Interesting, I didn't know that.

The problem is I’m not sure how you could manage this with HTML and CSS. The main limitation of responsive designs is that you’re still working with a fixed HTML structure, and as far as I know there isn’t a way to alter that structure on the fly using CSS.

Basically, HTML elements act like containers – everything is a container and/or sits inside one.

The problem with this design is that you would have the username inside the same container as the post content, so it would have to remain within that container at every level – mobile, desktop, tablet etc. This design works for a mobile layout, but I don’t think it would translate well into a desktop layout.

I think we need to keep user details (name, title, rep etc) within the same container in order for it to make sense.

There is a conditional system built into the template system that might help with this. That way you can turn entire HTML containers on or off (or display information in one place or another) depending on specific conditions.

In this case I think it is possible to have it detect what browser someone is using using an external script. Desktop = 1. Mobile = 2. Then have the result parsed somewhere in the PHP.

Then in the conditional system you could roughly tell it to:

If parameter = 2 display information here. Else = display information there.

This would take a LOT of puzzeling in the template files though and is by no means easy to set up. But it is possible.

http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/t...e_conditionals

Huh, I didn’t know that.

I guess if it’s possible to use those conditionals to detect width in a similar fashion to CSS media queries it would be totally possible to have it conditionally display usernames in one container or another.

I wonder if conditionals update on browser resize though...

They won't. Conditionals are only refreshed when the page is loaded or refreshed. In practice this shouldn't be a problem though since the size is static 99% of the time. You just have to make sure it detects the browser properly and displays the right HTML for it.

slight revision of the design i did http://oi49.tinypic.com/1se90x.jpg

That's not an improvement, that's a step backwards. The username should be a default font just like anything else, for sake of simplicity.

Revision. I know the longer usernames would be cut off, but you could tap the profile picture to bring up a more information window which would display the full username along with all other user information. Windows Phone cuts off names of people you add to the homescreen, so Microsoft obviously don't see it as that much of a problem. You have the first part of the usernames and the profile picture, so you should be able to identify the user with no hesitation anyway.

http://i50.tinypic.com/b8u3ya.png

I could live with that, but it's not really 'the way' from a design perspective. What about all the buttons that need to be there? Edit, quote, page numbers, reply button...

I imagine you'd tap the speech bubble to bring up those sort of options. I think I already said this. I'd want a reply button after the most recent post.

EDITED AGAIN: Like this (just an example):
http://i49.tinypic.com/34y770k.png

When the fuck did I talk about a fox and a dog?
Also, I think the names would fit best just as they are there, except directly under the avatar.

This is looking more and more like an app instead of a skin. And there are already apps that can do this.

I still think an app like Tapatalk would make this entire project 10 times easier.

There are a lot of things that would make this easier. Trouble is getting them.

I’m not entirely convinced having hidden elements that only reveal themselves when you tap in certain spots is a good idea, though – in fact it’s decidedly mystery meat, which is almost never a good idea.

Manco's right.

OWF's new skin should consist entirely of flying Abe heads.

There's just the profile picture and the 'post bubbles' that are touchables. Is your mystery meat point about if someone chooses the skin and hasn't heard anything about it, and wonders how the hell you reply, or rep, or report?

I think the less clutter the better. And as long as the user knows how to access the posting options from having read this thread (for example), then I think they'd find the interface easy to use.

The problem with "mystery meat" is simple - buttons are there to do something as quickly and intuitively as possible. Anything that makes buttons take longer and more confusing to use is therefore stupid.

I've been here for years, but if the text was taken off of the Edit/Quote/MQ/QR buttons, it would still take me a couple of seconds longer to post such enlightening diatribe as you are currently reading.

By my calculations, that would make a conservative total of five hours spent searching for buttons since joining. Do you realise how much wanking I could do in five hours!?

BTW: Don't forget that you're going to have to include the moderator options. On each post that would be an Infraction button and a checkbox, as well as two dropdowns for each thread. And don't get me started on the forum display page.

One of the many puzzles that need solving. Moderator functions are handled by the conditional system. It checks if a user is a moderator and enables the right columns and forms if he is.

If I can get a working demo of VBulletin then the mod options shouldn't be too much trouble.

I've spent a bit of time playing with Foundation. Here's a couple points:

• I like having separate classes for a mobile grid and a desktop grid.
• It still frustrates me how much code goes into the default - I think I might try isolating the CSS for the grid and building with it.
• The grid can get rather ... Finicky if you don't handle the code just right. I noticed quite a few spots where using a certain HTML element would conflict with the grid styles for no apparent reason.

Mystery Meat sounds like a good forum theme, as long as it doesn't actually live up to it's namesake.

New ‘n’ Mystery



I’m currently working on building up a version of the 1140px Grid System. It’s open source and hasn’t been updated in a while, but I’ve been able to add mobile-first functionality and a mobile-only grid with relative ease. It’s a lot lighter than Foundation and has all the functionality that I’m looking for, which is nice.

I also came across this article on responsive typography which got me thinking about where the best place to start with layout designs would be.

I’m of the opinion that the most important element of a forum is the user posts, so this is a logical place to start. There’s already been discussion on that, so – hooray?

I've skimmed over that article a bit. Am I correct in understanding that the font size and type can be dynamically changed depending on the type of device or browser that used?

If so, is that really something we need? Personally I've never had a problem reading text on my phone, it's just the navigation that's a pain in the ass.

No, it's more saying different devices will have different demands for reading text so you need to take that into consideration when creating your typography CSS - if you can adjust the text to be a little larger on a phone screen, for instance, then do it.

How will images be handled? Will we be able to zoom in on them? (Assuming they'll just be resized)

Ah I see, yes that makes sense.

As for images, I too would like to see some sort of function that auto resizes images to the maximum page width (unlike now where a page can be stretched infinitely) and lets you click on them to see the true size. But that's stuff we need to look at once the basic theme is done.

The text needs completely redone ...maybe an oddworld themed font wouldn't go miss....

Other then that I like it man, did you do it on Microsoft paint?

Dang dude, that post was forever and a day ago and has already been discussed to death.

Git'Im, the Necrophaggot.

Lighten up guys, Git'Im's obviously new.

Manco, how are things progressing?

Thanks for your input ..correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't it make you the homosexual as you keep following me around the forum where I post making jokes even a hyena wouldn't laugh at?

If you really admire my presence that much I'm sure I can send you a self portrait of me to fap at.