Themes/Skins

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm on a just-adequate wireless connection myself, and my machine is balky when it's balky -not always to do with the webs- especially for the first hour after it boots in the morning, so my perception isn't worth everything either.  I had my browser lock up completely about 30 minutes ago and had to reboot IE, but that appeared to be something going on in the Yahoo! email tab...

It seems about normal to me so far this morning.

[Buster's Uncle]

Latter as in DO more important or wiki? Or timeouts?

I haven't the foggiest how much traffic the Wiki drives or who-all cares about it.  In the long run, migrating and straightening out our basic tech issues tends to be far more important.

Work on what you want to work on first, I guess.

[Vidsek]

  and had to reboot IE

   Oh dear....am I reading that right?  Someone on my "Heros of the Internet" list is using IE?
  Now I must hear your objections to or other reasons for not using Firefox. 

                                         Vidsek - who's secret reason for being a Firefox fan is that it's an alternate name for the
                                                      Red Panda, which is actually in the raccoon/coati/ringtail family, and so related
                                                      to the Mustelidae (weasle/marten/otter) family, which makes him feel like it's
                                                      named for a cousin of his.  It has nothing to do with the faster speed, greater
                                                      security, greater customability, better looks, open source/freeness, or other
                                                      practical advantages.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm done with all browser snob conversations years ago.

But consider; as Teh Man here, I have to stay in the default theme, with the swear filter on, in the most commonly-used browser, so I can see what the greatest majority of members and lurkers see.

P.S.  Firefox is the Devil.  Pretty much all mystery display problems we have reported are from FF users.  Reed Richards should sue.

[Vidsek]

   No intention to be (or appear) snobbish here.  Just curious, and your reasons are cogent.  Your attention to detail has raised you several notches in that "Heros" list 

[Buster's Uncle]

Hmm.  The Issue a Warning button mods/admins see has light border pixels that look crappy in SMAC.  I cleaned up all the smilies for that a long time ago, but need to find all the post icons with that problem for the sake of users in dark themes...

 -Not sure what to do about this one disappearing into dark backgrounds:  -It'll look crappy in light themes if I take out the edge shading.

[Vidsek]

   Slightly more on-topic for this thread, I've been trying out various of the themes to see which have no readability, icon, or placement flaws (for my W7-64 in "Classic Windows" mode theme + Firefox).
   Unfortunately, I've neglected to document my findings due to time priorities and general lameness, but most have been functional.  I prefer ones with dark backgrounds and text boxes which don't glare out my ancient and blurry optics.
   When I have time, I'll re-read this thread to see which issues you are concerned about and try to keep notes.

   Next on my upgrade list for becoming a cyborg of the 21st Century: new lenses in my eyes.
           .....although cloned but perfect biological eyeballs would be an acceptable alternative.

[Buster's Uncle]

...I'm waiting for them to implement stem cell replacement teeth, myself.  -And I want some of them new eyes, too...

Try going back to when Eadee started going through the themes, looking for comments on the themes that are left.  Also Valka.  That might jog your memory.  I do know which ones don't display EC and Shop Items in the postbit, and am powerless to fix.

Reminders about anything I said I could manage, but don't seem to have yet, would be fine, too.  A little organizing of a list of outstanding issues -and ones as yet unreported- would be very helpful.

[DrazharLn]

Server is still incredibly slow for me. Possibly just my connection. I've fixed the wiki, though it's also quite slow.

I'd appreciate reports from people on better connections: does the site load quickly? Can you post new replies/edit the wiki without getting timeout errors?

[Buster's Uncle]

Switched default back to Curve for now.  With a few tweaks I've mentioned -Shop display and Users Online in the last 24- SMAC's ready, I'm satisfied.  We may do another use-in-practice-and-tweak day soon, according to what Draz wants.

-But Curve has been my home for years now, and it's good to be back.

Four people, one of them Geo, had switched back to Curve already.  SMAX picked up two more users since yesterday morning.  Green Core has picked up a user, and I dunno who the second person in Lazy Summer is.

[Buster's Uncle]

Ooh!  Ooh!  OOH!  Theme idea: The DOGHOUSE.  Functional, but not especially pleasant-looking.  I put you in there when I deem it needed right appropriate/funny.

Geo will probably log on to see it a lot.

...If the dogs pictured are Boston Terriers, Mylochka will take up permanent residence on her own...

[Dio]

Ooh!  Ooh!  OOH!  Theme idea: The DOGHOUSE.  Functional, but not especially pleasant-looking.  I put you in there when I deem it needed right appropriate/funny.

Geo will probably log on to see it a lot.

...If the dogs pictured are Boston Terriers, Mylochka will take up permanent residence on her own...

I could make a potentially inappropriate comment about the implied interests of Mylochka from your post, but I will refrain from posting said comment in the interest of diplomactic relations. In other words, my lips remain sealed .

[Buster's Uncle]

Kilkakon is having an odd problem with the AC themes on the monster 1920x1080 monitor at work.  Attached is a screenie.

I see exactly what the problem is -1345 pixel background to fit a proper screen- but completely stumped about what can be done about it.

[DrazharLn]

I'd hardly call 1920x1080 monster. My normal desktop screen 2560x1440 and at work I have a 4K panel. I've only not noticed this problem because I'm using my ancient laptop.

I think that the best, simple thing to do to handle large displays is to set a maximum width for the whole page, centre it and optionally have some pretty things at the sides in the background for people with big displays.

Doing this properly requires a little skill with CSS, but it can be done more simply by attaching something like this to the body element:

Code: [Select]

body
{
  max-width: 1200px; /* Or 60em or whatever */
  margin-left: auto;
  margin-right: auto;
}

Then the simplest way to improve affairs is to just have the bg image fade out somehow. A better way would be to have another one or two background elements that people on small screens aren't going to see. How to do that is beyond the scope of this guide and I'm going to bed anyway.

/offtopic
Personally, I think that the caching changes I've made have had a really big effect. It's been the difference between this site being usable and not over this rubbish connection.

I'm interested to know if it's as noticeable for people on better connections. I'm sure it will be very noticeable on mobile browsers.

[Buster's Uncle]

I'm getting good fast loads this evening.

I can think up and make a couple of matching side panels, no problem.  Let me sleep on it, and I'll probably know what I want to do in the morning.  -Put all the fades on them if we want something besides more starscape for a background.