized as decent people with on-topic goals of improving agriculture via fruit trees. I understand the need to police mischief makers on the issue in regards to p0rn etc; but the benefit to the few of us whom may wish support or financial needs to the community might be a way this way. Or at least to some like myself who hate maintaining web sites.

Glad that your all huddled together on the forward looking issues, security etc. Smile

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sweepbjames
NE Portland, OR Cully Neighborhood
230 Posts
(Offline)
3
May 28, 2021 - 5:49 pm

My work takes me to peoples homes and I have the opportunity to browse their yards from a chimneysweeps vantage point. Several times these last two weeks and multiple times before, I’ve had the pleasure of offering unsolicited advise re: Home Orchard education. Most commonly these last months discussions has evolved around figs and specifically the postings here, having to do with the pruning for size and reachable fruit. I direct  my clients to the forum site and have them enter a search for “fig”, telling them to look for the posting topic “keeping desert king small”... I direct the conversation to the opening post (John’s) and the linked article (Rick Shory’s  blogspot) and the Viron’s parallel fig discussion as being the go-to for understanding the fruiting habits of figs, and their strategies for keeping the figs maintained, productive and within reach.  That being something that has been eluding me, although somewhat collecting ‘an idea’ over time, but not really having it gel until seeing this graphic representation. 
Now, my question is, no matter that my direction as to how to access the posting (by topic)  on the website may be convoluted, it makes sense to me and i think gets them to the topic.  I am supposing that (topic) route will continue to be available, I would like to have assurance the link to the blogspot won’t be bumped off during the course of the upgrade.  Sorry if I’m over-reacting, the technical aspects of the programming, wwweb interface, and computers in general are not something I’ve studied, nor plan to in the distinct future. 
Thanks for your efforts. Highly appreciated.

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John S
PDX OR
2797 Posts
(Offline)
4
May 31, 2021 - 9:29 am

I look forward to these changes.  I think it will be greatly improved.

John S
PDX OR

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jafar
762 Posts
(Offline)
5
May 31, 2021 - 9:30 am

I'm glad you guys are following along, and also interesting to learn how the forum is useful in ways I wasn't aware.  

James, my supposition is that you'll still be able to search and find the existing topics and future topics as you do know, but I have an enquiry in to the Admin to confirm.

Rooney, as to the online image file storing folders.  I hadn't considered that. I'm not sure I was aware that we were set up that way.  I'll see what our Admin has to say about that as well, but understand that our current arrangement is a temporary one.  We're set through 2022.  In the months before then we'll need to have implemented our plan for the ongoing future.  This is something we'll need to consider in deciding our course. 

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Rooney
Vancouver SW Washington
770 Posts
(Offline)
6
June 1, 2021 - 8:14 am

Of course not everybody is going to use the image loading feature since most have difficulty navigating server requests after logging in your password. After each server request users don't anticipate another fresh page with another test question or another button with multiple choices. So by the time they get to that point of needing to know which button to use for the file transfer the wrong button gets mouse clicked on or never seen in the first place. This is a time consuming issue to new users but easy to us with practice and the best way to practice is the more relaxed atmosphere of privacy in PMs. 

I can imagine the concern for moderators if it was made to easy for just anybody being able to register a new account the same day as p0rn gets loaded. Just to be clear -any new person from anywhere in the world can quickly access permissions to upload dirt on the server. To make it much easier to screen out people it may be possible with if-then syntax to automate it such that those that have made about 12 public posts are allowed such access to the file uploads feature, in turn making it that much easier to police. 

Image files of any type are able to be uploaded. This could and should be shortened to eliminate larger file types (ie. bitmaps). Jpeg, ping and gif are the only file types really necessary and steps taken there could improve internet security.

I hope new HOS changes that can happen can remain relatively small like this and as said earlier in the direction of security. Smile

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jafar
762 Posts
(Offline)
7
June 8, 2021 - 1:15 pm

Rooney,

We'll have to see if the update affects the way you are storing files.  I don't think its meant to, but honestly, the function that you are using isn't necessarily an intended feature.  You may be the only one using it.  If there are issues with it in the short term, hopefully we can work something out.  But I wouldn't count on that for long term purposes, especially as we consider our options when nearing our 2 year continuance.

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jafar
762 Posts
(Offline)
8
June 10, 2021 - 10:54 am

I should add that we're planning to go live with the update on Monday.  Hopefully some of the regulars will post, so we can be sure things are working properly.

I'm looking forward to it.  It should make things a little easier to read and interact with, but will probably take some getting used to as well.

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Idyllwild
Jackson County, OR (Zone 7b/8a)
37 Posts
(Offline)
9
June 14, 2021 - 10:52 am

Congratulations everyone - the new forums upgrade is completed!

Please reference the first post in this topic for the list of changes that have been made.

We look forward to hear your feedback 🙂

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