Matrix Games Forums

I have to hand it to whoever at Matrix is doing all the work, the new forums are much improved over when they were first deployed.

However, there are still some things that need "fixing". I'd make a list, but that's one of the things...

1) Bulleted (unsorted) lists in replies cause the server to time-out and not save the message.

2) The "rate this thread" function is for "authorized personnel only"

3) The "report this post to a moderator" function is AWOL

4) The 5 arrow buttons at the top when you post (they come up as temporary) have been around long enough, let's get them some real buttons now.

5) Dial-up users have a hard time posting files due to the 30 second time limit in the CGI script. It needs to be longer. Pick a speed (say 24k) and figure out how long it takes to send a 500k file (the current limit) and that's how long the time should be set for (not less than 2 minutes in any case)

Anyone else have things they want to add?

Hi Bernie.
Yes, good list but incomplete

I'd add at least one more: Avatars not working: if you cancel your one, to replace it, it won't allow you to do so: now you're "avatarless"

There is a thread running, on the subject, in the Matrix Games General Discussion Forum..

You covered both of my issues.

With dial up connection the delay rate of typing a thread at home is SO ANNOYING that I am considering not visiting from here anymore!

The avatar issue has also got me pretty miffed. Three lettes...a reply to the first one and then nothing for three weeks now.

We´re still waiting for the Gold version of this vBB version to surface. Remeber this is a Beta and we had to switch to it. Everything you´re mentioning is not breaking the forums or makes posting impossible.

I personally can not reproduce the slowness on the dial up. You migth want to upgrade to an up to date browser. I know that solved the problems for others.

With the Gold version we expect the performance of the script to increase too.

Marc: Only one question. If it's a browser problem then why does it only affect this forum ?

Mark...at first I thought that it was something I did at my end...but this is the ONLY site that I have (since a couple days ago) these problems with.

If it were a browser issue I think I would have the same problems elsewhere...like the WarGamer site...but I don't.

Not wanting to be an @ss...I just posting what I'm seeing on this end.

I went and dl'ed the latest explorer update...and it made very little difference..the lag time between typing and seeing it on the screen improved only slightly at best.

Just an FYI.

Orzel Bialy wrote:I went and dl'ed the latest explorer update...and it made very little difference..the lag time between typing and seeing it on the screen improved only slightly at best.

Just an FYI.

Use Opera.

Resisti wrote:Hi Bernie.
Yes, good list but incomplete

I'd add at least one more: Avatars not working: if you cancel your one, to replace it, it won't allow you to do so: now you're "avatarless"

There is a thread running, on the subject, in the Matrix Games General Discussion Forum..

Hmm... but if you switch avatar immediately, it works.

Look at mine. No problem changing avatar at all.

Belisarius wrote:Use Opera.

No, the brandnew Mozilla Firebird

Btw, I didn´t say it´s a browser issue. I just sayed it helped a few people to upgrade.

Marc,

As I think most of us do not go to the General Discussion Forum, I want to thank you for letting us know what was going on. We didn't know about Beta, or having to switch and whatnot, so that helps alot. Thanks again.

Goblin

Marc Schwanebeck wrote:We´re still waiting for the Gold version of this vBB version to surface. Remeber this is a Beta and we had to switch to it. Everything you´re mentioning is not breaking the forums or makes posting impossible.

I personally can not reproduce the slowness on the dial up. You migth want to upgrade to an up to date browser. I know that solved the problems for others.

With the Gold version we expect the performance of the script to increase too.

Marc, my browser is up to date, yet I still get screens listing CGI error, 30 second time-outs when I try to upload a file larger than 50k. Want me to copy and email you the screen next time it happens?

My dialup account is very slow (due to a bad cable Verizon has been saying they'll change since last December) so I seldom connect any faster than 24k. Given that, there's no way I'm trying to d/l a different browser, nor should I have to just to use these forums.

I'm not sure how much hacking your webmaster does with vBulletin but there is a php function to extend the timeout for a running script. Allowing a 500k upload is fine, but a dialup user won't be able to complete his upload in time with a 500k attachment. Of course setting the scipt timeout to high could be catastrophic for a runaway script. It's always a double edged sword.

Here's a link to the php function in case you are interested.

http://us3.php.net/function.set-time-limit

Has anybody else noticed that the search function is a little sporadic. I know I have a particular post on a particular subject and I know where it is cause I looked and it was there. I tried to do a search in that same spot and it kept coming back with not found. Anybody else?

Jim1954 wrote:Has anybody else noticed that the search function is a little sporadic. I know I have a particular post on a particular subject and I know where it is cause I looked and it was there. I tried to do a search in that same spot and it kept coming back with not found. Anybody else?

Yeah, when I did a search yesterday on "SHP edit" (looking for info on editing .shp files) it came back with only two entries, both from over 3 years ago.