Redwall Abbey

I could look up who uses what theme styles in the database, but I thought a poll would spare me that trouble, and give you a chance to comment on why you use the style that you do.

I love the hard work you put into this one. (Modified)

Default, because Modified is just too much stuff I don't like, Castaways is a bit too blue and I wasn't aware Classic was an option, I thought you were still working on it.

Classic is still a WIP, but even so it's usable. The main problems with it are little things like borders not yet being like the old ones, that most members probably wouldn't notice.

*Takes a look* Whoa. Count my vote as Classic, please.

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Quote from: Chipster of Noonvale on February 11, 2017, 09:51:22 PM
I use the "pre-button, update free" theme because the buttons behave strangely and there's no easy to see mention button..  My favourite theme overall is the one I'm using.

Quote from: Chipster of Noonvale on February 11, 2017, 09:51:22 PM
I use the "pre-button, update free" theme because the "add reply" button is still missing.  My favourite theme overall is the one currently in use on the original forum.

You mean the one in the attachment below?

@Groddil: There is a mention link up at the top of the screen, though, next to the PMs. It's larger than the mentions button. What do you feel makes the button better? Also, which one are you using (that's kinda the whole point of this topic, so that I don't have to ask ;) ).

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I'm a bit surprised by your pick, Chip. Why do you like that most? :)

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Quote from: Chipster of Noonvale on February 11, 2017, 10:11:50 PM

Quote from: Sierra on February 11, 2017, 10:07:15 PM
I'm a bit surprised by your pick, Chip. Why do you like that most? :)

Because I don't like the parchment background currently in use here, and it's the only theme that doesn't have it.

I see... do you have any scrolling/performance problems caused by it when it is on? Because that has since been fixed.

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Hmm, what don't you like about the parchment?

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Quote from: James Gryphon on February 11, 2017, 10:00:15 PM
@Groddil: There is a mention link up at the top of the screen, though, next to the PMs. It's larger than the mentions button. What do you feel makes the button better? Also, which one are you using (that's kinda the whole point of this topic, so that I don't have to ask ;) ).

I dunno, I just don't notice it. The mention button is either always at the top of my screen, or where I look anyway to click back to the homepage. The link at the top of the screen doesn't pop out as much, and I don't usually have the page scrolled all the way up. Matter of preference, I suppose.

But out of the different themes in the old theme, I use Castaways, because for some reason, ALL of the other old theme variations still have the OG buttons anyway.

Quote from: Chipster of Noonvale on February 11, 2017, 10:24:59 PM

Quote from: James Gryphon on February 11, 2017, 10:18:46 PM
Hmm, what don't you like about the parchment?

I think it's distracting, I prefer when the background is a single colour.  Also it sometimes makes text hard to read.

I don't really have that problem with the background, but I do see your point. Colored text tends to annoy me as a whole.

@Chipster of Noonvale: There is a different paper texture in Modified, milder than the one that we've used all this time. Here it is, in case you haven't seen it yet.

Spoiler

(http://www.loamhedgeabbey.com/oldattachments/pic1.png)

[close]

I'm not sure you'd like that better, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing your feedback! I'm honestly not sure whether there's much we can do to alleviate this, but we'll try to take it into consideration going forward anyhow.

@Groddil: That's odd, because I've looked at it several times and all of the theme styles there display with the old-style menu bar (except for "Experimental", which was made for the transition to buttons and has no reason to exist now). I'd try refreshing the pages, I guess. It's also worth noting that there can be problems selecting theme styles; it's not uncommon to have to select a theme style other than the one you want, then select that one, to get it to recognize your choice properly.

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It does have the different backgrounds for different boards. I'm thinking about making an offshoot of Modified, however, to become the new default theme (replacing the current default, which would replace Castaways). That one would be like Modified, but without the changing colors and backgrounds. If that happens, you'll hear about it (probably either in the grand reopening announcement on RAFF, or a tweaks & changes).

Quote from: Chipster of Noonvale on February 11, 2017, 10:24:59 PM

Quote from: James Gryphon on February 11, 2017, 10:18:46 PM
Hmm, what don't you like about the parchment?

I think it's distracting, I prefer when the background is a single colour.  Also it sometimes makes text hard to read.

The parchment does take some getting used to. I also used to find it distracting, but now I love it and wouldn't trade it in for the world. And no one really uses colored text unless it's for a game or you're a newbie. :P

Quote from: Peony on February 12, 2017, 12:45:06 AMThe parchment does take some getting used to. I also used to find it distracting, but now I love it and wouldn't trade it in for the world. And no one really uses colored text unless it's for a game or you're a newbie. :P

Or unless you're The Administrator.

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It should only have that for pre-button Modified. Pre-Button Classic is the same as it's been.

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I like the Castaways blue theme.  The only issue with it is if someone writes in a colored text besides the black default, then I really can't read it.

Quote from: Lutra on February 12, 2017, 02:09:05 PM
I like the Castaways blue theme.  The only issue with it is if someone writes in a colored text besides the black default, then I really can't read it.

I do too. There seem to be some issues with it now though.

Oops. I voted for Modified but I use Loamhedge. I have a hard time remembering which is which.
I'm having trouble with the themes, though, and I didn't see anyone else saying they were having trouble too. I strongly dislike the new Modified theme. Every time I log in, I have to go to my settings and change my theme back to the Loamhedge one, which I like best, but when I log out, it doesn't save my preferences. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a way to fix this and permanently save my theme preferences? Because not mincing words, the brown-bordered background is ugly and cheap and looks like a grade schooler's powerpoint background and changing it every time I log in is a pain. :-X

@Banya: As far as it not saving things goes, do you use "Preview" before you select it for real? If I remember right that has something to do with breaking theme selections. I'm not sure why it is, but if you just select the theme without hitting preview first it was supposed to work right.

As far as the look of the theme, is the *only* reason why you don't like Modified the brown border? That originally had bricks, and I intend to get some more in ASAP (we had an issue with the old bricks that necessitated taking them down). The brown border is just a temporary placeholder.

Quote from: Banya on March 22, 2017, 04:33:44 AM
Oops. I voted for Modified but I use Loamhedge. I have a hard time remembering which is which.
I'm having trouble with the themes, though, and I didn't see anyone else saying they were having trouble too. I strongly dislike the new Modified theme. Every time I log in, I have to go to my settings and change my theme back to the Loamhedge one, which I like best, but when I log out, it doesn't save my preferences. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a way to fix this and permanently save my theme preferences? Because not mincing words, the brown-bordered background is ugly and cheap and looks like a grade schooler's powerpoint background and changing it every time I log in is a pain. :-X

My themes stay saved if I log out and back in again, but it always takes forever to actually change them when I need to. I swear I click change about three times before it actually does.

I prefer Loamhedge too, though.

EDIT: @Games Jryphon: I never click preview and it doesn't change. But I think the one time I DID click preview, it changed immediately when I clicked "ok."

Also, I accidentally voted for Castaways. But I prefer Modified (only in Pre-Button OG Format though. Praise the Loamhedge buttons, for they are superior to the RAFF Buttons).

Quote from: James Gryphon on March 22, 2017, 04:38:06 AM
@Banya: As far as it not saving things goes, do you use "Preview" before you select it for real? If I remember right that has something to do with breaking theme selections. I'm not sure why it is, but if you just select the theme without hitting preview first it was supposed to work right.

As far as the look of the theme, is the *only* reason why you don't like Modified the brown border? That originally had bricks, and I intend to get some more in ASAP (we had an issue with the old bricks that necessitated taking them down). The brown border is just a temporary placeholder.

Thanks, James. I always use the Preview button. I'll give that a try next time I log in.
Sorry to be so bluntly critical of the Modified theme. Was I away when a poll went up for the community to vote on having that as the default theme? I remember seeing the theme with bricks instead, and it was okay, but both the bricks and the solid brown with the deeper red interface make the forum look dark. Add to that the interface's gradient was taken away, and it's like comparing animations from different decades. It's nice to see that old parchment font, though.

All right.

I think the theme being dark is mostly in comparison with the old forum, but to be honest, I was going for a slightly 'warmer' theme than we had before. As far as the gradient vs. lack of gradient, I think that's a matter of taste mostly; I've looked at it a few times recently and honestly have to say that it looks kinda cheesy to me now. That said, I did make the changes with the goal of going for a sort of 'retro' look, so I can understand if people think it looks dated now. That was ... intentional.

I'd like you to give it another try once we get the bricks in, and I'm willing to make some minor changes to the interface to smooth some things out like the exact color of the red and all that. That said, though, honestly, this is largely where I see the theme being for a while. My energy level for doing major theme changes is pretty well depleted, and when I look at the theme as it is, I have to say I like it. I am disappointed if you don't share that opinion, because I like for you to like all the things that I do here, but if one of the other theme styles we have suits you best, I'm content with that for the time being.

"Colder" was a word that came to mind when I was trying to sum up my thoughts on the new theme, but that might change when the bricks are added. And "cheesy" is probably a better term than "cheap," but there I think you're saying the same thing I am trying to. The retro look does bring to mind the simplicity of the Redwall TV show, but at least to me it doesn't reflect what the forum is. I'll give the bricks a chance, and I'm sure they will be much better than the plain background, but I do plan on sticking to the Loamhedge or the Castaways and Classic themes for my personal use. You put so much time into the Loamhedge and Castaways themes anyway.

Well, I was meaning to say that I thought the gradient looked cheesy, not the retro bars. ;)

I am a bit surprised that you think it's colder, not warmer, but I guess that's somewhat subject to interpretation. I am curious as to what you're thinking when you say that it 'doesn't reflect what the forum is' and I'd like to hear more of your thoughts and feelings on that.

I am glad that we have a fairly diverse set of theme styles so that there's something for everyone. Honestly I would like it if everyone loved Modified, as it's the way I best like to look at the forum, but that's not a realistic expectation and I've come to accept that.

I love modified. I clicked the wrong vote button, but modified is snazzy!

*cough* LoamhedgeStyle!Modified, anyway.

I didn't even know there was a choice of themes, nor do I know how to change it, so I guess I'm on Default. ;D

Quote from: Meadow on March 23, 2017, 10:48:29 PM
I didn't even know there was a choice of themes, nor do I know how to change it, so I guess I'm on Default. ;D

Do you wanna know how to change it, though? :)

Yes, because now I'm curious to see my other options! I'll have another search for it...

Quote from: Meadow on March 24, 2017, 05:41:15 PM
Yes, because now I'm curious to see my other options! I'll have another search for it...

Ok, go to your profile, click on "Modify Profile", then in "Look and Layout" and then press the "change" option.

You can then pick whichever theme you like from the list :)

James, you were right, I just pressed change without previewing the theme and it's saved when I log in now. The trick was to choose the Loamhedge style variation from the pull-down menu under the Core section rather than from the Default section, though it appears in both.

Quote from: Sierra on March 24, 2017, 05:42:49 PM

Quote from: Meadow on March 24, 2017, 05:41:15 PM
Yes, because now I'm curious to see my other options! I'll have another search for it...

Ok, go to your profile, click on "Modify Profile", then in "Look and Layout" and then press the "change" option.

You can then pick whichever theme you like from the list :)

Thanks, Sierra. :) I'm currently on 'Experimental' as the blue is such a difference from the usual red themes. Assuming these themes will follow through to the other forum, I'll probably change theme from time to time.

James, these themes will still exist after the merge, right? It seems like a waste not to carry them over after the time and effort that went into making them.

They're already over at the RAF, if you've logged in there.