Proboards Huge Real-Time Code Index!

[Chris]

I'll take a shot at some suggestions/ideas...

1) A user from Studio Zero ( forum.sz-ex.com/?action=viewprofile&user=scorpian8867 ) name appears incorrectly because he uses special characters. Can you fix his name?

2) On the topic, SZ now uses a sub-domain as it's main access point. Is it possible to use that one instead? All you even need to do is replace "studiozero.proboards44.com" with "forum.sz-ex.com" and you're good to go.

3) How about sorting the forums displayed by the number of results returned? That way they see the most results first. For example, if I searched "topics" PBS (5) and SZ (5) should be first, with ProVision (1) second and SSD (0) last. This way the user gets the most results right away.

4) SSD's code database is no longer available on the forum... so maybe it should be removed? >.< They said they were moving it to the Drupal website, but I don't think that ever got done. Try talking to Kay (current main admin) about it.

6) [CB] needs to be completely removed from PBS code names. I don't think ProVision or SZ uses that method... and if PV does, SZ doesn't for sure.

7) Update script needs to be ran again... you have SZ down as having about 660 codes, while we're currently at about 803.

8) In the case of SZ, you have the following thread marked as a code, while it isn't... it's just a sticky thread: studiozero.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=codes&action=display&thread=1794

9) Can you add forum.smangii.com/index.cgi?board=pbsupport ? They also provide at least a decent amount of codes. (Guessing like 300 or so)

10) socal.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=PBCODES Though the database doesn't get updated anymore, it contains at least 100 unique codes to all PB sites. The owner California has passed on, so I'm the one left in charge.

That's about it from a quick glance. Still really like what you've done with it WWX.

[Charles Stover]

3) How about sorting the forums displayed by the number of results returned? That way they see the most results first. For example, if I searched "topics" PBS (5) and SZ (5) should be first, with ProVision (1) second and SSD (0) last. This way the user gets the most results right away.

It would prolly be better to sort by my previous suggestion, instead of sorting by the websites.

[Chris]

Feb 8, 2009 11:02:33 GMT -8 Charles Stover said:

3) How about sorting the forums displayed by the number of results returned? That way they see the most results first. For example, if I searched "topics" PBS (5) and SZ (5) should be first, with ProVision (1) second and SSD (0) last. This way the user gets the most results right away.

It would prolly be better to sort by my previous suggestion, instead of sorting by the websites.

Yeah. I guess I forgot to point out this was an alternative to your suggestion since he mentioned it would be difficult to implement. My bad.

[Charles Stover]

He should convert to MySQL.

[Webworldx]

Feb 8, 2009 9:59:06 GMT -8 Chris said:

I'll take a shot at some suggestions/ideas...

1) A user from Studio Zero ( forum.sz-ex.com/?action=viewprofile&user=scorpian8867 ) name appears incorrectly because he uses special characters. Can you fix his name?

I'll work on a complete fix, but for now he's labelled as Scorpian rather than the weird name it was!

2) On the topic, SZ now uses a sub-domain as it's main access point. Is it possible to use that one instead? All you even need to do is replace "http://studiozero.proboards44.com" with "forum.sz-ex.com" and you're good to go.

Done

3) How about sorting the forums displayed by the number of results returned? That way they see the most results first. For example, if I searched "topics" PBS (5) and SZ (5) should be first, with ProVision (1) second and SSD (0) last. This way the user gets the most results right away.

I'll look into Charles and your suggestions for best display techniques. Ideally it'd be great to offer alternatives

4) SSD's code database is no longer available on the forum... so maybe it should be removed? >.< They said they were moving it to the Drupal website, but I don't think that ever got done. Try talking to Kay (current main admin) about it.

Done

6) [CB] needs to be completely removed from PBS code names. I don't think ProVision or SZ uses that method... and if PV does, SZ doesn't for sure.

Done

7) Update script needs to be ran again... you have SZ down as having about 660 codes, while we're currently at about 803.

Done and Done

8) In the case of SZ, you have the following thread marked as a code, while it isn't... it's just a sticky thread: studiozero.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=codes&action=display&thread=1794

These are quite difficult to spot, I can "opt out" if you find threads that shouldn't be there.. but I don't see them as a massive harm

9) Can you add forum.smangii.com/index.cgi?board=pbsupport ? They also provide at least a decent amount of codes. (Guessing like 300 or so)

10) socal.proboards26.com/index.cgi?board=PBCODES Though the database doesn't get updated anymore, it contains at least 100 unique codes to all PB sites. The owner California has passed on, so I'm the one left in charge.

I'll look into adding more boards as soon as I've sorted out all other issues

That's about it from a quick glance. Still really like what you've done with it WWX.

Cheers again, and for the long list of improvements, they're all brilliant

[Chris]

1) Works for me. At least the name is readable now.

2, 4, 6-7) Thanks.

3) Sounds good. I just think sorting them separately isn't the best method, mainly because it makes it a bit more difficult to read.

8) I figured this was the case, but it doesn't hurt to mention it.

9-10) I just wanted to throw them out to be fair to all forums.

I just now noticed I missed 5 while making that list. Haha.

[Charles Stover]

These are quite difficult to spot, I can "opt out" if you find threads that shouldn't be there.. but I don't see them as a massive harm

You could prolly leave out stickied threads. I can't imagine a Code Database stickying a code. They usually have important codes listed in the Code Index - which is stickied. So that should do the trick.

[Charles Stover]

For some reason the topic "An Epic Win Thanks!" is on the list like fifty times for Studio Zero. Same topic/creator/everything.

[Webworldx]

And "hmm, what's this". I'm guessing it picks up "announcements" too in the list. Will look at changing that ... cheers Charles

Edit: Fixed that one now

Feb 8, 2009 18:22:40 GMT -8 Charles Stover said:

These are quite difficult to spot, I can "opt out" if you find threads that shouldn't be there.. but I don't see them as a massive harm

You could prolly leave out stickied threads. I can't imagine a Code Database stickying a code. They usually have important codes listed in the Code Index - which is stickied. So that should do the trick.

Should no longer include stickies now

[Chris]

Woot. Well done WWX.

[Webworldx]

proboards.ifcode.com/

I've now updated the code index again. It's all in one list, done through a php database, includes more information (click the blue dot to visit the site the code comes from), and a couple of other fixes

I'll look at adding the other boards into the database soon - and if you've got any others you'd like adding, let me know!!

[Charles Stover]

Much better! ^_^

Some suggestions:
Use a case-insensitive sort. I thought MySQL did this by default if you used the ORDER BY clause, but if yours is still case-sensitive, maybe try ORDER BY LOWER(`name`). I think it's LOWER(), maybe LOWERCASE().
The dark color makes the text kinda hard to read. I'd recommend using a color lighter than the other one.
Is DBID necessary? Seems like something only you would use in case of an error.
Perhaps a sort-by option. Like, if you click the word "Code Creator" it will ORDER BY `creator`
Grouping codes with the same name?
Remove [CB] from names.
Pagination? I can hook you up with a how-to on pagination (e.g. Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) if you need it. It'd be better than displaying all of the codes at once (letter=*). So to save your database and bandwidth some trouble, you could just display like 50-100 at a time.
Leaving off the server number could save database space. Storing "templates" instead of "templates.proboards1.com," you could just use $name.proboards.com
There's a #0 DBID. Maybe you could display DBID+1? Or... with the earlier suggestion of not displaying DBID.

w00t@my code being the first actual code by DBID

[Webworldx]

Brilliant suggestions Charles, keep em coming!

Feb 15, 2009 11:47:34 GMT -8 Charles Stover said:

Much better! ^_^
Use a case-insensitive sort. I thought MySQL did this by default if you used the ORDER BY clause, but if yours is still case-sensitive, maybe try ORDER BY LOWER(`name`). I think it's LOWER(), maybe LOWERCASE().

I thought it did it by default too, so I'll revisit that.

The dark color makes the text kinda hard to read. I'd recommend using a color lighter than the other one.

Agree, the skin is horrible. I'll lump the PB skin on there when I get chance

Is DBID necessary? Seems like something only you would use in case of an error.

Fills up the space lol. Actually yeah, it is the error bit - if someone says the want something removed from the DB, it's easy to locate with title and DBID Also useful for my plans in the next version!

Perhaps a sort-by option. Like, if you click the word "Code Creator" it will ORDER BY `creator`

Love that!

Grouping codes with the same name?

Not quite sure what you mean with that one. If you mean, exact names, it'd be annoying tweaking each time because a code didn't have exactly the same name. It's usually just a double post, one on one site, one on another, but sometimes they're different codes.. sometimes it's the same code with a different thread title. It'd be hard for the index to differentiate between, as it doesn't visit the pages inside the index. I'm looking at removing dupes by checking thread title & author. If the same, remove... although this makes the index smaller, and would take preference of displaying the code on one site rather than another.

Remove [CB] from names.

Do you mean from the end? It's removed from the start I thought.

Pagination? I can hook you up with a how-to on pagination (e.g. Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) if you need it. It'd be better than displaying all of the codes at once (letter=*). So to save your database and bandwidth some trouble, you could just display like 50-100 at a time.

Not too concerned with the bandwidth, it's not often people will letter=*, and when they do it's nice to see a big long page(!)

Leaving off the server number could save database space. Storing "templates" instead of "templates.proboards1.com," you could just use $name.proboards.com

It'd actually just save a character in the whole database the way the table is set up. It doesn't store the full address link in the usual flat file way

There's a #0 DBID. Maybe you could display DBID+1? Or... with the earlier suggestion of not displaying DBID.

Cheers. You've certainly looked hard through it!

w00t@my code being the first actual code by DBID

Maybe we'll keep DBID then hah

Cheers again Charles, really informative

[Charles Stover]

Do you mean from the end? It's removed from the start I thought.

Yeah, I saw it at the end of one. str_replace("[CB]", "", $title) should take care of all of it.

although this makes the index smaller, and would take preference of displaying the code on one site rather than another.

Yeah, I thought of the multiple sites thing. I was thinking more of displaying them all in the same column, perhaps linking to each, such as:
ProBoards ShoutBox
from: support.proboards.com, servicesupport.proboards.com, templates.proboards.com
or (to be more compact)
from: support, servicesupport, templates
With each site name linking to the code on that site.

Not too concerned with the bandwidth, it's not often people will letter=*, and when they do it's nice to see a big long page(!)

I disagree with seeing the big, long page. It's actually a hassle to have to sit and wait the entire minute it takes to load. It makes finding anything in it a hassle, as opposed to taking 30 seconds to load and navigating the pages as each user sees fit.

Maybe we'll keep DBID then hah

As long as there's a sort by DBID feature. ^_^
Are the stickied codes going to be removed from the index? e.g. #0-2 are code indexes and stickied topics.

[Webworldx]

Righty, latest set of updates..... lets see:

Feb 15, 2009 19:34:43 GMT -8 Charles Stover said:

Yeah, I saw it at the end of one. str_replace("[CB]", "", $title) should take care of all of it.

Should be fixed now. Cheers for the heads up.

Yeah, I thought of the multiple sites thing. I was thinking more of displaying them all in the same column, perhaps linking to each, such as:
ProBoards ShoutBox
from: support.proboards.com, servicesupport.proboards.com, templates.proboards.com
or (to be more compact)
from: support, servicesupport, templates
With each site name linking to the code on that site.

That would be a nice addition, although not got around to it yet.

I disagree with seeing the big, long page. It's actually a hassle to have to sit and wait the entire minute it takes to load. It makes finding anything in it a hassle, as opposed to taking 30 seconds to load and navigating the pages as each user sees fit.

I'd love to have a poll on this, as the original consensus on this and of the other indexes was to keep a "full page" in

As long as there's a sort by DBID feature. ^_^

And now there is(!)

Are the stickied codes going to be removed from the index? e.g. #0-2 are code indexes and stickied topics.

They have been, and all future stickies I hope.

There's a #0 DBID. Maybe you could display DBID+1? Or... with the earlier suggestion of not displaying DBID.

Fixed this one now.



I'd love some input from others as well as Chris and Charles too!!! Is it useful? Have you used it to find new codes? Are you recommending it on your site to other admins?