About forum - new functions and enhancements for better user experience

Alan_SP

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
11/01/2016
Messages
1,957
I think that some things could be added to forum.

First is announcements.

I see you use built in function, global threads that are visible in every forum, but there is better system in my opinion. This extension: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... uncements/

It basically works like this:

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Announcement is visible on every page, without need to enter thread, by just loading forum, you can inform people about the most important info.

I would like if you'd use it for last build, you can add there info you put in changelog, with date when it is released.

Of course, you can use it for quick informing about any important event, whatever you found useful.

Secondly, liking posts.

For phpBB there's no extension at the moment with official working status, but there's is one in beta which is still actively developed: https://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtop ... #p13645321

You get hart in posts and if you click it, you like post. It could be great way for testing ideas, getting feedback if users don't want to write posts etc. I often would like to like some posts, but I can't at the moment.

It would look like this:

preview.jpg


Thirdly, marking topics as solved.

As some users has questions about something, marking thread solved could be helpful. Other users would know where are answers by just looking at thread list.

https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... ic_solved/

You could use image, or text (I would even prefer text, something like this: Solved).

Fourthly, list of similar topics within thread.

This extension finds similar keywords in thread names and lists them under last post of thread, so people could easily found that threads.

It looks like this:

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You can found extension here: https://www.phpbb.com/customise/db/exte ... ar_topics/
 

DavidBVal

Developer
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Administrator
Joined
28/02/2015
Messages
7,427
thanks, yeah eventually I'll upgrade and include some of those fancy extensions.
 

Alan_SP

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
11/01/2016
Messages
1,957
They work for most 3.1.x versions, so I think you're good at the moment. Of course, if you also find it useful and have a time. But installing extension in phpBB isn't that hard.
 

DavidBVal

Developer
Staff member
Administrator
Joined
28/02/2015
Messages
7,427
yeah, this forum already uses several. The thing is, making sure it's compatible with the "theme", i.e., the template. Because a big pink baloon wouldn't look good here, and that kind of customization takes time.
 

Alan_SP

Staff member
Administrator
Joined
11/01/2016
Messages
1,957
Yes, that is a problem, because each style has it's own needs.

In case of announcement this is easily solved:

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You define custom color to be in sync with your current style and wishes, just enter RGB color in appropriate place.

But yes, each extension can ask work.
 

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