Threaded View Suggestions

[s.molinari]

Hi all,

Since the threaded view seems to be getting the largest amount of complaints I thought I would put together some suggestions that I have read (and have myself) for the threaded view. Maybe we could work together to compile a complete list so that the dev team can make this a great feature.:D

Possible improvements for the threaded view:
Add a link on the page to expand just one branch of a thread. So basically you could see the branch in flat mode.
Added:)Add extra "reply" "newthread" links to the bottom of the page. (I know this doesn't really have to do with threaded mode but they are gone because of it.)
Added:)Add the icons for switching between flat and threaded to the top of the thread.
Added:)Highlight the post being shown in the thread list. If you enter the thread in the middle or you use the next prev nav, you have no idea where you are. Maybe even highlight the posts already read in some way.(Also added, go dev team go!:D)
Add an option in the admin cp to turn off threaded mode completely
Added:)Add links within the posts for back tracking to the post or thread that it answered or to the next answer. This could also be an option instead of quoting all the time. (Either I'm blind or my disinterest for the threaded mode made me blind but this is already in the threaded mode. Upper right hand corner of the post.:) Needs a bit of work though. Next post should be on the right and previous on the left.)
Added:)Add the "paperclip" in front of posts that have attachments in the thread tree
Added:)Add a quick reply to the threaded view.
AddedWhen a post is clicked in the thread branch the screen should refresh back at the top so the post is visable. At the moment the screen refreshes and your still looking at the thread list which means you have to scroll up to see the post. A bit user unfriendly.

Please add your suggestions below and I'll add them here later.:)

Note: The Added means the suggestion was implemented, as you can see your ideas are taken seriously.

Scott

[Ang]

Have the icons to switch between flat and threaded at the top of the thread.

[Kier]

Please use this thread to discuss your suggestions for the new threaded view.

Please do not make posts likeI hate the threaded view and I will never use itbecause that doesn't help us to improve it. We don't need to hear about the benefits and pitfalls of using a threaded vs linear topic display, we all know them already. What we do want to hear is your suggestions on how we could improve the threaded display.

GO...

[s.molinari]

Hi Kier,

Hehe, I was ahead of you (for the first time probably;)) but if you'd like, merge the thread below into this one. Thanx.

http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51945

Scott

[s.molinari]

Thanks Ang. I knew I was forgetting something.:)

Scott

[DirectPixel]

hmm... maybe make it clearer and give a description what each view is?

I'm kinda confused on which is which, not to mention my members...

[Burns]

Should i repost all my suggestions and examples via cut and paste from http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51853 ?
I'm not sure if it would be "crossposting" ...

[TWTCommish]

Originally posted by s.molinari
Add a link on the page to expand just one branch of a thread. So basically you could see the branch in flat mode.
Truly excellent idea, Steve. :)

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by TWTCommish

Truly excellent idea, Steve. :)

Thanx. uh, BTW, my name is Scott.;)

Scott

[TWTCommish]

Wow, I'm really stupid and/or short on sleep. :D

[ccd1]

Have in the user CP, a way to select linear or threaded as the default display.

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by baragon0
Have in the user CP, a way to select linear or threaded as the default display.

That is there already.:) Also in the Admin CP.

Scott

[ProxyMX]

I would like a feature on my forums to switch off the threaded view so my users cant ever use it

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by ProxyMX
I would like a feature on my forums to switch off the threaded view so my users cant ever use it

Added to the list. Thanx.

Scott

[TWTCommish]

I'll second that...that way board owners could stick the "Post Reply" buttons back up there and not have to worry about a "useless" threaded view for some.

[hankster]

While this is not a threaded view issue, it is a really useful feature that I have found on the Delphi boards.

If someone uses the "reply" button to reply to a message, then in that new message there is a link at the top of the message that says "In reply to this message" and "this message" is a link to the original message (I hope all that is understandable).

This way, if you are reading in linear view and you wonder what message someone is replying to, you can click the link and see the original message. You know how you are reading a long string of messages and you wonder just what message someone is replying to. This lets you find out. I know it sounds confusing but in actual practice it is very useful.

[DirectPixel]

Originally posted by hankster
While this is not a threaded view issue, it is a really useful feature that I have found on the Delphi boards.

If someone uses the "reply" button to reply to a message, then in that new message there is a link at the top of the message that says "In reply to this message" and "this message" is a link to the original message (I hope all that is understandable).

This way, if you are reading in linear view and you wonder what message someone is replying to, you can click the link and see the original message. You know how you are reading a long string of messages and you wonder just what message someone is replying to. This lets you find out. I know it sounds confusing but in actual practice it is very useful. /me seconds that idea.

It sounds very useful.:)

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by TWTCommish
I'll second that...that way board owners could stick the "Post Reply" buttons back up there and not have to worry about a "useless" threaded view for some.

Now, now, useless it isn't. And we're going to make sure of that.;)

Scott

[DirectPixel]

Scott: You're a vB developer? WoW.:p Didn't realize that.;)

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by hankster
While this is not a threaded view issue, it is a really useful feature that I have found on the Delphi boards.

If someone uses the "reply" button to reply to a message, then in that new message there is a link at the top of the message that says "In reply to this message" and "this message" is a link to the original message (I hope all that is understandable).

This way, if you are reading in linear view and you wonder what message someone is replying to, you can click the link and see the original message. You know how you are reading a long string of messages and you wonder just what message someone is replying to. This lets you find out. I know it sounds confusing but in actual practice it is very useful.

I think that sure has to do with threaded mode. Added to the list. See if you like my version of your suggestion.:)

Scott

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by eiSecure
Scott: You're a vB developer? WoW.:p Didn't realize that.;)

Not quite a developer. Let's just say one of the team.:)

Scott

[Mike C Lovett]

A threaded view - hurrah!

I would like to see some form of additional navigation akin to the 'last thread'/'next thread'... some links that allow you to quickly move to the next threaded response without having to refer to the hierarchical list.

A similar approach for the main branch header would also be damn useful.

By placing the option for a threaded view in the hands of the community I think you have addressed the rather polarised positions of both sides of the argument - excellent!

[TWTCommish]

Originally posted by s.molinari
Now, now, useless it isn't. And we're going to make sure of that.;)
What I mean is, if a significant number of users are using Linear Mode, and are replying without quoting a specific post, the whole point of the threaded view will be severely wounded...so, for some boards, it'd make sense to be able to completely disable any trace of Threaded Mode.

[DirectPixel]

Originally posted by TWTCommish

What I mean is, if a significant number of users are using Linear Mode, and are replying without quoting a specific post, the whole point of the threaded view will be severely wounded...so, for some boards, it'd make sense to be able to completely disable any trace of Threaded Mode. Well, this is greatly reduced by the elimination of the reply and quote buttons.

Now they're combined.

[TWTCommish]

That's not what I mean. There's still a "Post Reply" button at the top -- isn't it setup so that that doesn't reply to any specific post in the thread?

[DirectPixel]

It's set up to reply to the first post.

[TWTCommish]

Ah, I see.

I think that could cause some confusion for anyone who's not familiar with that system (which will be the majority of users, I think)...

I think the option to completely disable all Threaded Mode options is necessary. Just my opinion.

[hankster]

Scott, Sounds about right. To me those links are not as useful in threaded mode, but if a reply is 20 messages down in linear mode then it's real useful to have those links to find just what the heck that person is replying to. Thanks for adding it to the list.

[void]

Introduce a mix of the flat/threaded mode by having a mode where ALL replies to a post are showed in flat mode. All the subsequent replies to the replies should not be shown.

This will have the effect of presenting all the answers to a given post that belong to the same level so to speak, thus producing a logically consistent subview of any given thread-tree.

For example, consider this scenario:

1 (starting post)
--2
---3
----4
----4
----4
---3
---3
--2
--2

Now, what I suggest is that when you choose post 1, all the 2's are shown as well (in flat mode that is- perhaps a little indented). Likewise, when you choose post 2, all the level 3 posts are shown as well...and so on.

I think this (for most boards and topics) will produce a coherent image of the post and its answer(s), while still maintaining the tidyness of the threaded mode.

Of course, all the displayed post should be clearly marked in the threaded wiew below.

Just my 2cents.
Tim

[John]

Originally posted by Mike C Lovett
I would like to see some form of additional navigation akin to the 'last thread'/'next thread'... some links that allow you to quickly move to the next threaded response without having to refer to the hierarchical list.


I added this last night, take a look out for next/prev post links

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by John


I added this last night, take a look out for next/prev post links

Hehe, I knew I wasn't blind. (see my thread starting post) Thanx John. Now I can save a trip to the optometrist.;) BTW, IMHO the prev/next links make a world of difference already for the threaded mode. The links below in the list just need to be highlighted in someway to show which post I'm reading.:)

Scott

[Phillip Chapman]

Originally posted by hankster
While this is not a threaded view issue, it is a really useful feature that I have found on the Delphi boards.

If someone uses the "reply" button to reply to a message, then in that new message there is a link at the top of the message that says "In reply to this message" and "this message" is a link to the original message (I hope all that is understandable).

What makes this such a great feature is the way it ties in with the e-mail notifications. Instead of getting an e-mail every time someone replies to a discussion (which can be a heavy e-mail load on a large board), the user only get a specific e-mail when someone replies to their post within that discussion. For each post, there is a drop-down menu of who to reply to. Individuals in that thread are an option (in this case they get the specific e-mail notification) or ALL is an option (everyone would get a notification). Basically they get a notification when someone replies to them as a person, not the whole thread itself (unless ALL is selected).

Outside of chat, this is probably the number 1 feature my users have requested. Hope to see it implemented! :D

[s.molinari]

I've inserted Added to the above request list for the requests that have already been worked in to the threaded view. Take a look.:) A big hand to the dev guys, keep on truckin!

I like the threaded view now.....almost!;)

Scott

[KarateKid[WBC]]

One question,

what happens if a thread has 5000 posts.

Does the threaded view break the list at a limit?

Greetings

KarateKid

[s.molinari]

Yeah it does and the depth you can set yourself (admin CP). Take a look at a big thread. You'll see the cutoff for sure.:)

Scott

[Arkham]

A bit late, posted this the other day on beta, but since others are pasting from beta.vb, so will I. It's good to see a few of my ideas have been rendered redundant by now, but anyway...

---

One way to get arond the nav problems may be to have the tree/reply view and the post view seperated, i.e. as in a newsreader, but I don't see how to do that without resorting to frames, but I have a couple ideas for later...

Here's where I think both sides could come together:

A couple of the first BBS programs we used back post-1986 used a hybrid way of reading/navigating discussions, they could be displayed in numerical order ("flat mode"), and you could trace each post manually (jump to original or reply); or you could display them in thread mode, one after each other by threaded conversation, tracing the replies until the end, then going back to the next reply thread. But they'd still all be coming one after the other. This wouldn't translate easily to the net, because BBS reading was all one msg at a time, but you get the idea.

The biggest flaw in vB3's present threaded-mode is the lack of such tracing functions. On each message, or quote (even better), you should be able to jump back to see the original, or jump forward to see the replies. This could be done in a number of ways, from listing the #s of the messages, that would either pop them up, or #anchor around the page in some way. With a unified <Forward> and <Reverse> style navigation it would work. You'd probably have to see it to appreciate it though if you started "BBS'ing" in the age of One-Big-Flat-Page web-based forums. And, it doesn't preclude people from reading in the flat-mode they hold so dear.

One thing to consider is DCForums' display... They give the option of flat, threaded, or flat-threaded. The last one has a tree after each post, and the posts are all displayed on the page. This could work if we could come up with a decent, compact (or contractable!) tree view, so that long thread trees don't push posts too far apart.

It's frustrating to see so many people -- mostly those who only started on web-based forums -- categorically write off "threaded mode". It's not just a "view". Trust me, you can benefit from a threaded structure without falling prey to the problems you all insist are inherent to what you call "threaded view". The problem is that doing this all on the web demands a drastic rethinking of what works on a fundamental level. I have yet to see a threaded forum achieve what I think is a highly-usable forumat. DCForums is one of the closest, and the pre-InfoPop WWWThreads (the only "WWWThreads" I really looked at) was close.

---

The other thing is a Threaded-Flat style, which is similar to the old BBS way of doing it "threaded":

The display is flat, but the order is threaded, like:

1
2
4
5
3
6

...where 4&5 are replies to 2, and 3 is replying to 5, etc...

A "Next New" button would be helpful, so if you wanted to read this way, hitting "Next New" just jumps to the next new message. IE (from above) If you're reading the thread for the first time since #3 was written, you're taken to 3, click next new, and you go to 4, then 5, etc...

More:

The threading must be available at the Forum Level too... Anything less is half-baked... It's gotta be all or nothing, and we already had nothing. ;)

Part of this was already mentioned, but on-the-fly mode switching should take place with the current message in context.

I.e. every message should have the thread/linear button on it, and hitting it takes you to that current message, with the thread tree below it starting at the msg one level up (the message it's in response to). Of course the current msg has to be highlighted, that's basic functionality.

[Mike C Lovett]

I added this last night, take a look out for next/prev post links

Excellent :D

[NORRITT]

have posted it also in the other threaded-view thead: that design is very nice: click (http://212.122.148.49/pcx/findex_s.html)

[nuno]

Ability to completely remove this feature :p

[Ang]

I think it would be less confusing if you were returned to the top of the page each time you clicked on a new thread. Right now, if a thread has a lot of replies and you scroll far enough down that the post part isn't in the window but just the tree view is you can't actually tell if you are clicking on new replies all of the time. Your screen stays focused on the tree view instead of popping back up to the new post.

Also, is there a way to tell which replies are new and which aren't? I noticed that while in a thread it will bold the links to the threads I've already read, but if I leave the thread and go back, all of the links to reply are reset to non bold - even those I've read. I think this would make it hard to follow a post in threaded mode over several days.

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by Ang
I think it would be less confusing if you were returned to the top of the page each time you clicked on a new thread. Right now, if a thread has a lot of replies and you scroll far enough down that the post part isn't in the window but just the tree view is you can't actually tell if you are clicking on new replies all of the time. Your screen stays focused on the tree view instead of popping back up to the new post.

Also, is there a way to tell which replies are new and which aren't? I noticed that while in a thread it will bold the links to the threads I've already read, but if I leave the thread and go back, all of the links to reply are reset to non bold - even those I've read. I think this would make it hard to follow a post in threaded mode over several days.

First point, I agree. you should be brought to the post when clicked. Added to the list.

Second question. The little page icon at the front of the post link is yellow for new posts. Old post are grey.:)

Scott

[Ang]

The little page icon at the front of the post link is yellow for new posts. Old post are grey. Actually, I noticed that this was true once I switched my preferences to threaded mode in the usercp. However, at first I had it set to flat mode and I would switch to threaded within certain threads and it was doing what I said it did...which makes sense. So, yeah, ignore me. :D

[s.molinari]

Not ignoring you!:D You have 2 sugs in the list and one was already added.;)

Scott

[plattopus]

I think vBulletin's main edge over their competition is the plethora of customization options available to admins... so it seems like it would be stupid for vBulletin NOT to allow admins to completely disable tree view.

I used to hate it, and think that I couldn't possibly think it was better than flat view. Although after using vB's system, I'm slowly being converted.

Another thing, I also think the suggestion to allow someone to view all the child replies to a particular post is a VERY good idea. This will clear confusion and speed it up greatly by not having to click on every reply.

[plattopus]

And in flat view, you could have the little "tree view" icon next to each post title, which would be a link to view that post and subsequent child posts in tree view.

And then in the tree, have some way of including the 2 options into the links... one for normal tree view (one post p/page) and one for the other way.

[merk]

Originally posted by plattopus
I think vBulletin's main edge over their competition is the plethora of customization options available to admins... so it seems like it would be stupid for vBulletin NOT to allow admins to completely disable tree view.

I used to hate it, and think that I couldn't possibly think it was better than flat view. Although after using vB's system, I'm slowly being converted.

Another thing, I also think the suggestion to allow someone to view all the child replies to a particular post is a VERY good idea. This will clear confusion and speed it up greatly by not having to click on every reply.

I agree, i totally hated threaded view, now im starting to like it, however im not using it at the moment ;)

MY users though, are not smart enough to understand why threaded view is much nicer, so itll all be flat posting :(

Im just wondering if i make them use threaded view ;)

[mcahill]

I like the threaded view and so will many of my users who still remember the old hypermail days...

That said, functionally I have a couple of nits that you should check. First is the question of focus when a link is clicked. If I click a threaded link in one message, I remain focused on the thread list, and at 1024 x whatever resolution, I cannot see the actual post. I would expect the screen to focus on the post.

This might also be resolved by moving the quick post window from between the threaded view and the message window.

Love it - can't wait to implement it on my sites.

[jeto]

Originally posted by Arkham


More:

The threading must be available at the Forum Level too... Anything less is half-baked... It's gotta be all or nothing, and we already had nothing. ;)

Part of this was already mentioned, but on-the-fly mode switching should take place with the current message in context.

I.e. every message should have the thread/linear button on it, and hitting it takes you to that current message, with the thread tree below it starting at the msg one level up (the message it's in response to). Of course the current msg has to be highlighted, that's basic functionality.

You can find an example of a threaded view on Forum Level on my parsimony Forum:

f23.parsimony.net/forum47155 (http://f23.parsimony.net/forum47144)

Works fine with the Buttons to switch between flat, all and threaded view...

[Martin CX]

Originally posted by plattopus
Another thing, I also think the suggestion to allow someone to view all the child replies to a particular post is a VERY good idea. This will clear confusion and speed it up greatly by not having to click on every reply.
I agree. This kind of flat-threaded combo would be good.

I don't agree with the suggestion to see all level 4 (for instance)-post in flat view. They probably haven't anything in common and would, IMHO, only be confusing.

I also disagree in the necessity of having threaded view available in the thread list. Not because I dislike options, but I fear that that would strain the server extremely, when six thousand users are all browsing the thread lists. Am I wrong in that assumption?

[s.molinari]

Originally posted by Martin CX

I don't agree with the suggestion to see all level 4 (for instance)-post in flat view. They probably haven't anything in common and would, IMHO, only be confusing.

If this were so, then your users would be using the system incorrectly. Let me put it another way. Why would a user click on a post he or she really isn't answering? :)

Scott

[Martin CX]

Originally posted by s.molinari

If this were so, then your users would be using the system incorrectly. Let me put it another way. Why would a user click on a post he or she really isn't answering? :)

Scott
Perhaps I misunderstood the suggestion then. I thought the suggestion was this:

Level: 1-2-3-4-5
------ X
------ . X
------ . X
------ . . X
------ . . . X
------ . . . X
------ . X
------ . . X
and so on, and so on...

I thought the option was to view all -say- level 3 posts at the same time (flat), which, naturally, could be rather confusing, as they aren't replying to the same thing, and thus have completely different contexts.

If that wasn't the way it was supposed to be, then please enlighten me. I'm sorry, but I didn't get any wiser from your answer. :confused:

[Arkham]

Originally posted by Martin CX

Perhaps I misunderstood the suggestion then. I thought the suggestion was this:

Level: 1-2-3-4-5
------ X
------ . X
------ . X
------ . . X
------ . . . X
------ . . . X
------ . X
------ . . X
and so on, and so on...

I thought the option was to view all -say- level 3 posts at the same time (flat), which, naturally, could be rather confusing, as they aren't replying to the same thing, and thus have completely different contexts.

If that wasn't the way it was supposed to be, then please enlighten me. I'm sorry, but I didn't get any wiser from your answer. :confused:

No, I'm thinking he's referring to being able to jump into threaded mode/view on an individual post, and see a thread view for that conversation..

i.e.:

1
...2
...3
.......4
.......5

So while reading msg 3, either in flat or threaded mode, you'd click to get the individual conversation/reply thread tree:

3
....4
....5

Something like that allows you to identify a splinter conversation, off the beaten track.

[s.molinari]

Arkham, I believe, is correct. The idea is to see a branch of a complete thread instead of just the one post. This would make reading in threaded mode faster.

Take this for example:

Thread starter post 1
--re:post1 post 2
------re:post 2 post 3
--------re:post3 post 4
-----------re:post 4 post 7
--------re:post 3 post 8
--------re:post 3 post 9
----------re.post 9 post 10
--re:post1 post5
--re:post1 post6

Clicking on a branch starter

So now I click on post 1 in suggested threaded/flat mode. I would see posts 1,2,5 & 6 in flat mode.

Clicking in the middle of a branch

Or let's say I click post 8. Then I should see posts 3,4,8 & 9 in flat mode but anchored on post 8.

Remember the idea is to always see the answers to the post you clicked on. So if I click on post 9 I wouldn't get the same list as post 8 above, but rather posts 9 & 10.

Hope that makes my suggestion more understandable.:) I talked with one of the dev Team and this would take a major rewrite of showthread, so it won't be added soon. Too bad.;)

Scott

[Martin CX]

Okay, thanks for explaining it to me. :)

[Mark Hewitt]

I'm impressed with the threaded view so far. But I do have one suggestion.

At the moment you open a thread and the post it displayed at the top and the thread tree is displayed below, and you can switch between posts, great!

The problem is that to view the thread tree you often have to scroll down, click on the one you want, and then scroll back up again, this can be a very tedious process if you want to go through a thread quickly.

What I would suggest (and don't all immediately shoot me :p: ), is that frames could be used to tidy it up so it behaves the may the majority (if not all) newsreaders to. I.e. in one frame you have the post being read and in the other you have the thread tree. Thus meaning both are on the screen at once and you have no need to go scrolling up and down between the two.

Frames have gotten a bad reputation, but they can be extremely useful when used correctly.

[s.molinari]

Hi Mark,

This was sort of corrected. I'm not sure why it is gone but you could click on a post and at least the screen would jump up to the top for reading. If you read the suggestion list (first post) I marked it as added. Why it's back to the old click and scroll up, I don't know.

I do know however that kier is working on a different view. In this view the threaded view is in it's own text field which would then be scrollable. Looks promising, take a look!

http://beta.vbulletin.com/vb3/showpost.php?postid=5847&postcount=8

Scott

[Arkham]

Originally posted by s.molinari

I do know however that kier is working on a different view. In this view the threaded view is in it's own text field which would then be scrollable. Looks promising, take a look!

http://beta.vbulletin.com/vb3/showpost.php?postid=5847&postcount=8


Bleedin' ingenious! I was worried about having to resort to frames! Phew!

It's gorgeous.

[Ang]

Three things quickly:

1.) I have my default set to threaded in my control panel, however, if I switch to flat mode for one post, it keeps me in flat mode when I go to other posts (either by using the next/last buttons or going out to the list and picking a new thread). Is there anyway to fix that?

2.)It does not seem to mark posts as read while in threaded mode. For instance, if I go into a brand new thread and read an individual reply and then read another individual reply, the first I read still has a yellow page thing - even though I read it. Also, if I go out of the thread, the whole thread is marked as read, even if I only read one or two replies in it but not the rest of them (personally, I'd prefer that a thread stay marked "unread" unless I've read all the replies), but when I go back in, I have all yellow pages. (I'm not sure if I'm being clear with my explanations - let me know if you want a better explanation).

3.)The new threaded mode is sort of....jarring. This could be because of the style, but it's hard to keep track of where the post is when you click on new ones since it's between things as opposed to being at the top. I guess I'm mostly questioning the thread tree view placement above the post rather than below it.

[tubedogg]

2) is how vB2 works and how vB3 will work for the forseeable future. It would require per-post read tracking which is almost certainly not going to make it into vB3.

[irc]

I think the threaded view is interesting, but I too would like the option to completely disable it. I'm not sure I will, but I'd like the option. It seems that threads would get confusing if a large portion of the members were navigating via threaded and a large portion were sticking with flat views.

Also, I would strongly suggest at least having the option to have a more straight forward way to handle the threading. One of the things I like about vbulletin is the lack of frames. It's really clean that way. If I were going to consider having a threaded option, I would like it to look like UBB threads version where it's not in a frame and it's below the post.

[s.molinari]

Since the threaded view has been completely changed since I started this thread I believe I will start a new one. :)

Scott

[Kier]

Originally posted by irc
If I were going to consider having a threaded option, I would like it to look like UBB threads version where it's not in a frame and it's below the post. Would be a relatively simple template edit, the details of which I will post nearer the release time.

[Ang]

Originally posted by tubedogg
2) is how vB2 works and how vB3 will work for the forseeable future. It would require per-post read tracking which is almost certainly not going to make it into vB3.

Can I ask why? I spend a lot of time at a forum that runs ubbThreads and very, very much prefer threaded mode to regular - but it seems like it would be somewhat useless if I couldn't figure out what was new in a large thread.

[tubedogg]

You can still figure out what's new in a large thread, just as you can with vB2. New posts are marked with a yellow icon whereas read posts are marked with a purple/white icon by the date/time posted. That's not changing.

[Ang]

You can still figure out what's new in a large thread, just as you can with vB2. New posts are marked with a yellow icon whereas read posts are marked with a purple/white icon by the date/time posted. Right, but that's only useful for figuring out what's new since the last time you visited. If new things are posted while you're on the board, you have no way of knowing that.

For instance, if I login and visit a thread with 150 replies and read all of the replies, then go to another thread and read it - if someone posts in the thread with 150 replies while I'm reading the other thread, I'll have no way of knowing which posts that is by the new/old markers when I go back into that thread.