New CHAT system

MarkG · September 23, 2002, 13:59

part 2 of the thread to keep an updated list of features and easier posting of any problems

Features
- Complete user integration with Apolyton user accounts database
- No issue with user names with apostrophes
- Common VBcode and Smilies with forum
- Buttons to pop-up VBcode and Smilies insertion windows
- Automated archive
- Admins, moderators, "celebrities" and... lurkers indentification
- Ban, unban and auto-unban from within chat features, unrelated to forum posting
- /pm command opens PM window (example /pmMarkG)
- New PM notification in messages area
- /who command opens window with user profile (example /whoMarkG)
- Apostrophes and quote marks show up fully
- Full screen mode http://apolyton.net/forums/shoutbox.php
- Civ3,civ2, smac, ctp1/2 rooms for general discussion on each game, MP matchmaking and Democracy Game turnchats
- Subjects in rooms (they can be changed only by admins)
- Chat archive fully working for all rooms http://apolyton.net/forums/shoutbox....ut=chat&room=0
- Clickable user list for fast entry of a name in the message box
- Subject is shown on the title of the window
- Subject of main(Apolyton) room is shown in the forum pages and will notify of the next scheduled chat
- moderated mode for rooms
- /voice and /unvoice commands for rooms in moderated mode

Notes:
- Quote and img VBcode is disabled
- Message area of lurkers is refreshed once per minute instead of 20 seconds
- Colors in messages and user list: red=admins and mods, blue=regular users, grey=inactive users
- Each message is limited to 200 characters
- Regular ban will be only from chat but if you abuse you can be banned from the forums as well

Known issues:
- In-combatibility with Opera
- Posting with cookies disabled is not possible

Rasbelin · September 23, 2002, 14:54

Thank you for the update about the features, Markos!

Much appriciated.

So far the development has been positive compared to the first hours when the chatbox was flickering and many of these good features didn't exsist. Overall a great job, even if Opera doesn't work with chatroom, which is a pitty for Opera users, but so far the large majority of Apolytoners can, so I guess it's just a matter of time when Markos gets it fixed too.

Skanky Burns · September 23, 2002, 18:51

Zopperoni · September 23, 2002, 19:51

Cool, cool...any idea on when the "Opera-issue" will be solved?

ixnay · September 23, 2002, 22:41

Cool.

Grrr · September 23, 2002, 23:28

Markos; can we have working smiles and coding in the live chat box at the top of each page; rather than ": zzz :" or "/ me"

tniem · September 24, 2002, 01:22

Markos it all is working fantastic. It is quite impressive.

Even the layout of the entire page is getting better with the addition of the gray on the right and bottom. Looks good. Keep up the good work and the improvements and it is well on the way to being a fantastic addition to the ACS landscape.

MarkG · September 24, 2002, 02:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Grrr
Markos; can we have working smiles and coding in the live chat box at the top of each page; rather than ": zzz :" or "/ me"

i'm not sure what you mean. both the smilies and the me command work fine as far as i can tell

MarkG · September 24, 2002, 03:09

added:

- new pm notification in messages area

Level · September 24, 2002, 03:10

He means the smiles don't work in the chat box at the top of the Forum pages that shows the last thing said in the chat.

MarkG · September 24, 2002, 07:39

i see...

change:

- chat archive is now sorted differently, giving you the ability to accurately link to a specific part of the archive

-Jrabbit · September 24, 2002, 09:11

MarkG, I just gotta say you've done a terrific job in constructing this on the run over the past 5 or 6 days. Great work! I'm a huge fan.

I suggest Opera users have another browser available for when they decide to use the chatroom. It's not like this issue should surprise them...

MarkG · September 24, 2002, 09:23

Jrabbit, thanks for the kind words. how about doing the next civ2 demo turn chat in the civ2 room?

-Jrabbit · September 24, 2002, 09:35

I'm all for it and will advance the idea on the forum.

Please note: We have not used turnchats before. This was suggested previously and rejected as impractical. (Of course, the previous Chat function was unstable at best.)

Gramphos · September 24, 2002, 14:35

You should change [Fermer cette fenêtre]
to [Colse Window] in the smilie list.

Level · September 24, 2002, 15:26

The links to the chat archive do not work.

Is there a way to exit the chat room and go back to the forums?

Could the repeating problem be in the refresh or send to archive code?

FrustratedPoet · September 24, 2002, 15:41

Quote:

Originally posted by Gramphos
You should change [Fermer cette fenêtre]
to [Colse Window] in the smilie list.

After you do that you can change [Colse Window] to [Close Window].

(sorry Gramphos ...

)

MarkG · September 24, 2002, 15:41

Quote:

The links to the chat archive do not work.

are you sure? which links exactly? i just tested them all and they are fine....

Quote:

Is there a way to exit the chat room and go back to the forums?

yes, from the "_" button

Level · September 24, 2002, 16:15

I guess the links do work, I just had to hold down the button for a while.

The "_" button does not fit in the frame unless it is full screen.

Is it posible to have the last thing said on the box in the forums be a link to the chat?

For the archive, is there a posibility of a search and first/last page buttons?

Grrr · September 24, 2002, 20:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Level
He means the smiles don't work in the chat box at the top of the Forum pages that shows the last thing said in the chat.

Yeah. That is exactly what I mean.

Gramphos · September 25, 2002, 11:59

Quote:

Originally posted by FrustratedPoet

After you do that you can change [Colse Window] to [Close Window].

(sorry Gramphos ...

)

Hey, shifting chars is my most common 'spelling' error when writing on Internet boerds, (and other computerrelated documents as well). (The second is hiting a character next to the character I want instead/combined with the correct character)

Hueij · September 25, 2002, 12:15

Some (new?) problems:

In Opera I can't see the conversation at all...

In IE 6 the conversation doesn't show any new posts, I have to refresh the page to see if someone answered. And I don't see my name in the userlist...

Ari Rahikkala · September 25, 2002, 16:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Gramphos

Hey, shifting chars is my most common 'spelling' error when writing on Internet boerds, (and other computerrelated documents as well). (The second is hiting a character next to the character I want instead/combined with the correct character)

ONe pretty common (and frustrating) is pressing the shift key just a bit too long in the beginning of a sentence. IT just looks so stupid.

Level · September 25, 2002, 16:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Gramphos

Hey, shifting chars is my most common 'spelling' error when writing on Internet boerds,

What number is this? boards

Hey I can't spell eather, I usaly have a word proseser open to check. (un spell checked)

MarkG · September 25, 2002, 16:31

new

- /who command opens window with user profile (example /whoMarkG)

btw, commands work with a space too
/who MarkG

MarkG · September 25, 2002, 16:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Level
The "_" button does not fit in the frame unless it is full screen.

what's your resolution and browser?

Quote:

Is it posible to have the last thing said on the box in the forums be a link to the chat?

well, the user list already is a link....

Quote:

For the archive, is there a posibility of a search and first/last page buttons?

already planned for the future

DarkCloud · September 25, 2002, 21:57

Just so you know

/ me which does the actions: shows up in the RECENT POSTS IN THE CHAT ROOM section as

/ me (action) (With the SLASH next to ME)

It doesn't censor the me.... Just so you know

Good work with the chat rooms

/Me DarkCloud now realizes due to his edit, that /me works on the fora as well

Martin Gühmann · September 26, 2002, 10:21

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
new

- /who command opens window with user profile (example /whoMarkG)

btw, commands work with a space too
/who MarkG

Do I need cookies enabled for this feature, too Markos?

OK another issure I tested the full screen mode with Netscape 4.78 now. It worked like in Opera, the window was displaying my windows background color, like in Opera. So far it is not compartible with Netscape 4.78. Or do I need cookies for Netscape 4.78, too.

-Martin

Level · September 26, 2002, 10:55

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
what's your resolution and browser?

1280x1024, IE 5.5

Quote:

well, the user list already is a link....

I would rather have the user list links to there profiles.

Martin Gühmann · September 26, 2002, 13:41

I already wanted to post this some hours ago. But in the last moment I decided to wait, but nothing changed so here is it:

OK I found another problem if I click on this link:

http://apolyton.net/forums/shoutbox....chat&curpage=1

I get this:

Code:

The Apolyton database is currently offline for maintainance reasons

We should be done in around 25 minutes and 46 seconds :)

We apologise for the inconvenience.

I find it a little bit odd that only this page is under maintaince and the rest of the page not. And now after some hours with the same text there, I can't believe it that the first page of the CTP1/2 chat room archive is closed for an half an hour maintance close.

-Martin