<IGNORE>
Although a very rough idea, but it's the only thing I can think of ATM...




Pretty much have some sort of table with X's in episodes that they appear. Hmm... Trying to think of other ideas...


Or maybe some kind of box (replacing "quick reply" with episodes) and having it populate with episode numbers (and/or episode ranges)
</IGNORE>

OH!!! Use a table to populate all the episodes (all of them) and then have an x in each one... So when you reach the maximum number of columns wide (however the style sheet stuff automatically adjusts itself) it would start a new row. That way, for long animes (like D.Gray-man) the table doesn't take up nearly as much space. It also would look more "professional". As far as the shading goes, it may be easier if odd numbered (or even, whatever is to your liking) episodes are shaded, so instead of the column shading (like i lazily did here lol), you'd get a staggered shading effect (as long the column count ends on an odd number in this case, which I didn't do). I think a bit of spacing between the rows and column sets may help break it up better (and maybe get rid of the necessity for the shading).




Forgive me for using a spreadsheet, but I'm being a little lazy (also found the shortcut to take a screenshot in Mac so I don't have to keep doing unnecessary steps just so I can post it in the forums.... it also explains why the pictures are the same size as my screen's native resolution)

Also forgive me for leaving the other two ideas in this post, though I scrapped them for the third.

[ Edited Aug 10, 2010 ]

Perhaps I should have read the posting rules... *hits self for lots of double posting*

Ahem...
_______

Anyway, in the drop-down menu for the clothes, "Piolet Suit" should be "Pilot Suit". Yay for words that can't be spelled by saying them out loud!!! Lol
_______

Regarding the IME tutorials, I have the ones for Mac and Windows ready to go (I have to do a bit of extra research for Linux so it's not done yet). *Is also wondering if we really need one for Windows Vista*

I was also looking through the forums and got a better feel for the structure, and thought I'd work a little on the tutorial idea.

So I changed my idea again for the path to: "ACDB Forums::?????::Tutorials::Enabling Japanese IME::Windows"

Each OS would have it's own sticky, and each post in that sticky would be different versions of that OS. Also each post would be started with the corresponding version of that OS (i.e. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7).

The only OS I'm slightly worried about is Linux. Though Ubuntu is the most used, followed by Linux Mint, there are several distributions of Linux, and possibly a different way for each though I am not sure.

Now for the "?????", I'm not exactly sure which category "Tutorials" should go under. I originally typed it under "Other Forums", but perhaps it should go under "Specialized Forums"?

For other tutorials, I was thinking that the mods/admins would have to review a user tutorial before it becomes a sticky to ensure that it is (1) easy to understand; (2) has enough detail to understand what to do; (3) follows a broken-down, step-by-step manner; and any other necessary requirements. They would post into a "Review" sub-category or thread and then it would be moved by an admin or mod upon approval.

*Bashes head into coffee table*

I just realized that I broke the forum hierarchy with the tutorials idea. So much for getting the feel of the structure... The current hierarchy is "ACDB Forums::Category::Sub-Category::Thread", while the above hierarchy is "ACDB Forums::Category::Sub-Category::Sub-Sub-Category::Thread". If "Tutorials" is fixed up as its own category, we would have to somehow categorize the rest of the tutorials so we don't end up with a long list in the forums.

Or I suppose we could keep the first hierarchy and truncate the last level into a post. So instead of having a separate thread (sticky) for each OS, each post would be a different OS (with the exception of Linux). The only reason I'd prefer the first hierarchy is that it would be easier to sort through. After clicking on "Enabling Japanese IME" category you'd be presented with the three OSs and you'd click on one of them and then sift through the posts to your version. But I guess the second hierarchy wouldn't hurt either since after clicking on the “Enabling Japanese IME” thread, the first post would be Windows XP/7, the second would be Mac OSX, the third would be Ubuntu (if we have someone who uses it, since I don't have a disk), the fourth would be Linux Mint, and so on.

After typing so much, I decided to stop modifying some of the contents. Forgive me for that.

Along with the tutorials idea, we could also have a thread for tutorial requests.
_______

Also, I thought the forums could also use a sub-category for users to test out more complex ideas that is beyond the ability of the "Preview" button (such as the tutorial idea, which would require me to make multiple posts).

Of course the drawback is that it would eventually take server space if not properly cleaned up. I would be most willing to help in that aspect. So any thread older than x would be deleted; any thread who's last post is "Finished testing.", "Done testing.", or anything that would let us Mods/Admins know it's time to delete the thread would also be deleted.

Also the user's post count should not increase with any posts in the "Test" sub-category.

I found the idea on another site; however, I wasn't concerned about it here since I didn't think it would be too necessary. I also don't think it would be used much, but it'd be easier for regular users (not mods or admins) to test any ideas they have with the forum out without posting a thread somewhere random to have a mod/admin delete it when they are finished.

Just an idea I thought may be good to add.
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BTW, what is the Specialized Forums for anyway?
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x_x;; I'm done typing...

-- episode appearance stuff --

I meant to reply earlier, so my fault you had to double post. lol

When I mentioned the presentation issue - I was thinking what to do with the data after it's in the database. ie) Presenting on the characters page what episodes they were in. Or presenting on the source page what characters are in which episode.

Server side, some solutions were quite a problem... adding say an extra 240 database queries to the Naruto anime..... you can see the solution i opted for over here

I think for now, as coded, it will only be useful for marking characters that appear in just one, or very few episodes. I'll think about your ideas, and maybe coded some additional interfaces later as needed.

-- Piolet Suit --

It's still showing that? Could have sworn I fixed that. Huh... where was that coded again...

-- Forum Structure --



That can be done, I think. Yeah, as you guessed, the layout is

Forum Parent -> Forum -> optional Sub Forum -> Threads

Specialized Forums -> Tutorials -> Enabling Japanese IME



That sounds good too.



I could code that into the new forum, but not the old.



Another good idea! Be worth having a sticky with some examples and guidelines, then as approved guides also get stickied, they'd provide more reinforcement as to what is good.



Mainly a place with a lot of my outdated rants.... lol

[ Edited Aug 15, 2010 ]

私は日本語を少し読むと書くをできます。あなたも？

A way to update the "dead thread" rule but still allow for order.

In this forum there are two kinds of old threads.
1. Threads that have been answered or whose topic would not benefit from a post. These kind of threads should not be posted in and are prone to be closed by administration at any time.
2. Threads that are opened ended questions, such as ones asking what an individual is doing or an opinion on a still valid subject.

This is a rough draft that obviously needs good deal of tweaking.
This rule would stimulate threads that never had a chance but still protects the forum from worthless bumping (and still gives 13x31 his jollies).
I didn't know where else to post it so I hope this is an acceptable place. So an obvious place to ask questions on rules might be nice as it would also allow other members to see it as well.

[ Edited Aug 16, 2010 ]

Here's as good a place as any. But to get quick action, get in our chatroom and whip the admins into action. Though... they might set mode +m #acdb hm... bah, guess I'll do it.

Regarding "dead" threads:
-Threads that have not had a reply in 2 months time are subject to being locked and moved to the old thread dump.
-Please refrain from posting in threads that are 2 months old or older.
-Exceptions include open ended threads and unanswered questions.

私は日本語を少し読むと書くをできます。あなたも？

Hmm... In that case, should I start locking and moving some of those threads? I've got time to do it and boredom is getting to me with the lack of money... (stupid car insurance)


(Edit)
I've done what I can do so far with the tutorials. I know I'm missing a few things, and I'll get to them after I get home from work today. Some of which, I'll actually need to have two browser windows open for (instead of having 3-4 tabs open).

Perhaps you're working on this, but in the new forums for certain forums, it's hard to tell which are stickies, which are announcements and which are threads. I think it may not even be categorized at all.

Also, please look at the IME tutorials and tell me if I'm missing anything. I may add to the disclaimer that the tutorials assume the user knows how to get to the control panel/system preferences.


BTW, can I put "Tutorial Forum Head Moderator" in my signature? I figure I'd ask before I do something like that. I was going to do "Head Tutorial Moderator" but I think some people would start thinking there's a "Head Tutorial". Head tutorial? For what? Lol

[ Edited Aug 16, 2010 ]

@13x31:
Looked at rules for "Tutorial Section" good job. Anyway, some additional guidelines on "video tutorials" as they are all the rage.
Examples being links or due to approved ones somehow get embedded. For computer tutorials are video cameras okay or dose it need to be a "screen recorder, etc.

Hmm... Good point. Well, I never really thought about video tutorials (You can call me old fashioned), but I think it takes away the value of having the tutorial forums, since it would be a link to YouTube or something of the like. I'll add something about having screenshots or pictures for some of the other tutorials (I'm planning on keeping the IME tutorials text only, as there isn't much that can go wrong.

Thanks for the input! I'll go add the stuff about screenshots and pictures right now and work on a fake tutorial.

Hmm... I think allowing links to video tutorials would be doable, but they must also write a tutorial. So it would accompany the tutorial instead of being the tutorial.


(Edit)

Ack! The "Comment Posted" is also at the top of the page, breaking the HTML layout again.


(Edit 2)

Well, I think I got it all for now.... Next on the agenda is working on the Linux Mint Japanese IME tutorial.... Which requires me to do a bit of research. So now it's bedtime.


(Edit 3)
x_x Well, I finally figured out getting the IME for Linux Mint... Well, the good thing is that it will be preserved for posterity. It took lots of old posts (pre Linux Mint 9) and some poking around before I got the stupid thing to work. Never again... Lol

So I think I'm done with this stuff for now. Look at the IME tutorials and let me know if I missed something or if there's a spelling/grammatical mistake. I'm not terribly worried about the lack of periods in the steps. So I think I'll go back to programming before I head to work.

[ Edited Aug 17, 2010 ]

Yay for boredom, thanks 13x31 ! Good job on those tutorials. I'll see if I can add anything to the Linux one later on.

If you like, you're welcome to lock and move old threads that don't meet the exception clause. Reminds me, I need to write up a list of daily tasks that need to be done around ACDB so that should anyone be motivated, they can tackle them. Might turn this into a task management/assignment system too... I try to remember everyone who contributes effort to the site. Be extra cool to have some records.

By the power invested in me, yadayada, I bestow the title "Tutorial Forum Head Moderator" upon 13x31. Wear it with pride! ^_^

私は日本語を少し読むと書くをできます。あなたも？

Hmm... Something to think about while you're working on the new system: Selecting multiple threads to lock/move/sticky/etc. Since the forum hasn't been maintained in a while, this becomes a tedious task clicking each and every lock (I haven't started moving them yet *shudders at the thought*). Even if we keep on top of maintaining the forums, it would still be a good option to have.

When moving threads, perhaps have the default option set to the Old Thread Dump?

Gah! This locking/moving process is killing me! Locking is decent when doing it one at a time, but when I change pages, it refreshes back to the first page >_< And with moving threads, clicking on "Return to Forum" sends me to the Old Thread Dump instead of where I originally was >_<

*sigh* 私にできること！

BTW, I think I'm going to make another account (if you don't mind) so I can run around the forums and site as a normal user (don't make it a mod, ever lol). If I get lazy, I may post with it (I'll probably stick a reminder in my signature), but I'm not planning on it.

[ Edited Aug 18, 2010 ]