@Very-Rusty saidTo scroll or not to scroll ... that is the question.
When messaging or receiving message the pieces and board shrink. There is no way to change this is there? I just prefer looking at a bigger board is all.
@orangutan saidThis is correct.
I believe that is by design @Very-Rusty.
From what @Russ has said, the board should take up as much space as it can while remaining on screen - so when messages need displaying, the board is gonna have to shrink to allow it still to be seen in entirety.
The messaging would ideally be a 'chat app' style in a tab on the right of the desktop display (like the live chess here), but that would introduce too much change at once, so that is on hold. if I ever do go that route, it can be worked on and released separately.
So, that left a very big problem - what to do with the 'stacked' messages above the board we have now. It really was the last thing I worked on, as I didn't have an obvious solution.
So, for now, the board shrinks if messages are present - and if a long message is sent, it will scroll in the bubble to prevent the board being compressed too much.
If everyone really doesn't like this behaviour, I'll give it some more thought.
@Russ said@Russ,
This is correct.
The messaging would ideally be a 'chat app' style in a tab on the right of the desktop display (like the live chess here), but that would introduce too much change at once, so that is on hold. if I ever do go that route, it can be worked on and released separately.
So, that left a very big problem - what to do with the 'stacked' messages above the board ...[text shortened]... oo much.
If everyone really doesn't like this behaviour, I'll give it some more thought.
I may be alone on this for the ones that are in Beta Testing, but I know there are those who's eyesight is very bad and would make it harder for them. I don't see any of them in the Beta Testing.
The only thing I don't like is the board and pieces get smaller and I like the bigger board and pieces as it is much easier for me to see. We still use to be able to chat and board and pieces remained larger and didn't shrink.
I have had cataracts removed and have lenses and only need glasses for close up reading. The smaller board and pieces is harder for me to see. I play many people who like to gab in games.
Especially in the Greeters section where they are new and have questions.
@Russ
First I should state that I am not part of the group that is testing the beta version. I have not seen it at all. I am still on an old HP laptop, running win7, and firefox 115.27.0 esr. So I am not trying out the beta, but just reading some of the posts in this thread. But I do have a possibly helpful idea about the "in-game chat message" topic.
Instead of displaying it all on one page and having to re-adjust things to make it all fit, how about just having a "chat message" icon on the board page. (I think such a link already exists, at least on my laptop). Just have it flash when there is a new message to read and the rest of the time it does not flash.
Flashing or not, when you click on it you are then taken to a totally different page to read your entire chat message stream, and on that page there can be another link to take you back to your game board page.
That way, you do not have to resize the board at all to make room for the chat messages.
ps: Russ, if you think my antique system will work on the new 'beta' being tested, I would be willing to give it a try. I assume I would need a link and a password or something, to give it a try.
@mwmiller saidGood idea.
@Russ
First I should state that I am not part of the group that is testing the beta version. I have not seen it at all. I am still on an old HP laptop, running win7, and firefox 115.27.0 esr. So I am not trying out the beta, but just reading some of the posts in this thread. But I do have a possibly helpful idea about the "in-game chat message" topic.
Instead of displ ...[text shortened]... lling to give it a try. I assume I would need a link and a password or something, to give it a try.
From a UI perspective - flashing things are a bit ugly, but displaying the first few words with "read more" type of button may be more user friendly. Minimal space used when there is a message, but an obvious route to reading and responding.
I think this may be an issue that already existed and not down to the beta site .. but if you add a [ hidden ] [ /hidden ] something to a post then some characters get a bit urlencode mangling. For example:
It's a problem
Same text in the above two lines, but the "hidden" stuff gets a different treatment.
(at least I see "It's a problem" when expanding the "hidden" ).
edit: Looking at the effects on the page from hitting "reveal", looks like the class for the hidden DIV changes, but the content remains the same. I'm guessing it's not the mechanics of revealing that is the problem, but how the hidden stuff is either stored in, or retrieved from the database where things are being encoded.
@mwmiller saidThis is effectively what the apps both do, or very similar.
Flashing or not, when you click on it you are then taken to a totally different page to read your entire chat message stream, and on that page there can be another link to take you back to your game board page.
If there is a message waiting, it is displayed in a modal (over the board) as the whole conversation. You can reply right away, or, reopen the message after you have made a move. It really would tidy a lot things up to do it this way.
I'll take another look at this anyway. At least experiment with an alternative.
@texasnurse saidI test the beta on my home machine too, which has a much lower resolution screen than I develop on - and it does give a very different perspective. (Almost certainly much closer to most player's set ups.)
only thing having issues with is when chat is sent board and piece shrink so small if it can not be as small
This is probably a bigger problem that it first appears too, because once you add a banner ad to the top of the page, space is even more limited.
@orangutan saidI actually believed there would be resistance to this approach. (Although used in the current apps already)
Good idea.
From a UI perspective - flashing things are a bit ugly, but displaying the first few words with "read more" type of button may be more user friendly. Minimal space used when there is a message, but an obvious route to reading and responding.
I'll trial it, and we can see how it works out.
@RooksandHooks saidI'll try to reproduce that.
16079607. Game id .... not sure of signal on my phone ?? Was in check, King highlighted yellow , however. It wouldn't allow me to move the piece or any pieces for that matter.. I went to next game and after doing a couple of moves for other games , it then worked.
If anyone does see this again, and you are quite familiar with web browsers, can you let me know if there any errors in the javascript console?
If this means nothing to you, then please ignore this.
I don't think it would be that, but just in case.
If you are REALLY happy with poking around, view the page source, and let me know what appears under the comment :
//Open Moves, '*' ref Board Actions
@Russ saidAlso, the right hand column will have some white space removed - far too much is wasted right now at lower resolutions.
I test the beta on my home machine too, which has a much lower resolution screen than I develop on - and it does give a very different perspective. (
@orangutan saidIn that case, instead of 'flashing', just change the color from a neutral color to maybe green, to indicate that your opponent has added a new chat.
Good idea.
From a UI perspective - flashing things are a bit ugly
Similar to the icons currently being used at the top right of the web page for notifications, messages, and games waiting. Just copy and maybe resize the 'messages' icon already used there, and use it on the game board page with the same purpose, but only focused on the in-game chat activity for the specific game that is being displayed.
I've noticed that on the beta site when accessing the analysis board on mobile, the controls for going back-and-forth through the moves is way down the page - so it requires scrolling till the board is mostly out of view.
On the regular site these controls are in a DIV that is just under the players names and the text for who moves next. (id=historyNavBarId).
Also on beta when scrolling the analysis board in particular, it is very jumpy. I bring the board back into view and when I lift my finger the page jumps to the bottom again.