Att: Mods/Admin: Postings

[Len801]

I wonder if anything can be done about
the font, character size, and size of window
used for posting messages.

The characters are very small, and the window used
for typing posts is only about 6" wide.
When you are typing a lot of information it makes it difficult to see
from one end to the other, the long links sometimes you need
to insert in the message (with the various tags you need to physically
type in like , [img], , etc
Really going bonkers lately with these large posts.
Thanks...

[unknownsoldi]

This sounds like a good idea. I'm sure it will be implemented after URLs are automatically made clickable. So probably never.

I kid. I kid.

[Len801]

And as an extra bonus, don't forget the possibility of post-editing
of posts (say for about an hour or so after posting).
Maybe for Christmas 2020?
But seriously the size of the posting window is ridiculously small,
for the type of messages that are usually done in this section.

[jj]

This is really Phil's pigeon, but I don't see how the window can be enlarged
as the page has to accommodate all the other stuff like banners and buttons.
I've done a fair few large posts myself and I do sympathize, but I find that
frequent use of the Preview keeps things under control- and splitting larger
posts into 'bite-size' chunks is worth a thought, too.
Using the Return key at the end of each line [you and me are about the only
ones who do this] also prevents text trailing off the RH side of the page.

[Walter Burns]

Len801 wrote:


> But seriously the size of the posting window is ridiculously
> small,
> for the type of messages that are usually done in this section.


There is really a simple solution to this -- which btw is also helpful for the admins who now have to wade through long posts dealing with multiple issues at the same time: keep your posts focused on a single issue (e.g. 1 movie instead of several), so each post isn't 'several pages' long.

[Len801]

Walter, I try as much as possible to do this.
If it's just a movie, I will keep it to one single post/thread
Lately I have been attacking whole filmographies for a single
female performer or director (Carol Lynn, Kowalski, Roy Hunter, Ron Shelby).
In those I have even gone as far as posting several threads in parts
to make the information and feedback more manageable.

However my main concern for my present "lament" was with
the actual typing of the information onto the "reply to this message"
window panel that EGAFD had originally designed.
If EGAFD is soliciting people with pertinent information to come forward
and post this information, it should at least try to make the whole process
a bit more practical and appealing. Ever try to post a "correction" to the
EBI database? Let me know how easy it was/is to accomplish that...

There are several drawbacks to the way the EGAFD "reply" window was designed:
=font size (very very small, and could be increased a couple of notches
to make it more readable for the person who posts the message and the people that
have to read them)
=font type (don't know what the technical font name is, but
it's awful and I don't recall any other forum where I have seen this
type of font type)
=window post size: about 5 1/2" across (and about 3.25" high), and as JJ has
also outlined, at the end of the 5 1/2 line the text being typed keep going into
never never land until it stretches out to the whole length of the forum page (about 13"?)
This means I gotta keep hitting the return key so I have some clue as
to what I am typing. Some outside links are short and others are extremely long, and
then you gotta go back and put those little tag characters like , or [img]
None of this is automatic so you are continuously doing these summersaults on a little
5.5" by 3.25" window pane.

And of course you are juggling all this, while you have some 6-7-10 other windows
on your browser opened, to conduct Google searches, refer to other EGAFD pages (cast names,
movie titles, etc),
Sure you can use the "preview" button from time to time to see what the whole
texted message looks like before you hit the "post/send" button (but you are
still typing on a little dinky screen size), but surely we are in 2014 and some minor
tweeks might be workable...
IAFD used to have a similarly small posting window to submit corrections
to their database. I complained to Jeff some time back and it immediately
was enlarged. It is now 6.5" x 4.50" (and you don't have to crazy inserting all
kinds of tags characters/symbols).

[alec]

A suggested work around for long posts - type the post in a text editor of your preference, check it, copy and paste it into the posting window, preview the post, correct in the text editor if necessary. Repeat above if necessary. Post it.

[Len801]

Yes Alec, all kinds of work arounds for things that SHOULD be simple
to execute, but admittedly they are not.
I mean if I have to do all that, I might as well use my personal e-mail
and send an e-mail to EGAFD(at least I don't have to do all these
crazy things). But only the admin/mods may see it/them.

I occasionally have to use a Word document to type the (long) text
and copy/paste into that postcard window available on EGAFD and IAFD.
I don't know how others do it, but to type a detailed message I ordinarily
have to have a number of windows open (Word text document, more than one
for EGAFD, for titles, for actresses, for title, or else you just keep going back
and forth, and lately the forum has been slow. Google, other sites whenever
you find info of some interest on one you keep opening others. Sometimes I have
6-10 different web sites window open to check and consult information.


But must it be so? Why can't that crappy little postcard window be enlarged a
little bit at least to allow a sort a small-medium sized posting with a couple
of paragraphs and links?

Is the idea to go for runarounds or to make it simple for people to post information?
I suppose it is rather simple when all you have a request with a pic or a video
link and ask "who is this"? But when you try to post a detailed movie'
review, screencaps, scene descriptions, etc it gets very trying and tiring with that little
window, and the problem is this Alec: I don't know AHEAD of time how long
a post will be until it's done! So I don't start off with a Word Text. If I'm typing
some initially supposedly simple and brief information about a movie or
performers and as I am doing searches I find additional pertinent information
I keep adding on (links, box covers, etc) it gets more drawn out. So either at some
point I decide to chuck it all (and cancel my post), continue typing in the little window,
or continue typing on a word document.

[Len801]

Well Alec I attempted another Roy Hunter post and I only intended a handful
of titles (a supposed Part 5) after a couple of hours of digging and inserting
information and links, I finally got tired of it all with this postage sized window
and chucked my post. Don't know if I feel continuing with the Roy Hunter
movie listing "festival".