System upgrade on Tue 20 May 2008

Hi all participants on this forum,

We are planning a system upgrade on Tue 20 May from 0100 – 0600 hrs.  With the change, the PHP and Mysql software will be upgraded.  Aiyah, too complicated.   The look of the forum will change, not sure what the final look will be.  I think the banner as well as the design will change.  The new version is supposed to make the forum more efficient and less vulnerable to spams and viruses.

So, don’t get a shock then.  As with system upgrades, I always expect untested bugs in the immediate week.  Please confirm all your activities with other members if you are the EO, before 19 May 2008 for activities on 20 and 21 May 2008.

Terence Seah

SHC logo

Author: Terence Seah

Founder

46 thoughts on “System upgrade on Tue 20 May 2008”

  1. Dear Terence

    This new upgraded format no good leh. Previously, when one reads some interesting comment and want to know what the discussion is about, one can just click on the titled topic and it will show the post where the comment was made. Now, one would have to take note of the title and then go search for the post.

  4. Terence:

    It’s probably as much a problem with my eyes, but I find the greyish fonts difficult to read. Since this forum caters to people in their latter years, perhaps a greater degree of contrast between the text and background would be better.

    Not sure if you can do anything about this, though, as I find the same colour concept in other WordPress sites as well.

    Cheers,

    Ron Koh

  5. Dear Terence

    The systems upgrade is progressing very well with each passing phase.

    Well done, keep it up. Look forward to see the complete fine work at the end of the week.

    Cheers,

  6. Terence,

    Congratulation for sucessfully changing new format for SHC Forum.

    I find this new format quite user friendly and one can easily search for words used and topics/Posts.

    However there is only thing which does not bring out our SHC Theme that is the Header “Travelogue of a Blogger” and the picture at the side not related to SHC.

    Perhap you can change it to bring out SHC identity.

    Have a Nice Day

    Regards

    Patrick Yeo

  9. Terence, no good leh, I have to strain my eyes trying to read the blur light coloured text. Scrolling up & down the text on the screen seems to be slower. Btw where to click the latest comments huh?

  10. Hi Terence

    Can see that it is building up a character with good and excellent features.

    Keep it user friendly with appropriate links.

    Look forward patiently to the full FRUIT at the end of this week.

    Cheers,

  11. Yalor, where is the ‘Latest Comments’ ha .. this is useful for us … thanks

    also, I think the log-in box can be better placed on the top … we can straight away login when we go into this web

  12. Hi everybody,

    The web guys are working on the latest upgrade. If you notice anything that needs improvement, please yell. We will try our best, if changes and improvements can be made.

    I hope the test is bigger and clearer to our eyes.

    Terence Seah

  13. Hi Terence,

    Would the upgrade be able to allow the following features:-

    1. Attachment of pics or data files into the comment.

    2. Links to drill down directly into the posting to view comments.

    3. A ‘Reply’ function in every comment, to allow SHCians to reply directly to the post or comment,

    Jonathan

  15. Aiyoh Terence,
    So small the print! Also, so ‘lecheh’ to write a comment.
    I think Jonathan’s suggestion of a ‘reply’ button on every comment will be a great help.

  16. Just came across a saying : The lamp of the body is the eye, if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

    Hi Terence

    Keep up with you and your team good work. Look forward to the final beautiful output.

    Have been seeing and following your systems upgrade ( and constant amendment) and progress, be encouraged with the good work ! Sharp and crisp!

    After this upgraded version success, can learn from you folks about establishing/using the WordPress Systems.

    Warmest regards

  17. Hi Terence,

    Re: System Upgrade{-

    1) I had to hunt high and low for the latest Comments/Posts . Scroll right to the bottom. As b4 extreme make over, it is BETTER to place the link Latest post/comments at the TOP of the banner. Easier for all to see and click. Agreed with Jane Wong for further improvement.

    When click on Latest comments, we can see all the 100 comments but when we want to reply to a particular comment at say # 50,it does not have a view post where we can write in our comment. Better stick back to the old feature

    2)t’s probably as much a problem with my eyes, but I find the greyish fonts difficult to read. I totally agreed.

    3) …Attachment of pics or data files into the comment or post. Agreed with Jonathan .
    I tried many times to place pictures/images but it does NOT allowed me to INSERT images keep on telling me I do NOT have the permission from the Administrator.

    4) Ensure all the EMAIL ADDRESSES are kept in another Search category. When we need to search for a particular email address, we can go directly to the address and NOT to the post and search high and low , have name but email address NOT to be found.

    6) What a happen to the beautiful coloured stalk of flower on the right hand side, i saw yesterday but no longer found today.It is a REFRESHING SIGHT!

    7) Pls. place in BIGGER MORE COLOURFUL TEXT FONTS. Silverhairs had DIFFICULTY READING the fine SMALL TEXT and print.

  18. Hi Mary,

    Font size is an important consideration for our age group. I will not likely change the size for now, because it has implications on the number of words per line. I take note of this point.

    Re issue of having a “reply” feature to a comment, I have been given to understand that one should read the Post/thread first because putting down a comment. This ensures the author of the thread gets the desired feedback for that Post. As u would have seen, many Posts have out-of-sync comments. Terence

  19. Hi Jonathan #14,

    As with the earlier version, the SilverHairsClub forum does not allow EDIT to comments, even by authors.

    We can get into unnecessary debates, over comments, if authors change their comment.

    This feature won’t be available on this forum.

    Appointed Event Organisers are allowed to edit their Post for “registration list” purposes.

    Terence Seah

  21. Agree with Steven Chan #17 point no.4 to retain the email address of the author any comments or posts under a separate link. This is useul for direct communication purposes eg seek clarification.

  22. Hi Terence/Administrator,

    I find this ‘upgrade’ retrogressive.

    1) I don’t know if it is my computer or the software, but it is incredibly slow just scrolling through the posts. I can almost make a cup of coffee and come back in time for the ‘hourglass’ (wait signal) to disappear.

    2) Replying to a post is also cumbersome like Lily Ho W says, you have to take a roundabout, back-tracking route to get to the post and then type your reply. Meantime you could have downed a cup of coffee. I seriously doubt if all this waiting is healthy, more likely more stressful. It’s similar to being put on ‘hold’ just to get an option to the next stage. Eg if English, Malay Tamil, press 1, 2 or 3. If credit card, savings a/c, current a/c, press 1, 2 or 3, and so on ad nauseum

    3) Of course font size, but point taken here, just to register my concurrence.

    4) Background is white and too glary. Again not healthy, even with uv coated glasses. Perhaps I should consider using welder’s lenses in future. My neighbours will think I am Astroman.

    5) I hope the policy for future upgrades will be “if it works, don’t fix it”. I thought most, if not everybody was happy and satisfied with using the old system. Perhaps we should also remember, “old is good, new is risky”

    Hope my feedback resonates with the majority.

  23. Hi Terence/others,

    … 1) Of course font size, but point taken here, just to register my concurrence.

    2) Background is too white and too glary. Again not healthy, even with uv coated glasses. Perhaps I should consider using welder’s lenses in future. My neighbours will think I am Astroman.

    Yes, I totally agree with font size. Terence, already we are wearing our reading glasses to read the fine print.
    What more are you going to “test” our Silverhairs POOR Deteriorating Eyesight once more ?

    My power is already 900 degrees, and if continue to increase by another few hundreds degs if these FONTS remain that SMALL.

    My cousin of 21 yrs.1 day made fun of me when I was a 12 yr. teen.

    So HIGH powered short sighted “professor”
    Wait till one day,you CANNOT see the LOBANG.
    At that tender age,I was very INNOCENT.
    I do NOT really understand what he meant.Being an adult now ,the meaning is obvious LOL.

    *** I understand Terence’s concern. If the font increases in size,it involve more costs. On the other hand,we do not mind paying $1 per month if the fonts can be increased to a comfortable reading level. But Terence do not like the idea of collecting money from SHC members.

    So what’s the solution Silverhairs??????????????
    Any comments for improvement?

  24. KYL Andrew: you wrote @ #16:

    “Just came across a saying : The lamp of the body is the eye, if your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.”

    Deteriorating eyesight is part and parcel of the aging process and has nothing to do with one’s body ‘being full of light’ or lack thereof. Makes me wonder whether that was yet another one of your insensitive statements and whether it was directed at anyone in particular.

    While we are on sayings, here is another one: “Blessed is he who has nothing to say and will not be persuaded to say it”.

    Ron Koh

  25. Hi RonK, thanks for saying that, I m one of the ppl who has requested for font size change … when I read that quote I also wanted to reply, u did it for us, well said Ron.

  26. Hi, Charles:

    I’m not sure if Terence and his team has made further improvements since, but I don’t have the issues re paras (1) and (2) of Comment #22.

    If you still have the same problems, (i.e. with scrolling, etc) these may be due to your PC.

    I have a number of PCs at home (used to do lots of ‘kay poh’ software testing from home when I was with my former company, and personal web and graphic designs). My PCs are running on a number of different OS platforms/versions (Win2K, WinXP, Vista and Ubuntu) with ample RAMs. Did not face the problem you mentioned when I accessed the SHC forum with these PCs.

    Should also mention that, sometimes, upgrades at the user end (i.e. SHC) are unavoidable to remain compatible with the hosts, should the hosts (e.g. WordPress)decide to upgrade their systems.

    Terence:

    Speaking entirely for myself, the font size may be a tad too large.

    Cheers,

    Ron

  27. Hi Terence

    Since yesterday, comments posting have been much much faster.

    2) Have no issue with font size. H/e, good to have a options for an enlarged font (not too large, up 2 clicks ) for those who need them.

    3) Awaiting the completion of the systems upgrade this weekends to experience the goodness of the upgrade. It is building up an impressive character for enhanced utility.

    Keep up with the excellent work !

  29. Hi everybody,

    Thank you for your patience. The system upgrade is almost completed. Should be done by this weekend.

    Please let me know if there is any wish list from you. If it can be done, we will do it. There are still a few snags.

    Comments EDIT will not be given to all members of this forum. Post EDIT may be given to appointed Event Organisers.

    I hope the font size fits you.

    Terence Seah

  30. Terence, the text type , layout ,colours are very pleasant to the eye. Navigating through the website naturally require some adjustments and adaptation from our silverhairs. It may take a while to understand and try out the new features of the system, and to appreciate its good points, so as to have a balance view from members. Thanks for the efforts.

  31. Here are some changes. In the past, we have allowed automatic registration. As a result, we have unknown people registering as a member, and writing spams eg selling viagra, looking for mates, etc etc.

    The automatic member registration will stop from today. To register, a user must send his/her application to us with his/her email address, first name, last name. The password will then be emailed to the given email address.

    More details in the next few days.

    Terence Seah

  32. Hi Steven,

    Guess this latest upgrade is to your satisfaction. Your flower definitely has disappeared for good, unless the pictures get changed every now and then. Instead, you have to settle for 3 pretty ladies and an omelette. Better than that flower, right? Hope the 3 pretty ladies stay cos Terence say all should be done by this weekend. Hahaha.

  33. Hi Terence,
    I wuld reli prefer the shortcut link 2b on top i/o at d bottom. Font for the individual post is acceptable but hor font for the latest comts is reli abit 2 small 4 me. This is 1st time dat I hv to reli strain my eyes to read at them. If there is no way that this can b changed, then we hv no choice. If not, will prefer to change to abit larger font lor.. Alamak, Lily, I think hor, both of us nid 2 go 4 our lasik earlier than expected liao.. hehehehe..

    My preference is d same as Lily, wuld prefer dat we can directly submit comment thru’ latest comts i/o of now, going in2 the respective post b4 we can post our comt. Very time consuming. I had bn trying numerous times today.

  34. Hi Dolly,

    Re font size for comments, I shall ask the guys to see if they can fix our eyes. Hopefully by this weekend.

    To respond a comment, simply click on the Post tile, and a reply box will appear. This is the same as before.

    Dont worry, I am also learning. It’s fun messing it up.

    Terence Seah

  35. What goes up comes down so this ungrade has become a downgrade dosent surprise and so it has my thumbs down and so I shall wait for the day when the system is really upgraded, even if it’s after the birth of Tarn Gugu…………….

  36. Dolly @ 33 and whoever else it may concern

    To increase the font size of the text, hold down the control (Ctrl) key and press the plus (+) key. If text is still too small, repeat the process — hold down Ctrl and + again — until the text is big enough to your liking.

    Holding down Ctrl and the minus (-) key will decrease the text size.

    This works for any web page, not just SHC website.

  38. Hi Terence Seah

    Thank you for your patience. The system upgrade is almost completed. Should be done by this weekend.

    Please let me know if there is any wish list from you.

    i) Comments EDIT will not be given to all members of this forum. :- Acceptable as you had explain your rationale in one of the comments.

    ii) Post EDIT MAY be given to appointed Event Organisers.

    As far as (ii) is concerned, it would be more CONVENIENT if ALL the appointed Organisers are given the EDIT post so that they can update the guest list from time to time and also a summary of the electronic payments that have been made and confirmed that he/she has made such a payment on that particular day.

    It is NOT wise for some members who had paid up but had to scroll high and low 342 comments just to search for the particular comment that has the summary and guest list if
    NO EDIT post is given to the Event Organisers.

    Any comment from you or other members ?
    The final choice of who will be given to edit post still rests in the Administrator’s hands.

  39. Wow wee, Ron-Oz, u vry steady2 leh.. mia so long den appeared 2 give good tips.. Kam xia Kam xia.. I dun noe got such tin 1.. Now, Lily n me can stick 2 our original plan 4 lasik liao.. hehehehe..

  40. Hi Terence / others.

    1) Is the photo of our NEWLY found 3 SPICY GIRLS here to stay till this weekend or for a term ?

    Many members had commented thru comments or emails that they face DIFFICULTY scrolling up and down to hunt for the latest post and latest comments .

    My suggestion,

    I see a WIDE SPACE on the right of the photo of our beloved SHC 3 SPICY GIRLS.IMPORTANT short cut links like latest posts,calendar of events,latest comments,log out,register as new member,key contact list etc found far below of the web pg could instead be placed here at the top for easier access and convenient to members/non members to search for info.

    It SAVES valuable time for members/non members NOT to scroll HIGH and LOW just for that info if it is placed right at the top .

    A member had commented that for the time wasted he can easily go to the kitchen and make himself a cup of coffee and right now ,I too had difficulty tracing this particular comment.

    And so I still prefer the short cut links on the TOP of the banner as what has been done previously . The links were place at top of D and D pictures but a bit messy randomly placed. My opinion.

    And NOW with the WIDE EMPTY SPACE that you had,you can ask the IT guys to place it a more “organized” manner in alphabetical order of name of links.

    2) For emails or profiles of SHC members, pls ask iT guys to place the names of our SHC members in an ALPHABETICAL order. The last time you told me it could not be done as it affects the whole system.

    However, right now that the system is still undergoing an EXTREME MAKEOVER , it is PRUDENT to do.

    Why?
    When I wanted to know more abt say a new member Lina Ng’s profile, I need to hunt high and low for it , after Lina’s profile suddenly come Baboo Singh or for that matter Ah Knee, Dollie Parting,Wong SarKT ,Andrew LKY, Susu , Charlifah or Gingko Nut, NOT arranged in an alphabetical order.

    In the end ,I GAVE UP !
    Aku pun PENGSAN . Mind you,we had 3000 members,it like finding a “needle” in the BIG PILE of haystack.
    Alas! Pity our POOR and DETERIORATING SHCians eyesight.
    I REALLY WISH this can be RECTIFIED in this system upgrade otherwise,we,SHCians do NOT mind donating $1 per month for a good cause from each member to UPGRADE, further UPGRADES and Monthly MAINTENANCE of this SHC FORUM Web Page.

    I APPEAL to all of you SHCians to pen your thoughts carefully what I.T. FEATURES in this SHC WEBPAGE

    (i) you feel shd be changed for the better.

    (ii)remain as it is.

    If you had any NEW suggestions of INTERESTING or USEFUL features to be incorporated in this system upgrade,
    pls share with us ASAP before the EXTREME MAKEOVER is finalised by this week.

    By the way, Terence, the photo of the “messy” omelette on the extreme left hand side does NOT look so appealing.
    Look yak!

    Could you pls.ask IT guys to substitute with another photo of another more appealing food, eg. a golden crispy whole chicken or a steam seabass fish ?
    This is my personal view. Fussy indeed on food !

    My 5 cts. worth

  41. Ron, I tried doing as you suggested to increase the font size. Cannot work leh. Mine is a laptop. Is there another way? Please help.Gotta go now. Will return later to try again.
    Thanks

  42. Hi, Ron-Oz (#36):

    Just a small comment on your very helpful suggestion, if you don’t mind: It works most of the time, but I don’t think it works for all websites all the time. There are lots of ‘unconventional’ websites out there, including some where the text is embedded in images, and do not respond as you would expect.

    And not everyone uses PCs running Windows, or versions of Windows later than Win95/98, or a compatible version of IE or Firefox, etc.

    If I remember correctly, (I may be mistaken) the keyboard of the Mac in my former office had a Command key, and no Ctrl key. (present Mac keyboards have both) :o)

    Just my two cents …

    Ron Koh

  43. Hi everybody,

    ** Font size for Posts, except comments, is done.
    ** Latest Posts and Comments are available on sidebar.
    ** Although the feature is available, pictures can be uploaded via admin. Video, audio would not be made available.
    ** User profile still being worked upon.

    Terence Seah

  44. RonK: You are right. Thanks for pointing that out so that those who have tried out my suggestion and find that it didn’t work can understand why it isn’t working for them.

    I was trying to keep my suggestion as simple as possible, bearing in mind that many members have indicated that they are not au fait about computers. I hope members don’t read this as me being patronising.

    Your two cents converts to $2 million when trying to work out why my suggestion hasn’t worked for Mary Chan. Maybe she has a MacBook or her laptop is running a much earlier version of Windows (though unlikely).

    The Command key (a square-like symbol with curly corners) on the old Mac keyboards has now popularly become the “apple” key. Furthermore, the Alt key on PC keyboards is the “option” key on Mac keyboards.

    Life was much simpler when we were dealing with Underwoods, Olivettis, Remingtons, Imperials, Royals, etc. Life wasn’t half as complicated even when IBM introduced its Selectric typewriters. Bill Gates and Steve Job sure have a lot to answer to!

    My $2 trillion … (hahahaha)

  45. Hi everybody,

    If you see any strange comments, coming from unknown strangers, they are likely to be spams. However, these spams are automatically put on hold or moderation; and will be removed, once the web guys catch hold of them.

    Terence Seah

  46. Hi Terence

    Before the upgrading was completed, I had problem trying to put in my comments etc.

    Now, I really like the font size, the layout and colours. Enjoying it now.

    Thanks

    Warmest Regards
    Caroline Gee

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