*Avatar* picture on wall posts [Implemented]

[grifftron]

*Avatar* picture on wall posts *This could be optional with a hide/show button for those that worry about lag but we were told by the phpBB team that this would cause no lag*

I think it would be cool if when you posted on someones wall, you would have your profile picture show up next to your post, just like when you post in the forum, but this would be on their wall of course.




I think it would make the wall posting more appealing and therefore make CC better I contacted phpBB myself and below is what they had to say about adding this addition... they also said this should not cause ANY extra lag and it would be an over all 5 min job to do.

Quotes from the phpBB support team leader Marshalrusty

I don't mean to get in the middle of this (just answering the questions asked by grifftron )

One downside, is this could cause more lag when going to a persons wall.

Images are cached by browsers, so if it's the same images that are appearing next to posts on the board, your browser will not grab them again.

Having said that, there may be good reasons not to do this (such as larger avatars pushing the cell apart and making the overall page longer). Increased load is not really one of them, however.

Don't forget, I'm pretty sure the wall is generated by phpbb3, and so would be limited to whatever developments they have for it. I could be mistaken though.

Please keep in mind that phpBB is opensource, meaning that all of the code can be changed to do... anything.

-griff

[Army of GOD]

More fun*

I like it. The Wall is too bland.

[sherkaner]

Why would you ever want to do that? I can't really think of uses for it, except for misuses..

[grifftron]

Why would you ever want to do that? I can't really think of uses for it, except for misuses..

What would be the misuses for having your avatar show up on walls? That is what i meant, not actually posting pictures on the wall... it would be like facebook, myspace, twitter style with the avatar next to the name of the poster.

-griff

[TheForgivenOne]

One downside, is this could cause more lag when going to a persons wall.

[grifftron]

One downside, is this could cause more lag when going to a persons wall.

how much lag? and a CC update would prob speed things right up if that lag ever happened?

-griff

[TheForgivenOne]

Not sure, but i think it is known that if a a page has more pictures on it, would cause more lag, as it would take more time to load up the avi pics.

[rdsrds2120]

Since a wall only displays like 5 posts at a time-ish, and given the small size of the pictures, I don't think it would take too much of a difference given in contrast what all else the site is running.

[Lekegolo]

I support this product/service. As a all round horrible person myself I must say that I can't see how this could be abused, also I experience no lag when viewing walls, I doubt some tiny image files would make it worse.

[grifftron]

Makes sense TFO, but look at this thread and all the sigs and avatars, not slow for me, so imagine a wall with 5 posts and 5 tiny pics, shouldn't be too slow..

and if people do like this and it does happen in the future, we could always have the *hide/show avatar* button on the wall for those that don't like that extra lag.

-griff

[NightWolf]

I am not in favor for this. My laptop barely works with my router in my room, and running anything is gnarly in that condition. So add some dumb pix to the mix and I'm not going to be happy. That needs to be put as an optional feature if it's put in place.

[grifftron]

I am not in favor for this. My laptop barely works with my router in my room, and running anything is gnarly in that condition. So add some dumb pix to the mix and I'm not going to be happy. That needs to be put as an optional feature if it's put in place.

yeah like i said about, you should be about to hide it or show it. Optional.

-griff

[Darwins_Bane]

Don't forget, I'm pretty sure the wall is generated by phpbb3, and so would be limited to whatever developments they have for it. I could be mistaken though.

[grifftron]

Don't forget, I'm pretty sure the wall is generated by phpbb3, and so would be limited to whatever developments they have for it. I could be mistaken though.

same thing that the forums are ran by? if so, one would think they would have an easy add on for something like a picture?

-griff

[Darwins_Bane]

its not so simple as that. basically it would boil down to whether they have the add-on or not.

[grifftron]

its not so simple as that. basically it would boil down to whether they have the add-on or not.

Thanks DB.. who can tell us if they have it or not?

-griff

[TheForgivenOne]

Someone who works for phpbb. I THINK, blakebowling is associated with them, but i could be wrong. If nobody here is associated with phpbb, then someone here would have to make contact with them.

[grifftron]

Someone who works for phpbb. I THINK, blakebowling is associated with them, but i could be wrong. If nobody here is associated with phpbb, then someone here would have to make contact with them.

Thanks TFO, I contacted them myself, I will post again when i find out if this is possible or not.

-griff

[grifftron]

Well here is what they had to say, i am quoting out conversation that i posted in their forums...

Hey, i am involved in the community at ConquerClub.com which is powered by phpBB

We have a suggestion page and one of the suggestions was to add avatars to wall posts on peoples profiles. I hope this is the right place to post this, we were just wondering if this was something that would be possible to do with phpBB, if not we will stop requesting it on CC.

Thanks

-griff

Hello,

phpBB is opensource software, which means that the code is open for the public to use. It is therefore possible to add anything and change anything within the board. I am not entirely certain what you are asking for, but displaying avatars on a new page is not difficult to do at all.

Thanks

KEEP IN MIND THE phpBB WEBSITE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME KIND OF WALL SET UP AS WE DO WITH WALL POSTS, WHICH IS WHY HE SAID HE WASN'T SURE WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR, BUT HE SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE...

edit: Still talking with these guys from phpBB, their "tech team" and they said adding avatars to wall posts in a 5 min job.

-griff

[Marshalrusty]

I don't mean to get in the middle of this (just answering the questions asked by grifftron )

One downside, is this could cause more lag when going to a persons wall.

Images are cached by browsers, so if it's the same images that are appearing next to posts on the board, your browser will not grab them again.

Having said that, there may be good reasons not to do this (such as larger avatars pushing the cell apart and making the overall page longer). Increased load is not really one of them, however.

Don't forget, I'm pretty sure the wall is generated by phpbb3, and so would be limited to whatever developments they have for it. I could be mistaken though.

Please keep in mind that phpBB is opensource, meaning that all of the code can be changed to do... anything.

[grifftron]

I don't mean to get in the middle of this (just answering the questions asked by grifftron )

One downside, is this could cause more lag when going to a persons wall.

Images are cached by browsers, so if it's the same images that are appearing next to posts on the board, your browser will not grab them again.

Marshal you are the man! Thanks a lot for putting in all the extra work of creating an account and finding this thread... here is another quote from Marshal who is Support Team Leader over at phpBB

SO this means its possible?! and it takes 5 min to do for every ones walls? If so AWESOME... hey if you guys created a account on CC can you visit my suggestion thread and tell these guys too? If not i will quote you guys anyways...

-griff

I'd rather not get in the way of a heated battle (:P), but you're welcome to quote me.

Yes, because user details are already grabbed in order to build the wall, adding avatars is a matter of adding the avatar column to the select query and then modifying the output to include the avatar. All together a 5 minute job.

a 5 minute job for avatars on wall posts people! and if i understood Marshal correctly, this would have nothing to do with creating extra lag.

-griff

[petarvulf]

I support this man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sekretar]

like petar say-i support this man!

[grifftron]

like petar say-i support this man!

I support this man !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's make this happen! Vote for Griff

Thanks guys, Serbian support is needed for this for sure! And sek made his first post ever!

-griff

[Ace Rimmer]

I hide avatars in the forums, so I would turn this off, but I totally understand the desire to have it, so I support this