DG has a new look!

A continuation of our announcement thread for status updates on our progress.

We are aware of these issues and they are a high priority to fix ASAP:

1. Re-adding search boxes across the site

2. Fixing the journal right-hand column.

3. Restoring the old "Extras" tab links, such as the Address Exchange

As those items are being fixed, we will also deal with these issues:

- Investigate why some users are having to scroll back-and-forth and/or their right-hand side is cut off.

- Review the text colors and the contrast between text and background.


A few FAQs:

I'm seeing some odd-looking links and overlapping menus,
You need to clear your browser's cache. Here is a link to some tips to help you do that:
http://earthnet.net/support/general/clear_cache.htm#.UcziZJxRCJQ

Can we go back to the old banner (for some or all)?
We cannot offer customized banners, and we aren't going to go back to the old banner. It served us well for many years, but it was time for a change, and a designer worked diligently to come up with a banner that honors our heritage with certain elements of old, such as the logo and green leaves. And if you hover over the images that appear in the right-hand side on some areas, you'll get a sneak preview of a future enhancement that also tips its hat to our old pictures :-).

Is there supposed to be white space on either side of the forums?
Yes. It takes some getting used to after years of having a very full screen, but it's pretty standard across most websites. It's easier on readers to not have to scroll back-and-forth.

Does this mean more advertisements in that space?
No.

Is the white space supposed to have speckles?
Yes. it adds some texture.

I've read through the above, and I still have a concern, issue, or question.
Use this thread to report any new and/or additional concerns or problems. As always, we welcome your constructive comments and suggestions.

Please also keep in mind that a lot of time and effort have gone into these improvements. You may have an initial negative reaction to the changes, but let's keep rude comments and non-specific complaints and grumblings to ourselves, please. There's no "they" and "we" here. Melody and I have been members longer than we have been admins, (and we've both been admins for a very long time.) And the techs and other IB support folks have this site's best interests at heart with everything they do, too.

Terry, your explanation much appreciated and happy about the search and Journal features getting fixed. Patti

Thanks for addressing everyone's concerns and being so patient with us oldies who don t like much change. If I could ask for one other thing, I used to have date and time in the banner and would love to have it back.

Hi - the link at the bottom of the previous thread does not bring us here - it simply takes us back to the top of the first thread.

Personally, I love the new look as well as the new arrangement of some of the features. It's fresh and more convenient (for me) in many areas. Like anything new, it takes some use, practice, and adjusting to what's new, but using it will soon become second nature just like the old one. Kudos to those who worked on it. The problems will eventually get ironed out.

rouxcrew, that's a good suggestion - thanks!

ViolaAnn, thank you - I've corrected the link :-)

Out of curiosity, I checked the new layout on my old computer, and as far as I can tell everything is working perfectly.

Resin, we'll see what is possible - thank you!

Terry, while a number of people are having probs with the right hand side (I have that, too) I am
having probs with the top third of page displays.
Other than overlapping text, etc you state are being worked on, I cannot access the top 3-5 threads
on this forum or on Parking Lot. (Only ones I have tried so far, although Northeast and MidAtlantic
forums are still okay.)

Also, none of the buttons (skip to new, watch, unwatch, post reply, etc) at the top of pages work,
while the ones at the bottom do.

See my new thread in this forum which I cannot access for other details titled "I know it is just me".

Sorry to not post on your new continuation thread but it is currently unavailable to me as this one
will be after I post this!

Coleup, those definitely sound like something that needs to be cleared from your cache. The navigation buttons are working fine on all the major browsers: Chrome, Firefox and I.E. (I've personally tried them all.)

I have a request if at all possible. On my older 19" monitor, I'm able to centre the content so that I can now see the poster as well as the post (and nothing on either side of it.) But when I go to a new page, I'm right back to having to scroll right to see everything.

Is there any way of making it so that I don't have to scroll right for each and every page?

Thanks.
Ann

Please don't forget the "report an error" on plantfiles entries. Kell brought this up and it is a very important component of ensuring the plantfiles database is kept up-to-date. We wouldn't want the plantfiles admins with no errors to work on (**grin**).

I am having problems with overlapping on my home page on this tablet
Do not know how to clear history on it but as it is new there is not much

wren107, what tablet are you using?

Since the changes; I.E. centered my page, but firefox chrome is off -center, and overlapping info. I guess we're going Bing. lol
I'm still waiting for DG to iron out some of the kinks... Patiently waiting.

Terry ~ Thanks for the new thread and your detailed update! It is very much appreciated. I can't think of too many sites that allow that much interaction between members and administration.

I do have another question, though.

Is it possible the new format was designed for newer wide-screen monitors? Could that be a reason many of us that have to scroll can only fix it by dropping the size of the of the whole page to 75% or 80%?

I actually planned to ask you this first thing this morning, but we just got our power back after an almost 12-hour outage!

Also, Thanks to some of you that have tried to help me get a "Screen Shot". I do have a "Print Screen/Sys Rq" key, but it doesn't seem to do anything. Just for fun, though, I'll keep trying to figure it out.

It is a Pantech

Morning Terry...
My problem is with the pics, I can no longer read the post when the pic is on screen...on some pics the post is partially visible on others there is no sign of it.
Do we need to adjust the pic size in order to see the text....
There isn't a lower scroll to move the pic.

I figured out how to do a screen capture in Paint Shop Pro X5
>open paint shop
>click on file (top left)
>choose import
>choose screen capture
>click set up
> choose the capture set you want, I chose full screen and right mouse click
>click "capture now"
>tap "prntScr" (or what ever yours is called on your keyboard)
>go back to Paint Shop
>right click your mouse and choose "paste as new image"
>save and upload to DG

FWIW, on my MacBook Pro under Mac OS X 10.8.4, the new format looks fine in Firefox, but in both Safari and Chrome, it looks like it's missing the style sheet -- there's no banner, and:

In Safari, the links beside the Dave's Garden part of the banner are all in plain text, and centered on the page. The section listing the forums I'm watching is missing entirely. The stuff on the right of the page seems okay, and the left 2/3 or so has the Plant Files, Bird Files, etc. (with pictures) under the Today's Features. Beneath those links is the stuff you see when you're not signed in (probably because I cleared the cache when I first got the distorted page).

In Chrome, the forum list is still there. The links are all piled up at the top left of the page.

Jim

So I went to the Safari version of the page and logged in -- the result looks just like the Chrome version. Hmm.
I still think it's a problem with a missing style sheet.

Jim

Now I am noticing that when you upload a photo to PFs, the photo can be cropped by PFs. I have never noticed any photo I have uploaded in the past getting cropped. This is unfortunate.

Big Thanks to the Tech Team for returning the Search DG on the home page.

I really dislike that my photos are being altered.

Thanks so much for the suggestion to clear my browser cache ... I would never have thought of it, and it worked like a charm ... and now this site is back to normal for me ... plus, of course, the "new look" ... !

Thanks to the Tech Team for fixing the Journal so I can perform actions in it again.

Yes, a great relief to be able to use my journal again. Still waiting for the search feature to come back.

Got the Search feature back. Thanks!

I have changed settings, got rid of the extra Column on my home page and the home page is normal now, but the forum pages are not....any suggestions of how to make them come to the left an inch or so. It is off only a small amount now but I must still scroll to the right. Help! I am running out of ideas since I never had to move anything before....everything was just perfect and working perfect prior to this new format.

I believe that this new format was designed for the newer wide-screen monitors. No one has confirmed this, but based on my own experiments with zooming the page in and out, it looks "normal" and centered if I make the page smaller.

For some of you this may work. For me, it's NOT an option. I don't want to have to read smaller text on DG than I do everywhere else.

Scrolling is inconvenient, but if the changes are designed for wide screen monitors, this is most likely my only option...at least as long as we own our current computer/monitor.

Unlike some of you, I have NO intention of leaving DG. I still love this site, connecting with other members and the whole wealth of information available to members. I'm willing to live with the compromise.

I've used other websites where after a change, staff became invisible, like they didn't exist. We're extremely lucky that we have Terry and Melody who are willing to help if they can and pass our assorted problems and complaints on to the techs. Hopefully those of you who've said you're leaving, will reconsider.

edited to fix my typos...oops!

This message was edited Jun 29, 2013 11:02 AM

Hi Nutsaboutnature, as frustrated I have gotten over the years, I am not going anyplace. Yesterday I felt like just forgetting about it, but DG is so important to me and has been since Dave had it that I am sticking around if for no other reason than HABIT. First place you go in the morning with the coffee. Just like visiting friends.

My screen is 15 inches. I cannot afford a wider one just now anyhow. Maybe you are correct. I too must have larger type because of only having one good eye and I hate straining it more than necessary.

As for Melody and Terry....... they must have wings and halos...............what they have put up with just with me over the years, they deserve a medal. I think they are both pretty special people and usually when I speak to them I am frustrated to the very point of not knowing what to do next. I am 84 and being on the computer for so many hours a day for my business and social life is great for someone my age, except, I do not know a lot of the terminology and I get lost easily. LOL I really need things spelled out clearly and directions of how to get there need to be very clear. Which is difficult for people who deal with this daily. These two seem to know that and are very helpful. Thanks ladies for being there for us.

Off to see what else is knew as I try and figure out how to center the forum thread pages. Have a good day.

Terry and tech team, A huge thank you for repairing the DG Journal and Search feature. Happy camper now as I can life with the rest. Patti

I still didn't find the correction on the blog. Private entries are not accessible yet. Terry? Melody?

Lily_love
Are you referring to the private entry check box? It is still there for me. What correction on the blog, mine seems to be working like normal. Am I missing something?

Hi Seedfork, it appears you're aren't missing anything. I am. The private entry check box doesn't appear on my garden blog, further more my previous entries disappeared. :((