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Author Topic: Retail Vendors subforum location  (Read 7462 times)

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BadMouth

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Retail Vendors subforum location
« on: September 01, 2015, 12:32:00 pm »
I browse B/S/T sometimes, but never remember the Retail Vendor subforum.
IMO, it should be next to B/S/T
It's kind of lost under pinball.

Noobs looking for vendors aren't going to see it there.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2015, 01:07:28 pm »
I browse B/S/T sometimes, but never remember the Retail Vendor subforum.
IMO, it should be next to B/S/T
Good point.

Maybe swap "Retail Vendors" with "Wiki Discussion"?

While we're on this subject, maybe we should look at organizing the whole menu so closely related subjects are next to each other. (vendors next to sellers, front ends next to front ends, etc.)


Scott

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2015, 02:54:06 pm »
Here's a first draft menu layout.

PDF attached for your editing pleasure.   ;D

The top row indicates the grouping logic.




Scott
« Last Edit: September 01, 2015, 03:06:49 pm by PL1 »

yotsuya

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2015, 03:12:54 pm »
You should combine Maximus and MALA into "Front Ends", and make each a sub-forum.

I'd also put Meet Up under something else, like "Arcade Misc".
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2015, 03:29:27 pm »
I suggested something similar in another thread ages ago, so Im totally on board.

changes to PL1's groupings:
skills/parts:
move BST to the top of that section and retail right under BST the rest just shifted down 2 spots.

software:
controls.dat subsection under software
MaLa and Maximus under front ends like yots suggested

Dedicated systems:
Audio Juke MP3 to the top of that catagory, then megatouch, arcade misc, pinballs, consoles

Talk+Misc
delete PnR for good and the good of the board
shift project arcade under here and that completely removes the need for a 6th column
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2015, 04:23:27 pm »
I like project announcements under Main.
I never look at the restorations, but if it were under project announcements I probably would.
I'd be more worried about getting rid of a row than a column, so it takes up less of the page.

My $.02

Row 1 (core stuff):

Main
Project Announcements
Restorations
Pinball
Arcade Misc

Row 2 (cab building stuff):

Monitor/Video
Woodworking
Artwork
Driving & Racing
Automated Projects

Row 3 (starting to break down  :lol ):

Consoles
Merit/JVL
Audio/Jukebox/MP3
Project Arcade
Raspberry Pi & Dev Board

Row 4:

Software
GroovyMAME
Front End Support (separate subforums for Mala, Maximus, ...maybe add Hyperspin if someone wants to manage it)
Linux
Dos/WinCab (I don't even know what this is)
 

Row 5:

controls.dat
??? (whatever I missed or don't combine something)
Forum Discussion
Wiki Discussion
Old Boards (contains both old boards & old archives)

Row 6:

B/S/T
Retail Vendors
Reviews
P&R
Everything Else


EDIT: Maybe put the raspberry pi forum in column 2 and driving cab by consoles in column 3?
I'm ok wherever the driving cab forum ends up....or where anything ends up for that matter.
I just think more traffic can be generated by organizing them more strategically.
« Last Edit: September 01, 2015, 04:44:57 pm by BadMouth »

PL1

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2015, 03:56:06 am »
I definitely like the idea of dropping PnR from the main menu.   :applaud:

Another way to reduce the number of main menu entries is to use a link to the index page like this:  Front End Support Forums

That, combined with another category or two on the index page, would group related sub-forums without making them into harder to find child forums.

It would also allow new support forums to be added to the category without adding a main menu entry.


Scott
« Last Edit: September 02, 2015, 04:01:23 am by PL1 »

yotsuya

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2015, 10:21:09 am »

Another way to reduce the number of main menu entries is to use a link to the index page like this:  Front End Support Forums

That, combined with another category or two on the index page, would group related sub-forums without making them into harder to find child forums.

It would also allow new support forums to be added to the category without adding a main menu entry.

Scott

Exactly. So get to it!
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PL1

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2015, 11:44:09 am »
So get to it!
Do you really want Saint to grant me full admin access?  jk   >:D   :lol
No, thanks.  I'd probably break the site. 

I'm just encouraging a discussion that (hopefully) results in an improved menu and index page plan to present to Saint.

What categories beside "Front End Support Forums" would you guys recommend adding to the index/menu and which forums would you include in those categories?


Scott

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2015, 04:03:11 pm »
I wouldn't overuse the submenu thing.  Stuff could easily get buried and never seen again.

I think it works for the front-ends.  I don't think it works for much else.
It's akin to having to navigate a bunch of menus on the telephone to get to the option you want.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2015, 09:45:46 pm »
<-- Lurking :) No objections to an overhaul.
--- John St.Clair
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #11 on: September 10, 2015, 11:09:44 pm »
Hell anymore I just use "unread posts," I gotta keep the pulse....

Otherwise you miss things like mod fights and jennifer's bewbs.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #12 on: September 10, 2015, 11:17:19 pm »
Hell anymore I just use "unread posts," I gotta keep the pulse....

Otherwise you miss things like mod fights and jennifer's bewbs.
Amen.
***Build what you dig, bro. Build what you dig.***

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2015, 12:30:47 am »
Hell anymore I just use "unread posts," I gotta keep the pulse....

Otherwise you miss things like mod fights and jennifer's bewbs.
Amen.

+1   You could reduce the entire forum to a single "Unread Posts" button and I'd be 100% OK with that.
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2015, 02:40:49 am »
How about this?

Two items on main menu link to categories on the index page -- "Software Support Forums" (green) and "Frontend Support Forums" (blue)

Not sure about whether to keep controls.dat (yellow) on the main menu.   :dunno


Scott
« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 06:14:31 pm by PL1 »

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #15 on: September 11, 2015, 03:59:14 am »
I'm jumping in on a conversation that I haven't seen the evolution of and I'm sorry if this stuff is played out, but the board is nuts to me.  There are so many categories with page 1 posts from 3 months ago.  You can combine a bunch of them and nothing will get buried.  IMO there should be 10 categories max.  Instead of looking to create categories for the menu, maybe it would make sense to see which can be combine.  I think any categorey that has page one posts from six months ago, probably has topics that would be explored further with greater visibility. I probably won't click pinball posts, but I might read one here and there if it were in the arcade forum. In this thread two of the heavy hitters basically said they don't need categories at all and would be able to keep up.  I think it speaks volumes regarding the need for all of this separation.

I also think the meet-up section should be a subcategory on the main page.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #16 on: September 11, 2015, 10:04:41 am »
....but the site isn't only for the people who spend too much time on here.

Although I've become more involved in the banter the past year or so, I still view the forum as mainly a place where we store and organize information.

Take notice of how many members vs guests are viewing a forum at any given time.
The guests almost always outnumber the members.
Displaying things in order of "unread" isn't going to help someone who's here looking for information rather than to socialize.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #17 on: September 11, 2015, 11:52:41 am »
I use "new replies" and "unread messages" almost exclusively.
If you're replying to a troll you are part of the problem.
I also need to follow this advice. Ignore or report, don't reply.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2015, 11:54:43 am »
I think Linux shouldn't need a top menu link, as it is a child forum of Software. Other child forums like "Logos" or "Tutorials" do not get links. I also think Dos/WinCab should be made a child forum of software as well and removed from the top menu.


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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2015, 11:56:45 am »
Actually, I think P N' R should go under "Everything Else" as well. But I don't use it, so that might just be me.
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2015, 12:00:12 pm »
Actually, I think P N' R should go under "Everything Else" as well. But I don't use it, so that might just be me.

I like that. Scrape it off the top menu and bury under E.E. The single digit number of people who use it can still figure out how to get there.

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2015, 04:45:09 pm »
Actually, I think P N' R should go under "Everything Else" as well. But I don't use it, so that might just be me.

I like that. Scrape it off the top menu and bury under E.E. The single digit number of people who use it can still figure out how to get there.
So far, everyone appears to agree that P n' R should be removed from the main menu.

The question is whether to:

1. Make it a child board of E.E with the standard child-board link at the top of E.E., like "Meet-Up" here. (higher visibility)

2. Make it accessible only through the index page, like the "PowerMAME" forum here. (lower visibility)

Poll posted here to allow everyone to throw in their 2 cents.


Scott
« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 06:07:44 pm by PL1 »

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2015, 05:53:53 pm »
why are you posting about the secret forum? wtf!
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2015, 06:15:16 pm »
What is this [secret] you speak of, Scott?  I don't see that link.



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« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 06:28:40 pm by PL1 »
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #24 on: September 11, 2015, 06:22:24 pm »
why are you posting about the secret forum? wtf!
Another example chosen and the MIBs are on it.


Scott
« Last Edit: September 11, 2015, 06:27:51 pm by PL1 »

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #25 on: December 28, 2015, 07:36:24 pm »
 :bump

Menu update very likely to happen soon.

What changes do you want to see?

Speak now or hold your peace.


Scott

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #26 on: December 28, 2015, 11:25:24 pm »
P&R is now a child of Everything Else. I'm ready to reorg the menu, someone give me the final verdict please.
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #27 on: December 28, 2015, 11:26:09 pm »
Here's a first draft menu layout.

PDF attached for your editing pleasure.   ;D

The top row indicates the grouping logic.




Scott

Are you guys wanting the header line above the menu, or is that just for reference for this discussion?
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #28 on: December 28, 2015, 11:45:40 pm »
--- John St.Clair
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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #29 on: December 29, 2015, 06:04:47 am »
Looking good so far.  :applaud:

Each column contains clusters of closely related boards.   ;D

No P'n'R link in the main menu.   ;D   :angel:

Will there be a News link in the menu or will it only be accessible via the index page?

Will the index page be organized/sorted more like the menus?

It won't be an exact match, but I think it would be easier to navigate the index page if the forums are closer to the order of each menu column from left to right.
Quote
Main
- Main Forum
- Project Announcements
- Driving & Racing
- Automated Projects
- Raspberry Pi & Dev Board    
- Restorations
- Monitor/Video
- Woodworking
- Artwork
. . .


Scott

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Re: Retail Vendors subforum location
« Reply #30 on: January 05, 2016, 09:06:18 am »
Links to the subforums being in different spots than I'm used to  mindlessly clicking on threw me off a bit this morning, but it looks good.
I think the organization makes a lot more sense and will result in increased traffic for some subforums.
 :cheers: