Updated threads in bold rather than with 'new' label

[MerleOne]

Would this be possible ?  I find this much more readable.  Thanks.

[ewemoa]

Do you use Firefox and Greasemonkey?  If so, may be one of the Greasemonkey scripts mentioned in this thread might be adapted appropriately.

[MerleOne]

Nope, Opera and occasionally K-Meleon.

[ewemoa]

At some point it seems at least one version of the script worked w/ Opera -- so there might still be a chance...

[app103]

The "New" label is a link to the most recent unread post in the thread, so it's quite useful. 

[ewemoa]

MerleOne,

Would you mind sharing a few example URLs where you'd like to see the sort of change you are interested in?

I ask because I'm not sure where to investigate.  For example, when I view "Show unread topics", I currently only seem to come across topics that have a "new" icon (perhaps that actually makes sense).   One place I was able to come across topics without "new" icons was in "unreplied topics".

Edited: Ah, I think may be you were thinking of at least the "Thread Marks" / "My Bookmarks" page -- does that sound right?

[ewemoa]

The "New" label is a link to the most recent unread post in the thread, so it's quite useful. 

I agree though I've felt for a while that it'd be more convenient in a different location.  For example, I think if it were to the left of the topic name, this would be likely to lead to less mouse movement as well as eye movement.

[ewemoa]

I tested the following code w/ some success using:

 Firefox 3.5.6 + Greasemonkey 0.8.20091209.4
 OperaUSB 10.10

To install for Opera I followed directions I found at:

 http://www.opera.com/browser/tutorials/userjs/using/

To enable user JavaScript, use Tools > Preferences > Advanced > Content > JavaScript options, and select the directory where you will put your User JavaScript files. Opera will load all files in the specified directory whose names end with .js and will use them as User JavaScript files. If a file name ends with .user.js it will be assumed to use Greasemonkey notation.

FWIW, I named the script "gulgge.user.js".

Code: (javascript)

// ==UserScript==
// @name          Gulgge
// @namespace  http://ewemoa.dcmembers.com/greasemonkey/
// @description  Script to change topic titles to bold if they have a "new" response
// @include       https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/*
// @include       http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/*
// ==/UserScript==

// possible places to test:
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=unreplied;start=240
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=bookmarks
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=bookmarks;mt=ignoredthread

(function () {
  var snapResults, j, elm;
  snapResults = 
	document.evaluate("//img[@alt='New']/parent::*/parent::*//a[1]", document, null, 
                      XPathResult.ORDERED_NODE_SNAPSHOT_TYPE, null);
  for (j = snapResults.snapshotLength - 1; j >= 0; j -= 1) {
    elm = snapResults.snapshotItem(j);
    elm.setAttribute("style", "font-weight: bold;");
  }
}());

Hmm...may be this can be a Mini NANY entry...

[ewemoa]

I've made a first attempt at placing the "new" icon and link before the topic title text.  This is just a proof-of-concept to let folks try out the idea -- no attempt has been made to ensure it doesn't interact poorly with other GM scripts of a DC persuasion.

I tested the following code w/ some success using:

 Firefox 3.5.6 + Greasemonkey 0.8.20091209.4
 OperaUSB 10.10

FWIW, I named the script "oenjjog.user.js".

Code: (javascript)

// ==UserScript==
// @name          Oenjjog
// @namespace	    http://ewemoa.dcmembers.com/greasemonkey/
// @description	  Script to move "new" image and link to the left of the topic title text
// @include       https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/*
// @include       http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/*
// ==/UserScript==

// possible places to test:
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=unreplied;start=240
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=bookmarks
//   https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?action=bookmarks;mt=ignoredthread

(function () {
  var snapResults, j, elm;
  snapResults = 
    document.evaluate("//a[2]/img[@alt='New']/parent::*", document, null, 
                      XPathResult.ORDERED_NODE_SNAPSHOT_TYPE, null);
  for (j = snapResults.snapshotLength - 1; j >= 0; j -= 1) {
    elm = snapResults.snapshotItem(j);
    elm.parentNode.insertBefore(elm, elm.parentNode.childNodes[0]);
  }
}());

[IainB]

I'm not sure I need this. I don't usually the DC forum from the forum pages but via Google Reader.
In Google Reader, every post (in all threads) shows up as an "unread" item as per the attached screenshot:

[MerleOne]

Thanks all for these suggestions, scripts and alternate readers, but my initial remark was related to a modification that would work for all browsers with no add-on.

My question would actually better be split into two :
1/ do you agree it improves readability ?
2/ can it be done, at server lever ?

And would the admin(s) do it ?

[IainB]

Is this mod only for discussions in this forum?
If so, then I can't really see the point of the modification, because readability seems quite good:
(a) Newly-posted discussion topics always come up with a fresh title.
(b) Subsequent comments to an existing post are always preceded by "Re:"

(You can see this at http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php )

Could you define which view of the discussion forum you think would have improved readability with whatever mod you have in mind? It is not clear to me which view you might be referring to nor what the effect of the mod would be.

[MerleOne]

In the attached image,



The thread "finding my bookmarks for the forum" is followed by a small <new> while I think it would be quicker to see that it is new by having it in bold.

[app103]

The "new" doesn't just mark a thread as having new posts. It has that extra functionality the regular post link doesn't have.

Clicking the link takes you to the top of page 1 in a thread. Clicking the "new" takes you to the first unread post in the thread.

On a thread with many pages, it's less clicks to click the "new" to get to where you left off.

If you merely changed the link to bold and removed the "new" then you would have only the link to take you to the first page of the thread, which would be a bit of a pain when you have a multi-page thread you have been following or participating in.

[MerleOne]

I understand, then why not have both, and maybe user-selectable for those who want to keep the current display.