Suggestions for Improving EEWeb Forums User Experience and Features

Hi there -- it's Clive (Max) Maxfield here -- I'm the Editor-in-Chief of EEWeb.com

I was just wondering how you find the EEWeb Forums and if you have any suggestions for how we can improve them. If so, please feel free to email me at max.maxfield(_at_)aspencore.com (also, just to make sure, please copy me at max(_at_)clivemaxfield.com).

We could have a running list of the latest comments (similar to what is on EE Times)

Max...apart from concerns previously communicated, there is a big problem with posting pictures or diagrams.  The original poster can post diagrams or pics and they come out quite well, but if you subsequently post a pic in a comment it comes out TINY and often unreadable.  I've got round this by upsizing my diagrams to 200% and then posting them, but it's a pain.  I am currently communicating with one poster via email for this reason, I would rather do it in the forum but I am posting pics and excel tables and it's just not worth the hassle.
To reiterate my previous points....stronger guidelines, in a must-read position before you post (or maybe a tick box that the poster has read them - not that anyone reads them .   Spell out that we don't do homework but will help  out where someone has tried and is going wrong.  Spell out that if you reply and say thank you if one of us helps you, you're far more likely to get more and better replies.  My rule now is not to post long replies until I am in a 2-way exchange with a poster.This has been more of a labour of love and time-consuming than I anticipated, but I don't in the least mind helping someone who is trying to help himself.

@elizabeth: "We could have a running list of the latest comments (similar to what is on EE Times)"I agree -- I like that feature -- I'll tell the IT folks

@davi_d: "...there is a big problem with posting pictures or diagrams..."I'll  reiterate this -- and all your other points -- with the IT folks right now.

Max, one other thing.  Paragraphs.  When you type a comment in the forum, the space between the first and second paragraphs is almost nothing, but the subsequent space between the 2nd/3rd, 3rd/4th etc. paragraphs is greater. So this is paragraph 1.This is paragraph 2, check the spacing between this and Paragraph 1.This is paragraph 3, see the difference between the spacing from Para. 2 and the spacing between Paras. 1 and 2This is para. 4.  from here on things are normal.  This is a minor annoyance but one that is probably easily fixed.  the only way round this at the moment is to put an extra line between paras. 1/2, as I did on my comment above, but this makes it look equally wrong.....

@davi_d: "...Max, one other thing.  Paragraphs.  When you type a comment in the forum..."Good point -- I'll add it to the list -- Max

Max, this one just came to me while reading your Arduino books article.  The default for links all over EEWeb is to open them in the same window.  Which is annoying, because although you can just click "Back", you sit waiting for a couple of seconds (more, often) for the original page to load again.When I put links in comments I use the "Target" box at the bottom, type "Blank" in it and it loads the link on a new page, ie a new tab.  You then just click the tab you were originally on to instantly get back to it.  No waiting.Can your web gurus not make "Blank" the default, or at least give a drop-down list to select this without typing it in all the time?  Here's an example: Arduino Books

@davi_d: "...Max, this one just came to me while..." Great point -- I will pass this on -- thanks David

Hi,
I would like to see a more intuitive search system such as searching tags. I’ve moved over from the old EPE forum and would like to easily see posts just relating to epe magazine, for example.

@Peter__: "...I would like to see a more intuitive search system such as searching
tags. I’ve moved over from the old EPE forum and would like to easily
see posts just relating to epe magazine, for example...."
I think I might be about to bring a smile to your face -- If you go to the right-hand side of the forums you'll see the "Forum Categories" title with the main areas underneath -- below this there is the "Sub-Topics" title with sub-topics -- at the bottom of the Sub-Topics you'll find "EPE" -- click on this and you will see the results filtered on the "EPE" tag.Let me know if this is what you were looking for -- or if you can suggest ways we can make things better.

Aha! How did I miss that!
Many thanks - a lot more useful to me now.

@Peter__: "...Aha! How did I miss that!..."Everything is obvious AFTER you've been shown how to do it

"Many thanks - a lot more useful to me now."I live to serve LOL