Omnimaga

Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: shmibs on July 13, 2013, 03:46:38 am

Title: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 13, 2013, 03:46:38 am
As of today, there is a "new" v6 theme acting as the default. At the moment, it is just a duplicate of v5 with a new banner i made to include more recent community programs. However, if you have any other suggestions for how things could be tweaked visually, feel free to post them below!

Also as of today, Sorunome has replaced the non-functional search bar (which has long been out of commission due to obscenely slow loading times) with a redirect to a site search on DuckDuckGo (https://duckduckgo.com/), so be sure to thank him if you see him around =)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 13, 2013, 03:53:45 am
yay, new theme :D
Should I make the search open in a new tab btw?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Darl181 on July 13, 2013, 04:08:41 am
Yay for working search :D

When it loaded an omni page it kind of made sense to have it in the same tab, but now that it's loading a separate site it should be a new tab imo. Maybe there could be a poll.


As for the forum theme, a random idea I had was maybe the (http://www.omnimaga.org/Themes/omnimaga_retro/images/english/new.gif) could be recolored to match the theme a bit better, similar to the quote, modify etc buttons on posts.
(attached a couple quick edits in the style of the other buttons, guessing it could be done better tho)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Stefan Bauwens on July 13, 2013, 06:20:04 am
Normally I use the V5 retro theme, but I checked the new banner out and it looks cool.
The only possible idea I got to add, is to maybe add a blue transparent layer over those calcs at the right?

Also, thanks for adding Myst in the banner too!
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: pimathbrainiac on July 13, 2013, 09:46:53 am
Epic banner, and YAY I CAN SEARCH (but I think I'll stick to Sorunome's bot for now :P)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 13, 2013, 10:06:34 am
Epic banner, and YAY I CAN SEARCH (but I think I'll stick to Sorunome's bot for now :P)
Either way, you won't get around using my code >:D
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 13, 2013, 10:37:55 am
Yay for working search :D

When it loaded an omni page it kind of made sense to have it in the same tab, but now that it's loading a separate site it should be a new tab imo. Maybe there could be a poll.


As for the forum theme, a random idea I had was maybe the (http://www.omnimaga.org/Themes/omnimaga_retro/images/english/new.gif) could be recolored to match the theme a bit better, similar to the quote, modify etc buttons on posts.
(attached a couple quick edits in the style of the other buttons, guessing it could be done better tho)

those look nice, but the reason the new icon is red and yellow right now is to make it stand out easily. see the attached image; people need to be able to scan across a page and easily distinguish new posts from non-new
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Darl181 on July 13, 2013, 11:00:07 am
those look nice, but the reason the new icon is red and yellow right now is to make it stand out easily. see the attached image; people need to be able to scan across a page and easily distinguish new posts from non-new
Yeah that makes sense. Just thinking there might be a way to have them not clash as loudly, tho I guess that's kind of their purpose so idk :P
Edit: maybe green or pink from the background?
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 13, 2013, 12:04:46 pm
Yeah the News icon used to be blue but I felt it wasn't as easy to notice so I made it really bright and used different colors.

Also nice work on the banner and glad the search was finally replaced. :D
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Stefan Bauwens on July 13, 2013, 12:06:26 pm
...
The only possible idea I got to add, is to maybe add a blue transparent layer over those calcs at the right?
...
Like this, for example:
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 13, 2013, 12:33:02 pm
That makes the calcs too dark IMO
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Juju on July 13, 2013, 01:18:11 pm
Oh nice, a new banner.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Stefan Bauwens on July 13, 2013, 02:33:34 pm
That makes the calcs too dark IMO

Ofcourse, I've grown accustomed to the V5 theme, which is very dark. :P

Also, that's 50% opacity, so it could be reduced.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Scipi on July 13, 2013, 07:05:55 pm
I like the new banner, though I'll miss Link being on there. :P

Also, the new search doesn't seem to be as effective as the old one. I can't find Daemons nor System Crash with it. (Although, I find Daemons when I search for System Crash) :P

Edit: Couldn't find MindF*ck either xD
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 13, 2013, 07:06:46 pm
ask duckduckgo why it is so :P
Also, it won't find things in private matters ;)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Link on July 13, 2013, 08:52:58 pm
Also, thanks Sorunome! I was always wondering why i never had the ability to search...
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: pimathbrainiac on July 13, 2013, 08:58:43 pm
Can't we make a google custom search, though...

I don't like DDGo...
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Hooloovoo on July 13, 2013, 08:58:50 pm
I have noticed that DDG doesn't do a very good job of finding results on omnimaga, ie. it only gives one result for ndless.
I'll add that you can make a custom google search.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 13, 2013, 09:01:09 pm
Hint: if you add !g to the end of your query it searches on Google instead ;)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 13, 2013, 11:00:06 pm
Can't we make a google custom search, though...

I don't like DDGo...
I have noticed that DDG doesn't do a very good job of finding results on omnimaga, ie. it only gives one result for ndless.
I'll add that you can make a custom google search.

Quote from: #omnimaga
2013-07-12 23:52:08   shmibs   inb4 tomorrow when everyone says "MAKE IT GOOGLE!"

and yeah, the colours match perfectly, it lets us avoid associating with google, and, like deep said, sticking !g at the beginning or the end (or anywhere else) makes it a google search instead
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: ruler501 on July 13, 2013, 11:29:58 pm
when I've been searching I've actually liked DDG results better, but to each their own I guess
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 14, 2013, 12:16:50 am
Hopefully this stops questions asking why people can't search.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 14, 2013, 04:33:22 pm
Can you, over ddg url parameters, somehow tell it always to search google? ^^

(also, what about opening in a new tab now?)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 14, 2013, 04:40:01 pm
Can you, over ddg url parameters, somehow tell it always to search google? ^^
By appending !g to the query parameter?
(also, what about opening in a new tab now?)
Add target="_blank" to the form element.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 14, 2013, 04:46:24 pm
Can you, over ddg url parameters, somehow tell it always to search google? ^^
By appending !g to the query parameter?
Brain fart[/quote]
(also, what about opening in a new tab now?)
Add target="_blank" to the form element.
[/quote]I meant if you guys want that, i know how it is working :)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 14, 2013, 06:01:32 pm
I personally would prefer it to open in a new window, only because it's a different website.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 14, 2013, 06:17:38 pm
Yeah same. Keeping an Omni tab open gives people an incentive to stay here and not get carried away elsewhere for far too long. :P

Also bug report: Since the new theme was installed, the drop down selector on the front page portal no longer saves your theme settings. It chooses the new theme if you confirm, but when closing/re-opening Opera, it reverts back to the default theme. So far it appears to work fine if you change the theme via Profile->Layout preferences, though.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 14, 2013, 09:08:49 pm
i noticed that too. it's really strange. it wasn't reverting to the default because i changed the default to v6, but it kept choosing 5 again for me.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 14, 2013, 11:38:49 pm
Also bug report: Since the new theme was installed, the drop down selector on the front page portal no longer saves your theme settings. It chooses the new theme if you confirm, but when closing/re-opening Opera, it reverts back to the default theme. So far it appears to work fine if you change the theme via Profile->Layout preferences, though.
It has always been that way.

If you change the theme from the drop-down on the front page, it only changes the theme for the current session. To change your theme permanently, you need to go to Profile > Look and Layout Preferences.

If it's possible, I think the front-page menu should be a permanent option.
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 14, 2013, 11:54:16 pm
Actually for me I only had this happen from the board index drop down before. Strange O.O
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Jonius7 on July 15, 2013, 12:32:53 am
Also bug report: Since the new theme was installed, the drop down selector on the front page portal no longer saves your theme settings. It chooses the new theme if you confirm, but when closing/re-opening Opera, it reverts back to the default theme. So far it appears to work fine if you change the theme via Profile->Layout preferences, though.
It has always been that way.

If you change the theme from the drop-down on the front page, it only changes the theme for the current session. To change your theme permanently, you need to go to Profile > Look and Layout Preferences.

If it's possible, I think the front-page menu should be a permanent option.

Aha that makes sense, I would usually change a theme via the home page but it would only be temporary, though I still like v5 the best.

Also I like Stefan Bauwen's idea of adding a blue transparent layer on top of the calcs, perhaps 20% opacity would look nice?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 15, 2013, 01:11:20 am
Such layer would be nice, but in order to be realistic, the screens of the three color calcs should remain as they are right now. After all, when using those calcs in a dark room, you can still see the screen as fine (if not better) as in a lighted room. :P
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Streetwalrus on July 15, 2013, 01:38:59 am
I tried this in GIMP and it looks pretty good. :P This is just a recolor of the calc part with color screens kept as is.
(http://img.omnimaga.org//omnimagabanner2013_blue_calcs.png)
Also with blue filled TI-Boy logo (prolly should have used a lighter blue) :
(http://img.omnimaga.org//omnimagabanner2013_blue_calcs2.png)

Anyway those changes are very nice, it's always good to bring some renewal to the site. ;)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: blue_bear_94 on July 15, 2013, 01:47:14 am
By the way, what program is the TI-89 Titanium (the leftmost calculator on the right side) running?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 15, 2013, 01:51:08 am
I agree Streetwalker. :) I would make the TI-Boy icon slightly less violet, though, to match the banner colors better.

And I think the 89T program is Zelda: Links Awakening demo (the 2003 demo that somebody revived a few years ago)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Streetwalrus on July 15, 2013, 01:58:13 am
Actually I took the TI-Boy blue from the Omni logo. :P
I guess this is better now :
(http://img.omnimaga.org//omnimagabanner2013_blue_calcs2-1.png)

And how it looks like on the new posts page :
Spoiler For Spoiler:
(http://img.omnimaga.org//Test.png)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 15, 2013, 02:31:16 am
Looks pretty nice indeed :)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 15, 2013, 12:52:41 pm
Ui, that is looking pretty nice! :D
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 15, 2013, 05:33:17 pm
Tiny display bugs on the new theme:

1) In the reply page, Additional Options no longer show up by default. Omni used to be like that before and people couldn't find the upload form, so it might be a good idea to fix that.

2) A small horizontal line appears above moderator options at the bottom of post pages:
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 15, 2013, 06:31:58 pm
Tiny display bugs on the new theme:

1) In the reply page, Additional Options no longer show up by default. Omni used to be like that before and people couldn't find the upload form, so it might be a good idea to fix that.

2) A small horizontal line appears above moderator options at the bottom of post pages:


i applied a blur to all the gradients to smooth things out, and that extra line must have gotten added somehow./me will look through for it.

also, i have no idea where to look to make additional options display by default. do you remember where that was changed?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 15, 2013, 06:36:47 pm
I think it's in Admin->Theme and layout settings->Omnimaga v6->Then in the options list there, there should be something saying "Enable collapsible additional post options:".
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 15, 2013, 06:42:15 pm
alrighty, it's switched =)
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 17, 2013, 05:32:38 pm
Do you mean it's now the default theme? (As in Omnimaga6 being renamed to the current default theme folder)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 18, 2013, 01:19:16 am
no, i meant that i disabled the hiding additional options thing again.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 18, 2013, 02:31:09 am
Oh ok thanks for that :)

Do you also plan to use  http://img.ourl.ca/omnimagabanner2013_blue_calcs2-1.png for the banner or will you stick to the current one?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 19, 2013, 02:26:07 pm
Search should open now in a new tab

also, poll for google results?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: shmibs on July 19, 2013, 05:29:45 pm
considering how easy it is to get google results already (three characters), what's the point?

and yes, it does open in a new tab =)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 20, 2013, 12:23:43 am
The thing tho is that we should maybe document it, else very few newer members will even be aware that the search supports Google. For example, specify besides the search or inside the field that extra commands can be used to use a different engine.

Also the blue bar in which the search is should state that I'm not admin and to not send me requests :P
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 20, 2013, 09:55:50 pm
In my experience Google and DuckDuckGo have both been pretty bad at searching Omnimaga. DDG tends to return old results, while Google gives me results on the mobile site half the time :P

I'd go with DuckDuckGo because it's less frustrating in that sense, and because I don't know if Google's ToS allows searching by redirect (seeing as they sell a product called Custom Search Engine (http://www.google.com/cse/) which does the same thing).

Plus the option to search with Google is always there. We could just document it somewhere, like changing the placeholder text to something along the lines of "add !g to search Google."
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Juju on July 20, 2013, 11:03:28 pm
The Custom Search Engine thing don't return mobile results for some reason. Or else you can always search by filetype or something?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Darl181 on July 21, 2013, 02:02:16 am
Throwing out some ideas w/ various degrees of thought put into them..

 - Maybe there can be two buttons, each specifying their own search engine?
 - Something kind of like Firefox's search bar, where you click an icon or something (old adv. search magnifying glass?) and a drop-down appears, letting the user switch between engines.
 - Default to one engine, have a profile option for preferred engine. This isn't really a fix for those not registered tho.
 - Aforementioned placeholder text
 - Text to left of field when focused
 - Alt/hover-text
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 21, 2013, 02:16:33 pm
Extra buttons should be small, though, else the bar would get cluttered.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 04:40:43 pm
well, is all of the bar ever fully used? if it isn't, just make a but left (like the size of the quick reply post button, and one to the right...) if it is... just expand the bar by 20px or so... shouldn't pose a problem... tho for mobile platforms it might just add a very tiny scroll to left/right
Title: Re: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 21, 2013, 06:12:00 pm
Yeah but i mean filling the entire bar would look kinda strange, since most sites have the search field small to the top right.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 21, 2013, 06:12:58 pm
Isn't it great to be different? ;)

So, should I make now a drop-down menu to set the search engine and store which one is used in cookies?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 06:24:01 pm
or save it in the profile... in mysql... i'm sure you can add an extra table and make them all automatical to google, then possible to ddg ;p cause if someone deletes his cookies every day or 2.... you get what i mean....
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 21, 2013, 06:25:11 pm
I don't know how SMF is programmed, I would do that if the admins would allow me too but that may result in me messing up and omni not being there for like a min or so till i find my missing semicolumn
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 06:29:08 pm
true... hmmm well i can't think of any other solution so i guess cookie will have to do... ;)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 21, 2013, 08:19:22 pm
Isn't it great to be different? ;)
Yes but it isn't great if it looks ugly as hell X.x. Imagine the top bar filled entirely with search fields or buttons O.O
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 08:58:29 pm
make them smaller... so 1) don't put the 'search'
2) make them half of the height... so you can 2 under eachother at each side...


google  _______  yahoo!
DDG    |______|  Bing

Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Darl181 on July 21, 2013, 09:05:05 pm
If we're going the drop-down route, personally I think the cookie-based method would be better. That way, lurkers & co. couldn't be stuck with something they didn't like and/or have to enter in the parameter every time.
Kind of a minor thing I guess, but you never know :P


Thinking about it I'm liking the idea of having text appear next to the box when focused.
Pretty simple. maybe
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 09:08:40 pm
that's actually not such a bad idea... but what about bing and yahoo etc... you can't fill the bar with all thing like add !g add !y add !b       
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Darl181 on July 21, 2013, 09:12:37 pm
Maybe "See Misc section for search parameters," and stick something under Informational Pages?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 21, 2013, 09:37:06 pm
That + a 'parameter' button left to the search when focussed... upon hover / click, a dropdownbox appears... with just the list 'add !g for google' , ..... you get what i mean?

Code: [Select]
<style type="text/css">

#drop, #drop li ul {
       list-style-type: none;

!!! position: relative;
!!! z-index: 5;

Code: [Select]
}

#drop li ul {
       background: lightblue;
       padding-left: 0px;
       border: 1px solid red;
       width: 150px;

       !!! height: 20px;

Code: [Select]
}

#drop li ul {
       display: none;
}

#drop li:hover ul{
       display: block;
}

</style>


<ul id="drop">
<li>search parameters
<ul>
<li>add !g for google</li>
<li>add !y for yahoo!</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>


only problem with this version is that the dropdown moves all of the site down a bit to be able to show the dropdown stuff

but i'm sure it's possible to make it just appear on top of the stuff, not shifting the site

EDIT: the problem will only occur when the bar doesn't have a limmited height (height is never limited or height: auto) so if it isn't already limited, just limit the bar and problem solved, perfect solution thanks to darl181's idea

(well i think it's the perfect solution ;) )

btw: the colors were just for testing puposes, they can be changed

EDIT2: the content mixed up with background stuff, for that, add -> position: relative; z-index:5;
to the #drop

EDIT3: you might wanna add a padding-left and top to the div, so that the text wouldn't be at the edge
but it's already 4:34 am here, i gotta get up in a little more than 2 hours, so i'm gonna sleep now xD

EDIT4 : that css should be in a css file... you know that ;)
but testing on ipad is easiests like this + this allows easy copy-paste-  direct testing
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 21, 2013, 11:22:04 pm
If we're going the drop-down route, personally I think the cookie-based method would be better. That way, lurkers & co. couldn't be stuck with something they didn't like and/or have to enter in the parameter every time.
Kind of a minor thing I guess, but you never know :P


Thinking about it I'm liking the idea of having text appear next to the box when focused.
Pretty simple. maybe
True, but if cookie-based, make sure that it's cross-browser too, unlike TI-Planet in Opera (when using the site as guest)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 22, 2013, 03:40:20 am
Does IE count now as a browser? :P

Also, I guess cookie-based now with  a drop-down menu to search the search engine?
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 22, 2013, 04:10:41 am
i guess so... all my work for nothing... :( xd
jk i use the dropdown part i made in my own project as well ;)

also, another thing i could have done: dropdown at a hover over the searchbar instead of a text next to it...

well do whatever you want... guess it's gonna be the cookie idea, which isn't that bad xd
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 22, 2013, 04:13:25 am
[...]
well do whatever you want...[...]
I would say admins call, i don't run omnimaga :P
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 22, 2013, 04:47:19 am
hahaha well i meant in my opinion xD
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Eeems on July 22, 2013, 12:45:29 pm
I'm going to say leave it for now, I'm going to write up a better permanent solution.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 22, 2013, 01:14:55 pm
Also please keep searching unlogged lol. I understand that it can be useful to know what are the most popular search terms, but I find it kinda creepy if I decide to search for something weird just out of curiosity then an admin suddenly highlights me on IRC about it. XD

(If I really can't find what I need I'll post a topic or ask on IRC anyway)
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 22, 2013, 01:44:01 pm
lawl, well actually the best permanent solution would be: rewrite the whole search engine...
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 22, 2013, 08:01:23 pm
lawl, well actually the best permanent solution would be: rewrite the whole search engine...
or upgrade the site so we can use the decent default search engine like we've always had <_<
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: stevon8ter on July 22, 2013, 08:05:40 pm
lawl, well actually the best permanent solution would be: rewrite the whole search engine...
or upgrade the site so we can use the decent default search engine like we've always had <_<

true xd
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Deep Toaster on July 22, 2013, 08:09:48 pm
Off-topic, but seeing Darl181's mockup made me wonder if we could ever SEO our way to the top for "lobster recipies" <_<

And IMHO it would be better if we used one consistent search engine instead of providing a bunch of options. At least by default.
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on July 26, 2013, 02:28:37 am
Maybe Omni staff could try a copy of SMF 2.0 somewhere on the server to see if searching there is fast enough. It could just be the server that is too slow to handle it.

Also would an upgrade to SMF 2.0 break the minus world? (topics and posts with negative IDs) I know Netham45 had to do some edits in the MySQL database to allow them but I worried that a major upgrade would overwrite those changes. >.<
Off-topic, but seeing Darl181's mockup made me wonder if we could ever SEO our way to the top for "lobster recipies" <_<
Lol XD
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: Sorunome on July 26, 2013, 04:13:32 am
There is already a smf2.0 copy in the works.....only that i think it is a dead project x.x

If I knew what would have to be done I would be more than happy to help out! :D
Title: Re: New banner and new search function
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on August 06, 2013, 02:57:24 pm
I don't think it's dead, but more like on hiatus or progressing very slowly due to most staff being busy with work. I think it's like a 3-years long project, but by then SMF 2.1 or 3.0 will probably be out or in open beta. :P

Also I like how shmibs managed to use a full color bg rather than 256 colors, yet it only takes twice more space. When I tried to save my original background in full color PNG format (no transparency) it took like 2 MB O.O