UKBF UPGRADES - Release 1

[Dan Izzard]

Hi everyone, we've now had a chance to collate some the feedback from the forums.

Thanks for your patience during this period - this time has allowed us to identify issues that we can group together in order to make safe and efficient changes.

As you may be aware we are still working through a number of changes but I thought I’d give a quick update on a few things due to go live this Friday 13/12.


1. Post Count + Thanks Stats :

The number 1 request from users: we are working on bringing back post count and thanks count on the avatars within threads. May felt that this information should be instantly available (currently need to click avatar to display this info). The info displayed directly below the avatar will be post count and number of thanks received.

2. 'Follow' Links in Signatures for Full Members

These are set to become ‘Follow’ as they were on the previous platform. To enable this we have introduced a plugin which is currently being tested.

3. Mobile Browsing

The experience of viewing on a phone or small screen is set to be improved. The font size for thread titles is being reduced (as they currently take up too large a space) and line height will be adjusted in order to provide a better browsing experience.

In response to some opinion of font size on the desktop version, the current size has been specifically chosen to offer the best readability across a broad range of devices as recommended by our design team.

Of course, there are many more changes that we are working on, and a timescale for the next releases will be available as soon as possible.

Thanks,

The UKBF team

 

[KM-Tiger]

... to go live this Friday 13/12.

You're not superstitious then ...

 

[fisicx]

In response to some opinion of font size on the desktop version, the current size has been specifically chosen to offer the best readability across a broad range of devices as recommended by our design team.

Dan, that is complete twaddle.

The font size is set to 16px. This far too big for any device. The very fact you are using pixel sizes indicates the design team need to get a bit more modern. Sizing should be set using a base font size of 100% or 1em. You than adjust each element against this base font size. doing this means the font size will adjust to the device being used. you can further control sizing by using media-enquiries in the CSS.

Stop using pixels to set font-sizes.

 

[zigojacko]

Seriously, it took all week to have a meeting, discuss and come up with three small changes out of all the feedback given. Sheeez. I think we're all in for a long ride on this one.

 

[zigojacko]

1. Post Count + Thanks Stats :

The number 1 request from users: we are working on bringing back post count and thanks count on the avatars within threads. May felt that this information should be instantly available (currently need to click avatar to display this info). The info displayed directly below the avatar will be post count and number of thanks received.

Why can't you make this EXACTLY how it was before.

X member has been thanked X times in X posts. The metrics are less meaningful if not in context. Why can't this be improved at the same time. Make the thumbsup and lightbulb icons full visible with a text description, make them more obvious, add an 'agree' option.

You're going to take months to get anywhere at this rate.

 

[Bob]

1. Post Count + Thanks Stats :

The number 1 request from users: we are working on bringing back post count and thanks count on the avatars within threads. May felt that this information should be instantly available (currently need to click avatar to display this info). The info displayed directly below the avatar will be post count and number of thanks received.

So will you be dropping the "Useful" option or will that appear as well

 

[Faevilangel]

Geoff, the problem is the Sift developers don't just work for UKBF, they are used across the whole business so any work they do has to be scheduled in and agreed with the higher up staff.

It's a nightmare as a freelancer could sort the issues in a few hours but Dan / Yiuwin's hands are tied in what resources they can use.

 

[zigojacko]

Geoff, the problem is the Sift developers don't just work for UKBF, they are used across the whole business so any work they do has to be scheduled in and agreed with the higher up staff.

It's a nightmare as a freelancer could sort the issues in a few hours but Dan / Yiuwin's hands are tied in what resources they can use.

Maybe UKBF should look at hiring some developers or requesting assistance from respected forum members or something then because the forum's going to be killed off if we have to wait a week's schedule each time for a small change.

But then, it goes back to the original warning that they should never have even launched it live with no proper testing, planning or resources to actually deal with the problems/make the changes!

It's all well and good them keep saying that this platform allows for better extendibility and flexibility etc but what good is that if they haven't got the staff/resources to make the changes. It should never have been changed IMO now, I can see this forum being in the same state 2 months into launch practically.

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

Can I paraphrase you Dan?

Hi everyone, we've now had a chance to collate some the feedback from the forums.

Thanks for your patience during this period - this time has allowed us to identify the biggest or most popular issues that we really messed up when moving to our "improved UKBF".


1. Post Count + Thanks Stats :


2. 'Follow' Links in Signatures for Full Members


At Sift, we don't want to admit that we really got it wrong or acted in haste (a lesson learnt there - we won't do anything else, like fixes, in a hurry), but read what you want into our plans (but not by how quickly they're implemented).

Edit; Found the smilie link now:

Karl Limpert

 

[fisicx]

...we are working on bringing back post count and thanks count on the avatars within threads.

What about the 'useful' count and an indicator if the member is online or not?

 

[Employment Law Clinic]

Can I request that navigation be improved before Upgrade 8.1 (or whatever trendy numbers you'll be using by then)?

On a phone, not logged in, I need one click on the "Recent Posts". Logged in, on a laptop, I can't find recent posts at all - and even threads I've posted to are not watched, so no convenient way of listing any recent additions to the forums.



Karl Limpert

 

[maxine]

Geoff, the problem is the Sift developers don't just work for UKBF, they are used across the whole business so any work they do has to be scheduled in and agreed with the higher up staff.

To be fair this is a cop out.

Any organisation regardless of size and shape, should prioritise developments based on customer requirements and competitive advantage and weigh up risks with losing customers.

Quite often organisations (not just Sift) undertake development based on what they think the requirements are and it's only when things go live that there is a better understanding and appreciation of 'must-haves' when there is a flurry of feedback.

Sure, the requirements should have been understood and planned better prior to go live but let's see what happens in the next week

 

[zigojacko]

It also goes as far to say 'well if Sift don't think sorting out the mess on what this forum migration has left is of high enough priority to drop their other sites at the moment then why should we even bother wasting our time trying to contribute to make this a better community for them'.

They claim this to be the biggest UK business forums on the internet. It has great potential. It was once, just that, great. If this isn't a priority for the developers to drop everything and attend do then god only knows what is.

And on that note, I'm out.

 

[10032012]

I apologise to Sift... I thought these forums were their flagship product.

Call me sceptical but I think the "nofollow" is intentional. Google loves the domain but with the platform changes and new URLs despite not being a new website, instead of the 1000 or so new posts a day... there are probably 400,000 pages or so that has come out of nowhere. I think Sift is letting the site settle before making these changes for a sensible reason.

What I don't personally understand is why Sift hasn't got a development version of the site on a server somewhere in their office so they can make changes and test they work without worrying about messing up the site. Or perhaps they have?

maxine is right - this really is no excuse. I know Sift is responsible for several websites but they should have the resources for this. I don't know this platform so can't say how simple it is to add some of the features, but editing the CSS is pretty simple and using dynamic URLs for stylesheets forces CSS updates.

I just hope we don't lose some of the members annoyed about losing the no-follow links as its probably the biggest reason for upgrading.

 

[Yiuwin Tsang]

We do have a UAT test environment and I've just seen the updated avatars (look awesome, but you;d expect me to say that) and the no follow link plugin is undergoing testing. As Dan's post mentioned - roll on Friday, in many senses!

 

[10032012]

Can we have dual ratings? I get annoyed at deciding whether to Thank a post or rate it as Useful.

Most the time its one or the other, but sometimes just sometimes I would like to rate a post with both.

 

[zigojacko]

Can we have dual ratings? I get annoyed at deciding whether to Thank a post or rate it as Useful.

Most the time its one or the other, but sometimes just sometimes I would like to rate a post with both.

I've requested that about 4 or 5 times now with minimal no response that I've noticed.

 

[Dan Izzard]

Hey guys, this was briefly mentioned in the FAQ but apologies for not flagging it up:

"You can only give one form of feedback per post so choose wisely. This is to ensure that we can accurately gauge the difference between general thanks and valuable or useful business information that could benefit other members of the site."

I think having an option to have dual rating will just see posts that would have been marked useful also marked with thanks. There are surely few occasions where something is 'useful' but would not also be worthy of thanks; unless it was someone pointing out that you have grossly miscalculated your tax - useful, but no thanks...

This was part of my reasoning behind it, what do you think? Would you only use one?

 

[Ian J]

I just hope we don't lose some of the members annoyed about losing the no-follow links as its probably the biggest reason for upgrading.

I have been a full member for well over a year and I wasn't aware that the links were follow links anyway

 

[zigojacko]

Hey guys, this was briefly mentioned in the FAQ but apologies for not flagging it up:

"You can only give one form of feedback per post so choose wisely. This is to ensure that we can accurately gauge the difference between general thanks and valuable or useful business information that could benefit other members of the site."

I think having an option to have dual rating will just see posts that would have been marked useful also marked with thanks. There are surely few occasions where something is 'useful' but would not also be worthy of thanks; unless it was someone pointing out that you have grossly miscalculated your tax - useful, but no thanks...

This was part of my reasoning behind it, what do you think? Would you only use one?

I think there are a lot of scenario's where I've found a members' post useful and also wish to thank them for providing a solution/answer. I've already stated my opinion and what I'd like to see here in a thread that has already discussed this.

 

[MASSEY]

I just hope we don't lose some of the members annoyed about losing the no-follow links as its probably the biggest reason for upgrading.

I was annoyed, but informed that this will be rectified. It would be financial suicide if it wasn't.

 

[maxine]

Dan, the thanks button was used a lot in the past by way of sarcasm

 

[ianm10]

Still waiting for Tapatalk to be setup...any update?

Really don't understand why this has taken nearly one week to implement the add-on and submit to Tapatalk forum reader. All of the articles on XenForo and Tapatalk suggest this is 5 minute job? I am checking daily on my tablet, but unfortunately have barely used the forum since the upgrade due to lack of forum reader compatibility and frustration of using a browser

 

[fisicx]

Back to the font size thing. If the design team are insistent that 16px (pixels!) is the best for everybody why are all the links, icons and signatures that much smaller?

Why are there at least 23 different font styles in use? If you have a UAT dev and have tested the site why do I still have to zoom in on my iphone to use the forum?

...I've just seen the updated avatars (look awesome

And that sums everything up. Any usability expert will terll you that the look of an element only exerts a small influence on the UX. The old site didn't suffer because the avatars looked naff, the new site won't get more traction because the avatars look pretty. It's not how it looks, it's the information displayed that matters.

And I do hope the new avatars are back to being square not the round things that nobody seems to like.

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

And I do hope the new avatars are back to being square not the round things that nobody seems to like.

+1 for this, at the moment it is putting a round peg in a square hole.
The round avatar does not fit in with any other design element of the site.

 

[GraemeL]

In response to some opinion of font size on the desktop version, the current size has been specifically chosen to offer the best readability across a broad range of devices as recommended by our design team.

Hello Dan,

Graeme here. I am one of your customers.

The font size and the amount of white space is my BIGGEST gripe with this change. The impression created is childlike. It is too much work to scroll over too few posts.

When asked to comment on the new site before going live that is what I said. After going live that is what I said.

Like many designers, yours appear to live in their own world. The condescending tone of your note (above) about this, sweeping aside all constructive criticism with a simple 'we know best' is not endearing.

I will not be renewing my subscription and I will use adblock.

G

 

[maxine]

And I do hope the new avatars are back to being square not the round things that nobody seems to like.

I like them. They are a little bit different and fit with the overall design. And besides, there are some people on here who look lovely as circles

 

[zigojacko]

I like them. They are a little bit different and fit with the overall design. And besides, there are some people on here who look lovely as circles

From a design and UI aspect, they don't fit in with the rest of the forum design at all.

Everything is 'blocky', great big child-like duplo style blocks. The avatars are circles.

It just doesn't work at all. And any experienced design team with usability experience will know that. But of course, that's not to say that there are a number of people that think they look okay

 

[maxine]

yes, I think they look cute. Apart from yours. You look like you are the other side of a spy-hole in a door... haha

 

[zigojacko]

You look like you are the other side of a spy-hole in a door... haha

And I've just been discovered (shock/horror face). My covers blown!

 

[templateagreements]

I like the latest improvements and well done to the guys at sift media. It's very difficult to do such a big upgrade in one go and there are always bound to be teething issues.

 

[zigojacko]

Here they come. Post count and like count appearing with avatar. Keep it coming Sift.

 

[maxine]

Yay

 

[Henry Osadzinski]

Cheers folks - big post incoming with all the details of what we've done, what we're doing next and what we still need to work on. Just need to get a few final bits sorted.

 

[KM-Tiger]

Err ... description text missing?

How does a newcomer know what those number mean?

 

[Henry Osadzinski]

There should be icons - looks like they didn't quite come through. I'll chase it now.

Edit - oops. Took a hard refresh (ctrl-F5) at my end to get them showing up. Thanks count matches the icon and the first figure is post count. I'll ask about descriptive hovers or similar but we're still working on the issue with those in other places as well.

 

[fisicx]

The avatars are still round....

Icons are no good unless you know what they mean. And there should be three numbers: post count, thanks and useful.

 

[zigojacko]

There should be icons - looks like they didn't quite come through. I'll chase it now.

Edit - oops. Took a hard refresh (ctrl-F5) at my end to get them showing up. Thanks count matches the icon and the first figure is post count. I'll ask about descriptive hovers or similar but we're still working on the issue with those in other places as well.

No the icons are there but as I've stated numerous times now, this needs to be in context.

zigojacko has been thanked X times in X posts. I still don't think Sift quite get it.

 

[Henry Osadzinski]

Geoff - we've got some notes and discussion on that coming in a bit this afternoon. Definitely more to do but we're making progress with it

 

[zigojacko]

The avatars are still round....

Icons are no good unless you know what they mean. And there should be three numbers: post count, thanks and useful.

And 'agree' - there definitely needs to be an 'agree' added. This covers all angles then for marking posts.