ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

It amazes me what people find so hard about posting a photo.
All the Forum requires for posting a photo is you to paste the url of where your photo is stored using the 'Insert Image" button at the bottom of the window in which you type your reply. For Members, with an online storage location for photos we provide a facility for your own gallery storage. For non-members, well that's up to you to organise an online storage location or if it really bugs you then become a member. Most good things in life are not free so if this is a function that you really want, and you are a frequent user of this site, then perhaps Membership is for you.

(Gone Bush I realise you are a member - my comments are not personally directed at you but to others reading this section of this post).

Steve from Top End Explorer Tours posted:

Michelle.

I just noticed this post so please disregard my post below.

Am I to assume you can upload from your members rig pics.

Cheers Steve.

Member - Norm C (QLD) posted:

Michelle, in reference to posting pictures, the two options are:
Have the pics hosted on a web site and post the URL. Simple I guess, but the only time I need to put pics onto a web site is to get the URL to post on Explore Oz. Most other forums allow direct posting from my computer.
You say 'It amazes me what people find so hard about posting a photo'. I don't find it that amazing. Many users of this site have limited computer knowledge and have never done something like this before. In my case, I know how, but generally couldn't be bothered following this lengthy process. But that's my choice.

The other alternative is via the Members Gallery. That is a pretty simple process, but once I have posted a pic from the gallery to the forum, it is 'locked' for a pretty long time (is it 3 months?, I don't remember). So if I use this method and post a number of pics over a week or two, a fair amount of my members gallery is now not able to be edited.

I am a member and don't begrudge paying for the member benefits and to support the site, but posting pics on this site is generally more difficult and more complex than other sites which are free to all users.

My only reason in posting this is to respond to your comments that
The process is easy and that few good things in life are free. True, but most other forums have much easier picture posting methods and it is free.
Even a patchwork forum my wife is a member of allows direct posting of pics from her computer and membership is free.

It is entirely up to you and David how you manage the site and where you apply your resources. But you should at least understand that this great web site is way behind (IMO) on this matter.

Gone Bush (WA) posted:

Nothing taken personally Michelle, not at all. I am confused about having to have a photo stored somewhere other than my PC. Do you mean sites like Flicker? (I think that's what it's called).

Or do you mean from our gallery of 24 photos?

I agree with Norm's post above and also can't see why we can't use italics, underline etc as in the MSN caravan forums, as well as the ease with which they can post a photo.

Our suggestions are all meant to be supportive and constructive naturally because we get a lot of pleasure from this site.

In the past I've suggested some "Stickies" remain at the top of the Forum, eg, ExplorOz sticker sightings and trip reports from EO gatherings. I still think that's a good idea.

How does Doug T get pictures to stick in his posts? Even animated things. Is he just a smart bast**d?

cheers.

ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

Hi Norm,
I see your point completely and yes it probably does appear that we are "behind" BUT the difference between our site and all the others that you might use these facilities on is the sheer volume of site users we attract. When you manage a site of such magniture as EO everything becomes a lot more complicated. I'm sure David would do it if he wanted to. The reasons are always complex and even I just leave him to his reasons sometimes 'cause even after an explanation I often don't understand. Better off sometimes just accepting that he will do what is right for our business - all things weighed up.

Mike Harding posted:

There's only two possible reasons: bandwidth or storage - storage is dirt cheap nowadays. Bandwidth...? well perhaps for members you should be providing rather more - a 30M website perhaps? Fastmail provides better than that for less cash.

I understand how to post pics here but it's too much hassle so I won't bother - I expect many others feel the same.

One of the consequences of writing all your own software for this sort of site is that you create a huge edifice which can be very hard to change and may only be, practically, changeable by one person.

Mike Harding

Member - Norm C (QLD) posted:

Michelle,
You say:
'BUT the difference between our site and all the others that you might use these facilities on is the sheer volume of site users we attract.'
Even if I accept that statement as true( there are some pretty active web sites around the world these days), I doubt that it can be true of forum users (rather than site viewers). Even if the number of forum users is too great for the moment, I doubt that it would be true of members. It would be a pity to limit direct posting of pics to members only, but that is at least an option. If volume is the problem, that should at least be possible.

Anyway as I said before it is up to David. In the meantime, I (and I suspect many others), occasionally post a pic from my profile, but couldn't be bothered doing it the other way. That limits David's bandwidth and storage problem I guess, but it does detract from the forum and on this issue at least, makes Explore Oz seem a bit backward.

Member - Mike DID posted:

Maybe you could use this to encourage membership - make photo storage a member-only option.

ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

All very interesting. I guess if the general consensus is that it's important, I'm sure David will give it further consideration.

By the way, photo uploads direct from your computer are available elsewhere on ExplorOz - eg. Places. Hence there is probably a very good reason why he hasn't implemented it into the Forum.

Motherhen posted:

Photo-links - a thread hi-jack?

Hi Gone Bush - for a link to pick up a photo, image or document, it does need to be somewhere on the Internet to be accessible. Your home PC is not always accessible, nor would you want it being freely accessed all the time if it was.

The storage space on ExplorOz is limited, but our gallery has been increased from 12 to 24 images. The image remains locked until the post is archived; then you can remove it and it will no longer be in the thread - a bit like the real topic of this thread - editing or removing stuff from you post. The caravaners forum has a larger personal storage capacity, but i soon filled my allocation there too, so need to delete old stuff to post current documents and photos. I tried photo bucket there too which should work, but as usual, i got the wrong.

I'm sure with a bit of practice, we will work out and remember how to put the links. Perhaps David and team could have a few simple instruction in the box that comes up when we press Insert Image?

eg

http://s184.photobucket.com/albums/x266/WhiteSuffolks/?action=view¤t=image011.gif

Motherhen

Motherhen posted:

So that was an example of how it doesn't work. Second try:

Member - John (Vic) posted:

Why don't you just use the insert Image button at the bottom of the follow up box???

Motherhen posted:

Hi John - my point exactly. The box needs more instructions. If i copy the link to the picture into the box - you get my first try; the words not the picture. I recall it is something to do with adding <> but that still didn't work - as in second try.

Mh

Mike Harding posted:

Hmmmmm... I'm now wondering if I do know how to post pics?
Let's try using the insert image button:



OK, got a box asking for a URL, deleted the default "http://" and replaced it with:
"http://mike_harding.fastmail.fm/El-Mutto.jpg"

So let's see what happens?

Mike Harding

Mike Harding posted:

Pic appears OK on both IE6 and Firefox 2. Pic centres properly on IE6 but overlaps to the right on Firefox.

I suspect it would be better not to provide the default "http://" in the dialogue box (I'm always deleting it in "Insert link") and it means I have to host the pic on a remote server so, I imagine, when I delete the pic on the remote server it will disappear from EO.

Therefore a good way to control and edit your posts is to produce them as a JPG, host them on a remote server and post them to EO as images :)

Mike Harding

PS. Isn't he beautiful :)

Bware (Tweed Valley) posted:

Motherhen,

The 'submit' button now disappears after hitting it. I can't explain why there is still so many double posts. Perhaps it is just a case of people being patient enough for their computer to perform the function?

Cheers

Brian

Motherhen posted:

Hi Brian - I've noticed that the button disappearing which helps, but we are still getting multiple entries from some people here which could not occur before.

Mh

Shaker posted:

Maybe some people "double-click"

Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath posted:

Mutha, I take your point about the ability to edit posts but on other sites where there is an ability to edit, I have noticed that others then start to bully if the don't like the thrust of a post. It isn't long before the thread integrity disappears.

On EO posters integrity is on what they post and to some extent you are judged by your developed history. Some posters, hardly anyone will respond to because of the perceived integrity of the poster. If posters then can edit the post and insert other comments, more work will be made for moderators and I think EO would lose considerable value.

Motherhen posted:

Hi JohnR

Yes, I had considered the possibility that if able to edit typos, we would also be able to edit content. However i believe most people would do the right thing. I'm sure with the odd person who posts 'with foot firmly in mouth' it would be a good thing for the forum if he could remove the offending words.

Nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit

Motherhen

Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath posted:

Mutha "Nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit"

Abutebaris modo subjunctivo. LOL

Nemo sine vitio est

In order to oversome my typos and poor language, I read through more than once.

Motherhen posted:

If i spent the time proof reading reading and correcting, I'd never get any work done. The forum is not a university English exam; it is just like having a conversation.

lapsus linguae

Motherhen

Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath posted:

You are right of course - Lapsus memoriae for me these days

Trevor R (QLD) posted:

Yep agree with you Kev. Either think before you post or just do a follow up if it is a genuine mistake, not that hard.

Cheers, Treeeeeeeeevoorr Ribit.

Trevor R (QLD) posted:

Ooooopppsss, I mean,

Cheers, Trevor. (ROFLMAO!!!! they've been wanting this mistake for ages hehehehe)

Member - Roachie (SA) posted:

Yes, I agree with John and Kev.....no need for an edit function in my opinion....saves people re-canting what they've said.

However, it would be great if there was at least an underline function. At the moment, if I want to underline something I have to do _this_; which isn't really as good or as practical. Italics is another thing that would be useful as well as a simplifies way of posting a photo without needing to use photobucket etc.

Member - Roachie (SA) posted:

bugga!!!!!! I wish there was a edit function!!!! I wrote "simplifies" above, but I meant "simplified"..... hahahaha

Kev & Darkie posted:

Which club was it??

Caloundra or Gold Coast??
I know it was one of them, I haven't searched yet ;)

Kev & Darkie posted:

Stop looking I found it :))

Thread on Caloundra 4WD Club

Cheers Kev

ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

That's it - this insight and the others above clarify the reasons why "David" won't install an "edit" function. He did install the "preview" function as it was a good solution to resolve this issue without any thread degradation by changing the flow, story, truth, sequence, whatever the case may be.

Steve from Top End Explorer Tours posted:

Hey Michelle.

The idea of uploading photo's straight from your computer would be a good idea.

Cheers Steve.

ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

Steve,
Our posts crossed - i've just discussed the reasons why this is not available in my follow to the first reply to this post to Bware. Of course, for Advertisers using the Forum, this hasn't been considered but I am looking at ways to extend the Advertiser Profile page to allow photo uploads so perhaps that will suffice, else there is nothing to stop those Advertisers that also like to heavily interact on the Forum to take up a Membership profile also - its just a matter of logging off and logging on with whichever profile you wish to use to suit your purposes. We have other advertisers doing that now already.

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Brian ,

There certainly is two sides to the argument . Perhaps an edit function is more relevant on the stock market site where there is less banter and more facts .

Willie .

Member - John (Vic) posted:

"Less banter and more facts"??? You reckon??
More like a lot of spruiking on various stocks.

They used to say that Rene Rivkin's newsletter was full of facts until it was found that he was spruiking a buy on stocks that he was in the process of selling.

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

John ,

You must learn to separate the wheat from the chaff . You can pick up a lot of good leads from these sites and often there is some good background information and ideas on stocks .

I am often surprised at the amount of time that must have been taken to compile and write the posts on some of the stocks . When you go to look at IGR for instance , there is plenty of inane stuff , but also some great posts where guys have done a lot of homework .

Yes "I reckon",

Willie .

Member - John (Vic) posted:

Separating the wheat from the chaff is always the issue. :-)

Agreed some of the posts do have a huge amount of detail and some of it is good but you need to wonder where some of that info may have come from and who is behind the post.

Bware (Tweed Valley) posted:

Yeah, and with a 'spell check' as well, how can you possibly need an 'edit' button? LOL

I wonder if these folk would run a business this way; in such a hurry to get their product/service out there that they will fix any problems later, instead of taking the time to make sure it's all good in the first place ;-))))

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

in ThreadID: 54087

.

Kev & Darkie posted:

Michelle,

Doug already has a "Dummies guide to ExplorOz" created. He has posted parts regularly to aid other members and visitors.

Cheers Kev

Member - John (Vic) posted:

That would be right up Doug T alley.

Gone Bush (WA) posted:

Hey Michelle...

are you a Banana Bender or just didn't use the spell checker.

aksing.

I've always been able to recognise QLDers because they "arks" a question instead of asking it.

Sorry, couldn't resist. It's just me. LOL.

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

GB ,
You must be a banana bender , as there was one more than that .
Willie .
PS And if there was anymore , don't tell me ( not allowed to include missing apostrophes ).

ExplorOz Team - Michelle posted:

Sorry Gone Bush - I type at over 100 wpm but I don't think I have a 100% accuracy! I don't really too much about checking my typos as its usually the right letters in teh wrong order which is my problem!

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Exactly . That is going to keep me awake tonight , now that you've pointed it out .
Willie

Mogul posted:

Measure twice, cut once. ;-)

KiwiAngler posted:

Come on guys - Willie has surrendered :-)))))))))))))

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

I did , I promise . Honest injun .
Willie .

KiwiAngler posted:

hehheheh - you are a BAD man!! :-))))))))

Al & Mrs Al - Al & Lyn, Romsey posted:

Agree totally John....EO doesn't need the angst that is created on some forums when opinions differ....

Lyn

Gramps (NSW) posted:

We did'nt sign the Geneva Convention :)))

Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath posted:

You didn't delete it Willie. ROFLMAO

Willie, it is good to have the debate and I hadn't commented before you capitulated. I'm with Al, just sticking the boot in ;-))

Gramps (NSW) posted:

Member - Willie , Sydney. posted:

Al ,
What's that saying " You can pick your friends , but you can't pick your relatives " .
Willie .

Gramps (NSW) posted:

Willie,

LOL someone has to be the black sheep of the family

Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath posted:

If that is your direction mr Brew? Just do it. Just to coin a phrase. The 3 litre Nissan is yours.... ;-)))))))