Forum Upgrade: New "Latest Posts!" Feature, Nav Updates and RSS Feeds!

[David Hodgkins]

We've just completed and upgrade to the forum that will allow us greater control of the menus.

There is also another new feature that we will be reviewing to test its usefullness. It is described as follows:

Activity Stream
There has been a great deal of interest in including an activity stream in our product's core. We've included this feature in our latest version, giving users up-to-the-minute information on what others are doing within the community.
The activity stream is configurable by both admins and users. As an admin, you have the ability to define global settings that shape the experience that you want your users to have. On the other hand, your users can use any of a number of filters to personalize their activity stream within the global settings put in place by the admin.

What does this mean? As far as the activity screen, no clue yet. :) But the menu modification should allow us to standardize the menus across the site instead of having them change as much as they do now, depending where you are on the site. We'll see.

Anyway, don't freak out, and allow us a few days to test new settings.

As usual, all feedback is appreciated.

:)

[David Hodgkins]

As an adjunct to the forum upgrades, we have enabled RSS feed syndication. That means if you have a RSS reader, you can receive feeds from the forum.

[David Hodgkins]

OK so now I've made some changes that I think work pretty well. The Activity Stream is Implemented under the new "Latest Posts" button in the top navigation bar. It is a listing of all posts in all areas including the first few sentences of the post itself. This is for all you folks that want to skim the latest everything without having to open a bunch of threads. In addition, there is a sub menu with filter options (Blogs, forum posts, News bits, etc).

:)

[David Hodgkins]

More info on the RSS Feed.

You can now subscribe to any one of our forums via RSS. The following URLs are examples:

Roadster: http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=2
Type 65 Coupe: http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=6
33 HotRod: http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=5
GTM: http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=4
818 : http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=28
Challenge Series: http://www.thefactoryfiveforum.com/external.php?type=rss2&forumids=26

I confess, I haven't knowingly used RSS feeds before. I say knowingly because after working with them I realized most if not all news sites must be using them. Now you can add us to any feeds you may be subscribing to.

:)

[Martin]

I'll be checking this out when I get back to the UK over the weekend.

The other forum has that annoying pop up about "we have an app for your mobile device" which I have to ignore every time.

Having an RSS reader feed could be the easiest approach as well. I'm a reader not a writer most of the time - at least until my kits arrives in the UK.

Martin

[MPTech]

Thought I'd try the Roadster RSS feed function.

but linky no worky:

404 Not Found

The resource requested could not be found on this server!
Powered By LiteSpeed Web Server
LiteSpeed Technologies is not responsible for administration and contents of this web site!

did I do something wrong already??

[David Hodgkins]

Sorry about that, it was a cut and paste issue. The links are working now.

:)

[DARKPT]

I hope the What's New link resurfaces. I'm not a fan of the Latest Posts feature, as it reads like you're standing in a room with 10 simultaneous conversations.

[Mike N]

David. I'm missing the 'today's posts' button on the homepage already ;) Have to go to the forums, quicklinks, today's posts now. I'll get used to it.

[VeniceCobra]

I must admit that I'm a bit confused with the new navigation and agree with the others.
Hard to explain why, but I don't really see the need for it.
I'm more interested in a listing of new posts, that having a list of each comment on just few posts.

[David Hodgkins]

OK, I've made changes to the default action of the menu, Is the proper "New Posts" info coming up when you click the "Latest Posts!" button? I moved the Activity Stream to the number two position on the sub menu. Does that work for you guys?

:)

[VeniceCobra]

it seems more logical that way IMHO.

[DARKPT]

Yes, latest posts is now bringing up the old What's New function for me. Thanks!

[David Hodgkins]

Cool. So, how about a forum drop down menu? You could drill down to any forum from the front page.

Any interest in is functionality?

:)

[VeniceCobra]

That will be cool. I have made that suggestion long ago when the forum first started.
Drop down menus really ease the navigation when a page starts to be crowded with categories. That will be a good move.

[David Hodgkins]

I've implemented the nav menu. I'm still adding items to the menu but it is functional. It is the Nav button titled "Links". Hope you like it!

:)

[David Hodgkins]

I've added to the menu and want to call it complete...

:)

[Mike N]

Thanks David. I think that's a nice improvement. I like it.