message reply boxes, maybe a little bigger?

[MackemX]

as you can see there is a lot of space to the right of the text box when you are on the post reply page but I think that's just wasted space from phpbb when they made the original layout . Rather than the current width of 450 pixels for the post reply box could it not be 80% or something? It's not a simple mod as the 450 pixels is the whole box and therefore it needs an extra column or something because the layout of the BBCode buttons get stretched out

is it possible to also make the quick reply box bigger, say 50% rather than the 40% it is at the minute? A little more height in both would be great also as the page is still long due to the menu on the left so . Another quick mod that would be cool is changing the wifth of the Author column in the Topic Review as that is also wasting space

below is a rough layout pic from a test forum I've been playing and it's not perfect but it's just one example I created while testing new stuff. I thought I'd mention it as maybe the boxes could be modified here also if Baldrick has the time and enough people are interested

as you can see in the 2 pics below when you post a long link or something without a space then the reply box has a horizontal scroll bar which can be awkward on longer posts. This normally happens when someone attaches an image as it produces a rather long link when you include the img tags so if you innocently quote a message with an image then it's scrolled from the start

here is an example of the thread link below as it would have looked when posting it when using 1024x768 resolution. There is no horizontal scroll bar plus you don't have to scroll down as much.

Also notice I've put a Preview/Submit button at the top of the text box as I don't see why you should have to scroll down to click them each time but phpbb is like that by default

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=293864

both images have roughly the same size footprint give or take a little but I've just optimized the basic phpbb layout a little and I will be changing it even more.

cheers

[BJ_M]

good idea -- like to code ?

[Baldrick]

changed to 100% instead of a fixed width.

[yoda313]

Hey thanks baldrick And thanks mackemx for the suggestion. The wider quick reply box is a bit roomier

[MackemX]

cheers Baldrick . As you have seen it is a simple edit changing it from 450 pixels to 100% . The thing is it then messes with the bbcode layout as they also get stretched . I'm not fussed about the layout regardless as it doesn't stretch them out that much on 1024 res but it may look strange on a 1600 res

here's a real quick edit you could try that will split the bbcode etc from the text input box keeping the original layout by simply adding a table for the text box only . I reckon 90% is better as it keeps the 2 scroll bars apart but either way the bigger space it cool 8)

OPEN posting_body.tpl

FIND
<td colspan="9"> <span class="gensmall">
<input type="text" name="helpbox" size="45" maxlength="100" style="width:450px; font-size:10px" class="helpline" value="{L_STYLES_TIP}" />
</span></td>
</tr>

AFTER, ADD

</table>
</span><span class="gen"> <span class="genmed"> </span>
<table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">

obviously the whole thing could be better laid out but even now with the extra space for text it's great 8)

cheers

[MackemX]

if it isn't top secret what's the news on the new forum layout Baldrick?

[Baldrick]

http://beta.videohelp.com ...

[MackemX]

all I see is New beta !

[Baldrick]

I have spent 6 months on that layout...

[MackemX]

you've got me confused now, so there's no new VH look coming real soon?

[Baldrick]

no.

[MackemX]

, but there still is one in the making? I just got the impression sometime last year that you were working on it and were nearly finished though I actually don't know where I got that idea from

so does that mean I can suggest a few more little comestic changes here and there to hopefully help improve the forum experience?

I see you fixed the bbcode layout 8)

wahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, so much space, I can breathe

[Cobra]

Oh, I like this. Good suggestion!

[Baldrick]

the quick reply 60% textarea doesn't seem to work that well with firefox..i often get too wide tables and I hate to scroll to read. i'm going back to a static width.

[MackemX]

I noticed that once with FF 1.0.7 when you first did it but I hadn't seen it since though I don't come here that often to notice it