Now when that link is followed, the topic that has the new post is opened, fine, but it's always at the top, and frankly it's a bit of a pain having to scroll through to the point where you recognise you've read up to before, or spot that you don't recognise a post.
I've seen links on another forum, which if you were to implement it here, would look like:
The change is the "#" and the comment reference after it, at the end. That seems to be a way of going to a specific point in a web page. I'm not sure how that's put into the HTML, but I'm sure it's straightforward. But providing links of that format in an email (and hence changing the web pages to include references to each comment) would mean that I could go directly to the new comment from the email telling me there's been a new comment.
It also means that links to specific comments may be bookmarked or added to future posts, rather than simply to a whole topic and saying "the seventh post down" or something. But if I don't bookmark a comment straight from the subscription email, I'd need a button to show the URL for the bookmark at each comment, or at least the comment ID on the page so that I could manually change the topic link. That's a WIBNI, though.
So, could you add comment markers into topics and change the email links, please?
I see your point but isn't the risk there that the direction to a thread requires that the reader reads the entirety of the thread to get the full feel of the argument up to that point rather than specific posts within it.
I think that my problem is probably that the idea of selective reading of the threads is an alien concept in that I've always got the site open on one of my tabs and whenever a new post comes in it gets highlighted.
You can choose the option to have newest post in t thread first or Oldest post. I like to have them sequential and don't have an issue scrolling to the bottom.
Occasionally I've thought where there are multiple pages that it might be nice to page the page selection at the top as well as the bottom of a page but that's only a very minor thing.
As for bookmarks I don't bookmark anything but rather find the relevant posts using Google which generally shows up all of the alternate discussions as well.
For a google search just enter site:www.book-keepers.org.uk -mobile
followed by the relevant words such as "Regulation 8" Draconian
When referencing old posts I feel that it is always a good idea to reference the whole thread as posts in isolation do not give the flow of the whole thread. I would always guide people to a thread or number of threads for the all round discussion on a subject rather than a specific post that could be taken out of context.
Steve will pick this up as he reads the posts but personally I actually quite like the system as it works at the moment which makes people read a whole thread rather than following the twitter approach of life coming in bite sized chunks which lets be honest is an alien concept in this business (he says with the 86 page help sheet 490 open on another tab).
Interesting to hear other peoples votes on this one as if this is a general issue that people feel strongly about then I will ensure that Steve's attention is drawn to this thread more quickly,
kindest regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Hi Rob, hope you don't mind me expanding with some other suggestions - they're really minor but like yours, can be found on other forums.
When logging in, the board to return to the page being reaad rather than the home page. The log in boxes to be at the top of the page.
Hi Shaun. As I say, no great shakes. By the by, I haven't been able to see any avatars the last few days and the advanced editor only has emoticons and fonts at the top today. Might need to check my CCleaner settings.
I see your point but isn't the risk there that the direction to a thread requires that the reader reads the entirety of the thread to get the full feel of the argument up to that point rather than specific posts within it.
That is indeed true if coming to a thread from, say, a reference in another thread, but coming at it from a subscription email, I find that reading a topic over and over again just to find the latest new post gets tedious after a while. The subscription email could always have both, one (i.e. the new link I was suggesting) to the specific post it is saying has arrived, and one (i.e. the existing link) which opens the thread at the top of the page.
The idea is not to just display the single post, it's the same thread display as now, just positioning itself part-way down the page upon loading; the reader can always scroll a few posts back to remind themselves of the context if they want to. (Edit: Which is what Peasie was saying as well!)
-- Edited by Rob-f58049 on Monday 17th of September 2012 11:39:33 PM
I've seen forums where the link will take you to the first post after the last post you have made.
Another thing I like is on football forums such as Pie and Bovril they will have icons on the subject page where it will tell you if you have read a thread or not. If you have previously read the thread, clicking on this icon will take you to the point you have previously read to. A much bigger issue on that forum considering some of the thread can get quite lengthy. One of them is currently at 3,480 pages with 86,984 replies and 6,503,858 views.
I've often thought it would be handy on here. You're not skipping anything - you have previously read the thread anyway and you can always go back up the way to re-read the thread. (Or down the way if you sort the thread that way).
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