• March 27, 2023, 11:39 a.m.

    As you'll know there seems to be two main contenders for collecting the outpouring of members from DPR : here - DPRevived and DPR Clone.

    From what I can see more people are arriving at DPR Clone, this is unfortunate as because it's a sister-site of many other photo forum sites it seems rather resistant to change, plus its other sister photo-forum sites create a fragmented and confusing approach.

    There's a couple of reasons why I initially preferred DRP Clone (and I think the reason why many currently do) :

    1. better use of screen space, the post windows are wider, the margins within are narrower, gaps between posts are thinner, etc. it all adds up to presenting information more efficiently, quicker on the eye, and less scrolling up down required - not a lot but it makes a big difference.

    2. writing posts is done in a rich-text editor not plain text.

    So I'd suggest to capture as many DPR members as possible, now, the post windows are made wider and margins smaller (the margin between the poster's name/logo and their message is currently a huge waste of space), everything generally tightened up in a wider window. And very importantly, rich-text ability when writing posts is essential (then drop the extra step of checking a preview).

    Apologies if the above two have already been mentioned or are in the works!

    After that, implementing a thread view would clinch it. DPR Clone is currently very reluctant to code that despite many requests already (from myself and others). If you offered a thread view (soon) I think you'd get the majority of DPR members en-mass - if they haven't settled in too much on the 'other side'.

    Good luck!

    Screen Shot 2023-03-27 at 12.18.00.jpg

    JPG, 270.4 KB, uploaded by lefteye on March 27, 2023.

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    JPG, 401.5 KB, uploaded by lefteye on March 27, 2023.

  • March 27, 2023, 11:52 a.m.

    Yes, I think that the default arrangements of this software are less than ideal. I think that we need to get to a user experience similar to DPReview. The main thing is that unlike the site that you mentioned this is intended to be a collaborative effort, so hopefully can be done. Some of the thing that you mention are just a case of changing the site templates and css - others will require software changes, which is more complex. Our competitor has a lot of experience running many sites, so it's easier for him, but we have more members at present.

  • Members 44 posts
    March 27, 2023, 12:13 p.m.

    I just joined here, and registered to the clone site yesterday. Yes, the feeling is similar, it was designed to make dpreview refugees feel comfortable. They have many other forums, but I don't care about that. I have not only just a medium format camera, but other brand cameras too, and I do not want to jump from site to site for discussion, I'd rather have it all in one place.

    First thing that I notice here, is that the website defaults to threads. If you type dprevived.com, it goes to threads, but I think it should default to categories, just like when you go into forum link in dpreview. And then if this page has all the exact categories and sub-categories like dpreview, it will immediately feel familiar to anyone new who are visiting the site, which is I think why the clone site is getting more interest.

    dpreview.communitydummy.com/community/

    Just my thoughts, but I think if you make the homepage like dpreview forum page (www.dpreview.com/forums), it will easily attract more members.

    I'm glad to be here. Just want a happy place to migrate to, thank you for doing the work and making it as close as possible.

  • Members 510 posts
    March 27, 2023, 1:11 p.m.

    Another problem is we can't have threaded view. I don't think that misago supports that at all? I found a thread at their forum with a request for that, about 5 years old. The answer was that it would never happen.

    I generally prefer flat view, but for the long threads we can produce threaded is actually quicker, it's easier to sort out what posts you want to read and to avoid sidetracks. I can live with flat view, but for some people this can be a show stopper.

  • March 27, 2023, 1:27 p.m.

    I think the screen space is just a matter of css and templates. Yes, we need threaded view, and I'm sure that it can be done.

  • Members 510 posts
    March 27, 2023, 1:33 p.m.

    By modifying the software? Sounds good but also sounds like a lot of work. Good if it is coming anyhow. We can wait.😃

  • Members 60 posts
    March 27, 2023, 1:34 p.m.

    Forum software author here. I intend to watch closely what kind of feedback is coming from the users. Obv. my priorities and goals are different, but there’s an opportunity for some convergent evolution. 😀

  • March 27, 2023, 1:44 p.m.

    ...I've just adjusted some CSS values affecting a live page here, reducing wasted screen space. Attached jpgs, 'as is' and 'after'.

    This isn't the best example - as these posts aren't filled with paragraphs of text, but you get the idea. This is easy, though I guess it needs more us of to say yes 'go ahead and reduce margins & borders & make some of the text and buttons smaller' etc. I'd like it. I couldn't increase the width of the post windows readily, but probably could with a bit more digging into the CSS.

    Screen Shot 2023-03-27 at 14.35.49.jpg

    JPG, 258.6 KB, uploaded by lefteye on March 27, 2023.

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    JPG, 278.4 KB, uploaded by lefteye on March 27, 2023.

  • March 27, 2023, 1:57 p.m.

    Do you want to help with this? If so I can send you the templates (when I've located them) and you could have a look.