why do posts get narrower after each post?
arjay - July 12, 2007 - 12:38
I use the forum at g-ding.tv which hosts a forum for mythdora users. Each time a post is added to a thread, the post appears in a narrower and narrower column until after 6-10 posts, the newest post might be in a column on the right of the page, under an inch wide and a foot long!
I asked on that forum why this happens, and the administrator referred me to your site saying "that's just the way it is".
My question is does it have to be that way and if so WHY?
Thanks
arjay
it's called "threading". See
it's called "threading". See admin/content/comment/settings to adjust the display of comments and threads.
Nested, threaded comments.
it'scalled
indenting.
Eventually
You'll
run
out
of
width.
at
the
right
The theme used will make a difference too. Many Drupal themes have generous indent widths.
.dan.
How to troubleshoot Drupal | http://www.coders.co.nz/
Thanks for the quick replies
Thanks for the quick replies guys - much appreciated.
When you say the style and so on can be changed - is that by the user or must it be done by the forum administrator?
I can't for the life of me see why indenting like this is of any use to man or beast but then who am I - just a naive user. Why would I want to only be able to read the first half a dozen posts before they disappear off the screen?
Anyway - if it is possible for me as the user to choose a different theme or style when logging on to the site then that is good enough for me!!
arjay
The setting is an admin
The setting is an admin thing, complain to them. It maybe that the admin has allowed various theme choices, you'd need to look in your profile to see if that's the case.
The reason for indenting is to see with which post a reply belongs to. Without it (flat) it's not always possible to "marry up" replys to comments, etc.
But, as a "user" you are stuck with your admins prefered styling, you need to live with it.
It's an incredibly common
It's an incredibly common metaphor for discussion boards, usenet and email. Have you used any of them before?
This layout shows that your 'reply' was relating most specifically to my post, and this post is a direct response to you. Other people in larger boards may start talking about other things or pick up on earlier topics they wish to address directly.
Latecomers can follow the course of logic, without getting distracted and having to sort out timestamps.
When they are all 'flat' together, it's easy to lose the flow.
The slashdot system allows you to switch between (flat, threaded, nested) views as you go.
Which method is appropriate depends on the type of discussion happening. If it's kids with a short attention span that are used to IRC-chat, they can keep it flat and still know that post 117 is a reply to 98 which is a reply to 66, because J2mboor always argues with PX1L.
Slower moving boards with actual diverging discussions (rather than drive-by shout-outs like youtube comments) develop a bit more structure, and are comfortable modelled in the indented tree. There are still more models, but most of them require more clicking.
ANYWAY in Drupal, if you want to make a post that's not directly in response to someone else, and therefore doesn't come underneath theirs, don't hit reply Hit 'add comment' instead to create a base-depth post.
Too much information, I know, but it's an interesting (in a way) study.
.dan.
How to troubleshoot Drupal | http://www.coders.co.nz/
Thanks for the helpful
Thanks for the helpful reply. Scary - it's better not to know how little you know.
I mostly hang out in the linux user forums like ubuntu, mepis etc and have not seen this before. Well one lives and learns huh?
I'll experiment with the tips you have all provided.
Thanks again
RJ
See this comment, it's out
See this comment, it's out to the left as I replied to the "top level" post, not a comment under it. See now?
No it doesn't have to be
No it doesn't have to be that way. It all depends on whether or not you enable threading, and if enabled, how threading is being styled by your theme. All of that is easily customizable.