For one I don't like it at all. We've lost to many features that I used in the past and another I can hardly read the header. White over something it blends in with sucks. Just my two cents.
Rick ... it's still a work in progress and things will be improved. It was important to get TB back up, but Charlie is a long way from being done with it. It's a huge undertaking for him! Your input is well taken and we appreciate it. Just have patience.
I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish. The new look is OK, but in the announcement you posted when the board was down, you said Trainboard had been stagnant for some number of years, and you wanted to change that. But there's not much difference on the new format -- same old same old, as far as I can see. Several things are common to many of the remaining forums: lots of posts repeated on x number of forums. Why come here if Joe Blow has posted the same thing everywhere? Lots of posts with no real interest, guys who want to hear themselves mostly. A perception that Trainboard is tilted toward N scale. Some good older posters like Michael Cawdrey who haven't been around. I'll feel better about this and other forums if some of these problems look like they might be fixed.
Rick- We had no choice. The software we were using has a HUGE security hole in it, which they would not address. It had knocked us off line and caused other problems continuously, for a long time. Our reputation was being soiled by their problem. That became intolerable. And that software had simply been declining in overall quality for several years. There is no going back. We are moving on and ahead. What you see right now, which I have posted at least a couple of dozen times already, is pretty much the basic setup or OOB. There is much left to do, some changes to be made, a learning curve for all. The long, long, LONG hours (and money) already invested have only brought us this far. Some of the "features" you complain are missing have yet to even be installed. That has been explained numerous times already! In some ways this Nation, this world has become addicted to instant gratification. This is a hobby, recreation. There is no urgency. We have been doing our best, and Charlie is busting his ***, every spare minute he can find, to make this the best it can be. Folks were asked to bear with us, be patient. But...
My thing is appearance followed by operability in computers/forums. Sometimes, lack of consumer variables drives me nutz. Full screen options, colour options, and how much did it change from the last version? Give you an idea......I use XP...still. Even after months of tweaking 8, I still am not comfortable with 8 (now 8.1). Can't find things. Sort of like a whole lot of comments you see on this new forum....where's my avatar, where are my albums, where are my photos, where is my signature. Fortunately, for me anyway, I have programs that allow me to kill off some of the things on any forum that bug me, where they should be at least an opt-out (on any forum....not picking on this one). Everybody has their own issues...just read the last what, two or three days of posts, you'll see. I had grown comfortable with the random shots (in my case, usually 4 in a row) across the top, below the TrainBoard banner.....and when everything else was dead, here and other forums, I could spend some time working through those random shots. And click down to the poster of those shots....find others of the same thing from different angles.....but I am not interested, full stop, in going to something called "media" and trying to find something. So, for me, for now, photos on TB have lost all meaning, at least in the context they they used to.\ I do know that there are many consumer variables with XenForo, and users that generate their own variables, but to use those costs money, and I understand that. For now, I'll just work with it and see how it pans out. I'm sure they have all the best things in store for us. Dave
That is just RailImages, without the actual name. What came stock in the software, and was used in an effort simply to get the site up again quickly as possible. As Charlie noted a couple of days ago, a part of the upcoming work, getting it renamed to RI and other options underneath it. Tons of stuff remaining to tweak.
The colors bother me, but as mentioned, that should change What still bugs me the most, when I click on a thread to read it, it takes me to the last page and last post. Which is fine if only one new post is on that thread from when I left off. But if its a post that is 3 pages long, and its my first time looking at it, I got to go back to the beginning and "restart" that thread.
Come on people... 1. Patience 2. Reading is fundamental Trainboard is communicating with you about what is happening. Read, absorb, and wait until they've had a chance to work their magic. This stuff takes time and/or money. If you want it perfect now, fork over ten, twenty grand or so and I'm sure they can accommodate you.
I'm undecided as to like or dislike of the new Trainboard. Will take a few weeks of test driving. Looks are one think that I can get past, Function is EVERYTHING. I'll be looking for ease of use and whether it provides needed functionality.
There is only one group that likes change, and that's babies with poopy diapers. I will get used to this change as I have gotten used to so many before. Keep calm and ChooChoo on.
having been a member / administrator for 15 years we have seen many changes and new software packages, usually we need to change because the current software package is superseded or the developer just moves on and their is no further improvement to the software. What you see currently is not the finished version, this is just the minimum to get the forum back up and running. Charlie is pressed for time and works on the site whenever he can so you will see the site transition over the next few weeks. Having said that every time we make changes some members like and some don't but it usually settles over the months. Personally I am liking some of the new features this software provides also if you use a iPad etc it is far better with mobility.
It's the same ol', same ol'.........something new comes along, and you'll have folks who were comfy with the old, and not want to leave the comfort zone. As a member and moderator since Month 1, I've seen several changes in how TB looks. I personally wasn't aware that vBulletin had such problems with security lapses, but I can understand why the change was needed. The pastels don't trip my trigger, but I can hold my tongue until I see the finished product. As has been mentioned before, Charlie has a full-time job elsewhere (as do most of us), and the little things like eating regular & sleeping indoors need to be satisfied, not only for us but our families. I took a walk around the new site myself, and found out where everything is now located. Heck, check out the font in which this is typed, the cclors we can use, the size of the smileys, the arrangement of our individual photo albums.........it beats NOT having a Trainboard (and that was where we were for a few days while the changeover was taking place). I'm still getting a handle on getting a proper-sized signature pic, but I'll get it figured out.
Since the data transfer, I believe all are too large. Download your avatar. Open it in your photo editing software, and determine current size. Mine, as you see it in this post, is 120x120 pixels. Try using that size as a target.
I'm just happy that TB is back. I'll adapt to whatever changes are made. Also, I'm thankful to those who work on this site on their own time. Great job!
I am working on it as I can folks. There are many unresolved issues. Today was the 4th of July. I worked a 16 hour shift. Patience: it is mandatory. Charlie
Patience... I'm a grumpy old man, you can't make me like anything! A saying in the navy "There are only two good ships in the U.S. Navy, the one you were on before and the one you want to be on now". And another thing, You kids stay off my lawn!
I think that it's a nice change that is still keep with the fact that the Trainboard for many years running has been about the best place to share our hobby. And to think that it will continue to even get better. Not one complaint; just big thanks for your efforts. I will continue to do my small part to support your efforts. Peace
