Idle Chatter | A General Discussion Community
- Thread starter Gemma
- Start date
Gemma
Well-known member
A few hours. I don't think I want to know
CedricV
Well-known member
Ah maybe for the better yes. Or we’d lose our sanity.A few hours. I don't think I want to know
ForumExplorer
Active member
How do people get invited? I would be very keen to check this place out!
Gemma
Well-known member
We're a private community for family, friends, and friends of friends so I'm afraid the only way to check us out is through images posted here or by browsing accessible areas as a guest
Gemma
Well-known member
Some big and small addons today.....
We commissioned some new formats for the quiz addon we recently installed. You can now create quizzes where you have to sort the answers into categories or in the correct order. As always, great work by @Painbaker
Sort into categories
Order answers
I've made some changes to our thread view layout. I wanted to tidy areas up but also highlight some of the features we have so I've made some of the feature buttons stand out more. I've also moved some of the buttons report/edit/delete etc into the post header.
Updated a couple of @Bob's addons (I'll get around to the others soon). A cool new feature on the Classified addon lets you give feedback directly from member card tooltip or the member profile. I also update IMS (my books addon)
A few miscellaneous updates to improve our stories addon and our user panel widget and latest posts widget. Also added a couple of little addons by @BassMan that make life much easier for my members.
And finally, I've addon just purchased the Content Blur addon by @Wutime - still working through all the settings though.
Still got a few addons to buy and set up but as always thanks for looking
We commissioned some new formats for the quiz addon we recently installed. You can now create quizzes where you have to sort the answers into categories or in the correct order. As always, great work by @Painbaker
Sort into categories
Order answers
I've made some changes to our thread view layout. I wanted to tidy areas up but also highlight some of the features we have so I've made some of the feature buttons stand out more. I've also moved some of the buttons report/edit/delete etc into the post header.
Updated a couple of @Bob's addons (I'll get around to the others soon). A cool new feature on the Classified addon lets you give feedback directly from member card tooltip or the member profile. I also update IMS (my books addon)
A few miscellaneous updates to improve our stories addon and our user panel widget and latest posts widget. Also added a couple of little addons by @BassMan that make life much easier for my members.
And finally, I've addon just purchased the Content Blur addon by @Wutime - still working through all the settings though.
Still got a few addons to buy and set up but as always thanks for looking
Rangers Fans
Member
Looking awesome! Curious on your idea for using content blur rather then just hide replies to guests since your site is by invite only
Gemma
Well-known member
There's no real reason, to be honest.
I think it "maybe" looks more pleasing to the eye than clicking on a thread only to be presented with an error message that doesn't tell you much other than presenting you with a login/register option.
This way, anyone browsing our forum and possibly requesting an invite can see that the posts contain actual content (even though it is blurred).
Also, with all the online legislation coming into force, we decided to implement this option.
Gemma
Well-known member
Yeah, sorry about that. We are probably different from most sites in that we don't keep non-active accounts. Also, sadly I guess our site isn't a site for fellow XF admins.Looking great, it's been a while since I visited there, and my account no longer works.
Gemma
Well-known member
2025 has been hectic so far so just some small updates this month, mainly to the existing layout but one new feature/addon.
We've added a threaded comments/hierarchical posts section to our forums. It is a work in progress but initial feedback from my members has been extremely positive and many prefer it to the current thread setup. At the end of the day, if my members are happy, I'm happy.
Our trending content page has been tweaked slightly and shouldn't need any more customization until XF3.0 comes along
Our portal/community wall has been updated and finished too
I've also finished my thread view template and I'm pleased with how it looks now
Member profiles have been updated
And I've made small changes to our blogs, events calendar, quizzes, notable members and the member account page
Got a few new addons to install (and tweak), and one still to buy but as always, thanks for looking
We've added a threaded comments/hierarchical posts section to our forums. It is a work in progress but initial feedback from my members has been extremely positive and many prefer it to the current thread setup. At the end of the day, if my members are happy, I'm happy.
Our trending content page has been tweaked slightly and shouldn't need any more customization until XF3.0 comes along
Our portal/community wall has been updated and finished too
I've also finished my thread view template and I'm pleased with how it looks now
Member profiles have been updated
And I've made small changes to our blogs, events calendar, quizzes, notable members and the member account page
Got a few new addons to install (and tweak), and one still to buy but as always, thanks for looking
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
Which add-on are you using for this?
Gemma
Well-known member
Sorry for the late reply @Wildcat Media, work got in the way
I'm using the Reddit addon detailed by @Seeker-Smith in this thread, I've just modified bits of the layout for my own style/use.
I'm currently getting a quote to have a Reddit style node type developed. If you'd like to throw in a suggestion on how it should work please do. Being a node type it could be a standalone or nested in a category. The thread view will be collapsed until the title is clicked and it will expand to allow comments. Sort of like this image.
The thread view.
The thread view.
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Gemma
Well-known member
Some little updates and fixes for areas that were broken/reverted when we upgraded to XF2.3
Firstly, we've restored and "improved" the layouts for our recipe and books sections (using @Bob's excellent Showcase and IMS addons)
In our attempts to make content more visible and easier to find, we have extended our latest activity, latest posts, new threads etc widget. I've also customized the new post area of What's New so it adopts out thread list layout (the usergroup of the poster, last 5 poster avatars etc are now available)
I've added a visual indicator for the tier levels for badges, both on the help page and member profiles...
And finally, we've got a new feature in our toplists section - toplist owners can now allow other members to add items to their lists
As always, thanks for looking.
Firstly, we've restored and "improved" the layouts for our recipe and books sections (using @Bob's excellent Showcase and IMS addons)
In our attempts to make content more visible and easier to find, we have extended our latest activity, latest posts, new threads etc widget. I've also customized the new post area of What's New so it adopts out thread list layout (the usergroup of the poster, last 5 poster avatars etc are now available)
I've added a visual indicator for the tier levels for badges, both on the help page and member profiles...
And finally, we've got a new feature in our toplists section - toplist owners can now allow other members to add items to their lists
As always, thanks for looking.
Gemma
Well-known member
Thank you for your kind words, and for joining Idle Chatter
Gemma
Well-known member
A few small updates to start the month.
Our TV and Movie sections have had an upgrade, the latest build of the addons introduces some changes, including Cast Biographies which will tell you a little about the actor (from data stored on themoviedb.org), you will also see a list of Movies/TV Shows that the actor has appeared in that also have a discussion thread on your site.
Recommendations and Similar tabs show for both TV shows and movies - if you have a discussion thread you will see the user interaction stats (liked, watched, on watchlist) for that TV show or movie, if there is no discussion thread you can easily add it by clicking on the action button (icon at the top right of the poster on my site).
It is now even easier to add TV shows or movies - you don't even need to visit an external site, just type the name into the input box!
There are probably more new features that I haven't come across yet, but these are the main updates to both add-ons.
I've also added a fun little addon that records Time Spent Online (by @Veer).
And, obviously, I've modified bits of it to suit my site. There is also a Time Spent Online dashboard that gives details of your time spent online that day, site averages, total time (daily basis), and some graphs for gender, location, and age - a nice little addon that adds some fun to our site.
And I've finally caught up with updating all my addons by @Bob and redone any templates that needed updated.
Hopefully I should have a couple of new addons going "live" soon.
As always, thanks for looking
Our TV and Movie sections have had an upgrade, the latest build of the addons introduces some changes, including Cast Biographies which will tell you a little about the actor (from data stored on themoviedb.org), you will also see a list of Movies/TV Shows that the actor has appeared in that also have a discussion thread on your site.
Recommendations and Similar tabs show for both TV shows and movies - if you have a discussion thread you will see the user interaction stats (liked, watched, on watchlist) for that TV show or movie, if there is no discussion thread you can easily add it by clicking on the action button (icon at the top right of the poster on my site).
It is now even easier to add TV shows or movies - you don't even need to visit an external site, just type the name into the input box!
There are probably more new features that I haven't come across yet, but these are the main updates to both add-ons.
I've also added a fun little addon that records Time Spent Online (by @Veer).
And, obviously, I've modified bits of it to suit my site. There is also a Time Spent Online dashboard that gives details of your time spent online that day, site averages, total time (daily basis), and some graphs for gender, location, and age - a nice little addon that adds some fun to our site.
And I've finally caught up with updating all my addons by @Bob and redone any templates that needed updated.
Hopefully I should have a couple of new addons going "live" soon.
As always, thanks for looking
Gemma
Well-known member
I don't know where else to put this, so I'll post it here.
Firstly, as I've already stated in my opening post, my site theme is based on a premade paid theme by @Russ / @Pixel Exit called Nova, so I won't, under any circumstances, be releasing it or exporting it to anyone. Also, the layout changes are all my own work, they are tailored to my layout, so I won't be providing anyone with code that may work with their own site/style - if I want to help someone with a piece of code or problem I will do so off my own back, not if someone sends me DMs or sends me a email via my site contact form.
Secondly, and I find this so annoying, my site is invite-only. That doesn't mean I cannot post a showcase thread. I've always assumed this showcase forum was for highlighting how you use the software and your own interpretation of a forum/community, and other admins could offer you advice on certain areas of your forum, good and bad - I didn't make this thread to gain members or registrations, nor is this what I believe the showcase forum is for - so please don't go in the huff when I say you can't join my site, you only show yourself up and my ignore list grows even longer.
Sorry for the small rant. I'm off to disable my DMs (again).
Firstly, as I've already stated in my opening post, my site theme is based on a premade paid theme by @Russ / @Pixel Exit called Nova, so I won't, under any circumstances, be releasing it or exporting it to anyone. Also, the layout changes are all my own work, they are tailored to my layout, so I won't be providing anyone with code that may work with their own site/style - if I want to help someone with a piece of code or problem I will do so off my own back, not if someone sends me DMs or sends me a email via my site contact form.
Secondly, and I find this so annoying, my site is invite-only. That doesn't mean I cannot post a showcase thread. I've always assumed this showcase forum was for highlighting how you use the software and your own interpretation of a forum/community, and other admins could offer you advice on certain areas of your forum, good and bad - I didn't make this thread to gain members or registrations, nor is this what I believe the showcase forum is for - so please don't go in the huff when I say you can't join my site, you only show yourself up and my ignore list grows even longer.
Sorry for the small rant. I'm off to disable my DMs (again).
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CedricV
Well-known member
Sorry you have to deal with this. I can see the countless hours you put into this and understand the pride you have for IdleChatter. It's a true gem. So I definitely know you wouldn't want someone copying your style.
alfaNova
Well-known member
Hi @Gemma, The overall theme is successful, but I do have a few suggestions for improvement. The current three-column layout—with both left and right sidebars—makes the forum feel a bit cluttered. It might be more elegant and visually spacious if the left-hand forum menu were hidden by default and revealed as a dropdown when hovering over the logo. This approach could free up more space for the main forum content and create a cleaner, more modern user experience.
