Having looked at the statistics from the previous Affinity website, I noted that most visitors to the website were using screens set at 1024x768 or larger (for the non-techies, it means you would be able to see the Affinity website with two white columns down each side, of about 1 inch each).
Also, over the last 5 months or so, more and more people were using larger screen sizes.
So, we decided to try out a wider display. This meant that a small minority (around 9% of users browsing with PCs or Mac’s) would see the right-hand side of the website cutoff, as they would have to use their scroll-bar. One lady respectfully wondered if this was a bug, and so I’ve brought it here to see what you think.
As a user with a 1024x768 display resolution I find the width of the website to be just right. However I was just wondering whether there was any way for you to setup the website so that it can autodetect the users screen resolution and perhaps redirect the user to a parrellel version of the website that would fit that users resolution… dunno whether that would be a lot of work or not!?
I did a google search and found a link to a forum where this was discussed link to forum thread and they discussed the possibility of using tables… but you probably wouldn’t wanna do that seeing as that would probably be a big change straight on the heels of the big changes that are the reason why i’m even typing this! :S also on that thread there was a link to a javascript that could tell you your screen resolution…
I’m on a 1280x1024, but like most people I find portrait shaped pages much easier to read than landscape. I’d recommend a fixed width of just under 800 pixels (from 900) and making the right-hand column slightly narrower (say 200 from 250). Thats gets those of us with wide screens a display roughly the width of an A4 piece of paper, and doesn’t annoy the 9%. Win-win.
The forum is definitely going to be resized, although this was also going to be set at 900px.
Usually, we either set websites to have an elastic layout (so that they stretch to fit whatever size window) or 770px. However, it was discussed and agreed on a higher level that, as many ‘leading’ websites are moving towards the 900-980px mark, then why not Affinity?
I think we’ll keep an eye on it, along with the statistics. Still interested in others views, however.
I’m on 1900 * 1200 but on a laptop that has oblong pixels (rather than square) - its very odd with most software that is used to 96*96 or 128*128, this is 128 * 136 (don’t ask me, I inherited it!) - but, using firefox, these forum messages casually resize correctly to any size window I pull the screen to.
No its an awful mix… a DELL purchased in USA, installed in USA and lent to me for a project. subsequently the firm died and I inherited it. but, of course, it was installed 256 byte encryption but becuase I’m in Europe and made mistake of setting it to UK english the MS patches are 128byte - it has some wonderful idiosyncratic moments. Obviously MSever anticipated anyone doing that and changing away from eng-us.... Sadly, while I inherited the machine, I did not inherit any install disks so I have some marvellous sog=ftware that I can’t update. Its fun though!
Following on from Mark’s comment above, the Community is now fixed-width. And I’ve pulled some of the themes in from the regular site, too. Will keep tweaking and improving.
Following on from Mark’s comment above, the Community is now fixed-width. And I’ve pulled some of the themes in from the regular site, too. Will keep tweaking and improving.
Now to me with my oddball set up, that is OKish on a reasonably large browser screen, I now have 3 inches of white space either side and it looks a waste...also of course, far less items per page as a result
However, as soon as I resize browser screen to below your width then I now have to use horizontal scrollbars to read a single message line by line
To me, I am not technical re websites and do not understand the why’s and wherefore’s but, this is a definte disimprovement…
I am going to try on a range of machines and screen res (this crazy machine doesn’t allow me to change below a certain level, but I have other machines)
With regards to the fixed layout, almost all people I have spoken to over the years have complained that forum software stretches to fit the screen, and those with larger screens and resolutions, find themselves looking from left to right, and often losing their place.
I agree with Mark’s comment (see above) re the A4 page being the ideal width. Let’s see how it goes, and give it a try. I am leaning towards the statistics from the old site, still, and they are pointing towards the larger than average size, but nothing wider than 900px. After all, Affinity is mainly a text-based site.
Sadly, while I inherited the machine, I did not inherit any install disks so I have some marvellous sog=ftware that I can’t update. Its fun though!
Bonnyjars, I recommend installing a linux partition and a good distro such as ubuntu, or even wiping your disk, unless you have some proprietary software from which you cannot be parted. There are some website exploits going around, using the iframe tag, that are both difficult to detect and WILL compromise any computer whose browser is not kept bang up to date. Good anti-badware software will help. If you cannot do that then I recommend switching to Firefox as you can probably keep that up to date on slightly older MS Operating Systems. There will come a time soon, though, when I think, you will be forced to update. Greg
