G S site down

Dr.Bob · Club Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 534 Location: London

Golden Sprout site seem to be down,tried to log on twice.

Timmeh! · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject:

I think James is experimenting with different levels of access for browsers, users and members, and it looks like he's broken something in the process. I'm sure it'll all come back soon. I managed to work around it by going to a specific forum page and loggin in from there.

Some disruption is to be expected during the handover I'm afraid. I'm sure James is doing all he can.

Deep Black · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Looks to be working ok again now.

I see some forum improvements have been made, it's looking better, certainly going in the right direction...

Timmeh! · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

Nah, it's still broken if you log out.

Gaz · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject:

Still broken I see (just got back from a few days away).

Anyway, nice to see the layout has improved a bit and the site makes full use of the screen width now. If only it could be changed from a 3 column layout down to 2 like this site - i.e. 1 sidebar on the left and actual content taking the rest of the width, rather than trying to squeeze the content in between 2 sidebars...... hint hint.

Timmeh! · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

I rather like 3 cols.
If you don't look at it as solely a forum (as is a tendency for very active forum members) it makes it a better site over all IMHO. The order of some of the items might be worth thinking about, for example I don't need the mailing list unsubscription up there all the time, but over all I prefer it.

Gaz · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

I've never been a fan of 3 column layouts on any website, always feels like the content is squashed in the middle and the page in general is too cluttered. (Are you listening Facebook???) I agree its worse for a forum, but it's just a little niggly thing for me on any website. I like to have all the clicky things down one side and the actual stuff you read on the rest of the page.

It's certainly a lot better now that the bit in the middle is wider and there's no wasted space down the sides. Let's see how it works out.

We should still remember that even though the new site is not "just a forum", when it comes down to it the forum is the life-blood of any online (or partly online) community.

Gaz · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject:

I guess the more important point is that it's still very broken. Has anyone managed to contact James or Ian?

Timmeh! · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject:

Ack, I thought I'd emailed James a few days ago, but checking back I only sent it to Ian. I'll send James an email now...

[Edit] Done.

Timmeh! · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

He's on the case.

Gaz · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject:

Seems to have recovered slightly - I can actually login now at least - but lots of errors and I can only get into forum posts that I have a direct link to (e.g. from the recent posts page), the forum section itself is still broken. Also doesn't seem to want to let me update my profile.

Anyway, the forum does seem much improved with the last update, and losing the blank space down each side is a huge improvement.

I agree around the ordering of the sidepanel stuff though - seems a little unbalanced and random I think the events stuff should be nearer the top for example.

Looking very nice overall though.

Dr.Bob · Club Member Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 534 Location: London

Yes same here Gaz it's looking good though.

lostcarpark · Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 1:23 am Post subject:

This seems to be a good place to mention that I've posted a message you might want to read about the impending closure of the Sproutlore forums the website Admin & Support forum.

And for Gaz, I've removed the right sidebar from the forum pages. I also aim to streamline it for other pages.