Website Relaunch!
<p>For the last three months (among other stuff) we've been working on a special project - we've been redesigning the website! What exactly does this mean?</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>New Look</strong> - The site will keep its general layout, but will have a funky new look!</li>
<li><strong>Home Page / What's New</strong> - These pages will be revamped to make them more usable and welcoming!</li>
<li><strong>Drop-downs</strong> - The top menu ('About Us', 'Camps', etc) will become a drop-down, so you can go straight to the page you want!</li>
<li><strong>Forums</strong> - All new posts and comments will be highlighted from the main forum page! Have you noticed how much space the comments take? We've fixed that too making it easier to read!</li>
<li><strong>Galleries</strong> - They'll take up much less screen space and look cooler too!</li>
<li><strong>Profile Pictures</strong> - You've noticed all the mini-profile pictures on 'What's New'? They'll start showing up in other places now!</li>
<li><strong>Polls</strong> - What's you favourite dorm or activity? Soon everyone will know with our newest feature - vote and see results on our regularly changing poll!</li>
<li><strong>Wallpapers</strong> - We're adding two more sizes for those of you with larger widescreen screens! We're also aiming to bring out a new wallpaper each month!</li>
<li><strong>More To Come...</strong> - Once we've launched it won't stop there - we're hoping to keep adding new features! So, keep your eyes open and give us your ideas!</li>
</ul>
<p>I've got two questions for you</p>
<ol>
<li>Does this sound good? What else (big or little) would make the re-launch better?</li>
<li>Would you like to become website testers before the big release? We're looking for people familiar with the website who will tell us of all the problems they find, answer questionnaires and give helpful feedback.</li>
</ol>
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And if I can be of any use for testing, I'd be happy to help.
and about the testing bit i'll do it as well if you want :) Elizabeth
Thanks Alice and Elizabeth - I'll count you in.
I've decided not to reveal any other features until they're in the pipeline... (in case they don't happen!)
Putting the Memory Verse System on is a great idea - I'll add that to the list of post launch features... Since there's still a bit to do and we want to get launched before 2010!
That would be a great feature... could possibly implement something like a facebook 'wall', but I don't think we'd be allowed to do anything that involves private messaging - for child protection reasons we want all conversation out in the open!
I'll have to look into this more next year though - I'll add it to the list of possible future features =)
I'm glad you approve of the above changes =) Did you want to test?
OK! I've decided to let the fun begin!
The site isn't quite finished but since a lot has been accomplished I've decided to let you guys loose on it =) In doing so, I would really appreciate as much feedback as possible.... read on...
Rock on! (Matthew 7:24-27)
(If I don't hear from you in a week or so, I'll presume something's gone horribly wrong and I'll switch you back!)
* 'bugs' are basically mistakes - things that happen which aren't supposed to!
Here's a few things you need to know about the new theme
I'm not sure if this is what you meant by the "1 comments" bug, but on the what's new list, each update to the forum topic has been repeated 3 times:
" luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
Here's a few things you need to know about the new theme The what...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 11:36am | View full comment in context
luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
Here's a few things you need to know about the new theme The what...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 11:36am | View full comment in context
luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
Here's a few things you need to know about the new theme The what...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 11:36am | View full comment in context
luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
OK! I've decided to let the fun begin! The site isn't quite...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 10:26am | View full comment in context
luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
OK! I've decided to let the fun begin! The site isn't quite...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 10:26am | View full comment in context
luke's picture
luke on Forum topic Website Relaunch!
OK! I've decided to let the fun begin! The site isn't quite...
Posted on 10 Dec 2009 - 10:26am | View full comment in context"
Sorry if that doesn't make sense...
Hi 200... I'm glad you like the new theme! - Which particular things do you like?
Regarding the above, I think I know what you mean... although that's very strange since the script that writes that part hasn't changed!
This is on the old WN page right? ( .../whatsnew rather than .../whatsnew2 )
Does it happen every time you load the page?
Changes... for your benefit
For everyone involved in testing (that's 200, Alice, Elizabeth, Alex... and some team members), I've made the new WN page the default location for when you log in. The new and old WN pages are both accessible from the left side-bar. I also added the 'To Do List' to the side bar to make it easier for you to view
Thanks Alex... we used to have a videos thing when Ozzy set up the previous site but for whatever reason it broke and it never got fixed. I would be nice to restore it at some point. There are some limitations in terms of what we can show, though, because of copyrights and child protection... so I'm not sure if letting anyone add videos will happen... but that's something we can look in to when we get to it. Great idea.
Hey Elizabeth... I've noticed that problem before, but I was wondering if any of you would encounter it. The issue only happens with Internet Explorer (as far as I know), and since that's still what most people use I'm gonna need to figure that one out before the release! (added to list). Can you tell me which version of IE you are using? (type 'alt' then 'h' then 'a' (help > about internet explorer)). It will be probably 7 or 8?
Normally I would recommend getting a different browser (Firefox, Chrome, etc) or making sure you have the latest version of IE, but it would be cool if you stuck with it until I figure it out so you can let me know I fixed it! Thanks!
As for the theme, I can't describe exactly what aspect, but it just seems really good! =) Sorry for not being much help there!
Also, I'm not sure exactly what the image bug is, but I haven't noticed any problems with them...
The image bug is when it shows the profile pic when it shouldn't need to, or puts it in the wrong place... for instance http://oakes.org.uk/node/1206
Keep searching for problems... that includes everyone... I'm tempted to say that the person who gives the most useful feedback / finds the most problems will get a prize.. but I don't have a prize to give... how about an Oakes Lanyard? I think I'm allowed to do that!
There is a similar thing where the text on the Bible page, where the, "search keyword in Bible" and "my verses" overlap the border, but obviously it's not really a problem, you just might want to know.
Nice spot Alex! I'll add it to the list.
I can see pros and cons to prizing the top posters - I can imagine it would increase the number of posts and make the site busier... but it might get silly and reduce the quality of the posts don't you think? ...I like that people post for fun or because they need help, and not because they think they'll win something. What do other people think? Maybe there are other ways prizes could be won?
Keep the ideas coming... even little things... here's an idea I had:
We could select a photo each month maybe, and people could write funny (not rude) captions for the picture - for example I'm sure you could come up with something funny for this picture
Elizabeth...
I think I've mostly sorted the main problem with Internet Explorer where the middle content area randomly shifts over/under the left side-bar. Please would you try it out for a bit and see if you can get it to break again?
If you're using IE7 or ealier (or IE8 in compat mode) A message should appear at the top of every page... does it for you? what does it say?
I'm glad you liked my idea 200 =)
For optimal viewing of this website, we recommend upgrading to the latest version of Internet Explorer.
i also think that on the home page(y) thing is where the comments from a leader and a camper are they should be updated because there like from 3-4 years ago and the oakes has got much better since then!! :)
about us – directions – the map at the bottom is hanging half of the bit in the middle where al the main information is.
camps – activities – the pictures down the left hand side are only showing the top of the picture the rest is missing!! also the open days page is on twice under about us and support! dont know if any of this is any help but hope it is!!
Sounds good Mez... T-shirt for the most useful web tester!
...and excellent job Elizabeth for your findings! (Added some to the to-do list). I put the Open Days in two places intentionally (as well as Directions), because I think they apply to both categories and I'd want people to find it in the first place they look. With the activities, the images were cut short to line up with the text - but I can see what you mean now I look at it... so thanks for flagging it up - will switch the golf picture too!
Regarding the home page, I was gonna swap it completely and get rid of the comments and have a flash thing instead (see the test home page I made - does the animation work? is it fast+smooth or slow+jerky on your computer? Does it take long before it starts on the first view?
What I'd thought about for the flash thing would be to have pictures/news/adverts that keep changing (like on other websites) and then have some 'quick links' to commonly accessed pages below (eg camp dates, directions, etc). I'm not sold on this - does anyone have any other suggestions? Do you think that it's worth having some (updated) comments still?
I realise that the forum contains a lot of information and you all may not want to read every word. I've decided that I'll put in red any questions, or things you need to know. Please do you best to read these and answer any of the questions - I appreciate everyone's input - this includes the Team who are also web testers!
Thanks everyone for all your help so far!
I feel priveleged to have seen it develop over the past few months. I think it looks fantastic! I love the new theme and appreciate all the hard work you've put into getting it this far. :)
A few things I've noticed that could be improved:
Looking good, otherwise!
Thanks Daisy!! =) I'll add them to my list... started the day with 6 bugs, now I'm almost back to where I started!! I guess that's a good thing.... =P
It seems that #2 is a problem just in IE... and even in the latest version (8) annoying. In my firefox the verse box is spread out nice and wide down the middle of the content area. Doesn't mean I won't try and fix it =)
I hope to abolish the notices page - just need to check that's OK first =P
Alex... I like games... I assume that's what you mean by arcade? However we'd need more specifics before saying yes, and that would have to wait 'til post launch since there's still a lot to do and I'd love to get it finished by New Year. Let me know what you find though - could be cool.
One of the things I've really wanted to do, but never had the time to get it done, is make an/some Oakes game(s) for the website - that's more of a dream than a reality at this point in time though!
i was just thinking coz i been at a birthday party, you could do somethingwhen itssomeones birthday like put a messagewhen they log in or something that would be good because when you join you put your birthday in and nothings done with it! also on the bookstall page, and click on the age group books the page doesnt come up it just says I'm sorry... this page does not seem to exist. If you think it should, please let us know! dotn know if you have like created these yet but thought i would tell you anyway
not found anything else wrong yet will look again tomorrow!
A birthday message would be a good idea. The birthday was something I added a month or two ago with the hope of being able to use it. I'm not sure how many existing users have set their birthday since then, and I've noticed some users since have not even bothered to set it... so their birthday is the day they signed up. If they got their birthday greeting on the wrong day that could be a prompt to correct it! I think your suggestion is definitely easily doable - I think that'll be one of the first things I do post-launch when I get a chance =) Nice one
I fixed the links in the bookstall - good spot - should work now. I haven't really looked at the bookstall - I might revamp the whole bookstall post-launch, but if you spot any problems that make it unusable, they should be fixed asap really - just like those links =)
Keep searching... there's probably loads more things to find!
Romans 10:14 -> Romans 10:14 (still works)
Romans:10:14 -> Romans:10:14 (still works)
Romans 10v14 -> Romans 10v14 (now works)
Romans 10vs14-16 -> Romans 10vs14-16 (now works)
Romans10:14 -> Romans10:14 (now works)
Roomans 10:14 -> Roomans 10:14 (still fails)
Romans 100:14 -> Romans 100:14 (still fails)
OK I fixed the Bible Reference bugs, although they were a bit of a hack, but there was no other way (the person who made the bible module needs to fix these issues properly!) Notice typos won't work, and invalid references will try to work and fail - makes sense.
Are there any other variations you think people might use that don't work?
Under 'Join the Team' you can click on a link to read the job description. The colour behind the main headings is different than everywhere else on the website.
Also, the pictures of the books on the bookstall may need some adjusting. I think we should get pictures for the missing ones, too.
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