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EarlG

(22,540 posts)
Fri Dec 1, 2023, 01:12 PM Dec 2023

We've released a major patch to the new DU software [View all]

Last edited Fri Dec 1, 2023, 04:13 PM - Edit history (4)

Since the new software was launched last month we've taken everyone's feedback on board and made some changes. I mentioned before Thanksgiving that we would have a big patch coming after the holiday -- we released it today.

CHANGES OF NOTE

Tabbed navigation
The most significant change is to the nav system at the top of the page. Originally we wanted DU4 to be much improved for mobile users, but after launch it became clear that the "one-size-fits-all" approach of the two-button navigation system wasn't working well for everyone. So the two-button system has been replaced with a more traditional DU3-style tab navigation system. This change will happen on both desktop and mobile.

All Forums page
One of the post-launch requests was to bring back a page which lists all forums. Under the two-button navigation system we linked people to the category pages, but with the tabbed navigation system we're bringing back an All Forums page. Please note that this page is not currently finished, so it just provides links to the main forums and categories at the moment. The next job on our list after this patch is to complete this page so it displays every forum on the site.

Sidebar collapser
A number of people asked for this and we've been able to do it. There is now a new button at the top right of the sidebar box where your username, member info, and forums list are (this is for non-mobile users).



This button collapses the left sidebar and stretches the width of the rest of the screen elements to fill the gap. We think this will be particularly useful for people on smaller laptops and tablets. Note that because the left column is required to show ads, this feature is for Star Members only. Also note that it only works on Default Mode and Night Mode, not Skinner Mode.

Share By Email
This is a new share option found at the bottom of OPs. It's easy to use but requires a little explanation so I'll probably make a separate post about it.

UPDATE: I've posted a thread in DU Community Help about the new Share By Email function.

Reverted Greatest Page layout
The Greatest Page has been adjusted to provide the traditional DU3 view, with most recently recommended threads on the left and most recommended in the last 24 hours on the right hand side.

Dozens of small styling changes
We've done a lot of work on tightening up the layout, font sizes, and spacing. This work will likely be ongoing, but for now we think the changes are an improvement. We've also been able to do things like restore usernames to the Trending and Greatest sections on the home page, and add the site search button to the header on mobile devices.

THINGS TO KNOW

If things don't look right for you after the update and you are on a device with a keyboard, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and click your browser's refresh button. There's a good chance this will fix the problem.

As usual, a big update like this could cause unforeseen errors. If you spot a bug or problem please report it in the DU Community Help forum.

Thanks for your patience while we continue to work on the site!

-- The Administrators

118 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Hi Earl G. and many thanks for all that you and your crew are doing. The site is wonderful and I look forward to SheilaAnn Dec 2023 #1
Thanks so much! Goddessartist Dec 2023 #2
And there it is dweller Dec 2023 #3
Wow. Much better! relayerbob Dec 2023 #4
I was startled and wondered what happened -- thanks for the explanation & TY for all you do Hekate Dec 2023 #5
Love the tabs flying_wahini Dec 2023 #6
You're simply the best malaise Dec 2023 #7
I lie this WA-A-A-AY better!! lastlib Dec 2023 #8
Looks/works great NewHendoLib Dec 2023 #9
Rolling with the punches. Thanks for all of your hard work, EarlG! ❤️ littlemissmartypants Dec 2023 #10
Looks awesome...love it! Thanks for all the work. MiHale Dec 2023 #11
Nice improvement!! CrispyQ Dec 2023 #12
Yes!!! The tabs are so much better! Initech Dec 2023 #13
Thanks EarlG, in spite of the omission of a coffee warming clicky thingy. Hermit-The-Prog Dec 2023 #14
NICE!!! we can do it Dec 2023 #15
oh! nicely done! Tesha Dec 2023 #16
Looks to be an improvement over the "phone-y" interface! nt Shermann Dec 2023 #17
Thanks, I think I'm going to like this. Definitely like that Sidebar Collapse option. nt TeamProg Dec 2023 #18
Thank you! Picaro Dec 2023 #19
Thanks for improving the tabbed navigation at the top of the page. Means fewer clicks to get where I want. emulatorloo Dec 2023 #20
Great updates! redqueen Dec 2023 #21
I'm nobody, but I have an opinion, I found myself on DU probably only 10% of the time that I spent before the update. Comfortably_Numb Dec 2023 #22
Earl, any chance of adding a search bar to the website? 3Hotdogs Dec 2023 #23
There is one... EarlG Dec 2023 #27
Now, I've embarrassed myself. 3Hotdogs Dec 2023 #47
No worries EarlG Dec 2023 #53
Oh no, changes !!11!!!1 Yonnie3 Dec 2023 #24
I like it a lot. nt Susan Calvin Dec 2023 #25
Love it so far, thanks! Mosby Dec 2023 #26
Thank you, this is much better IronLionZion Dec 2023 #28
Who do I send a screenshot to? ArkansasDemocrat1 Dec 2023 #29
It sounds like your browser might have cached some of our old files instead of using the new ones EarlG Dec 2023 #34
Now I can see what everyone is talking about ArkansasDemocrat1 Dec 2023 #51
Same thing happened to me canetoad Dec 2023 #66
Much Better! Richard D Dec 2023 #30
YES!! I love it thank you!! nt TalenaGor Dec 2023 #31
sweet jcgoldie Dec 2023 #32
Cool! Liberal In Texas Dec 2023 #33
Bravo! And thanks! highplainsdem Dec 2023 #35
NICE! Thanks EarlG! n/t CousinIT Dec 2023 #36
Can anyone tell me why on my phone the site extends beyond the right side of the screen? flashman13 Dec 2023 #37
It's most likely an incorrectly sized ad loading in EarlG Dec 2023 #38
Thank you! diane in sf Dec 2023 #39
You Rock! NutmegYankee Dec 2023 #40
Thank you for the tabs! KatyaR Dec 2023 #41
Thank you for all your great work! All administrators! Wild blueberry Dec 2023 #42
Oh thank you PatSeg Dec 2023 #43
Thank you for making the front page all one font again. intheflow Dec 2023 #44
Not very attractive. EOM. Scottie Mom Dec 2023 #45
The only change I would like to see is a separate tab for non-political videos Quixote1818 Dec 2023 #46
Do this... EarlG Dec 2023 #56
Wonderful. Thanks nt Quixote1818 Dec 2023 #80
Thank you for turning off the blinks on my subscriptions! Lulu KC Dec 2023 #48
Oh no now it's blinking again Lulu KC Dec 2023 #89
9 tabs are too many. Should eliminate the NameAlreadyTaken Dec 2023 #49
Thank you. sheshe2 Dec 2023 #50
I tried DU4 and went back to DU3. I'll wait a few days to go to DU4. Paper Roses Dec 2023 #52
This is the first time in weeks I've signed in from the desktop, and NOT been forced to: DFW Dec 2023 #54
Sorry about that EarlG Dec 2023 #57
Don't gloat too early. DFW Dec 2023 #64
Do you ever use a VPN? EarlG Dec 2023 #68
Come to think of it, Dallas sent me a VPN link to our Texas network DFW Dec 2023 #73
Hi EarlG, I was a UK-based DUer with this problem (presumably in the same boat as those still in the EU!) Emrys Dec 2023 #78
So this is the new DU4 format? No more 'settings' to be in 'Skinner mode' or not? sinkingfeeling Dec 2023 #55
The "My Stuff" button has been replaced with the "My DU" tab EarlG Dec 2023 #59
LOVE LOVE LOVE the tabs. MontanaMama Dec 2023 #58
Applause and thanks! Easterncedar Dec 2023 #60
I have to say it looks great. Mr. Sparkle Dec 2023 #61
Thank you wendyb-NC Dec 2023 #62
I love the new layout of the home page. Sogo Dec 2023 #63
The blue boxes draw my eyes up when I'm trying to read and gives me a headache questionseverything Dec 2023 #65
For the next round of fixes EarlG Dec 2023 #70
The color bothers HighFired49 Dec 2023 #114
Looks great. Thanks, guys! DinahMoeHum Dec 2023 #67
Thanks so much, EarlG. greatauntoftriplets Dec 2023 #69
I like it claudette Dec 2023 #71
Thank you for all that you do (which is considerable) UpInArms Dec 2023 #72
Looks great! kanda Dec 2023 #74
❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️ Lucinda Dec 2023 #75
I gotta say.. I am so Cha Dec 2023 #76
GREAT WORK!! Thanks!! WarGamer Dec 2023 #77
Ahh that's better justaprogressive Dec 2023 #79
my phone view of homepage has degraded fargone Dec 2023 #81
I can tell you that the issue with the homepage is unfortunately related to an ad EarlG Dec 2023 #91
Screenshots fargone Dec 2023 #112
Curious. See how there are two Trending/Greatest sections on the homepage screenshot? EarlG Dec 2023 #113
It may have worked! fargone Dec 2023 #115
Hey, great EarlG Dec 2023 #116
Why don't you just... ClearSky24 Dec 2023 #82
Love, love, LOVE birdographer Dec 2023 #83
So far, so good - I think. But I'm no techie on business like this. calimary Dec 2023 #84
Liking it so far! SledDriver Dec 2023 #85
Thanks! wysimdnwyg Dec 2023 #86
I love it. byronius Dec 2023 #87
Thank you! mahina Dec 2023 #88
Thank you! 2naSalit Dec 2023 #90
Es bueno! JoseBalow Dec 2023 #92
Hmm thanks for the heads up EarlG Dec 2023 #94
No problemo! JoseBalow Dec 2023 #96
Btw EarlG Dec 2023 #98
Well, this blows. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2023 #93
Looks awesome to me Wednesdays Dec 2023 #95
Awesome NowISeetheLight Dec 2023 #97
Great Job - site is looking great! SouthernDem4ever Dec 2023 #99
Hi EarlG democrank Dec 2023 #100
Wonderful!! I did not realise that it could be better. Srkdqltr Dec 2023 #101
Minor glitch noticed dweller Dec 2023 #102
Wow, EarlG! piddyprints Dec 2023 #103
Wow, lookin good... THANKS!! 👍 InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 2023 #104
I like it! LittleGirl Dec 2023 #105
EarlG. Thanks for all your work. TomSlick Dec 2023 #106
Thanks for everything you do! sarchasm Dec 2023 #107
Two thumbs way up, thx for your hard work! (NT) HuskyOffset Dec 2023 #108
Thanks for listening and the good work! dutch777 Dec 2023 #109
Lookin' Good! mntleo2 Dec 2023 #110
A few fine-tuning issues from the perspective of a UI designer Shermann Dec 2023 #111
Hey EarlG Dec 2023 #118
Most productive developers, damn good and fast. lostnfound Dec 2023 #117
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