Category: Zone BBS Suggestions and Feedback
Hi,
I have an idea that might make viewing topics a little easier. If you read several posts in a topic, and then come back later, it will still be treated as if you read all the posts, and the unread posts heading disappears. What do you all think about having a separate heading for each post, so that it would be easy to jump to where you left off, especially for someone using Jaws?
Sort of a good idea, but it could get a bet annoying with boards that have over 100 posts. If you are using jaws, it may be more effective to just use the virtual find mode to figure out where you last left off. For example, if you know that the last post you have read in a topic was made by user X, just use v virtual find mode to jump to that post. Or, if you know the post number in the topic, you can always use virtual find to get to that as well.
I can see it working if the headings for each posts are level 5 or 6. That way the unread posts feature can still be used by jaws users pressing the number 3.
yeah, i agree with steve
you already have anchors so can jump from one post to the next with the letter a.
I find the unread posts heading extremely useful. because I can never remember where I left off in a topic. please keep it.
No one said that they were going to get rid of the unread posts heading.
On this site, if you go on a topic, then you send a quicknote, it assumes that you read all the posts when actually you didn't read any because you were busy responding to what the Timekeeper said about his favourite radio presenter.
A mark as read/mark as unread button after each post may be better than the unread heading, which I find extremely useful.
Some forums have an unread icon, and it is labeled unread. You can go into the Jaws find, and type unread and it'll take you to the first unread post. It isn't as good as the unread heading on here, but it is useful.
There is'ent a anchors list with the headings list you can find the exact post you are looking for. Also if you know the last post you read was user X post and user X had more then 1 poste it would be easyer to find the exact post you left off with. I think it would make it a lot easyer.
I didn't know about the anchors feature. After I tried it out, I can see how that would be useful, because it does take you to the next post. However, it doesn't take you to the username of the person who posted, it starts with the actual message. This is a minor detail, but I can see where both would be useful. Also, there's the added benefit of having a list of headings since there's no such feature in Jaws for anchors. I don't know about other screen readers though.
There actually is a way to get a list of anchors, insert+control+a will give you such a list. However, it gives you unintelligible tags that begin with msg followed by a number. Anyway, there is a way to get a list of anchors.
Bob
it bothers me that after all the help the admins give here in terms of navigation, that people still want to be spoon fed every last little bit possible. you get a fraction of the navigational aids on most other websites, so please learn to use what you have without asking for more that isn't either necesary, and would take up coding time that could be better spent implementing more useful features.
The admins certainly don't have a lot of spare time to dedicate to the site, and what they do give is mostly voluntary, so it would be good for us all to learn to use the tools and knowledge we have to a greater degree.
Yes, I agree, it is kind of annoying that the unread posts heding disappears if you refresh the page. But it does, and so I am simply more aware of what I'm doing. If I know I want to respond to a QN, I look at what post that unread heading is on, respond, then just do a find for that post. Kev is right, in that Chris N doesn't have a lot of time to devote to the site, so he codes what's necessary.
I really don't think this is spoonfeeding. I'm one who didn't even know the ancors at each board post existed until it was pointed out on this board. With that function there all anyone needs to do is remember what number post they're up to, no additional coding needed.
The point of this board is that we suggest improvements to the site, and if the admins/community leaders agree, they may be implemented. Screaming Turtle is entitled to make her suggestion. I think mark as read/mark as unread buttons would be more useful, and I am entitled to suggest that.
Some Jaws users may not be aware that h takes you to the next heading or that a takes you to the next anchor. Many Jaws users, particularly those who haven't been using Jaws for very long are unaware of the commands that they would find useful.
If admins didn't want suggestions as to how the site could be improved, this board wouldn't have been added to the site.
I don't think Kevin or I is disputing screaming Turtle's right to suggest things here. All have the right to suggest, voice opinions, etc. And, I myself did not know about the anchors feature either, until reading this board.
The anchors feature has been mentioned on a previous anouncement style board I believe, but maybe there should be a little help section for the boards which bringws all the helpful screen reader and site specific helpful hints together?
I can pass on the suggestions on this topic, Kev and Turtle. Beyond that, I can't promise anything, but I will pass the info upward.
Thank you. I know not every suggestion can be implemented, but it doesn't hurt to try either.
Agreed. I've passed it up the chain.