The new Simtropolis BBCode platform. Your opinion on it and ideas for improvement.

[Tropic Storm 15]

What's your opinion of the new BBCode standard Simtropolis has adopted?

Personally, I don't like it, I don't like it at all. After using Simtrop's HTML coding some years back, BBCode honestly doesn't cut it. It's too restrictive, and lacks the cool tools ST HTML had before. CJ's were the best with it before, adding tables to clear info clutter was great, resizing 3000 pixel pics were a one step process, and even the HTML source code was available to edit at whim.

So what's your opinion of it? Love it? Hate it? Wish it could be improved? You decide.

UPDATE*

Dirk has stated that the HTML format used during the ST6 era has been ditched and fed to the llamas. However, dirk is open for discussion on what can be done to improve the functionality of the new BBCode platform.

*If you have any ideas and requests, please post you opinions and ideas!*

  Edited April 5, 2011 by Tropic Storm  

[JakeMD 107]

I have a feeling the RTE will be fixed very soon. With plenty of the old features ST6 had.

The reason this version of ST doesn't allow html is because the common user who has no idea how to use html can drastically break the layout of the forums or other pages.

[simmaster07 1,221]

Personally, I don't like it, I don't like it at all. After using Simtrop's HTML coding some years back, BBCode honestly doesn't cut it. It's too restrictive, and lacks the cool tools ST HTML had before. CJ's were the best with it before, adding tables to clear info clutter was great, resizing 3000 pixel pics were a one step process, and even the HTML source code was available to edit at whim.

Quite frankly, I think it's a good thing that HTML capability has been removed. Twice in ST6, the feature likely was used abusively; once to change the home page to a nationalist hacker's propaganda page, and another time using flash objects to cause anyone who viewed a topic to post spam.

I think the new BBCode system is very nice, and is (for the most part) compliant with the BBCode systems used on SC4Devotion, SimPEG, and other, smaller community sites, which makes it much easier to edit and post city journals on multiple sites.

  Edited April 4, 2011 by simmaster07  

[Dirktator 2,327]

Personally, I don't like it, I don't like it at all. After using Simtrop's HTML coding some years back, BBCode honestly doesn't cut it. It's too restrictive, and lacks the cool tools ST HTML had before. CJ's were the best with it before, adding tables to clear info clutter was great, resizing 3000 pixel pics were a one step process, and even the HTML source code was available to edit at whim.

Quite frankly, I think it's a good thing that HTML capability has been removed. Twice in ST6, the feature likely was used abusively; once to change the home page to a nationalist hacker's propaganda page, and another time using flash objects to cause anyone who viewed a topic to post spam.

I think the new BBCode system is very nice, and is (for the most part) compliant with the BBCode systems used on SC4Devotion, SimPEG, and other, smaller community sites, which makes it much easier to edit and post city journals on multiple sites.

We will not have HTML capabilities in the forums anymore, regrettably, it just causes too many headaches, malformed tags can break pages, not to mention all the security issues that come with that. Still, the next update to the forum's RTE should bring much better enhancements. The good thing about BB Code is that it's pretty extensible, we can add to it as we need.

Hope that makes sense.

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

What's your opinion of the new BBCode standard Simtropolis has adopted?

Personally, I don't like it, I don't like it at all. After using Simtrop's HTML coding some years back, BBCode honestly doesn't cut it. It's too restrictive, and lacks the cool tools ST HTML had before. CJ's were the best with it before, adding tables to clear info clutter was great, resizing 3000 pixel pics were a one step process, and even the HTML source code was available to edit at whim.

So what's your opinion of it? Love it? Hate it? Wish it could be improved? You decide.

Firstly welcome to Simtropolis, I see that you are newly registered just a couple of weeks ago.

I would perhaps suggest that you may like to spend a little more time getting to know the site and the community, before you make critical proclamations regarding how the site is coded.

Unless of course you are an older member who simply wishes to complain and criticise, and hide behind a new account.

Either way... neither is an entirely good look.

[hym 358]

Frankly, I'm not worried about it all that much. Sure, the text editor is currently missing some things that we had on ST6, like tables, but it's not a big deal. (I make the table in Word, take a screenshot, and post the picture.)

Dirk's a cool guy whose dedication to ST is second to none; we just need to be patient and give him time to finish making all the little tweaks and whatnot to get everything just right.

[Joe 90 358]

BBcode is fine. The only problem with it right now is most of the functionality is disabled. Once that becomes available we'll be away laughing.

Since I normally avoid the RTE and write in source code I actually found the html system was a complete pain in the rear, since it habitually stuffed line upon line of useless code into posts. Can't have been much fun for the server having to process it all either.

[Dirktator 2,327]

BBcode is fine. The only problem with it right now is most of the functionality is disabled. Once that becomes available we'll be away laughing.

Since I normally avoid the RTE and write in source code I actually found the html system was a complete pain in the rear, since it habitually stuffed line upon line of useless code into posts. Can't have been much fun for the server having to process it all either.

Let me know what bbcodes functionality you'd like to have enabled that isn't currently enabled, as well as any bbcode that you'd like to have that we currently don't have. If we turn this into a bbcode feedback/request thread, we can make this into something really productive!

[Craig-Abcvs 1,595]

[box]The box BBcode feature is pretty useful[/box]

Also you can put a title in it... [box title=Title Goes Here]Contents of the box blah blah...[/box]

[Joe 90 358]

Let me know what bbcodes functionality you'd like to have enabled that isn't currently enabled, as well as any bbcode that you'd like to have that we currently don't have. If we turn this into a bbcode feedback/request thread, we can make this into something really productive!

Thanks Dirk.

Tables are the main one. I use them all over the place and its been quite frustrating not being able to.

I'll get back to you if I remember any others - something that floats images perhaps? It was called 'float' under html, not sure what it is in bb.

?

[Tropic Storm 15]

Firstly welcome to Simtropolis, I see that you are newly registered just a couple of weeks ago.

I would perhaps suggest that you may like to spend a little more time getting to know the site and the community, before you make critical proclamations regarding how the site is coded.

Unless of course you are an older member who simply wishes to complain and criticise, and hide behind a new account.

Either way... neither is an entirely good look.

I forgot to mention that. I did say in my introduction to ST on another thread I did decide to switch aliases to fit my style. I used to to be a member as far as 2007 with a really uncreative name (you know, millions of numbers at the end). That was sort of "on-off" you can say and I never bothered to post anything, just some stuff on the STEX. I decided over a few months after reliving SC4 that its high time to start fresh. This username fits me well, so its a real keeper for me this time.

Anyways, I didn't start this thread to "complain" per se. I didn't put the "improve" vote in for nothing. For me, it all started after having to deal with making a table box for a thread. For what was a 1 minute "click, customize, and post" thing on the old ST6's text editor, it took a whole hour to do that in ST7. I realized at the time the option may have been crippled so ultimately, I gave up. I'm sure everyone else has legitimate gripes about the other parts of the current system but I haven't seen a discussion about it until now.

Obviously, ST7 is still ironing the kinks out of many things, but if no address these issues then chances are months later on, we'd still be using the same crippled editor for out city journals and forum posts. Even if the person is "new", at least they're they're taking the mickey and began a discussion about it, even after being criticized by others. If not, the almighty Simtropolis wouldn't (ever) get as far as it has become.

BBcode is fine. The only problem with it right now is most of the functionality is disabled. Once that becomes available we'll be away laughing.

Since I normally avoid the RTE and write in source code I actually found the html system was a complete pain in the rear, since it habitually stuffed line upon line of useless code into posts. Can't have been much fun for the server having to process it all either.

Let me know what bbcodes functionality you'd like to have enabled that isn't currently enabled, as well as any bbcode that you'd like to have that we currently don't have. If we turn this into a bbcode feedback/request thread, we can make this into something really productive!

Thank you dirk for taking action on this issue. It's great to see a forum to have a proactive webmaster like you at the helm.

I'm adding more things to the OP to inform thread readers to post opinions and request.

  Edited April 5, 2011 by Tropic Storm  

[Joe 90 358]

Another one: [justify]

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Actually, with the new editor, the need for some kind of lower level coding is minimal. Generally, I can get what I want done without the use of additional coding.

Frankly, BBcode is really for desperate situations. It is like using assembly code when the macros are good enough. I have seldom found the need for such a feature.

If a table constructor were added to the editor, I think everything would be pretty much covered.

[LivingInThePast 364]

No likey. I can't write a good URL or use my <b> tags I'm so used to making, and I've even got used to posting pictures with the img src.

One thing though: when I first joined Simtrop at 5.0, I found that I had to use the <br /> for returns. I'm glad those days are behind us...

[Sniper296 83]

How about altering the code, being able to specify the images dimensions is needed and if the specified image is below 800w then the automatic resizer is disabled, that will allow people to post mosaics without them having to be links.

[RiCHBoyZ 75]

More BBCode For IPB >>> HERE <<<

  Edited April 5, 2011 by RiCHBoyZ  

[AdoxxBE 289]

[box]The box BBcode feature is pretty useful[/box]

Also you can put a title in it... [box title=Title Goes Here]Contents of the box blah blah...[/box]

Do you mean like a spoiler?

I really like ths spoiler BB-code. It's great when posting pictures and you want to spare some space on the reply..

[Rymac91 15]

I don't honestly have any issues with using BB Code though due to it's nature I do have difficulty remembering whether a code works on this forum or another forum I browse frequently.

I think if (or when) ST begins adding custom BB Codes, that we'll need an Omnibus article to keep track... or a "help" button in the editor if that's possible.

  Edited April 7, 2011 by Rymac91  

[Dirktator 2,327]

You do know ...

... that there is a help button that lists all current BB code?

Just look...

For the blue question mark in the top right of your posting screen. It's always been there!

And now for something...

Retro!

[AdoxxBE 289]

You do know ...

... that there is a help button that lists all current BB code?

Just look...

For the blue question mark in the top right of your posting screen. It's always been there!

And now for something...

Retro!

No, I didn't know

Sorry ^^

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Cute. I've never been an aficionado of BBCode, but that could change now.

Testing. I think this coding box is cute too.

[Tropic Storm 15]

Cute. I've never been an aficionado of BBCode, but that could change now.

Testing. I think this coding box is cute too.

Haha. I think we're all getting creative with it. Gonna try the fancy [gallery] tag once I get used to it all.

Just wanted to add my extra two cents. I still don't get how to resize pictures. I just got off from another forum (that had BBCode too), they have an tag used as a default for images. The thing is with ST7 is it changes it to an <src=> once its been created. Usually, most forums keep it as an IMG textline whilst its morphs as an actual picture in the preview section, so its easier to edit and alter. Instead its the opposite, it becomes an pic under an <src>. What happens then it becomes a real hassle to edit a picture beyond that.

I think there should be a resizing capability with ST7 (i've seen some resized images here before), but I have yet to know how.

  Edited April 8, 2011 by Tropic Storm  

[Dirktator 2,327]

Cute. I've never been an aficionado of BBCode, but that could change now.

Testing. I think this coding box is cute too.

Haha. I think we're all getting creative with it. Gonna try the fancy [gallery] tag once I get used to it all.

Just wanted to add my extra two cents. I still don't get how to resize pictures. I just got off from another forum (that had BBCode too), they have an tag used as a default for images. The thing is with ST7 is it changes it to an <src=> once its been created. Usually, most forums keep it as an IMG textline whilst its morphs as an actual picture in the preview section, so its easier to edit and alter. Instead its the opposite, it becomes an pic under an <src>. What happens then it becomes a real hassle to edit a picture beyond that.

I think there should be a resizing capability with ST7 (i've seen some resized images here before), but I have yet to know how.

To avoid that from happening, go to your Profile Settings, and switch your editor to use Standard instead of RTE.

The RTE tries to be "smart" about it, but it's more of a nuisance when trying to do what you're trying to do.

The Standard editor preseves the bbcode and makes life generally easier... I'm not a fan of the RTE in this respect, so you're absolutely right.

[Tropic Storm 15]

Cute. I've never been an aficionado of BBCode, but that could change now.

Testing. I think this coding box is cute too.

Haha. I think we're all getting creative with it. Gonna try the fancy [gallery] tag once I get used to it all.

Just wanted to add my extra two cents. I still don't get how to resize pictures. I just got off from another forum (that had BBCode too), they have an tag used as a default for images. The thing is with ST7 is it changes it to an <src=> once its been created. Usually, most forums keep it as an IMG textline whilst its morphs as an actual picture in the preview section, so its easier to edit and alter. Instead its the opposite, it becomes an pic under an <src>. What happens then it becomes a real hassle to edit a picture beyond that.

I think there should be a resizing capability with ST7 (i've seen some resized images here before), but I have yet to know how.

To avoid that from happening, go to your Profile Settings, and switch your editor to use Standard instead of RTE.

The RTE tries to be "smart" about it, but it's more of a nuisance when trying to do what you're trying to do.

The Standard editor preseves the bbcode and makes life generally easier... I'm not a fan of the RTE in this respect, so you're absolutely right.

Oh the sweet look of text! Thanks again dirk! That did the trick!