DU4 forums and groups

[usonian]

People have been noticing changes.
I wonder if there's a list of disappearing ones under DU4.
Not to gripe, but just to find the most appropriate place to post stuff.
(like weather?)

[Hermit-The-Prog]

1. Do you mean Weather Watchers?

Navigate >> Culture Forums >> Weather Watchers

The forum id numbers are the same, so you can use the navigation links you're used to in du3, then switch to du4 by changing the www to du4. Then, look at the 'breadcrumbs' links below the masthead that show the path to where you are.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. Since You Had That Answer....

...I'll see if you know.
Where is the "My Posts" feature in DU4?
I'm not seeing one.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. Upper right -- MY STUFF -- POSTS

[usonian]

4. I found MyStuff blinking but when I clicked on it, nothing was obviously changed.

And then it stopped, just in time to make a liar of me.
Computers? Hmmmmm.

Thanks for finding weather watchers.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

5. Welcome...

I had the same problem with the default setting of My Stuff notification. Since I also hated the blinking, I changed it to "Badge".

Had a bug with 'My Stuff notification' setting and 'Night mode':
https://du4.democraticunderground.com/1319381

From: https://du4.democraticunderground.com/101312923

As mentioned above, we have a dedicated forum on DU4 for reporting bugs and issues, which we encourage you to use should you find any problems. We also have a dedicated forum for questions and answers.

[usonian]

6. Thanks for the pointers. You are good at breaking things.

Great minds think alike, eh?
I am subscribing and bookmarking, trying to keep up and submit stuff in useful channels and not just the gripe bin.

🎂 I hope you celebrated post 29,000 appropriately! 🎂

[Hermit-The-Prog]

9. Oops, 41 posts too late.

[highplainsdem]

16. As far as I can tell, My Stuff blinks every time you go to DU4, at least if you've cleared your

history since the last visit. It blinks even though there's no apparent reason for it to do so.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Duh!

Don't know how I missed that. I went to My Stuff and was blind to it.
Maybe because is goes all the way across the page, I mistook it for header.
Thanks a bunch.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

10. Welcome! I'm beginning to get used to it now.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Everything Else Is Pretty Intuitive

I looked, but on DU3, you could change the view for either computer or mobile view. I don't see that option anywhere.
Any ideas?

[Hermit-The-Prog]

12. Sorry

With the big buttons and extra space, it appears to be designed to be easier to use on a mobile device. Don't see anything relevant in account settings.

I'm on a 'desktop' computer.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Thanks Again

That's OK. I'll live.

[highplainsdem]

15. On DU3, I use Standard format for both mobile and computer. And I

usually hold my tablet vertically. The print's small, but I can see a lot on every page. (I will admit I sometimes have to expand message text boxes to fix typos easily, because the text is so small.)

I really dislike being able to see so few lines of text on DU4.

EDITING after checking to verify how much of a difference it makes, looking at GD:

DU3, Standard format, tablet vertical - over 30 threads are visible.

DU4, tablet vertical - 7 threads

DU4, tablet horizontal - 4 threads

Aggravating, to see such a tiny part of the board.

[usonian]

17. Editing a text is hell on mobile.

Small, fat fingers, pointer goes where it wants, not where you want.
Apple lets you move the pointer by holding down the space bar and wiggling like a ThinkPad button. Without this, editing would be impossible.

Worst is that at times, if you switch away from the window, your typing will be lost.

Regular computers are far better in this regard. Rock-stable IMO.

If I am editing something long, I select all, copy and paste into a text editor, "just in case"

Network drops will also lose your text.

(I suspect, when devices are backing up and bombing the router)

A good setup, and expensive, is an iPad Pro with the Apple keyboard. Has a trackpad and arrows. (and pencils work)
I got it to save and show piano scores. Everything else is frosting on the cake.
(also to show off my best photos to friends)

[highplainsdem]

18. Definitely more difficult.

But I can usually touch where I need to edit, and if not, I'll zoom in just a bit, long enough to fix the typo.

I got this tablet mainly for writing quick notes, then added a handle that makes it ridiculously easy to hold, easier than a paperback book, and now use it a lot.

Even though I have a Dell laptop and Acer touchscreen Chromebook.

[ProfessorGAC]

19. While We're On The Topic...

...I miss the posting time & post number.
I suppose I'll get used to it, but I still have my preference.

[usonian]

20. I am seeing them.

Your post was #19 at 6:27.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Hmmm

I went back into settings & see no such option to provide a desktop view.
Are you viewing on a computer or on a phone?
I haven't logged in with the laptop, only my Android phone.

[usonian]

24. I am trying to do everything in default mode to get started.

Got this. iPhone8 latest iOS.



I flip back and forth between DU4 and 3 and sometimes use the computer. I somehow dropped out of dark mode, either DU's or my safari extension's. Hard to keep track.

[highplainsdem]

25. Usonian, please see my reply 22 and check the list of REPLY TITLES ONLY directly under the OP.

NOT that list of full replies with extra text following the list of thread titles, which your screenshot shows.

The problem with the reply # and hour/date posted not appearing on mobile occurs only with the concise first list of reply titles, which is the easiest place to skim to see if there are any recent replies, and where they are.

Not being able to locate the most recent replies that way is a serious problem IMO for DUers using phones (or tablets held vertically) when checking DU.

[usonian]

27. Okay. OKAY. 😎

So much going on. I flipped back to classic DU and the top tree is bare of numbers.

I just hadn't paid attention, probably because I also flip back and forth between phone and computer, and put up with whatever shows up on each screen.

I just have the phone with me more (like right now) even though the computer has tons of graphics I like to use, and regularly updated pdf's of all my posts (and others) so I can search easily. I have bitched about even the advanced site search. If the admins were geniuses at it, they might be making a ton of money elsewhere, I imagine.

I *do* tend to ignore details not pertinent to getting off a speedy reply. I didn't when I was programming stuff. Because it was on me, then.

I am graphics-oriented, for better or worse.

Fakes and memes on the desktop only.

[ProfessorGAC]

44. Oh, I See Those!

I meant when looking at the forum page itself.
There were columns to the right of the number of replies column that I no longer see.

[usonian]

45. I just flipped to the forum page with the computer.

Very full display. I should use just the computer.

[ProfessorGAC]

46. I Need To Check That Out

I'm whining a bit, because it's not that big a deal. I'll get used to the changes.

[highplainsdem]

21. I like some of the new features on DU4, and I wanted to like it

a lot, but at this point I prefer DU3, think it's more user- and especially newcomer-friendly.

The default with the white background gives me eyestrain, which never happened here on DU3 (the soft gray here helps a lot). Others testing DU4 have mentioned eyestrain, too, and switching to Dark Mode, which I had to do. A newcomer running into that problem might not read long enough to decide to register.

And I do think DU3 is more navigable.

I do love the "Friendly forums for passionate Dems" subtitle on DU4.

Being able to rec replies is nice.

Some people have said they like that DU4 will let us subscribe to or follow other DUers, but I found on Twitter that I never wanted to follow even my favorites there. I'd check what they'd posted when I had time. Here I can just search for recent posts by anyone, which is what I'd do on DU4 as well.

I love the sidebar menu on every page of DU3. And the way the notifications are set up.

Personally, I love classic phpBB/vBulletin type boards. Like https://www.phpbb.com/community/index.php . And look how well the blues and grays work on that page. I know it's oldfashioned...but it works.

[highplainsdem]

22. Just checked DU4 again, and I see that the time and post # are missing from

the list of reply titles below the OP - just the titles, before you get to the complete replies, if you're seeing the mobile view. As EarlG explained, DU4 is set up so a vertically held tablet gets the mobile version of the page, while horizontally held is the computer browser view.

No matter which mode I use on DU4 - Default, Dark or Skinner Mode - there are no reply #s and times with the first listing of replies under an OP with the mobile version, a phone or vertically held tablet. So you have to look at the entire page with the full text of replies to find the most recent replies under a thread.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

26. I see reply title, author, time, reply number

Above that:
Highlight: NONE, 5 NEWEST, RECOMMENDED

(All caps above are buttons)

[highplainsdem]

29. You see them on the titles-only list while using the mobile version?

I can't post a screenshot here, but what's in the excerpt below is a copy and paste I just did of the titles-only list directly below the OP. No numbers and dates on the more than two dozen replies.

DU4 forums and groups (Original Post)
Do you mean Weather Watchers?
Since You Had That Answer....
Upper right -- MY STUFF -- POSTS
I found MyStuff blinking but when I clicked on it, nothing was obviously changed.
Welcome...
Thanks for the pointers. You are good at breaking things.
Oops, 41 posts too late.
As far as I can tell, My Stuff blinks every time you go to DU4, at least if you've cleared your
Duh!
Welcome! I'm beginning to get used to it now.
Everything Else Is Pretty Intuitive
Sorry
Thanks Again
On DU3, I use Standard format for both mobile and computer. And I
Editing a text is hell on mobile.
Definitely more difficult.
While We're On The Topic...
I am seeing them.
Hmmm
I am trying to do everything in default mode to get started.
Usonian, please see my reply 22 and check the list of REPLY TITLES ONLY directly under the OP.
I like some of the new features on DU4, and I wanted to like it
Just checked DU4 again, and I see that the time and post # are missing from
I see reply title, author, time, reply number
There is no official list of retiring forums at this time
BY THE WAY! When I say I am using dark mode, it's my browser extension at work.

Hermit-The-Prog
1. Do you mean Weather Watchers?
Yesterday
Navigate >> Culture Forums >> Weather Watchers

The forum id numbers are the same, so you can use the navigation links you're used to in du3, then switch to du4 by changing the www to du4. Then, look at the 'breadcrumbs' links below the masthead that show the path to where you are.

OK, I just discovered the important reply # and time/date info on the initial list isn't on DU3, either - something I never noticed since I dislike the mobile version and just use Standard, in the account settings.

The excerpt below is DU3...and the copy and paste picked up all those repeated "Line" commands (indicating replies and branching subthreads) that do NOT show on my screen.

Replies to this discussion thread
Arrow 27 replies
Reply DU4 forums and groups (Original post)
LineNew Reply Do you mean Weather Watchers?
LineLineNew Reply Since You Had That Answer....
LineLineLineNew Reply Upper right -- MY STUFF -- POSTS
LineLineLineLineNew Reply I found MyStuff blinking but when I clicked on it, nothing was obviously changed.
LineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Welcome...
LineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Thanks for the pointers. You are good at breaking things.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Oops, 41 posts too late.
LineLineLineLineLineNew Reply As far as I can tell, My Stuff blinks every time you go to DU4, at least if you've cleared your
LineLineLineLineNew Reply Duh!
LineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Welcome! I'm beginning to get used to it now.
LineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Everything Else Is Pretty Intuitive
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Sorry
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Thanks Again
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply On DU3, I use Standard format for both mobile and computer. And I
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Editing a text is hell on mobile.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Definitely more difficult.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply While We're On The Topic...
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply I am seeing them.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Hmmm
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply I am trying to do everything in default mode to get started.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Usonian, please see my reply 22 and check the list of REPLY TITLES ONLY directly under the OP.
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Okay. OKAY. 😎
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply I like some of the new features on DU4, and I wanted to like it
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Just checked DU4 again, and I see that the time and post # are missing from
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply I see reply title, author, time, reply number
LineNew Reply There is no official list of retiring forums at this time
LineNew Reply BY THE WAY! When I say I am using dark mode, it's my browser extension at work.
Yesterday
Star Member Hermit-The-Prog
1. Do you mean Weather Watchers?
Navigate >> Culture Forums >> Weather Watchers

The forum id numbers are the same, so you can use the navigation links you're used to in du3, then switch to du4 by changing the www to du4. Then, look at the 'breadcrumbs' links below the masthead that show the path to where you are.

[EarlG]

28. I think I fixed this -- try it again now

Do you see the reply numbers and times?

If there are other pages where missing columns are a problem, let me know and I'll take a look.

[highplainsdem]

30. Just checked DU4 again, and the reply #s and time/date still don't

show up on the initial list or tree with the mobile view. That column info appears only when I tilt my tablet horizontally for the computer/desktop view.

And of course it's still a problem with DU3, just one I never noticed since I use the Standard setting for mobile as well.

Btw, is there ANY way to go from DU4 to DU3 without signing out, which reverts to the DU3 board, and signing in again on DU3?

[EarlG]

31. I'll continue to work on it, I think there should be a fix

This is why we do beta testing. I can't test the new design on every possible device so some things are going to need fixing afterwards.

To go from DU4 to DU3, just go to your address bar where it says du4.democraticunderground.com and change the first part of the address from du4 to www

[highplainsdem]

33. Thanks! That way of switching is a bit faster.

Looking at the mobile version of DU3 has been enlightening. Never realized before that with the mobile version, all you see looking at pages of forums are the thread titles and number of replies. Zero info on the date.

Sticking with the Standard version on DU3, and I hope you can make that work for even vertical tablets on DU4. Seeing only a small fraction of what I can usually see on board pages makes the DU4 experience like trying to read a book through a flattened cardboard tube that shows only a few lines at a time.

[EarlG]

32. BTW I previously asked if you could tell me exactly what kind of tablet you have

You said a Fire, but there are several different versions of that tablet with different screen sizes -- can you tell me specifically which one you have? That would be a big help.

[highplainsdem]

34. Fire HD 8, 32 GB.

[highplainsdem]

35. And yes, I can easily use an 8 inch tablet on Standard format, vertical, so I can

see 30+ lines of text on DU.

Small text has never bothered me, though. I have a compact edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, the two-volume set with very small print, that I used a lot decades ago, and I never used the magnifying glass that came with it.

It does bother me not to have the full page viewable.

[EarlG]

36. Just as a test

Please try visiting this link, and once the page loads, hit refresh in your browser to load it again:

https://du4.democraticunderground.com/du4css/du4.css

Once you've done that, try going to a forum to see if the missing columns are there.

I'm guessing they won't be, but I'm just trying some things out.

[highplainsdem]

37. Woohoo! That page of source code fixed it! Thanks!

[EarlG]

38. Oh it did?

Um I probably just broke it again then, sorry. I wasn't expecting that to work. Let me make some adjustments.

[highplainsdem]

39. But I signed out of DU4, signed in to DU3 again, then checked DU4 again, and

the improvement had vanished. I needed whatever code you have on the page you linked to, to see the reply # and date/time on the initial list or tree of replies.

[EarlG]

40. I reverted the change, but I just re-reverted it

Try reloading that source code page and then try again. Let me know what happens.

[highplainsdem]

41. Yes, it fixed it. Can't post screenshot but excerpt below shows that info appearing,

though the reply # and time aren't on the same line as the reply title in this excerpt, as they are on my screen, where the display has them properly in columns.

Again, thanks!

40 replies
NONE 5 NEWEST RECOMMENDED
DU4 forums and groups (Original Post)
Yesterday
OP
Do you mean Weather Watchers?
Yesterday
#1
Since You Had That Answer....
Yesterday
#2
Upper right -- MY STUFF -- POSTS
Yesterday
#3
I found MyStuff blinking but when I clicked on it, nothing was obviously changed.
Yesterday
#4
Welcome...
Yesterday
#5
Thanks for the pointers. You are good at breaking things.
Yesterday
#6
Oops, 41 posts too late.
Yesterday
#9
As far as I can tell, My Stuff blinks every time you go to DU4, at least if you've cleared your
Yesterday
#16
Duh!
Yesterday
#8
Welcome! I'm beginning to get used to it now.
Yesterday
#10
Everything Else Is Pretty Intuitive
Yesterday
#11
Sorry
Yesterday
#12
Thanks Again
Yesterday
#13
On DU3, I use Standard format for both mobile and computer. And I
Yesterday
#15
Editing a text is hell on mobile.
Yesterday
#17
Definitely more difficult.
Yesterday
#18
While We're On The Topic...
Yesterday
#19
I am seeing them.
Yesterday
#20
Hmmm
5:13 AM
#23
I am trying to do everything in default mode to get started.
7:41 AM
#24
Usonian, please see my reply 22 and check the list of REPLY TITLES ONLY directly under the OP.
8:03 AM
#25
Okay. OKAY. 😎
8:35 AM
#27
I like some of the new features on DU4, and I wanted to like it
Yesterday
#21
Just checked DU4 again, and I see that the time and post # are missing from
10:17 PM
#22
I see reply title, author, time, reply number
8:22 AM
#26
You see them on the titles-only list while using the mobile version?
8:50 AM
#29
I think I fixed this -- try it again now
8:47 AM
#28
Just checked DU4 again, and the reply #s and time/date still don't
9:02 AM
#30
I'll continue to work on it, I think there should be a fix
9:06 AM
#31
Thanks! That way of switching is a bit faster.
9:22 AM
#33
BTW I previously asked if you could tell me exactly what kind of tablet you have
9:14 AM
#32
Fire HD 8, 32 GB.
9:24 AM
#34
And yes, I can easily use an 8 inch tablet on Standard format, vertical, so I can
9:31 AM
#35
Just as a test
9:41 AM
#36
Woohoo! That page of source code fixed it! Thanks!
10:02 AM
#37
Oh it did?
10:04 AM
#38
But I signed out of DU4, signed in to DU3 again, then checked DU4 again, and
10:06 AM
#39
I reverted the change, but I just re-reverted it
10:08 AM
#40
There is no official list of retiring forums at this time
Yesterday
#7
BY THE WAY! When I say I am using dark mode, it's my browser extension at work.
Yesterday
#14

Hermit-The-Prog
1. Do you mean Weather Watchers?
Yesterday
Navigate >> Culture Forums >> Weather Watchers

The forum id numbers are the same, so you can use the navigation links you're used to in du3, then switch to du4 by changing the www to du4. Then, look at the 'breadcrumbs' links below the masthead that show the path to where you are.

[EarlG]

42. Okay then this is good news

It means that I should be able to make adjustments to your view of the site which will also apply to anyone in the same situation as you.

Perhaps the best thing to do going forward is to let me know via DU Mail if there are any other adjustments like this one that you would like to see on other pages, and I'll see if they can be done.

Please note that I'm talking specifically about layout issues, where you're seeing missing information on DU4 when holding your tablet vertically.

[highplainsdem]

43. Sure! Happy to help you find problems with the mobile version of DU4.

Though I'm back on DU3 again at the moment...

Thanks again for that code fix...

[EarlG]

7. There is no official list of retiring forums at this time

This is something that won't be decided for a while yet.

[usonian]

14. BY THE WAY! When I say I am using dark mode, it's my browser extension at work.

So far, I have taken the default on "mode".
And things work quite well. Better than on the "current" DU site.