Please report GLITCHES with update here!

[nadasy]

[Mod note: we moved the first few posts over from another thread. Because they were posted before my opening post in this thread, they're appearing before my OP, so here's my first post again, for clarification:

Update GLITCH REPORT

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We've heard your valuable input re: font and format issues, and are working on them as we speak, but we wanted to create a "punch list" here for other items we need to address.

If you've run into a link or a function that doesn't work or works differently than it did before, please let us know here.

If you find things look or work differently when you're using different browsers to access the site, please let us know.

When you're issuing your report, please feel free to provide details and let us know what browser and version you're using to view the site. You can usually find this info by clicking "Help" then "About xyz browser" from your Internet browser toolbar.

Please direct general comments about the new site and general comments about trends in the forum's speed to this thread (http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232102).

You can also contact our New Media Director, Erin Bush, with comments or concerns at erin@chronofhorse.com.

Thanks!
Mod 1


------------------------------------------------------


I used to stay logged in. Now, since the upgrades, every time I bring up the site (from BookMarks), I have to sign in w/ my password, even if I've ticked the box for 'remember me'.

I'm using a MacBook and Safari, that hasn't changed. Is this a new thing since the upgrades?

Regards,
Dinah

[TheJenners]

I have XP, and use Firefox to browse. The ads take up about 2/3 of the screen, which squishes the forums.

[shall]

The main forum size cannot be adjusted in either IE or Firefox. If I make my browser wider, the forum size stays the same (squished). It makes it difficult to browse or spend time at the site. I use Vista 64.

Something advertisers might like to know is that the rapidly blinking ads (Smartpak) are distracting and a turn off. With the new format of large ad's, their message comes through fine with non-blink. The ad display part of the new site works better than the old.

[Moderator 1]

We've heard your valuable input re: font and format issues, and are working on them as we speak, but we wanted to create a "punch list" here for other items we need to address.

If you've run into a link or a function that doesn't work or works differently than it did before, please let us know here.

If you find things look or work differently when you're using different browsers to access the site, please let us know.

When you're issuing your report, please feel free to provide details and let us know what browser and version you're using to view the site. You can usually find this info by clicking "Help" then "About xyz browser" from your Internet browser toolbar.

You can also contact our New Media Director, Erin Bush, with comments or concerns at erin@chronofhorse.com.

Thanks!
Mod 1

[Fairview Horse Center]

Premium members can't attach photos to posts.

[Sharon]

I am a long time subscriber to the print magazine. Paid and up to date.
No prior problem using my user name and password.

The log in rejected my user name and password.
Yes...I read FAQs. ...which said that the old user name and password works.

I finally requested a "lost password" thinking that there was something new I had to do.
The return email from the Chronicle directed me to "register" with a new user name and password.
I had to register again and now I have a different log in name and password.

If we all had to register again, just tell us.
The FAQs page should have had acturate information.

Internet Explorer 8
Highspeed broadband connection

As a paid print subscriber, I am interested in the print magazine and my subscrition.

Thank you for taking our glitches comments.

PEASE BRING BACK THE CHRONICLE BANNER.

Sharon

[carp]

The search function for the magazine (the one at the top right under the registration link, not the one on the blue bar) could use some improvement.

First, label it more clearly so that you can tell it is the magazine search function, not the forum search function.

Second, the layout is such that the internal scroll bars get pushed out of the window and are inaccessible.

Third, the search filters are in great need of improvement.

Example:
I wanted to use the advanced search function to look up an article by McLain Ward. No instructions on how to find advanced search. I took a guess and clicked on the arrow next to the regular magazine search box. This did indeed bring me to a link for advanced search. I clicked and got to a search page. Instead of a box where I could type the author name and tell it to go, I was greeted with a drop-down menu and a scroll bar. The drop down menu was too wide for my laptop PC screen resolution, so the scroll bar was almost entirely hidden off to the right. Grabbing a little scrap of scroll bar, I rolled down the list in search of McLain Ward. There are at least two entries for his name: "By McLain Ward," and simply "McLain Ward." George Morris has several entries, depending on whether you include his middle initial or not. Very annoying. I'd rather be able to just search for an author with McLain in the name.

Info about my PC:
Windows XP SP3
IE 7
Screen resolution 1280 x 800 (max possible with this hardware.)

[Ghazzu]

Quote button missing from message panes in Firefox 3.5.5, Win XP machine

[Ghazzu]

Actually, reply and edit buttons gone, as well.
The only way I can post is to use the "quick reply" box.

[RiverBendPol]

Aside from the blinding headache, my prob is that when I log in through Safari, the server shuts down. It seems to be OK on Firefox but Safari can't seem to cope.
Thanks for all your good works...:winkgrin:

[Mav226]

Is there a way to make the HUGE ads on the right hand side smaller? It squishes up all of the rest of the font (that I actually want to read) and makes it difficult to see.

Also, it would be nice if the coloring/font, etc. looked more like the actual chronicle magazine.

[saje]

The magazine reader "feature" is very slow and chokes my browser (latest Firefox 3.0.15 on a compaq laptop running Windows XP). PDFs are, IMO, far easier to read and use.

I clicked around the main site, and I'm sorry to say it is not appealing to me at all. It looks like Equisearch or virtually any other horse site out there. I liked the old format much better, it was easy to find what I wanted because it correlated with the magazine.

I find the drop down menus irritating, they're either hypersensitive and drop when you don't mean them to, or go away too fast when you DO want them.

If there's meant to be an ad over the main header, I'm not seeing it, and I don't think I have it blocked, unless it's a Google ad.

If I didn't know what site I was looking at, the size of the ads on the side combined with the general layout of things, plus the lack of the classic Chronicle detailing would make me assume the entire site was devoted to selling something, and I probably wouldn't investigate further. That and the fact that it now looks like every other site out there. The green on glaring white keeps making me think of Dover's & Equisearch, neither of which I will frequent for long. (Though I'm sorry to say that Equisearch has a better front page layout)

My apologies for being so negative. My husband runs his own servers and maintains a couple of sites that are about 1/1000th the size of this one, so I know what an utter PITA upgrades are, even without the outraged denizens of a forum yelling at you! However not all change is good, and old is not always bad. I fear this attempt at New!! and Improved!! has been a serious misstep.

[VirginiaBred]

On the "old" board, when you read an article, the name of the thread would turn from a bold color to a not bold color, indicating you had read the thread. It's not that way now.

Now, you can't tell that you've read a thread.

[Simkie]

On the "old" board, when you read an article, the name of the thread would turn from a bold color to a not bold color, indicating you had read the thread. It's not that way now.

Now, you can't tell that you've read a thread.

This still happens for me, but it's very subtle, as the difference between bold green and not-bold green is really not very apparent.

Running Firefox 3.5.5 on Vista.

[VirginiaBred]

This still happens for me, but it's very subtle, as the difference between bold green and not-bold green is really not very apparent.

Running Firefox 3.5.5 on Vista.


No, that's not what I'm talking about. I see the difference to (although not enough of a difference with the green). I'm talking not changing at all. It does it on some threads but not on others.

[Sonesta]

Not sure that I want to complain about this (LOL) but thought you should know that for some weird reason, there are NO ADS showing up on my screen at all. None at the top or the sides. On the side is only the video, the Join Our Community links and the RSS Feed links.

I use IE8 and don't have any popup blocker or anything else on of which I am aware that would block ads.

[Sharon]

Sunday evening,
Rejects my "new" user name and password"... obtained after I was told to register again
also rejects my "old user name and password"
thank you for all your efforts.
I have always loved the Chronicle and the quality of the writers.
Sharon

[AnotherRound]

Search doesn't work for my own username: it returns nothing beofre 2006 or 2004, depending. Depending on what, I have no clue, however sometimes its all the posts before 2004, somtimes before 2006. And yes, I checked the search criteria so that it is correct.

[Moderator 1]

Sunday evening,
Rejects my "new" user name and password"... obtained after I was told to register again
also rejects my "old user name and password"
thank you for all your efforts.
I have always loved the Chronicle and the quality of the writers.
Sharon

Hi Sharon ~

The links for this week's magazine were being fixed, but in the meantime, you can access it here (http://chronofhorse.epubxpress.com/).

Anyone having trouble signing in to the main site, please contact Sara Lieser: slieser@chronofhorse.com.

If you're having trouble logging in to the forums, please contact chronadmin@comcast.net.

Sorry for the trouble. We'll be checking into everything on this thread, but I want to address the things I can give immediate answers to.

Thanks!
Mod 1

[Roan]

I'm going to assume you've installed vBAdvanced 'cause that's what this looks like.

It also looks like it was not tested in Firefox or with variable width screens.

Please consider a variable width template instead of this static one. Yes, they are a little much harder to work with than a static one but a lot of people have 2048+ res monitors now. This puppy is SQUISHED!

PLEASE either change the default font from Lucida grande to verdana or arial or at least give us the option of selecting a different template. Although it looks fine in IE, this font looks horrendous in Firefox 3.5.5 (probably looks just as bad in lower versions of FF). I don't use IE unless it's to test my own web sites for compatibility. Something I think you guys forgot to do :D

Lemme rephrase that -- I think it was tested, but I think you guys may have underestimated how many people use browsers other than IE. My logs tell me that the majority of the people who visit my web sites do *not* use IE -- they use Firefox or Opera. Some of the newer ones, like Chrome, are gaining fast.

Eileen

[arabhorse2]

I don't know if it's the computer I'm working with or the COTH server, but I can't separate my paragraphs (horrors!!!) and the smilies don't work for me now.

[subk]

It is still taking 20-40 seconds for any new page to load for me. While this is a significant improvement from the first day, it is very frustrating. Are you still making changes that will improve the loading time or is this it?

[squiggle]

Hi, I'm using Google Chrome on the forums, and the font is HORRIBLE. It's not that it's too small, it's that there is literally a space at the top of every letter/character (like the letters aren't joined at the tops!).

I'm not even going to echo the comments on the width of the forums vs. ads, but I will say that the whole JOIN OUR COMMUNITY and RSS FEEDS areas are completely inconsequential to me as I don't use any of those features (can't imagine that I'm the ONLY one!), so they are eating up a huge amount of space that I am basically ignoring -- you could locate those elsewhere, shrink the width of the ad area and still expose the reader to more ads than you are right now.

[ErinBush]

It is still taking 20-40 seconds for any new page to load for me. While this is a significant improvement from the first day, it is very frustrating. Are you still making changes that will improve the loading time or is this it?

Hi SubK.. thanks for posting, yes, we are looking into the server load issues today. We now have 2 full days of server logs to analyze to find the best solution.

[Equibrit]

I updated to IE 8.

[ErinBush]

I don't know if it's the computer I'm working with or the COTH server, but I can't separate my paragraphs (horrors!!!) and the smilies don't work for me now.

Hi Arabhorse2.. thanks for posting. I haven't heard from anyone else about the smilies or the paragraphs not working, so we will definitely look into it. If you wouldn't mind, what browser are you using? Firefox, IE, Safari, Google Chrome?

Thank you!

[ErinBush]

I used to stay logged in. Now, since the upgrades, every time I bring up the site (from BookMarks), I have to sign in w/ my password, even if I've ticked the box for 'remember me'.

I'm using a MacBook and Safari, that hasn't changed. Is this a new thing since the upgrades?

Regards,
Dinah


Hi Dinah, it IS new and it's not remembering me either, so I will flag this as a bug. Thank you!

[dilligaff2]

Hey Erin,

A different issue:

The large adds are actually blocking 1/2 of the page in the Private Message area. ie: I can not read the entire message because the ads are over top of it.

Internet Explorer 7

[Carolinadreamin']

Gave up on the search feature - waited for 5 minutes before calling uncle. S. L. O. W.

[ErinBush]

Hey Erin,

A different issue:

The large adds are actually blocking 1/2 of the page in the Private Message area. ie: I can not read the entire message because the ads are over top of it.

Internet Explorer 7

Dilligaff2, thank you. I'll take a screenshot of it and pass it along to the dev team. Thank you!

Keep them coming folks! This is most helpful.

[GotSpots]

Same speed issues (well, lack thereof) as subk, on both Safari and on IE today. Sorry . . .

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Still very, very slow, regardless of browser or server. I often give up before I post...hey...maybe that was what you wanted!!!!

[Moderator 1]

Hey Erin!

Figure I'll publicly post additional things as I find them, so folks know they're on the radar. I'm on Internet Explorer v. 8.

The banner is no longer clickable to the home page. It worked for me initially, but isn't now.

The Photos & Video caption used to be at the bottom of the box; now it's migrated to the right side above the arrow.

"Contact Us" toolbar at the bottom is back--woo-hoo!

Thanks!
Mod 1

[VirginiaBred]

FYI

The drop down boxes at the top are now leaving shadows if you accidently roll your mouse near them.

Really overly sensitive too, BTW.

[trubandloki]

I don't know if it's the computer I'm working with or the COTH server, but I can't separate my paragraphs (horrors!!!) and the smilies don't work for me now.

Hi Arabhorse2.. thanks for posting. I haven't heard from anyone else about the smilies or the paragraphs not working, so we will definitely look into it. If you wouldn't mind, what browser are you using? Firefox, IE, Safari, Google Chrome?

I do not know if it will help any but I had this problem on Friday. It did allow me to edit them in using edit though. But posting originally no hard returns showed up.

I use Firefox, not sure what version though, sorry. Oh and Vista.

And yes, things are still so slow that I frequently get timed out. Very frustrating.

[ErinBush]

I've added the overly sensitive rollovers in the main navigation to our fix list. Thank you for flagging!

[sdlbredfan]

I am using a cable broadband connection, and a fast machine. The forum loads up quickly on Google Chrome, but when I use IE, it takes 2 minutes for site to respond, another 2 minutes for private messages display to respond and show me my messages. I am not having that problem with any other site, so it apparently is on your side.

The readability issue has improved; thanks for going back to blue. There is still a bit of screen glare (that I do not notice anywhere else but here) but at least the forum area now occupies about 66% of the width of the screen instead of a scant third of it.

I agree with many who have said the COTH banner needs to come back. Not only is it part of the COTH 'brand' but most of us horsepeople enjoy recognition of tradition and longevity in an equestrian pursuit, in this case publication.)
Hey, I visited just now with IE and it popped right up, yay!

[Mav226]

Really, ridiculously, hideously S-L-O-W. Using Safari.

[Moderator 1]

Just a heads up that we're still ironing out the server issues, so the speed WILL improve, but it's a work in progress.

Thanks everyone!

[shakeytails]

THANK YOU for fixing the fonts! The speed is fine for me- it's just as fast as it used to be, maybe faster. Now if only I didn't have those black stripes of dead space at the sides of my screen....

[TheJenners]

I don't have any more dead space (used to be green).

[AnotherRound]

Font change? COlor change? Not in my neck of the woods. Oh, ok, the font is now Microsoft blue. Just lovely. But its the same horrid lime green assaulting my eyes on the rest of the site. Its so easy to change, why on gods green earth would they use that awful color?? Just had to post and say there is something seriously wrong with this site. It doesn't load and the search function is way whacked. I ask the site to load, and can go to another site on another tab, log in, read a thread and make a post and still COTH hasn't loaded. Getting to a thread you want to read is a nightmare. Reading a page is hard slogging, and going back to find another thread makes you just give up. The site bogs down after reading about two or three threads, after which I just can't get anything to load and I give up and close it down.

Shades of Coth past.

[msrobin]

The squished forums are HORRIBLE! I am not sure who decided that this was ok, but they were wrong. I will not be returning until it is switched back. It is too small to see properly and the ads are so big you can't keep your attention straight.
Big mistake, I am completely surprised at this one.

[AnotherRound]

Just started reworking for me again...main page fonts changed back to Cloth bright blue and faster again. But the format still sucks out loud. I have great vision...it gives me crossed eyes trying to read it for more than 5 minutes.

Bad bad bad upgrade, I see no positive changes for users anywhere. Its a real shame. I won't be back until this is changed. Now the posting is slowed down again.

Can't spend any time on the site, can't make it work, and my eyes are stressed.

[staceyk]

I can log in via Safari. When I attempt a login the message says I'm being redirected but I go back to the unlogged in view (I'm not logged in).

[MoSwanson]

Too bad, the new format doesn't load AT ALL on my Blackberry. I used to enjoy watching the forums while traveling, but apparently this is not going to be possible anymore....

[Tiki]

Hooray, thanks for the blue, the bold and the font!

Now, please, pretty please with sugar and molasses and chocolate could you fix the size of the threads and the reply box?? I still get a terrific crick in my neck looking left all the time to read anything. :confused:

[Zu Zu]

This is a minor problem - just wanted to alert a moderator - I log out but when I pull up coth again - I am already logged in ????? :eek: It looks like I am permanently logged in :lol:- I guess that is better than being permanently logged out ! :lol: Never mind - guess it could get worse.

[Moderator 1]

Thanks for the input everyone! Glad to hear the changes thus far are mostly positive.

We're going to reopen the general feedback thread once we work through the first batch of issues, so please keep this thread focused on reporting actual glitches--things that are not working vs. things you aesthetically don't like. ;)

Erin and the developers are happy to incorporate changes as we move along with the site and see how things go, but first off, we want to take care of the mechanics.

Tiki, I believe the quick reply box size is on the list.

Thanks!

[Moderator 1]

This is a minor problem - just wanted to alert a moderator - I log out but when I pull up coth again - I am already logged in ????? :eek: It looks like I am permanently logged in :lol:- I guess that is better than being permanently logged out ! :lol: Never mind - guess it could get worse.

Hi Zu Zu ~

You may have clicked the "remember me" box when you logged back in the first time after the relaunch. I'm not sure if you're actually using the log out link when you leave or if you're just closing down the page.

If you don't want to be remembered, click "log out" from the far right of the blue bar near the top of the page. That will clear the "cookies" from your computer. When you log back in, be sure that the remember me button is UNchecked.

If you're still automatically logged in each time after trying that, please let us know.

Thanks!

[ErinBush]

Mod 1, here is the list of glitches that I have logged so far:

1. The remember me box in VBulletin is NOT allowing you to log out.
2. Premium members images did not port over and prem members cannot upload images. Error copied and sent to the dev team.
3. Overly sensitive drop down menus
4. Ads are overlapping the content area in the Private Messages screen.
5. ** is the lost password for vbulletin working now??**

I am in the process of adding text to our main site login, registration and password reset pages to clarify the difference between vBulletin and our CMS login. (As an aside, I've written to vBulletin/JelSoft to ask them to enhance their forums product to allow more open registration.. if and when they finally do, we'll be all over it!)

Is anyone experiencing any other strange functionality issues?
Thank you all for your input, this is incredibly helpful as we work out the kinks!

[Moderator 1]

For those noting that the Quick Reply box is now too small, is the height of the box shorter so that you see fewer lines of text at one time when you're composing a message, or is it a function of the forums now being narrower, so that a given number of words now take up more lines?

I don't typically use Quick Reply, so the change isn't apparent to me.

Thanks!

[Moderator 1]

Erin ~

To be sure they get the proper info (and not clutter up your inbox any more!), at least for me, the issue with the private message content/ad overlap only emerges when you have opened up a message to compose a reply.

That's when the ad bar overlaps the side of the message composition area/smilie menu.

Thanks!

[philosoraptor]

I agree the old format was so much better. I have a 24" in monitor and the box I am tying in right now is all of about 2" wide (not exaggurating) ?! The forums are almost 80% green sidebars and a narrow little strip of text in between. It's horrible. :no:

[dilligaff2]

Actually Mod1, it seems to happen with any new messages that have been sent since the switch. I just went and opened the a messeage in my 'Sent' folder that I sent yesterday and it also overlaps in that view. Any older ones are OK.

FYI--I tried it at home on FoxFire and had the same issue.

[Moderator 1]

Thanks for reporting your experiences.

For me, all of the messages (in my inbox or sent folder) are fine when I open them. But when I go to reply to any of those messages, the overlap occurs.

We'll let the pros figure it out--thanks again for the additional info!

ETA: My PM overlap issues have been resolved as of last night. :)

[Ghazzu]

I still have none of the clickable icons within the message panes for reply with quote/multiquote/quick reply showing in individual messages.
The only way a Ican reply is to use the quick reply box at the bottom of the page anc cut and paste any text I wish to quote.

This is in Firefox 3.5.5, Win XP.

The icons are present on the same computer if I use (ick) IE.

The icons were present in Firefox *before* the "upgrade".

[Tamara in TN]

Actually Mod1, it seems to happen with any new messages that have been sent since the switch. I just went and opened the a messeage in my 'Sent' folder that I sent yesterday and it also overlaps in that view. Any older ones are OK.

FYI--I tried it at home on FoxFire and had the same issue.



yes same here in firefox

[Thomas_1]

I can't connect from my mobile device.

Getting the page with the forum message telling me the site is closed for "upgrade"

Disgusting that the moderators have taken upon themselves to remove feedback.

The "Upgrade" is shambolic and a mess and you can remove such comments from my postings for all you want.

You still won't change the situation until you get the forums fixed and sorted.

So:

Get rid of all the white space at the side

Get mobile connection sorted

Get a decent reply box back again

Stop editing users posts where they're critical and give meaningful feedback which is honest.

So step up to the plate and say:

Do you think that it's acceptable to have half a screen with white space?

Are you intent on changing it or is this a talk to the hand because we'll keep editing and removing posts situation!?

When will the improvements be made?

What will you do this time round for User Acceptance testing and how will you ensure there's better user experience?

[AnotherRound]

[edit]

I wanted to adress the slowness in a serious manner, not just to pile on complaints about the slowness.

The site seemes to bog down after the third click or forth click to new pages on the site, transitioning to another page. Sad, because when I come to the site, I will usually spend several hours and click to 50 or more pages, reading all the threads, many of the forums, and all the sometimes hundreds of pages on a thread. Now I'm limited to just 3 or 4 before I have to give up and shut down the browser!! That's bad!!!

I used the css fix that LoriB posted, which eliminates the fixed width colums and ads. The site is faster, at least this evening, with out the fixed width and without the ads. To me this means that you have serious architectural problems with your website.

[edit]

[Fairview Horse Center]

I still have none of the clickable icons within the message panes for reply with quote/multiquote/quick reply showing in individual messages.
The only way a Ican reply is to use the quick reply box at the bottom of the page anc cut and paste any text I wish to quote.

This is in Firefox 3.5.5, Win XP.



I have them in Firefox 3.0.15 (also Win XP)

[Yip]

One glitch I see (IE) is, on loading any page, a black sidebar appears for a while, then disappears when the page fully loads. It's pretty annoying because there's a lot of movement going on.

I think th eblack sidebar might be associated with the *Magazine* tab on the upper left. I don't click on that or run my cursor over it, but it seems to drop down anyway. Can't read the words, if they're even there, because they're behind the post column.

Every time I receive a new IM, I get alerted to it twice, as though it were brand new. I fall for it every time because it could be a reply to one I sent - but it has always been the same message I read last time I logged on.

I really liked the old color scheme. I don't mind change if it's an improvement, but the old site was so easy on the eyes and easy to read. This is all too bright and weird.

This server is like molasses in January in New England. It's been years since I frequented a site so consistently slow. On first loading as well as between pages. I can't stay here very long at one time because it's so slow. It's been like that for a long time, and I was expecting the new site to run a lot faster. But it didn't happen.

Thanks for listening and working to make it run better.

[bumknees]

Im another who has to log in every itme I come here.

Its not major just an annoyance.

and the reply box is itty bitty

[trubandloki]

Just now as I was browsing posts the 'join our community' and 'rss feeds' boxes were overlapping the forum so I could not easily see what section the threads were in. (I had used new posts.)

Firefox (not sure what version) and Vista.

[arabhorse2]

Erin, first time I've been able to post for several days.... I use Internet Explorer, but I'm using a cover website to get to COTH, since Barracuda has banned your new server from my work computer.The cover website is called covermy.info.I'm thinking that's why I'm unable to access the smilies and use paragraphs.

[dilligaff2]

Thanks for reporting your experiences.

For me, all of the messages (in my inbox or sent folder) are fine when I open them. But when I go to reply to any of those messages, the overlap occurs.

We'll let the pros figure it out--thanks again for the additional info!

Hmm--I just check another mesage and it was OK. THe one with the biggest problem had a picture embedded. I am thinking that the screen width is Auto sizing based on the size of the message but the ads are not moving to accomodate it.

BTW--loading MUCH quicker now. :D

[Natalie A]

This has probably already been posted, but the search feature is completely broken for me. No results are showing up when I enter search terms in that I know should come up with a bunch of results.

I was hoping to re-read some of the threads on the Wii Fit as I'm thinking of getting one, but can't seem to access that feature.

[Moderator 1]

We're going to be reopening a thread for general feedback (http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232102) later today after the New Media Director works through some of the day's slate.

Please reserve the general feedback--positive and negative--for that thread or share them directly with the main office (issues@chronofhorse.com).

We removed some of the general commentary from this thread so it remains a concise resource for reporting specific issues so that we can address them more effectively.

Thanks!
Mod 1

[Moderator 1]

This has probably already been posted, but the search feature is completely broken for me. No results are showing up when I enter search terms in that I know should come up with a bunch of results.

I was hoping to re-read some of the threads on the Wii Fit as I'm thinking of getting one, but can't seem to access that feature.

Hi Natalie ~

Are you using "Wii Fit" as your search terms? The search function doesn't accept search words under four letters (that's actually not a new thing). I plugged in "fitness game" as a test and received 14 pages of results, so you might have to play around with it.

Please report back if you're still having trouble with longer search terms.

Erin ~

While checking into this issue, I did have a glitch with the search screen going full screen width, under the ad bar. I use IE v. 8.

Here's a screen shot. (Uploads are working again for me :))

[Fairview Horse Center]

I have sometimes been receiving 3 identical emails to update me on the same message in a thread. This has only happened 2 or 3 times, not everytime.

The last ones I received at 11:14, 11:17, and 11:18 - same post.

[Natalie A]

it wasn't giving me any search results, actually, even 4+ letter words. Now it seems to be working, but it definitely wasn't working for me earlier today

[india]

I don't like the bigger ads..they take up most of the page. The ads are getting in the way of editing my profile. Is there a way to hide them while I make changes?

I don't like the drop bars, I can't get them to go away. They get in the way of what I am reading. Is there a way around them?

[vineyridge]

Glitch that I'm having

Drop down menus at the top--Horse Sports. Drops down, then when I click on Discussion Forums which is right under it, even after the drop down appears to be gone, I get Eventing content from the drop down. This is not constant, but when it happens more than once or twice a session, it's aggravating.

Also at one point the green stuff on the right was cutting off part of the icons in the private message reply box. Again, not sure if this is still happening.

[Moderator 1]

I don't like the bigger ads..they take up most of the page. The ads are getting in the way of editing my profile. Is there a way to hide them while I make changes?

I don't like the drop bars, I can't get them to go away. They get in the way of what I am reading. Is there a way around them?


india, is there a specific screen that is being overlapped by the ads when you're trying to edit your profile? If you can get a screen shot of it and/or provide some more detail that would be great.

Thanks!

[Fairview Horse Center]

Here is what the Chronicle Menu bar looks like - white lettering on light gray.

The photo atachment is working now. Yea!

[Adamantane]

Earlier I posted a comment which seems not to have taken, although many hours and many posts later I got an e-mail telling me the thread I posted on had been updated.

I repeat: there is no shame in reverting to the previous version until the issues on this one have been worked through.

[HenryisBlaisin']

I cannot stay logged in. I have the "remember me" box clicked, but it logs me out anyway. And not just every time I come back, but several times during a visit. It's very annoying to have to log in three or four times while I'm perusing!

ETA-I use Firefox.

[india]

india, is there a specific screen that is being overlapped by the ads when you're trying to edit your profile? If you can get a screen shot of it and/or provide some more detail that would be great.

Thanks!

I sent you an email with the screens and the print screens of these issues.
First screen is the Edit Profile on the control panel and the other screen is the Buddy/ Ignore List.

Thanks, India

[CookiePony]

I'm having trouble logging into the magazine side of the site. I was able to on Friday morning before the switchover, but later last weekend couldn't. I tried again today but no luck again.

[Simkie]

Hi...just to give the mods and Erin some concrete numbers:

I am viewing on a 19" widescreen monitor. The total horizontal width of my monitor is 18" and a bit.

When I view the content of the forums, the actual message board section is 6.75" wide.

The "quick reply" reply box is just barely over 6".

When I hit the "quote" reply button, the reply box I am provided is 3.75" wide.

When I reply to a PM, my reply box is 3.5" wide.

This feels a little...restrictive.

[MEP]

Hi - I am able to log onto the Forums with my regular user name, but am not able to log onto the magazine site (I am a subscriber and my username/password used to work.)

[S A McKee]

I get quite different results depending on the machine. Initially after the upgrade I was able to set the 'panel' options on the laptop to full screen and that got rid of the wasted green space on the sides. That fix isn't working anymore. If anything the green space is now larger on the laptop. On the laptop the text that is supposed to be under the "Photos & Video" box is now spilling out into the green area.

I'm pretty annoyed with the following from ErinBush's update.

"What we are not changing:
- Ad sizes. I'm sorry.. I know the ads look huge, especially compared to the tiny little buttons we used to have, but part of our overall strategy was to move to the Internet Advertising Bureau standard sizes. We've done that now. We also implemented a better ad serving system which no longer sucks resources from our own servers and is easier to manage."

http://www.adoperationsonline.com/
Above is the link to Ad Ops Online. It may look a little familiar. If anything the font on that site is even smaller. Blank space on the right side, sensitive drop down menus etc.
Standards that this group and others propose has nothing to do with making a web site readable. It's really about cramming the largest ad possible into the page.
These are the folks who complain about FTC privacy regulations.

http://www.iab.net/
The standards that these folks write are are intended to make it easier for the firms that supply ad design to use a 'one size fits all' approach. Look at this site from the point of view of readability. This is great for designers as they always know the size of the ad they will be designing but not so great for the readers. The font size here is about the same as the 'New Coth' after the upgrade, before the much need font switch

Don't even think for a minute that the use of the word 'bureau' implies any government connection or any requirement to use these 'standards'.

[Moderator 1]

Erin will be contacting some folks via PM for more specifics and reading your reports, but I also wanted to respond to a few things/ask for clarification:

Earlier I posted a comment which seems not to have taken, although many hours and many posts later I got an e-mail telling me the thread I posted on had been updated.

Hi Adamantane ~

We had removed quite a few general comments from this thread to focus it more closely on specific glitches so it's easier to find and address them, which is why you couldn't find your post. We've stickied a thread in Off Course for general comments and discussion about the new site, so please feel free to weigh in there.

But, since you subsequently experienced a delay with the reply notification, I'd like to get some more info on that. You had it set to "instant" and yet received the notification of a post on the thread hours later?

Hi...just to give the mods and Erin some concrete numbers:

I am viewing on a 19" widescreen monitor. The total horizontal width of my monitor is 18" and a bit.

When I view the content of the forums, the actual message board section is 6.75" wide.

The "quick reply" reply box is just barely over 6".

When I hit the "quote" reply button, the reply box I am provided is 3.75" wide.

When I reply to a PM, my reply box is 3.5" wide.

This feels a little...restrictive.

Thanks Simkie ~

That's actually really helpful as I have the same monitor size.

The quote reply box I'm typing in right now (the actual white text portion) is 5 1/2" wide. My PM reply space is the same size, and the Quick Reply box is now over 9" wide.

I have my screen zoomed to 150% (by clicking control/+ a couple of times) so that the green borders on the side are 1/2" wide.

Does the same happen for you?

At this time, you won't be able to fit as much text into a given line as before, for example, but I want to be sure that if you were having trouble actually reading the text, that it could be enlarged.

Hi - I am able to log onto the Forums with my regular user name, but am not able to log onto the magazine site (I am a subscriber and my username/password used to work.)

MEP, could you please reach out to Sara Lieser at slieser@chronofhorse.com with your account info. She can look into your specific account and will report forward if there's something funky going on.

[trubandloki]

We had removed quite a few general comments from this thread to focus it more closely on specific glitches so it's easier to find and address them, which is why you couldn't find your post.

Well, at least I now know where my post went. I was very confused.



I have my screen zoomed to 150% (by clicking control/+ a couple of times) so that the green borders on the side are 1/2" wide.

Is zooming the long term solution they want us to do? Or are they planning on looking into the tiny box sizes?

I am guessing that suggesting everyone zoom will not make the advertisers happy.

I get the same dimensions Simkie does when I am not zoomed.

[altjaeger]

When I click on "search" and then "advanced", the right side of the screen, where the entry fields are located, is overlaid with ads, and I couldn't find a way to remove them, thus making the search by username function unuseable...

[clint]

I'm not receiving notification of new posts to a topic after I have replied.

[RedEqHunter]

I just came back to the site after over six months away. I wanted to obtain a new login name because I'm here primarily to get topics for a blog I write for and have different interests now.

That being said, it's impossible to register. The ads on the side cover up the image verification. Has anyone new registered since the site has changed? If they have, they must have very small screen resolution...

[Moderator 1]

The overlap on the registration and search screens is being addressed--thanks!

We're also looking into the delay/duplication of thread reply notifications.

Clint, do you have it set up for instant or daily notifications? Has the problem been consistent or sporadic? Do they arrive later than normal or not at all?

[nadasy]

On page 3 of the search for new posts:

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/search.php?searchid=6528705&pp=25&page=3

the ads are overlapping into the forum threads.
Dinah

[Sharon]

Log in to current magazine took me to Ernshaw's magazine with a femele in a bathing suit on the cover...not the Chronicle.

[beninni3]

That being said, it's impossible to register. The ads on the side cover up the image verification. Has anyone new registered since the site has changed? If they have, they must have very small screen resolution...

I have a couple friends trying to register who are having the same problem.

[Calico]

The advertisements overlap on the "Search" page so it's impossible to submit a search.

[Donkey]

If I search "msm" i get nothing when I should get lots of hits as it is a pretty popular topic.

[Moderator 1]

The registration (:eek:) and the search page being overlapped are both being addressed. Sorry for the inconvenience to you and your friends!

The source of the sporadic "New Posts" overlap has also been IDed and that's in the works as well.

Donkey, the search feature doesn't allow for search terms fewer than four letters (that's, sadly, always been the case).

Thanks!
Mod 1

[Thomas_1]

And what about all the adverts, white space, tiny reply box, mobile connection and lack of user acceptance testing?

Are they being addressed as well and if so when or are you intent on keeping those as they are or are you just going to keep deleting posts about those?

[VirginiaBred]

Still have the sporadic issue of once a thread has been read, the font color not changing from bold blue to a lighter blue.

Happens 50% of the time.

[poltroon]

If I hit "post reply," the text box for my reply is about half the width of the box allowed for the title. I'm using Safari 4.0.

[Zu Zu]

Hello - I am permanently logged in for some reason but would rather that ~ than be permanently blocked out . The reason for this post is to inform a moderator that I did this am find about three/four messages in my spam box informing me that my password had been reset - these were sent 11-06 - all different sets of numbers. Just tht. you should know - I am using my original username and original password and am fine with that. FYI Thanks

[horse-loverz]

I got a PM that forwarded to my email address yet it doesn't show up here in my mailbox or even show that I got a message at all.

[ErinBush]

Thanks Zu Zu, that permanent bug has been logged and will be addressed.

[ErinBush]

The sporadic and sometimes repetitive behavior of the forums email/alert system has also been reported.

Thank you!

[Ghazzu]

Still no reply or quote buttons in the latest Firefox.

[Zu Zu]

Thanks Zu Zu, that permanent bug has been logged and will be addressed.
More information - I did follow the directions about ~ I am logging out before shutting down the page and the "remember me" box is not checked. Then when I search coth and pull up the site I am already logged in ~ whatever ~ it is ok with me if it is ok to be permanently logged in ?

[AiryFairy]

Still no reply or quote buttons in the latest Firefox.

I use Firefox (and the secret stylesheet, now my eyes are relieved) and I see them. The only time they didn't show up for me was when I tried to block images to get rid of an annoying flashing ad that made my cursor stop every five seconds. That blocks images from COTH including the buttons.

[HenryisBlaisin']

I'm still not able to stay logged in despite checking the box on my home computer (stays logged at work for some reason) and logs me out even if I leave the tab for a while. I'm getting tired of having to log in several times a day. Also disappointed that my first post seems to have been ignored completely while more recent ones have already been addressed.

[Ghazzu]

I use Firefox (and the secret stylesheet, now my eyes are relieved) and I see them. The only time they didn't show up for me was when I tried to block images to get rid of an annoying flashing ad that made my cursor stop every five seconds. That blocks images from COTH including the buttons.
===
But are you using Firefox 3.5.5?
The buttons apparently appear with older versions.

[findthedistance]

When I try to search the forums, the ads cover the security code box, making it impossible to submit a search. I'm using Google Chrome. Also, this message box I'm typing in presently is pretty narrow.

[Thomas_1]

Ditto and that one's been reported as a frustration frequently.

[edit]

[AiryFairy]

But are you using Firefox 3.5.5?
The buttons apparently appear with older versions.

Yes I am, I just checked the version because I know it's been updated recently. I still see all the buttons...

[LauraKY]

Glitch that I'm having

Drop down menus at the top--Horse Sports. Drops down, then when I click on Discussion Forums which is right under it, even after the drop down appears to be gone, I get Eventing content from the drop down. This is happening about 10 to 20% of the time. I admit, I don't have a light finger on the mouse, but it doesn't happen to me on any other websites, just this one!

[CookiePony]

Hi - I am able to log onto the Forums with my regular user name, but am not able to log onto the magazine site (I am a subscriber and my username/password used to work.)

Yes, me too-- I posted about this earlier in the thread-- any news on what might be wrong?

[Fairview Horse Center]

I am still getting double notifications sometimes.

I also have the drop down lists blocking things, and they won't go away "sometimes" until you click on them. Clicking somewhere else does not make them go away.

Still very hard on the eyes, with the glaring white.

[LauraKY]

Glitch that I'm having

Drop down menus at the top--Horse Sports. Drops down, then when I click on Discussion Forums which is right under it, even after the drop down appears to be gone, I get Eventing content from the drop down. This is happening about 10 to 20% of the time. I admit, I don't have a light finger on the mouse, but it doesn't happen to me on any other websites, just this one!

Can't you fix this? It is f****** annoying!

[MEP]

MEP, could you please reach out to Sara Lieser at slieser@chronofhorse.com with your account info. She can look into your specific account and will report forward if there's something funky going on.

Mod1: Thanks, I just found your reply and sent an email.

CookiePony

Yes, me too-- I posted about this earlier in the thread-- any news on what might be wrong?

I just sent an email to Sara Lieser - haven't heard anything back yet, so can't give you any advice other than you might try sending her an email too.

[findeight]

OK, guys, I got a serious beef that is actually going to put an early end to a day I planned to be on and off doing laundry and housework.

Ghosting...and it's bad. When I click on a thread title, the dotted line box around it hangs around for at least 30 sec AFTER the 20 to 30 sec it is taking for the ads and black video box to paint today. So a minute after clicking, it is still overlaid on what I am trying to read on the new page.

The drop down box under the title with the first few lines of the thread is doing the same thing-even when not clicked on-it seems to come up when the thread title is clicked-wanted or not-and it also remains 20 to 30 sec. And if the page was turned that is PLUS the 20 to 30 sec for the ads to paint and unlock the screen.

The drop down green boxes off the banner are getting more and more sensitive, hanging around longer and longer and ghosting after the color vanishes.

Now, I got a PC running Explorer that does this today. I had a Mac laptop running Firefox that did it yesterday I even flipped to Safari and did the same thing. And the set I sometimes use at work off a group of mega industrial servers did the same thing yesterday.

So it's you, not me. Gives me a headache. And it seems to me that the better the speed gets, the more content is not going along with it. Gotten worse and worse as the overall response gets faster and faster.

Edited to add...that green drop down menu off the banner seems to be responding to random actions by the cursor...or, maybe, where it was before the page turned and it is ghosting as well? For example, just now over on H/J, very carefully went to the top right hand corner of the margin to pull the scroll bar down going nowhere near that banner-and the dam thing dropped a menu-out of the center, not the right side- over the top what I was reading and it would not click away. I went over here to report it and it ghosted well past the appearance of the video and screen unlock.

Had enough, buh bye.

[VirginiaBred]

OK, guys, I got a serious beef that is actually going to put an early end to a day I planned to be on and off doing laundry and housework.

Ghosting...and it's bad. When I click on a thread title, the dotted line box around it hangs around for at least 30 sec AFTER the 20 to 30 sec it is taking for the ads and black video box to paint today. So a minute after clicking, it is still overlaid on what I am trying to read on the new page.




I've mentioned this many times as well.

The drop down menus at the top of the screen are insanely sensitive.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Just tonight, I am getting a large box blocking the entire top of the forum telling me my internet browser is out of date!?!#%! It won't go away, and no way of closing it out. It is giving me options of about 6 browsers to click on, but NONE are mine :mad:
Even if they were, I am not updating my computer software at the Chronicle's convenience. It is pretty rude.

I had to go to another browser to post this.

[PNWjumper]

I agree with FHC. The large box also blocks the top of the forums for me telling me to upgrade my browser. But I surf the internet on my work computer and don't have the option of upgrading my browser because of sotware restrictions.

Please make it go away!

[fooler]

Same here -I will upgrade my browser on my schedule. No problem if I don't have 'full functionality'. Am happy to be able to read and post.

Agree the drop down menu's are incredibly sensitive.

FYI - I do tier2 support for a web-based application. Looks as tho the update went well overall. Just a matter of the oddball cleanup. Well Done

[CookiePony]

Mod1: Thanks, I just found your reply and sent an email.

CookiePony


I just sent an email to Sara Lieser - haven't heard anything back yet, so can't give you any advice other than you might try sending her an email too.

Thanks-- Sara figured it out. It was an issue specific to my login name.

[VirginiaBred]

Any update on the super sensitive drop down menus?

[Fairview Horse Center]

The blocking "upodate your browser" box seems to be gone. Thank-you!

[poltroon]

Kind of a small thing, but since the logins for the magazine and the forums are separate, it's weird to see the "Welcome! Sign in or please register" right above "Welcome, poltroon". It took me a while to figure out that I could/should ignore the top message.

[Adamantane]

It had been a few days since I logged on, and am very pleased to see how much improved the size and format issues are now for the boards and posting functions. I'm sure its only a matter of time until little things and those that apply mainly to what MS might call 'non-standard' browsers are worked out as well.

Oddly enough although the ads are enormous so the sponsors will be happy, the functionality now is as good as what went before. (It also may help that I'm using a 23" monitor.;))

Thanks to all on the COTH administrator side for your successful efforts.

(Am also glad that I don't seem to get logged off involuntarily halfway through posting.)

[Moderator 1]

We thank everyone for their continued patience as we work through the transition to the new site. We're closing this aggregate "glitch" thread in favor of individual Help threads on any lingering issues, as it looks like problems folks are having at this point are more spotty and better addressed on an individual basis. We've moved some of the more recent posts here into new threads of their own.

If you see a thread on a topic/issue similar to one you're having, please weigh in/check for feedback there or if it's something that hasn't been addressed yet, start a new thread or contact me privately to see if we can work it out.

As always, feel free to provide your general feedback (http://www.chronofhorse.com/contact) on the site to the main office anytime.

Thanks!
Mod 1