Lack of Project Posts on the Forum

[peter halle]

Right back at you, hate to burst your bubble but this forum is tool fluff, at times little substance. If you want more participation but don't want to make the effort, don't bother asking, don't be surprised if the people who have the ability to to make good work, show good work have less desire to be here.

I hate to bust some bubbles here, but the great suggestions about thumbnail images mentioned above would require a ton of custom programming and even then it might not be possible.

I fully respect that so many here have great ideas about the future of the forum and encourage any and all to bring them forum.  But there may be limitations and obstacles.

Peter

Perhaps I didn't speak clearly.  That poster was asking to have thumbnail images appear in the most recent posts that are available when you scroll to the bottom of the home page.  I merely pointed out that to be able to achieve such a thing would probably require custom programming and that I thought that would be doubtful.

Peter

 

[Elmar50]

My experience is that LJ is more welcoming than the FOG when it comes to feedback/interaction re projects. I still look in, though, when curious about equipment.

 

[bobfog]

The clunkiness of the forum software has a lot to do with it and also the fact that forums are dying compared with social media, especially Instagram where a post that takes 30 seconds to complete can get you instant gratification from around the globe.

 

[Bob D.]

Better image manipulation/control would be a plus.
It pains me after I crop, rotate, and adjust exposure
of a photo only to upload and the forum software for
whatever reason decides to rotate the image to a
orientation its liking over that which the photo was
either originally taken in or adjusted to.

So the few times I have uploaded photos I have not
included as many as I could have because some from
the same series of images will display as desired and
others seem to have a mind of their own. I've tried a
few different methods to overcome this but not have
worked consistently.

Not looking for a full blown image editor just maybe the
ability to rotate after uploading. That would be great I
think.

 

[Aussie]

In regards to uploading photos....
I save my photos on dropbox then past the link in the image editor.
Right click on the image on your computer you want to share and click copy dropbox link then past it using the IMG button.

You just need to change the dropbox.com part to dl.dropboxusercontent.com and it will show up just like when you use the photo hosting sites.

here is an example of the last photo I posted
The original link is

?dl=0
which gets changed to

?dl=0

 

[ChuckM]

I have had no issues with uploading pictures to this Forum directly from my computer. To compress photos (mine are usually 3mb to 5mb each in size), I use this free program:https://sourceforge.net/projects/icompress/

 

[Cochese]

It's pretty much idiot-proof to share pictures from sites such as Flickr, so that isn't it.

The problem is a lack of interaction. Views are nice, but comments are better. I'm building a workshop from scratch and have gotten so little of the latter. Yet others who post similar things have threads ten pages long. It's so inconsistent, or otherwise you need something so over the top to get attention. I get way more interaction on Instagram, and as such after the shop is done I doubt I'll post any other projects here.

I know there has been some desire to not have stuff such as like buttons or whatever, but it is a quick and easy way for people to have their work acknowledged even if people don't feel like leaving a comment.

But yes, the forum is way more viewed as a tool support forum as opposed to anything else.

 

[Cheese]

Better image manipulation/control would be a plus.

Not looking for a full blown image editor just maybe the
ability to rotate after uploading.

I'll vote for both of these...+1

I'll read a post on my iPhone, take a few photos, post them and then get back to business. Only to find the next day when I use the computer, the photos have been turned sometimes left, sometimes right and sometimes upside down. [eek]  I'll then spend 10-15 minutes modifying the post so that the pictures are oriented correctly.

Thus, I wouldn't even attempt to post 10-20 pictures from a personal project...that'd be sheer foolishness on my part.  [crying]

I've documented machining Jatoba HVAC grills using an MFS, Domino & 1010, while placing the Jatoba in a common nest that yielded different sizes and an on-going 12' wide set of built-in maple cabinets, with automatic LED lighting for each drawer, in the knee wall of a loft. My original intent was to post these projects but it's just not worth the effort.

Just yesterday, I was responding to a post on my iPhone. I added no attachments and no photos, but when I hit "post", it waited about 20-30 seconds and then brought me to a blank screen. That was it...post floating somewhere in space.  [sad]

This lost post issue has actually occurred quite often in the last 12 months or so. I now make a copy of the verbiage of the post before I actually post it so that when the blank screen comes up, I can then paste the info again and hope it works the 2nd time.

I will now copy this entry before I push the post button  [tongue]  it's cumbersome...

 

[bobfog]

It's pretty much idiot-proof to share pictures from sites such as Flickr, so that isn't it.

The problem is a lack of interaction. Views are nice, but comments are better. I'm building a workshop from scratch and have gotten so little of the latter. Yet others who post similar things have threads ten pages long. It's so inconsistent, or otherwise you need something so over the top to get attention. I get way more interaction on Instagram, and as such after the shop is done I doubt I'll post any other projects here.

I know there has been some desire to not have stuff such as like buttons or whatever, but it is a quick and easy way for people to have their work acknowledged even if people don't feel like leaving a comment.

But yes, the forum is way more viewed as a tool support forum as opposed to anything else.

Being able to like or upvote/downvote posts is a standard forum feature, it just seems like the people who run this forum are over sensitive souls and don’t seem to like the idea of it. Far too politically correct IMO.

 

[Trosey]

Far too politically correct IMO.

IMO, NO POLITICS is the only thing that is correct. But your BO may differ from by BO.

HAND

 

[semenza]

    Not having a like button hasn't got much to do with being politically correct. Whenever this has come up the discussion usually ends with more people not wanting it than wanting it, or at least a split decision, for a variety of reasons. One of the things a like  button tends to do is mute actually discussing a topic and real comments.  Actual discussion is something a forum does well and separates it from other types of social media. There is plenty of liking , disliking, gaining followers and being popular on other venues.

Seth

 

[semenza]

This topic is veering a bit. But certainly picture posting seems to be part of the problem , along with people not getting any feedback on projects. I find it interesting that some have trouble posting pictures and some have no problem at all. I have gathered over the years that this frequently has to do with the device being used. Seems to be pretty easy from a computer and not so much from a phone. And also whether or not a hosting service is involved as opposed to just attaching from the devices inherent memory files.

Seth

 

[ChuckM]

Not a fan of "Likes" or "Dislikes" myself. Without a comment, you don't know what a viewer really likes or doesn't like about with a simple push of a button: my project, or my tools, or the finishing, or something else (photo quality, e.g.). But for the record, I do not own any FB, Instagram or Twitter account and so I may not understand enough why people like to "like" or "dislike".

As I said, I share my projects on LJ regularly, purely to share my builds, special tools used, techniques used, errors made and fixed, etc. I would continue to do so even if one day comments were disallowed on LJ. It is normal woodworkers who look at the same project may have different opinions about it, and I never think for a moment that I need someone else -- known or unknown to me -- for endorsement. I am always proud of the work I produce because I give every piece my best shot.

 

[Bob D.]

Linking to images located elsewhere works I know but 5 or however many years
from now when you no longer have that account your post will be left with no pics.

For some threads no images leaves a big gap in how well the subject matter is
understood by someone viewing that thread w/o the photos.

 

[ChuckM]

snipe

For some threads no images leaves a big gap in how well the subject matter is
understood by someone viewing that thread w/o the photos.

Absolutely true, especially with more complex matters. I have seen many in which the discussions would have been simpler or shorter if "more than a 1000 words" or two had been included. Check out any user or installation manuals and you will see my point.

 

[Cheese]

1.  I have gathered over the years that this frequently has to do with the device being used. Seems to be pretty easy from a computer and not so much from a phone.

2.  And also whether or not a hosting service is involved as opposed to just attaching from the devices inherent memory files.

1.  I cannot remember a time when I've had an issue with photo orientation when posting from a computer. I have had orientation issues when using an iPhone or iPad. However, it's not all the time but it has increased in frequency over the last 12-18 months.

I have however experienced the blank page phenomenon on all 3 devices. This has also increased in frequency over the last 8-9 months.

2.  Not a fan of the hosting service thing...like others have said, once you change services or they go toes-up, you've lost your documentation.

 

[Bob D.]

All my image uploaded have been from the computer. I take them using the phone camera and they are uploaded to the cloud. I grab them from the sync'd folder on the desktop computer and strip out any EXIF personal information, do any image manipulation/cropping/resizing then save. After saving locally I upload to the forum. The result is hit or miss. Most images  in a series uploaded during the same session will display as intended but sometimes one or two will seem to have a mind of their own.

Sorry for dragging this thread off topic. This issue probably should have a thread of its own but there is nothing to do it seems so probably not worth the effort.

 

[Cochese]

I've been on multiple forums that eventually had photos lost to upgrades, including if I am not mistaken, this one. I also prefer to have complete control over them for various regions. In reality, the only permanent things online are the things you don't want to be.

 

[butzla]

I caution anyone to not upload photos to this forum.  Over time, they often are lost and the thread becomes useless.  It's much better to upload all your photos to a cloud service, then copy and paste the url to each photo between the image brackets using the button that looks like a picture frame on the left side. 
The added bonus is there are no annoying thumbnails, the image is full sized.  I use Flickr.  You get 1 TB for free and my phone automatically uploads the photos as I take them using the Flickr app.

 

[peter halle]

I have read many responses here about why not posting projects to forum.  I started this thread because I thought it was important to discuss.  Festool has NEVER asked me to start a thread since becoming a Moderator in 2009 about something to get information.  I have always made my own decisions regarding that and I admit I have a few that generated ZERO to minimal interest.

Why haven't I posted more projects on the Forum?  Well, frankly, I am not a very exciting woodworker / carpenter.  Making a living using my hands so to speak creates a divide for me.  When I am not working I spend much time thinking about cool things to do and post, but the whole life balance thing comes into play and at the end of the day that MFT hasn't been unfolded and cool things didn't get done.  A perfect example would be a series I planned years ago about constructing a 10 x 12 shop.  Throw into the mix a few life challenges and viola! virtually no projects or videos.  When I have had a cool project that I thought others would enjoy or learn from or use as perhaps a thought incubator for thoughts; I have posted. 

I live woodworking as a creative, vibrant, necessary expression of art and skills vicariously thru what others post here.  So there you have it.  It's out in the open and am so busted.  My question was totally about my selfishness and needing to understand why I couldn't get my woodworking "high" as often as I used to on the FOG. 

Posting pictures is an issue and a pain on the FOG:  Yes it can be.  I have spent much time over the years correcting and rotating images for members that have been posted.  I have also visually edited them to enhance lighting and exposure and bring out colors and details.  Yes years ago I bought fairly expensive software that allowed me to do that.  Forum software is like "one size fits all" clothing.  It might fit but that doesn't mean that it will always look right.  With all the different operating systems out there on computers and mobile devices out there it would be phenomenal if in every instance posting a project thread with images worked perfectly all the time.

So here are some suggestions to reduce stress and help improve the odds of success gleaned from my experiences here:

1.  Consider your posting to be a meal you are cooking.  Get all the required ingredients ready ahead of time.  Write your content outside of the forum software so that you can save and then cut and paste into the post.

2.  When you take pictures of your project always shoot in landscape mode.  That is the most accepted way of doing it and I suspect that what is considered "the norm" by the software and when it looks at the dimensions of the images it makes an assumption that it SHOULD be landscape so it rotates portrait to be like landscape.

3.  There is absolutely no need to have huge images here and rely on the software to adjust.  Taking pictures at resolutions available on modern cameras or devices for show here is a waste of memory space on your device and has a possibility to cause issues with automatic resizing.  So many issues with images posting strangely over the years have been corrected by simply reducing the size or resolution of the image.

4.  Don't post a bunch of high resolution images in the same post.  The processing time to resize slows everything down and you have a greater chance of a time out and frustration.

5.  If you a have a bunch of images in a lengthy post, consider adding your text, posting your thread and then modifying to add images.

I sense the frustration.  I went thru a period years ago when I couldn't post a response of just text quick enough to not have a time out.  Software patches took care of that issue for me.  But it didn't make it any better at that exact moment when I discovered my work had disappeared.

Peter

So in