Announcing a rework of the forums, and Home Talk!

Its all wonderful though i never could figure out some things dumbmer is here-me.. i'm glad now i know how to put forums on my home page.. Thanks Your doing one great job on this site its the very best.. blessings.

Twyla

Wow! I feel like somebody came in and rearranged my house and cupboards and I don't know where anything is. LOL I'm going to search around and play for awhile and reserve my comments until I get over the initial shock.

If I understand correctly, the home tab will continue to work like it always has?

Yes, that's correct. The home page hasn't changed a bit.

Thanks Dave. It's just great! :)
... Elaine

Thanks Dave, then I'm okay with the change. I can still use the home page like I always have. After thinking about it, I didn't use the forums tab too much before.

I do like the neatness of how the garden talk and home talk tabs are set up. Plus, it looks like there's a bunch of new forums to explore.

I think I'm gonna like it. :)

It's a go!

SWEET! It looks so good and much easier to use! Thanks for your time on it!

James

At the bottom of each thread is this:

Dave's Garden
The Dave's Garden forum
Back to the top of this thread
Unwatch Thread

I'd like to suggest some sort of ladder system for navagation maybe? For example, say I'm reading this thread in "The Dave's Garden forum", I would be in the "Dave's Garden Community" catagory. If I wanted to go to the "Welcome Mat forum" I could stay in "Dave's Garden Community" if I could just go up one level. "GardenTalk" tab would be up one more level, the "Dave's Garden" Home page would be the next level.

So maybe something like this?

Dave's Garden
GardenTalk
Dave's Garden Community
The Dave's Garden forum
Back to the top of this thread
Unwatch Thread

And, boy howdy am I glad I'm not the one that has to re-write the "Tour" now, lol.

mg

As I understand it, all the asterisks mark forums for subscribers only. Aren't there a lot of members who aren't subscribers? I was under the impression that there were just a few "closed" forums before.
Sharon

Dave, I'm a great fan of improvement and progress. When I was still working (not so long ago) people thirty years younger than me would whine (but we've always done it this way!). LOL It's GOOD to get shoved out of one's comfort zone occasionally. You're doing a great job! This site has been worth every penny my subscription cost me and more.

You are one amazing man Dave!!

I have been exploring and love all the little sites you've created. It will be easier to add specialty forums when needed.

I can't seem to find the newsletter today in extras, has it been moved or is it somewhere I can't remember?

Donna

Now I'm never getting any work done!! :o) Great move, I love the new forum section. The home talk is a wonderful addition.
Job well done!!!!!!!!!

I am about to go explore [sent the kids outside in the snow lol]

but i must say, i was really looking forward to green and orange...

OMG, I forgot about the Green and Orange!

***WHEW***

mg

This is great....Dave you amaze me. Thanks for continuing to make this the best place ever.

Deb

I appreciate very much the kind words you are all saying!! Thank you very much!

We're excited to have this new area for DG!

dave

I'll add my thanks as well....GREAT JOB!!

Have been exploring all morning, and Dave - this is just super! I used to spend a lot of time on the forums tab looking up and down for a particular forum, and now it's so easy. Never could remember how to add a forum to favorites and now it's a breeze. The best of both worlds!! Alphabetical on new tabs and the old way on home. Congrats!!
Sharon

Dave - with the addition of so many new forums that are open to the members as well as subscribers is there any way to mark these "open" threads so that we remain aware before we post something personal? I never knew before just which were open and which weren't and it would be every so nice to have some sort of flag to let me know when I'm posting, so I don't put personal info in full view. I think there are others with this same concern. Until this can be fixed, I shall remain reticent to "let my hair down" on the new forums without a lot of back tracking to check access.(and hope that I remember to check!)

(you *knew* there would be some tweaking on this!)
ginni

Dave, I LOVE IT!

tf

tgif, indeed that is already there. When you click on the Garden Talk or Forum Talk tab, you will see that some forums have an asterisk (*) next to their name. The askerisk means that only subscribers may view the forum!

best,
dave

I just wanted to add my Bravo for a great job, Dave. I love everything about it, not only the new forums, but the way you've organized the forums, too. Great job!!

Dave, this is not a complaint ... just something to please consider. Could "accessible gardening" be like the "parking lot" and be limited to only paid subscribers? I guess I thought it already was. That's a place where we go to exchange ideas and get personal with each other in order to describe how we go about our daily lives with a sudden injury or disability. :)

I saw that Dave, but when I go from the "home" tab directly to threads I have on watch, I won't see that. I will, sooner or later, forget which is protected and which isn't, and put in something I shouldn't. Actually, I've never really fully understood just exactly what a non-subscriber could or could not read. I subscribed almost as soon as I found DG and didn't read *all* the fine print. I've read posts with different ideas on this but I would really like a clear description of what is what. Sorry to be such a nuisance, but I believe there are others who have the same questions. Is there anywhere that this info already exsists? I'll happily go away to read it if its out there (I'll trade ya - silence for a coffee cup!)

you're the greatest and have the best team to keep you on top!
ginni

i have a little tiny bug to report.

for some reason, the SKip ot New button isn't always working. it did on this thread, but about half or more of my watched thread, it is sending me down to the reply are, and i have to dkim back up to find today's postings... that will become more difficult as the day goes on...

tf

i owuld have to also concurr on the non-private forums. coudlnt't here be something at the top of the threads, just a little non-intursive label, like PUBLIC FORUM. i will have to start divulging less as well, as this site is about to EXPLODE! still loving it though!

tf

"Members/non-subs" can only read or see pics in the first post in a thread of a non-open forum. So if you have any doubts, just post "see next post" in your first post, then reply to your own thread.

Logout and take a look around as a non-sub again. I did and it really made me more aware of the benefits of my membership!!

mg

TamaraFaye, make sure you are only clicking once. double clicking could cause that problem.

I'll give some thought to the other idea about indicating public vs. subscriber-only forums.

dave

Elaine, the Accessible Gardening forum was - and remains - available only to subscribers.

There are certain DG forums that are completely hidden from view unless you're a subscriber, but most of our existing forums were visible (but not viewable past the first post in any thread) to non-subscribers.

For subscribers, nothing has changed except there are several new (free) forums you can also participate in.

For new members, they now have the ability to post in many new free forums, but their ability to see the subscribers-only forums is limited exactly the same as it was before today.

I have a feeling the Chatroom will be hopping tonight! I'd better take a nap first, LMBO.

mg

Terry, I was running back over here to apologize! :) Guess I wasn't logged out when I was checking it out. Am I forgiven? :)

Elaine, there's of course nothing to forgive. We know change can create confusion and when things look different, it raises questions ;o)

Kudos to Dave and staff for doing such fantastic work and working so hard [as usual] to make Dave's the best thing on the net!!

Thanks! ;)

Terry,
Thanks for clarifying about who can view what. I never really understood it till now, and wondered why people would start a thread with two posts! LOL
Sharon

Welp, I'm just plain happily overwhelmed by it all! What great thinking as well as great website set-up ya'll been doing! I love it!

And yep, no doubt, this will increase growth of DG as well as increase the pleasures we find here! Dave's Garden sure is a well-tended one...full of a variety of good stuff and always well-cultivated!

Many thanks!

Shoe.

This is some awsome redesign effort. I love the new look and feel!
--Ginny

i like it, i'm kinda lost rite now, but looks very good. sooo...if seen wandering around, someone please send me to where i belong. assuming it has been determined, where i do belong. nnneeeehow, looks excellent and in time im sure, will move with ease.

wys

I like it! It looks neat, crisp and professional. I think its more user friendly.

I realize I can still see the forums that have been posted to, that I have watched on my home page. But, I do miss not being able to tell in the garden or home talk tabs if a forum has been posted too. Can you make them a different color, or have a flag, star or something if they have a new post?

Oh, now that's a good idea, mystic! I'll give that some thought.

dave