Log in

View Full Version : Scroll Bars Begone! URL Shortening Implemented Site-Wide


Jason Dunn
08-01-2003, 01:35 AM
There's nothing worse than having to scroll sideways to read a Web page, and it's pained me for a long time that phpBB (our forum software) doesn't have the ability to shorten URLs like vBulletin and other forum software packages. Well, somebody slipped something into Fabrizio's cappuccino, because in addition to adding the ClearType feature today, changing the "subscribe" graphic in the forum to a more intuitive "register", and doing a few other miscellaneous updates, he created, from scratch, a system that will shorten long URLs! :rock on dude!: <br /><br />This system is customized for the device, so we have a very short limit on mobile devices (perfect for Pocket PCs and Smartphones) and a slightly longer limit on the desktop (so you can see where the hyperlink is going). It's set up for both subscribers and non-subscribers alike. Since the "auto fit" function works quite well with graphics, URLs were really the only thing causing the horizontal scroll bars. I think that does it - we now have the best mobile site on the planet! :mrgreen:

Ed Hansberry
08-01-2003, 01:41 AM
I think that does it - we now have the best mobile site on the planet! :mrgreen:
Correction. We still have the best mobile site on the planet. :D Woohoo Fabrizio!

dwildone
08-01-2003, 01:41 AM
Props go out to Fabrizio- Great Job! :clap:

Kati Compton
08-01-2003, 01:46 AM
Okay - somebody post a really really long link in this thread so we can see how it works. ;)

GoldKey
08-01-2003, 01:54 AM
OK

What Item on this page do you think I am buying next tuesday?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/browse/future-releases/-/20030803/dvd/20030809/ref=hfr_dh_2_h/103-3803700-4667051

pschultz
08-01-2003, 01:58 AM
This site keeps getting better and better!

lmtuxinc
08-01-2003, 01:58 AM
OK

What Item on this page do you think I am buying next tuesday?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/browse/future-releases/-/20030803/dvd/20030809/ref=hfr_dh_2_h/103-3803700-4667051

Would it be Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season cause thats what I would get

GoldKey
08-01-2003, 02:11 AM
OK

What Item on this page do you think I am buying next tuesday?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/browse/future-releases/-/20030803/dvd/20030809/ref=hfr_dh_2_h/103-3803700-4667051

Would it be Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season cause thats what I would get

Winner. Actually it is already preordered on Amazon.

Ed Hansberry
08-01-2003, 02:15 AM
OK

What Item on this page do you think I am buying next tuesday?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/browse/future-releases/-/20030803/dvd/20030809/ref=hfr_dh_2_h/103-3803700-4667051
Oh, dunno, but I just ordered the Indiana Jones 3DVD set due in November. :pimp:

GoldKey
08-01-2003, 02:18 AM
Oh, dunno, but I just ordered the Indiana Jones 3DVD set due in November. :pimp:

I'm betting it will be available at retail cheaper than Amazons preorder price. For example, the Trek Season sets are usually cheaper at Amazon, but the Stargate sets are usually cheaper at Best Buy. I bet these will hit retail at $39.99 the first week (like the Back to the Future set did). You can do what I do - Preorder and you still have time to cancel before it ships when the Sunday ad comes out.

BTW: (Mods feel free to edit this if inappropriate) Since Jason does not have an Amazon affiliate link (I think :?: ) I have one on my trek sites www.wearetheborg.com and www.enterprisecrew.com and could always use the referals)

dh
08-01-2003, 02:51 AM
Good stuff, nice one guys!!

Jeff Rutledge
08-01-2003, 04:26 AM
Very cool! The one little itty bitty complaint I could have come up with is gone now.

I'll have to dig deeper I guess... :twisted:

Jeff Rutledge
08-01-2003, 04:30 AM
OK

What Item on this page do you think I am buying next tuesday?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/browse/future-releases/-/20030803/dvd/20030809/ref=hfr_dh_2_h/103-3803700-4667051

Would it be Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season cause thats what I would get

Winner. Actually it is already preordered on Amazon.


Ahhh Amazon. Great taker of my hard earned money.

Currently on order:

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - Season 4
Shanghai Knights
Babylon 5 - Season 3
Daredevil
Family Guy Vol. 2
Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (the 4-disc one)
Friends Season 4 (OK, that one's mostly for the missus)
Indiana Jones Trilogy
Alias Season 1
Simpsons - Season 3

Janak Parekh
08-01-2003, 04:36 AM
This totally rocks. It's a big thing for frontpage posters, as the frontpage link is the first line of the article. I don't have to resort to tricks anymore!

On the other hand, Pony's now out of a job. :lol:

--janak

Crystal Eitle
08-01-2003, 05:54 AM
Woo hoo! Yeah! :clap: :popcorn:

Fzara
08-01-2003, 05:57 AM
Wohoo!! Nice job!

ctmagnus
08-01-2003, 06:58 AM
Woo hoo! Yeah! :clap: :popcorn:

It looks like you're celebrating the fact that Pony99ca is now "jobless". :wink:

Timing is everything!

Pony99CA
08-01-2003, 11:13 AM
On the other hand, Pony's now out of a job. :lol:
This is one job I'm very happy to be laid off of. :-D
Here's to Fabrizio. :beer: No more ridiculously long Handango URLs:

http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&jid=ADE7C7831EB8623AD36C1C81FXB1354E&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productType=2&platformId=2&productId=82156

Oops, I spoke too quickly. There is one minor problem -- the URLs are shown in all their nauseating glory in Preview mode. Can the shortening algorithm be made to apply there, too? To see the problem, simply Quote my post and then click the Preview button.

The URL shortening does apply to long quoted URLs when they're posted, so that's great.

Steve

easylife
08-01-2003, 03:15 PM
Ok, now there's just one more thing that will make the mobile forums perfect: fix the BBCode! :wink:

If you view this post in the Mobile Forums you will see that these tags don't close properly. The problem is in your bbcode.tpl file.

EDIT: I should add that this isn't the average user's problem, rather Thoughts'. bbcode.tpl is found in forums/templates/Mobile on Thoughts. :wink:

Find:&lt;!-- BEGIN b_open -->&lt;span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;!-- END b_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN b_close -->&lt;!-- END b_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN u_open -->&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline">&lt;!-- END u_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN u_close -->&lt;!-- END u_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN i_open -->&lt;span style="font-style: italic">&lt;!-- END i_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN i_close -->&lt;!-- END i_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN color_open -->&lt;span style="color: {COLOR}">&lt;!-- END color_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN color_close -->&lt;!-- END color_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN size_open -->&lt;span style="font-size: {SIZE}px; line-height: normal">&lt;!-- END size_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN size_close -->&lt;!-- END size_close -->

Replace with:&lt;!-- BEGIN b_open -->&lt;span style="font-weight: bold">&lt;!-- END b_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN b_close -->&lt;/span>&lt;!-- END b_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN u_open -->&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline">&lt;!-- END u_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN u_close -->&lt;/span>&lt;!-- END u_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN i_open -->&lt;span style="font-style: italic">&lt;!-- END i_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN i_close -->&lt;/span>&lt;!-- END i_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN color_open -->&lt;span style="color: {COLOR}">&lt;!-- END color_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN color_close -->&lt;/span>&lt;!-- END color_close -->

&lt;!-- BEGIN size_open -->&lt;span style="font-size: {SIZE}px; line-height: normal">&lt;!-- END size_open -->
&lt;!-- BEGIN size_close -->&lt;/span>&lt;!-- END size_close -->

ctmagnus
08-01-2003, 10:29 PM
Ok, now there's just one more thing that will make the mobile forums perfect: fix the BBCode! :wink:

Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.

rlobrecht
08-02-2003, 12:38 AM
Long urls in people's sigs still cause the horizontal scroll bar. Check out page 2 of the WMP 9 thread.

stitics
08-02-2003, 01:06 AM
Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.


Isn't that what the "Watch this topic for replies" at the lower left of the page is for?

Note: It changes to "Stop watching this topic" if you are already watching the topic.

ctmagnus
08-02-2003, 06:49 AM
Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.


Isn't that what the "Watch this topic for replies" at the lower left of the page is for?

Note: It changes to "Stop watching this topic" if you are already watching the topic.

The "Watch this topic for replies" link doesn't exist on the mobile forums, though. That's what I was requesting.

easylife
08-02-2003, 02:52 PM
Right. :wink: Put {S_WATCH_TOPIC} somewhere in viewtopic_body.tpl! :D Again, this is a job for Jason or Fabrizio, not the average user 8)

Janak Parekh
08-02-2003, 06:27 PM
I've forwarded this thread to Fabrizio, so hopefully he can fix it. 8)

--janak

easylife
08-03-2003, 06:06 PM
The broken tags have been fixed. 8)

Pony99CA
08-04-2003, 02:53 PM
Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.
OK, so what's the other thing?

Steve

easylife
08-04-2003, 03:50 PM
Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.
OK, so what's the other thing?

The other thing was, I think, my comment about the broken BBCode in the mobile forums. It has been fixed now ;)

ctmagnus
08-04-2003, 11:16 PM
Two more things: We need the ability to subscribe to a thread without replying to it.
OK, so what's the other thing?

The other thing was, I think, my comment about the broken BBCode in the mobile forums. It has been fixed now ;)

True, true. Very true.

whoo
02-21-2004, 12:01 AM
very nice forum, i just joined. :) next question, what are the odds of getting that long url fix so that it could be implemnted on other lacking phpbb forums? pretty please?

Pat Logsdon
02-21-2004, 12:36 AM
very nice forum, i just joined. :) next question, what are the odds of getting that long url fix so that it could be implemnted on other lacking phpbb forums? pretty please?
Easy! Point 'em here (http://www.phpbb.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=131079&highlight=short+url). :mrgreen:

Welcome, by the way!

whoo
02-21-2004, 12:56 AM
ive seen that already, is that exactly what is used here though.. it sounded to me like particualr implementation had some limitations
pocketpc's the best! (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com)

hmm, i dunno, ill give it a shot :)

thank you, it works just fine :!: :mrgreen: