Brent had a good idea - new forum s/w requires new strategies :)

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rcantor

Registered:1309799312
Posts: 5,724

Posted 1407699969	Reply with quote #1

Brent ( hoosierbanana ) has been trying to restore some missing threads to the forum. It used to be that searches did not include signatures but now they do. That means if you list your wants or haves in text in your signature and someone wants to find out about a variety in there they'll get all of your posts. If someone wants to find info on Maltese Falcon they'll pull up every unrelated post from everyone who wants that variety and puts it in their sig. A searcher might have to wade through 100 unrelated posts to find 1 post s/he wants to read. There are many things you can do to help. What I've done is convert the text to a picture and used the control panel to upload that .jpg to my signature. Since it's a picture the search engine won't see the text there. Otherwise nothing's changed. I can still hope some kind soul will deliver a 12 foot tree of my desired varieties to my door :) To save you time I'll tell you that 9 point text was papa bear. It seemed to big to me. 8 pt was too small so I settled on 8 pt bold. I used Times New Roman. Other fonts may need a point or 2 up or down to look good. My picture is 4.5" wide and less than 2" tall in case that helps you set your sizes. 6.5" worked for a full screen browser at medium size viewing but the text (14 pt) was way too big. __________________ Zone 6, MO Wish list: Galicia Negra, De La Reina - Pons, Genovese Nero - Rafed's, Sbayi, Souadi, Acciano, Any Rimada, Sodus Sicilian, any Bass, Pons or Axier fig, any great tasting fig.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1407710130	Reply with quote #2

Thank you Bob! I understand not everyone will do it, especially members who are not active. Anyway everybody who helps is gonna count. I was thinking of replacing os(ohs) lol. with zeros and that sort of thing, maybe jamming two names together you know but it is hard to experiment because the old sig will still show up on Google for a long time, sometimes. But your solution is very elegant ; ) __________________ 7a, DE

FiggyFrank

Registered:1347560723
Posts: 2,712

Posted 1407715011	Reply with quote #3

Very clever, gentlemen. Hoping it will catch on. __________________ Frank zone 7a - VA

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1407717811	Reply with quote #4

Another workaround is for people to keep their wish lists and collection lists in their profile rather than in their sig. I keep my wish list in the 'hobbies' section and my collection list in the 'occupation' section: http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/profile/1875694 __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1407751850	Reply with quote #5

Good idea. Maybe just slightly misspell, put a dash in the names, or something that effect so it's recognizable but not exactly correct? I feel a lot of people won't have the patience to make up pictures...

FigaroNewton

Registered:1403556278
Posts: 75

Posted 1407753193	Reply with quote #6

I like your idea Ampersand. I made an attempt at the picture thing, but your idea is a go for me. Regards, bill __________________ Billy - Middle Tennessee Seeking: C'hiapetta, A'driatic JH, and S'mith maybe 2 cuttings or so of each. Thank-you.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1407824303	Reply with quote #7

Thanks guys, I guess my first sig was not cool enough to entice the artists. I used an online generator thing and there weren't many options. There was another site that had one with a wolf but it was apparently not meant to be. At any rate I made my own that I like more. __________________ 7a, DE

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1408967648	Reply with quote #8

I noticed you had to make a change already Bob... My advice is to pick one that is unattainable and stick with it ; ) I know this issue won't affect most people here, but Google is the entranceway to the forum. So it is how the rest of the world sees our community... And what they see now is mostly variety names in signatures, because they interface with the forum through Google, to find info about varieties and such. __________________ 7a, DE

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1408970452	Reply with quote #9

How do you upload picture to your signature? __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409000951	Reply with quote #10

All you need to do is go to the control panel, at the top right of each page. Then scroll down to your signature and click on the small picture icon "insert photo", then insert the image url (you can upload/insert the pic to any one of your posts and then copy the image url, for some reason the signature box will only accept an url). To make a pic like mine just cut an image into a long rectangle, mine is about 1200 x 60 pixels, then select the text tool and type in your info, or you can just open a "new" blank picture in your picture software and select an appropriate image size (banner) or cut down a full image, then type in your info. Just to be sure I went ahead and followed my directions with the clouds from your profile photo and signature info. Here is the product, you can just upload it from here if you like it (right click-copy image location). __________________ 7a, DE

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409003028	Reply with quote #11

It does not make a difference to Google Alan. Any text in the signature space is counted as a keyword now. For instance, when I search for Lily Wong, I receive thousands of hits on the forum, although only a few actually contain information on the Lily Wong fig. The rest are a result of Google reading your signature. If anyone wants help they can PM me... __________________ 7a, DE

GregMartin

Registered:1370378358
Posts: 550

Posted 1409005535	Reply with quote #12

My only concern with using images is that I sometimes have spare plants to offer and I like to search for people who are looking for that variety. If we had an agreed to approach like Billy did with the * after the first letter then at least it'd be possible to search for people's wants. __________________ zone 5 Maine Seeking: Saint Martin, Naples White, Black Tuscan, Bécane, French Alps, Abruzzi, Tenica, Wild Mountain Figs from the coldest corners (Iranian, Turkish or other...would love seeds too)

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409007093	Reply with quote #13

I never thought of that Greg, I checked Billy's method and it does "trick" Google. Kelby's sig has not been cached yet so I am not sure, but it should work also. I think a standardized method is a great idea. Looks great Alan, thanks : ) __________________ 7a, DE

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,100

Posted 1409008783	Reply with quote #14

One issue with the pictures is poor visibility on a smart phone. I do some of my forum reading on my phone, and plain text is far easier to read than the pics. I like this method better: Wish list: Ronde de Bourdeaux Easier to edit also. Just my 2 cents __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409011007	Reply with quote #15

I don't have a tablet or use my phone for the forum so I never thought of that either Ed. For my own experience, I sort of like having my info in an actual pic because it clearly defines it from the text of the post. I find myself reading very lengthy signatures over and over again (parts anyway) like they are a block of text in the post. But I am sure a picture could be made that is even more distracting to my ADD, lol. Good point about editing. __________________ 7a, DE

DesertDance

Registered:1247674606
Posts: 4,518

Posted 1409012289	Reply with quote #16

I don't get it. Leave Jon alone. This is a good forum. It aint broke. Don't fix it! Suzi __________________ Zone 9b, Southern California. "First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap!" Wish List: I wish all of you happy fig collecting! My wishes have been fulfilled!

Ampersand

Registered:1389979527
Posts: 728

Posted 1409013026	Reply with quote #17

I'll stick with my ooo at the start, not as annoying to look at.

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409013044	Reply with quote #18

__________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409013250	Reply with quote #19

How do we look now? __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409013303	Reply with quote #20

Thanks Brent __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1409013827	Reply with quote #21

Danny The font seems a little small. Some people may not be able to read it. Or maybe if the background photo is lightened so the text stands out more? __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409013969	Reply with quote #22

C'mon... really? Looks good from here. __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409014192	Reply with quote #23

Very Nice Danny. Care to direct your accusations at someone in particular Suzi? __________________ 7a, DE

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,117

Posted 1409014212	Reply with quote #24

Maybe it is just me but the text on green background doesn't stand out? Wonder if text on the dark purple will be any better? Let me try it with my signature and see. __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409016980	Reply with quote #25

__________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409021635	Reply with quote #26

That looks professional Danny! __________________ 7a, DE

james

Registered:1189185103
Posts: 1,653

Posted 1409024032	Reply with quote #27

I am with Greg on this one. I have used the search feature to seek out those looking for my extras. To me, this is more ideal. Not everybody who has a wish list in their sig line has posted the list to the thread dedicated to the subject. On my laptop the pics are tolerable. On the iPad they are distracting and some are hard to read. On my android phone (Firefox) the sig lines do not show at all. Why not drop the wish lists from the sig line all together and move them to the thread. It would solve the issue of cluttered search results while providing an single place to search for someone to appreciate our extras. We could ask Jon to pin it to the top of the list. __________________ In containers - Littleton, CO (zone 5b) In ground - N.E of Austin, TX (zone 8b) 2016 Wish List: Dārk Pōrtuguese, Grānthāms Royāl, Lātarolla, Negrettā, Nōire de Bārbentāne, Rockāway Green, Viōlet Sepōr, Viōlette Dāuphine. Iranian figs are always welcome.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1409056396	Reply with quote #28

Hi all, What James said. Move the wish lists to the thread dedicated to that and keep updating your wishlist there. Keep your usda Zone in your signature. The point being that when doing a search for a specific variety on the forum or on gogle one does get hits on wish-lists instead of infos on the variety . Another point is that too long signatures make posts almost impossible to read right at first reading. So keeping signatures short is better - there were already some bad posts about that point. Thanks a lot and to all : Just relax and have fun on the forum - this is not an order or a "must-do or sentenced to death" but a recommendation from/to the community of this forum. PS for eboone : Ronde de Bordeaux - one U in the name of Bordeaux. __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

waynea

Registered:1362316304
Posts: 1,886

Posted 1409070557	Reply with quote #29

I kind of stop reading those threads and move on to the next, too much of a distraction to the post. Nice idea but the post is regular print and the add-on is too much. Just my opinion.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409146073	Reply with quote #30

I know everyone is going to feel differently about this. And I don't want to make some rule, just hoping members will see this and empathize with the people who dig through old info to answer their questions, or the people who just got a fig tree and search Google for more info. Will those people find what they need? Or will they just find the same wishlists over and over again? I noticed most people have made one change or another, thank all of you. __________________ 7a, DE

MichaelTucson

Registered:1333340598
Posts: 1,216

Posted 1409149589	Reply with quote #31

Just my opinion: The wide signatures are a distraction in general. The ones with lots of text, I mean. The photos are even more distracting. I remember when this whole business of putting wish lists in signatures started, and IMO it made the forum threads less readable. I like the idea of putting wish lists in those "wish list" threads instead for this reason: it means that info is available to people who have something to give away and want to search for someone who wants that variety, but it's out of the way and doesn't distract everyone else who is reading the thread for its main content. This problem with search is just an extension of that basic problem... the problem being that signatures are essentially spam that clutters every thread. They're just extraneous info for almost every thread. IMO, the pictures are even more distracting. Although they circumvent the "search issue", they don't circumvent what my eyes see. As a reminder of this, do you guys remember how upset some people became when a couple of members had signatures that were many lines long? Some of them were in list format. They were spam. Most signatures in general just spam threads and distract from the actual content of a thread. /opinion Mike __________________ Pauca sed matura.

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1409172183	Reply with quote #32

Well I got rid of mine, I liked it but what the hay. __________________ 7a, DE

Maro2Bear

Registered:1344284082
Posts: 732

Posted 1409176708	Reply with quote #33

I kind of like at least having ones location, growing zone, etc. but I do agree with many, tooooo much info in the sig block is far too distracting. Ive cut mine down as well. __________________ Mark B., Glenn Dale, MD Zone 7a

Hoosierguy86

Registered:1375830122
Posts: 246

Posted 1409192498	Reply with quote #34

Just got mine changed...plus Christmas is coming early. =) Thanks! I'm exclusively on mobile and very rarely request desktop but sometimes I do to see peoples names and zones in their sig. I think that is a nice feature. __________________ Scott N. Indiana 5b/6a

nycfig

Registered:1380768118
Posts: 884

Posted 1409403323	Reply with quote #35

I'm a convert! I became a victim of my own distracting picture after searching for info on a certain variety. I fully agree and got rid of the fancy pics in the signature line. You're right, there's no need for it. Moving wish list to the wish list thread where it's suppose to be. If anyone wants to take a look and grant a wish or two I wouldn't disagree too much. ;) Bob, you should change the subject of this thread to something that would appeal to more members and get them on board. Maybe something like "Forum Needs Help - Update Your Signature Line Now". Just a thought. Anyway... thanks for helping me see the light. __________________ Danny NYC Z7a It's all about the figs! Facebook: NYCfigs Buying Fig Trees and Cuttings From the Internet

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