A quick note about TGJ and the future...
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
HOTFR8
Banned
Simply - This format is outdated. If you became Admin or a Mod on this forum you would soon see the difference.
OP
Just a few:
1. Way cleaner interface
2. Image uploads are way easier... and supports bigger files.
3. Way easier on the servers from a load perspective.
4. spam detection and removal is better
5. moderation is less time consuming
6. from a social perspective, you can tag folks
7. notifications are really really good... and much improved over VB
8. Tapatalk still *****, but it works better with XF in my opinion
And I'm sure there are a lot more that I'm forgetting.
astrohip
Well-known member
Here's one small feature that I love on Xenforo:
Right now when you look at a forum, if you click on a title, it takes you to that thread, post #1. You have to click on the little icon to the left of the title to go to the latest post. Xenforo has a setting where clicking on the title takes you to the first unread post. Amazingly handy!
There are dozens & dozens of small improvements like that. Some of them standard, some have to be set (or added) by the site operator.
Replying is much better. The quote process is simpler, drafts are saved, handling attachments a million times better.
I am not a lover of changes, I admit. I do welcome the changes here, even tho I've been using vb for many years on forums.
Change usually is good in the end . I just hope the transition is smooth for Ryan's , the mod's and users sake!
Change usually is good in the end . I just hope the transition is smooth for Ryan's , the mod's and users sake!
ixlr8
Well-known member
One of the forums I am on converted to Xenforo 8-10 months ago. They are still trying to get everything working correctly again. Some of the 'sponsors' are not happy about the limited size of the avatars. In general I don't like the new format/layout and I still have not figured out how to get threads I have read to consistently be marked as read. Hopefully the conversion here will go smoother.
Bryan Burns
Well-known member
Thanks for all your hard work Ryan. This forum kicks *** and it's my most used website. I love the mix of people on this site and I've learned a lot from them.
Last weekend when the site was down for the upgrade I learned how I much I depend on it. Keep up the great work.
Last weekend when the site was down for the upgrade I learned how I much I depend on it. Keep up the great work.
jblnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have really enjoyed reading and posting on TGJ over the years and can honestly say there is not much you could do to scare me away.
Change is good and this change will be welcomed.
Thank you owner, admins and mods.
Change is good and this change will be welcomed.
Thank you owner, admins and mods.
vtcat
Well-known member
Thank you, Ryan and all Mods for what you do.
Bessy
Well-known member
Well as a large, green ogre with an attitude problem once said, "change is good, Donkey". And who knows, that could be the case here. I definitely would be interested in a few new sub forums (compressed air, as previously mentioned, and I know there has been calling for a dedicated storage/organization sub section, which I think would be more than amazing, more than fantastic . [emoji23]
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, Ryan.
Cheers.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with, Ryan.
Cheers.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
JamesW84
Well-known member
Thanks for the site.
The biggest improvement would be a better search engine, in my opinion. What I've been doing is going to google and typing my search and site:garagejournal.com and it searches garage journal for me, with much better results.
More on Site Search:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-do-a-google-site-search#sm.0000qpebxnls0dr3xdy1sk9h4rtmc
The biggest improvement would be a better search engine, in my opinion. What I've been doing is going to google and typing my search and site:garagejournal.com and it searches garage journal for me, with much better results.
More on Site Search:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-do-a-google-site-search#sm.0000qpebxnls0dr3xdy1sk9h4rtmc
Last edited:
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I understand why you are making the change. I can't say as I like the change much, but I'll deal with it. I really like this community, and intend to stay.
FWIW, I find the HAMB diffucult to read and cluttered. I really, really like the clean, simple interface here.
If I could have 1 request, it would be that there be a "forum jump" at the BOTTOM of the page. Not a "top" link.
That is my favorite user interface feature, and I notice its not on the HAMB.
Either way, thanks for all that you guys do to keep this place up and running.
FWIW, I find the HAMB diffucult to read and cluttered. I really, really like the clean, simple interface here.
If I could have 1 request, it would be that there be a "forum jump" at the BOTTOM of the page. Not a "top" link.
That is my favorite user interface feature, and I notice its not on the HAMB.
Either way, thanks for all that you guys do to keep this place up and running.
KPSquared
Well-known member
Do your thing. Most of the forums i have loved have turned into ghost towns and migrated over to Facebook groups. I HATE FACEBOOK GROUPS. It's like a step 30 years backwards.
Anyway.... Glad TGJ exists. I'll figure out whatever you do. Tech is gonna tech, it's the nature of the beast!
Anyway.... Glad TGJ exists. I'll figure out whatever you do. Tech is gonna tech, it's the nature of the beast!
OP
I don't even have a facebook account, so...
Forums are the wave of the past. And I've always enjoyed playing with old ****.
ddawg16
Well-known member
I don't even have a facebook account, so...
Forums are the wave of the past. And I've always enjoyed playing with old ****.
Or....'taking old **** and making it as good as new'......
One of the reasons I'll never get rid of my jeep
Badasssapper67
Well-known member
Not tech savy, hope NO content will be lost in the process.
HOTFR8
Banned
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Thank you Ryan for your and your mods' hard work keeping this thing alive and healthy. We'll appreciate the changes that are coming.
I'm not a HAMB member but I understand (atleast I think I do) what you mean by the "forum jump" and I use it quite a bit when I stop by GJ just for a few minutes.
Go back to HAMB, (link below) scroll to the bottom of the page, click on the 3 "gray bars" and tell us if that is what you are referring to. There's also one at the top of the page.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/forums/the-hokey-***-message-board.5/
fartymarty
Well-known member
Yeah, I have to agree, the site is actually almost too popular. I'll post something up and quickly go to "New Posts" and it will have already dropped to #3 or lower.
I was looking through some of the other forums that use xenFORO which I found somewhat listed here: https://xenforo.com/community/forums/forum-showcase-and-critiques.53/
Ryan, Is there any existing xenFORO forum that you think might closely resemble what you have in mind for this one. Of course I mean in appearance and functionality not content...some of those I saw there I couldn't get away from fast enough..but most looked OK in appearance and usability. Some were already dead, that is broken links that went nowhere, but just because someone makes a forum doesn't mean anyone will show up. Not something that will happen here I'm sure.
Even though I have a widescreen monitor (as do most I suspect), I do like the narrow centered look of what we have now. That is spreading things out just to be spreading them out and filling the screen serves no purpose other than to make my head go back and forth. H.A.M.B. is good in that respect, but I prefer the gray field behind the text here, it's easier on my eyes than the stark white over at H.A.M.B.
...regardless..thanks for all you do and I'm glad you aren't going to TAPATALK as your main forum software as did the DRRiders forum Yuk!
HOTFR8
Banned
Have a look at Ryan's other forum the HAMB as it is on the new format and has been for some time.
astrohip
Well-known member
FWIW, and this is only my opinion, that is not an attractive forum. It doesn't flow well, and I think I would have a very hard time getting used to it.
Here's the one I've mentioned before, I think a great example of Xenforo:
Front page:
https://www.tivocommunity.com/community/index.php
Typical forum:
https://www.tivocommunity.com/community/index.php?forums/now-playing-tv-show-talk.31/
PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
For the record... Those three gray bars... in the tech world ... is a "HAMBURGER"... no relation to HAMB as in the website... not kidding... it really is a "HAMBURGER icon" or "BURGER icon" for short.
fartymarty
Well-known member
HOTFR8
Banned
oh.
{....awkward silent pause...}
...well at least it isn't Tapatalk based.
Do Not Panic. Once Ryan has set up and made the change I am sure all will be good. Just be patient and take your time and you will find it is a big improvement.K13
Well-known member
oh.
{....awkward silent pause...}
...well at least it isn't Tapatalk based.
It is if you use the app.
a52-830
Well-known member
so, will this transition also feature changes to the Hot Deals section? that discussion has died down, and this seems like a good opportunity to make whatever changes have been decided on.
nadogail
Well-known member
I am, well used to be, a frequent poster.
If my present situation permitted, I would hang on this board every day for hours. I have enjoyed your company every time I log in.
Everybody, keep up the good work here.
Thanks for allowing me to be a member.
If my present situation permitted, I would hang on this board every day for hours. I have enjoyed your company every time I log in.
Everybody, keep up the good work here.
Thanks for allowing me to be a member.
I'm definitely not a tech guy but thanks for the info.
JCQuick
Well-known member
I'm all down for the change if it helps fix the photo issue. I reall y need to fix my thread
engineer2
Well-known member
I agree. Not space-efficient, too many different fonts, does not flow at all. The Tivo forum seems nice.
Ryan,
Thanks for the forum!!!
The breadth of technical knowledge here at GJ is well beyond anything else I've ever found on the internet. (long on "meat", short on "fluff")
Even the non garage/free parking discussions are pretty amazing.
Thanks for the forum!!!
The breadth of technical knowledge here at GJ is well beyond anything else I've ever found on the internet. (long on "meat", short on "fluff")
Even the non garage/free parking discussions are pretty amazing.
YJ4000
Well-known member
I have not been getting emails on updated threads. Part of the update?
Thanks.
Thanks.
fartymarty
Well-known member
Yes, I have the app and that's fine for a phone, but I refer to the main software for the whole forum, they make that too.
Thanks! I appreciate the morale boost.
I feel better about it all today.
Well that seems unlikely since its a photobucket issue.
I just scanned through your thread and it's fine (Ok, truth be told I only skimmed the odd numbered pages) I'm fairly certain I saw all of your photos. Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but for those that use Firefox and Chrome, there are fixes for the photo issue. Personally I'd prefer you to just keep working in your garage and posting here
instead of wasting time fixing your thread. Maybe when photobucket determines away to mess with the fixes and basically makes their site unusable then you can invest all that time on it.I'm with several others here in saying XenForo does not look like a good platform. vBulletin has been the top BB software for a long time for a reason. GJ could use a freshening up and some of the new features in vb though, mentions and likes are pretty common on most boards now and are really helpful.
Might be a bit bias, but interesting to see a comparison:
https://itxdesign.com/vbulletin-vs-xenforo-vs-ipb/
Might be a bit bias, but interesting to see a comparison:
https://itxdesign.com/vbulletin-vs-xenforo-vs-ipb/
OP
Funny. That site is owned by VB... Typical shady **** from them too.
And no VB is very much not “top BB software.” It hasn’t been since 3.8.