Search is too small!

pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 20538

I have suspected this before, but held off on commenting because I dismissed it.
The search button is too small. Could it be moved next to the 'new topic' button and
made red or something to make it stand out compared with others?

For exhibit A, I submit to you this this thread.
Most are familiar with exhibit B (that so many post before searching).
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rac · Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2002 5:51 pm Post subject:

No, you should just post more often so that people can always use the link in your .sig

Seriously, I second this motion.
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pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 20538

I can only post so much without spamming

I'm third behind klieber and
delta407. I have no hope of catching them... they know too much

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delta407 · Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2002 4:50 am Post subject:

Actually, I think a message that reads "Did you remember to search before posting?" right above the Submit button would be more effective.
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pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 20538

It could be put in both places. "Did you remember to search before posting?"
I don't think many would get past Did

That is why I thought a color that
stood out vs. the rest of the page might attract some amount of attention.
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klieber · Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2002 6:01 pm Post subject:

My opinion is that most (90%?) people that don't search do so because they're simply lazy. Regarding the post you referred to, kanuslupus, sounds like that guy wasn't getting the page to load correctly on his browser. (no idea why -- that's a separate issue)

Here's the thing with any and all mods to phpBB -- it makes updating to new versions a major PITA. So, when cross-side scripting vulnerabilities are exposed (similar to the one found in 2.0.0) each and every modification to the base code that we've installed slows down our ability to respond to security vulnerabilities. We can't just run the 2.0.1 upgrade script. Instead, we have to:

install a virgin copy of the old version somewhere else
run the upgrade script and cross our fingers
apply all the mods that we have on the current site.
figure out what broke/doesn't work.
fix what broke/doesn't work.
test the snot out of it. (we do try to keep these forums snot-free)
then, go through all of these steps over again on the live site. (which admittedly goes faster since we keep notes, but it still takes time)

Of those, #4 and #5 take the most time and aren't always successful. For instance, did anyone notice that our News mod at the top of the page disappeared a couple of weeks ago? That's because that particular mod isn't supported (yet) in 2.0.1. We lost a couple of other, less visible mods as well for the same reason.

None of this detracts from the validity of your suggestions to make these forums better, but it does mean that we have to keep the bar for new mods pretty darn high in order to ensure these forums are viable for the long term.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble -- just wanted to explain why some very good suggestions might still not make it into these forums...

--kurt
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pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 20538

No problem... sounds like it wouldn't be worth changing much at all

.

Originally, the thread I linked to appeared to be an issue of not seeing the search button.
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