Forum icons - are they really necessary?

[Olivier Turbis]

Its should be by default BUT there should be a option in Admin CP to change back to the old icons style.

That would be an option to consider.

[TrixieTang]

Its should be by default BUT there should be a option in Admin CP to change back to the old icons style.

They should also add an option to enable/disable Admin CP options.

Really, if they change this (which I think they should) there shouldn't be an option to use icons. This is forum software advancing, icons aren't needed anymore, and to keep supporting icons would just cause things to advance slower.

[ehren.]

Would even be nice if they just included the avatar as a template variable in the forumIndexTemplate file so skinners could add it themselves if they wanted to. I've been wanting this for a long time but as far as I know this isn't possible using only skin modifications.

[wingman23]

Wouldnt the topic view look a bit bare without them, a bit like checking your email, just a long list of confusing topics without anything to break them up... Also i think it depends on your member base. Sure most of us live on our forums, but most people dont, so need all the visual hints they can get, specially if they arent all that experienced forum users.. :thumbsup:

[Shadow82x]

[size="3"]Wouldnt the topic view look a bit bare without them, a bit like checking your email, just a long list of confusing topics without anything to break them up... Also i think it depends on your member base. Sure most of us live on our forums, but most people dont, so need all the visual hints they can get, specially if they arent all that experienced forum users..[/size] :thumbsup:

What's been proposed is that we remove those icons, and replace is with the topic starter's avatar. It wouldn't be bare.

[Olivier Turbis]

Would love some dark blue avatar replying to this wonderful topic.

[Mercury5]

I would have to disagree....I really like the forum icons. I feel the forum would be rather bland and boring without them!

Sorry Olivier, just my opinion. :)

[Olivier Turbis]

I would have to disagree....I really like the forum icons. I feel the forum would be rather bland and boring without them!

Sorry Olivier, just my opinion. :)

But..but....but it's always the same thing. Same icons over and over again. I think that is boring.

[Matt]

This is one of those situations where it's irrelevant what I think. We have to go with the masses.

I do tend to agree that the forum icons only duplicate information shown elsewhere and I certainly don't look at them anymore. I'd rather have the person's "face" rather than a repeated icon. It makes it more personal.

If we were to do this then I think we should just do it. No options, no hooks, etc. Too many options makes for poor software.

[Olivier Turbis]

If we were to do this then I think we should just do it. No options, no hooks, etc. Too many options makes for poor software.

I agree.

[Mark]

Personally I like the icons. I don't think there's enough space for a profile picture (making the rows taller I think would look strange) plus I like having an indication of if I've posted in the topic - which if was kept it would seem to me as if you're just replacing one repetitive icon with another.

Like Matt says though - what we think isn't particularly important :)

[Amged Osman]

Would even be nice if they just included the avatar as a template variable in the forumIndexTemplate file so skinners could add it themselves if they wanted to. I've been wanting this for a long time but as far as I know this isn't possible using only skin modifications.

here's a very simple tutorial to achieve it

in forumIndexTemplate find:

						<td class='short altrow'>{parse replacement="{$data['folder_img']}"}</td>

replace it with

                        {IPSMember::buildAvatar($data['starter_id'])}</td>

Edit :: i think no it shouldnt be replace .. i like the topic icons.. maybe add the avatar some where there but not remove the icons

Edit again:: it could be easily made as a hook .. but that's not the case, I guess Olivier wants it by default

[rastaX]

Personally I like the icons. I don't think there's enough space for a profile picture (making the rows taller I think would look strange) plus I like having an indication of if I've posted in the topic - which if was kept it would seem to me as if you're just replacing one repetitive icon with another.

Like Matt says though - what we think isn't particularly important :)

I think it's a good idea to revisit stuff occasionally. Forum icons are something I have actually never really thought twice about.

If it gives the software a fresher look without losing any functionality ( I also like the indicator showing I have posted in a topic) I am all for it. But they do serve a purpose and what I have found is that not all people browse the site the same way. I always do the New Content route, but I know a lot of people who scroll down the forum index looking for new posts. It's important to keep in mind, different strokes for different folks.

[Amged Osman]

for got to add [url=" my previous post that you can also use

buildProfilePhoto

to get the personal photo instead of the avatar, but, that will need extra configuration and customization

[MissNinja]

here's a very simple tutorial to achieve it

in forumIndexTemplate find:

						<td class='short altrow'>{parse replacement="{$data['folder_img']}"}</td>

replace it with

                        {IPSMember::buildAvatar($data['starter_id'])}</td>

Edit :: i think no it shouldnt be replace .. i like the topic icons.. maybe add the avatar some where there but not remove the icons

Edit again:: it could be easily made as a hook .. but that's not the case, I guess Olivier wants it by default

That worked great! Thank you! But is there a way to make the avatar images smaller?

[Olivier Turbis]

Personally I like the icons. I don't think there's enough space for a profile picture (making the rows taller I think would look strange) plus I like having an indication of if I've posted in the topic - which if was kept it would seem to me as if you're just replacing one repetitive icon with another.

Like Matt says though - what we think isn't particularly important :)

The I've posted in that topic indicator isn't repetitive. It's not the same thing.

[Amged Osman]

That worked great! Thank you! But is there a way to make the avatar images smaller?

I havent played much with the code, i just wanted to show quick solution, but will check the buildAvatar Codes and let you know if we can add quick info to the array like in PersonalPhoto codes ( you can chose / re-size the width & height of Personal Photos), Although, I think Matt should be faster then I, he would know if the sizes can be passed along with the codes or not.

[Miss Moiraine]

I'm all for it so long as it's the avatar and not the profile picture that seems to worm its way into everything.

[Amged Osman]

I'm all for it so long as it's the avatar and not the profile picture that seems to worm its way into everything.

Well seems like we can only control the avatar images from the board settings it self 'avatar_dims'
so if you want to resize the avtar you have to change the default sizes for avatars in your ACP 1st.



so for now, if you want to use the Profile Picture you can use this Code

in forumIndexTemplate find:

                                                <td class='short altrow'>{parse replacement="{$data['folder_img']}"}</td>

replace it with

<!-- sacred --> 

<php>

$memberPhoto = IPSMember::buildProfilePhoto($data['starter_id']);

</php>

						<td class='short altrow'><img src="{$memberPhoto['pp_mini_photo']}" alt='{$data['starter_name']}' {parse resize_image="$memberPhoto['pp_mini_photo']" maxwidth="25" maxheight="25"}/></td>

Note:: i could have easly used the "already passed" height and width (25px) but, i intended to use the resize_image so you guys can easily change the width & height as you want!

Also the good thing about Personal Photo is it loads a default photo if the user did not choose one for him self!

Thats the output



BTW I should mention that what we're doing here is an "ugly hack" or so they call it. but, it shall do the job.

[Amged Osman]

And here's if you want to link it to the Member's profile

<!-- sacred --> 

<php>

$memberPhoto = IPSMember::buildProfilePhoto($data['starter_id']);

</php>

						<td class='short altrow'> <a href='{parse url="showuser={$data['starter_id']}" seotitle="{$data['seo_first_name']}" template="showuser" base="public"}'><img src="{$memberPhoto['pp_mini_photo']}" alt='{$data['starter_name']}' {parse resize_image="$memberPhoto['pp_mini_photo']" maxwidth="25" maxheight="25"}/></a></td>

[Amged Osman]

Would even be nice if they just included the avatar as a template variable in the forumIndexTemplate file so skinners could add it themselves if they wanted to. I've been wanting this for a long time but as far as I know this isn't possible using only skin modifications.

That worked great! Thank you! But is there a way to make the avatar images smaller?

I'm all for it so long as it's the avatar and not the profile picture that seems to worm its way into everything.

Enjoy! now you can use the Avatar not the Personal Photo

<!-- sacred --> 

<php>

$theMember    = IPSMember::load($data['starter_id'], 'core,extendedProfile');

$theMember['avatar_size'] = '25x25';

if ( $theMember['avatar_location'] == ""){

$memberAvatar = "<img src='{$this->settings['img_url']}/profile/default_thumb.png' width='25px' height='25px' alt='Img'/>";

}else{

$memberAvatar = IPSMember::buildAvatar($theMember,0,1);

}

</php>


						<td class='short altrow'><a href='{parse url="showuser={$data['starter_id']}" seotitle="{$data['seo_first_name']}" template="showuser" base="public"}'>{$memberAvatar}</a></td>

Change the '25x25' to whatever suits you!



As i said, it is an ugly hack!

[Amged Osman]

updated the codes above ^^ to use default image, if the user has no avatar selected

[MissNinja]

That is absolutely fantastic. Thank you SO much!

[Shadow82x]

Enjoy! now you can use the Avatar not the Personal Photo

<!-- sacred --> 

<php>

$theMember    = IPSMember::load($data['starter_id'], 'core,extendedProfile');

$theMember['avatar_size'] = '25x25';

if ( $theMember['avatar_location'] == ""){

$memberAvatar = "<img src='{$this->settings['img_url']}/profile/default_thumb.png' width='25px' height='25px' alt='Img'/>";

}else{

$memberAvatar = IPSMember::buildAvatar($theMember,0,1);

}

</php>


						<td class='short altrow'><a href='{parse url="showuser={$data['starter_id']}" seotitle="{$data['seo_first_name']}" template="showuser" base="public"}'>{$memberAvatar}</a></td>

Change the '25x25' to whatever suits you!



As i said, it is an ugly hack!

Nice edit. However it isn't re-sized properly if an image is selected from the forums avatar gallery. Also -- I'm guessing the edits for the new content page would be similar if not the same?

[Amged Osman]

Nice edit. However it isn't re-sized properly if an image is selected from the forums avatar gallery. Also -- I'm guessing the edits for the new content page would be similar if not the same?

for resize its easier to use CSS so u can resize it using CSS
as for new page content .. no idea.. didnt check .. i never use the new page content anyways .. so you can give it a try