Site Changes and Removed Features?

[GreyScholar 1,584]

So, it has been a while since I was really active or on MLP Forums. I have to say, a lot seems to have changed and I feel perhaps not all for the better. What of being able to mention, not only quote a member from their post? What have the formatting and layout of character sheets instead of just lines of text? Those are the two I have noticed right off the bat, though I am sure there has been other changes as well.

The first thought that came to mind was that perhaps the membership simply became too large to support such features or too many characters created. Perhaps different servers or site design used which didn't have such features. I am simply asking for a bit of clarity, especially since as I mentioned above I am not sure if all changes are for the better.

Thank you, for whichever mod or staff answers this. I have always appreciated you all.

[Fhaolan 4,483]

Yeah, there have been a lot of changes. There was a forced upgrade on the forum software we use, InvisionPower.Board or IP.B. We were on version 3, and they were shutting off all security updates for it. Originally the plan was to replace IP.B with something custom before IP.B3 got shut off, but lack or resources for that meant we ran out of time. So our sysadmins emergency upgraded us to IP.B 4. Problem is, a lot of the customization that was done to MLPF didn't carry over with the upgrade plus several add-ons we used were not available for 4.0.

Unfortunately not long after the upgrade and before all the resulting issues from it had been fixed, we lost our dedicated MLPF developers to RL commitments. So we're kinda stuck until Feld0 and AppleDashPoni can get more developers hired on and assigned to MLPF or some of those other projects get completed so those people can come over here and help.  

In the mean time, Community Admins like me are trying to figure out if there's any way to fix some of these things through the tools we're given access to. I still think I *should* be able to fix the character sheet displays, but the templates for it are spread between two different tools, one of which doesn't have a search function needed to track down exactly where the formatting is taking place. The Everfree Empire character sheets are displaying... better... than the Equestrian Empire ones, but I can't figure out how one is pointing to one set of templates, and the other is pointing at another. When I make changes, nothing seems to actually change.

Honestly, I wish the character sheets were structured wiki style, so that you could go nuts with the formatting. It's the way another RP site I used to hang out in did things. They had a base form to fill out when creating your character, but once it was created you could use BBCode/wiki markup on the whole thing, including tagging for searches and standardized data sheets. Made it so you could really *personalize* your character the way Tabletop gamers do with custom character sheets, miniatures, etc.

But that's a touch beyond. At the moment I'd just be happy with a readable database display.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

Thanks for all that I do appropriate the information.

Another question, is there a way of turning off notifications for whenever someone I have friended on here makes a status update I don't receive a notification on here? I ask because my Notification has been filled with new status updates from people and I would prefer keeping it to just thread replies and PMs.

[VengefulStrudel 1,486]

Eeyup, there is a way to disable status notifications. Click on your name on the top right, then choose "Account Settings". On the right side of the menu, you'll see "Notification Settings" under "Other Settings", click on that. Scroll down a bit and you'll find the Notifications List, disable notifications for "Someone I follow posts a new status", and you won't be notified when someone posts a status anymore.

[GreyScholar 1,584]

@VengefulStrudel

Thank you, much appreciated. Since I now have that turned off, things should go much more smoothly.

[Sphinx-Ara 3,569]

I have also noticed that for subscribers/donaters such as myself, the size for the avatar is the same as a normal user's size, and that you have to ask a staff member to change your user title for you.

[Jeric 46,851]

3 hours ago, Goddess Sunset Shimmer said:

I have also noticed that for subscribers/donaters such as myself, the size for the avatar is the same as a normal user's size, and that you have to ask a staff member to change your user title for you.

These are both issues yes. The Admin Control Panel only allows them to adust the size of the avatars one way -- increase both the height and width. Before they were able to adjust just the height. The problem is that by increasing the width at the same time ... it makes the formatting of the style look bad for everyone. 

It's likely on the list. 

In the interim the should consider something else in it's place. There aren't a lot of subscribers ... maybe have subscribers pick a banner or something. A promoted blog maybe?