Avatar selection

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Once/if this goes through would I need a picture editor to use a custom avatar? The picture I am currently looking at is one of Kenshin on his horse at a battle and is much larger than the current avatar size. If anyone would like to see it here it is http://www.sinister-designs.com/grap...rutora2-2.html

[ichi]

Is this something that the rest of us should be experimenting with yet, or is it still just Therother and Tosa figuring it out?

I turned the DUA switch on and added a .gif file URL (in an [img ] bracket, but this changed nothing.

Can we help test or should I just go back to the Main Hall and wait for further orders?

ichi

[therother]

The basics all seem to be in place and working well. My understanding is that Tosa is just waiting for us to decide on fair limits for the new system before putting it live.

In the meantime you can preview what it will look like by activating DUA and looking at Tosa's posts. You should see two avatars, exactly as in the pictures above: his normal system one, and a url avatar (the top one).

You can also have a look at his profile to see a profile picture (just a larger version of his url avatar). All members can all add profile pictures now; I have one in my profile also.

[ichi]

In the meantime you can preview what it will look like by activating DUA and looking at Tosa's posts. You should see two avatars, exactly as in the pictures above: his normal system one, and a url avatar (the top one).

Yes I see two avatars when I view Tosa's posts, so the DUA switch is working.

This is great, something I think many Organs will enjoy.

Is there a 'best' format (jpg, gif, tif) for the custom avatars?

ichi

[therother]

It's a great feature, I agree. Adds a little flavour to the boards.

As for the best format, I don't really know, but the current avatar stock are pretty much all gifs. I don't suppose you can go far wrong with png or jpg either. The exact formats that will be supported will depend on how Tosa sets up the system.

[TosaInu]

Hello,

You can turn on DUA (used short names only atm and no descriptions) and system avatars off and then you'll see only the urlavatar (full custom look for those who want so).

My guess is that any webformat will work, except flash as that requires extra code in html (would require to strip the extension and check that, then an else statement and the special display commands. That was the case the last time I checked this with PERL, and I assume it's still that clumsy. I may get tempted to 'perfect' it to that level, but it's not working now). Gif (animated), jp(e)g, bmp and tng should all work.

You don't have to use the image bracket Ichi, just insert the URL to the image, the little code will do the rest.

We can help resize that image Uesugi Kenshin and we can host it on this server (the old space reserved for that is still there).

Talking about it, it is possible to serve everything from there and mix that with some control to ensure pictures are not overly large or 'shocking'.

I'll insert some picture sizes so we can get an idea how things will look.

[Drisos]

Didn't know avatars depended on post count, now let's get spamming in frontroom!!

(this post: +1)haha!

[therother]

I had a go at "avataring" it, although I'm not particularly skilled with image manipulation. Specs: 75 by 100 pixels, 7500 bytes.

This is how it would look on Tosa's profile:

[imdWALRU5]

How many posts until u become a member?

[imdWALRU5]

I want Greek generals but thats 400! posts
Too much time

[therother]

Quoting from the new Guild FAQ in the Entrance Hall:

Promotion to Member
Promotion to Member is based on participation, conduct and contributions in your posts. Quantity of posts doesn't matter - you could be promoted on the basis of one amazing post, although just showing the ability to interact with the membership in a helpful and polite manner is easily sufficient. In other words, you don't need to do something special, just enjoy yourself whilst following the Forum Rules above. Although introducing yourself (if you have not already done so) in the HAIL New Members! (Introductions) thread doesn't hurt.

Promotions are handled manually by the Guild Staff, and are generally done en masse. So as a very quick rule of thumb: if you've been here for a few weeks and been posting reasonably regularly during that time, you should be promoted to Member.

In any case, the staff will always try to help you if they can. If you feel perhaps that you've been mistakenly overlooked (as does happen on occasion), your best bet is to PM KukriKhan and explain your situation.

[TosaInu]

Hello,

Uesugi Kenshin is volunteer.

I've adjusted code, for the better I think. The URL avatars now take up as much room vertically as needed, instead of just using a fixed box. But maximum of 200 pixels high. What really gets displayed of the image is about 180 pixels afaik (is because of some linespaces). The box is also 150 pixels wide, and it appears to be no problem at all for the topicdisplay. But that's really up to the feedback, is width fine, too small or too large? The picture is over 10 kb right now as it's just a quick resize to get 150 pixels wide.

[Craterus]

I want Greek generals but thats 400! posts
Too much time

400 posts only took me about 8 days... Just keep active on the boards..

You'll be there in no time.. (that's what they told me) Good Luck!

[therother]

I don't know. Looks great on the LHS, but seems to make posts, especially smaller posts, harder to read. Not such a good thing on a forum.

Perhaps if you have a url avatar, you should not have a system avatar?

Edit: On the plus side, I see that you've been able to reduce the default spacing between the avatars.

[SpencerH]

I like custom avatars, it makes it much easier to find my last post on a thread and it adds some variety to the threads.

[therother]

For me, the ideal solution would be an option (or combination of options) that would allow you to view the custom (url) avatar if used, or the system avatar if the user has no custom avatar. If possible, that should cater for all tastes.

[TosaInu]

It's already possible therother: what any user wants to see is his/her choice. The UrlAvatar, the systemavatar, both or none.

What's possible is that some users are perfetly happy with the systemavatar and won't bother about adding an url one. People using the urlavatars only, will see some empty posts then. Do we leave it just empty, will we display a generic picture then or what?

[therother]

Ah, I'm talking about a fifth option: seeing a maximum of one avatar, with the url avatar taking precedence over the system. So you want to see url avatars, or their system avatar if they don't have a url avatar, but you don't want to see both at the same time. AFAICT that's not currently possible via the options.

Edit: Yes, I know I'm being picky, but if we are going to have url avatars of ~185 pixels in height, along with system avatars of ~75 pixels, we're only going to be able to fit a few posts in a screen, even if they are just one liners.

[Craterus]

Is there a reason why my post isn't showing up, look to yesterday 18:11..

[therother]

Is there a reason why my post isn't showing up, look to yesterday 18:11..

Yes. You used the "< " symbol in a manner that vBulletin thinks might be html code. This is considered a security risk for forums, and so everything after it is usually chopped off.

If you want to use a < in a post, always remember to put a space after it, as I have done in this post.

[TosaInu]

Ah, I'm talking about a fifth option: seeing a maximum of one avatar, with the url avatar taking precedence over the system. So you want to see url avatars, or their system avatar if they don't have a url avatar, but you don't want to see both at the same time. AFAICT that's not currently possible via the options.

I guess that's what I ask too. Use systemavatar instead then, use a generic custom one (a smileyface?), leave it empty or indeed add yet another toggle.

[Craterus]

Yes. You used the "< " symbol in a manner that vBulletin thinks might be html code. This is considered a security risk for forums, and so everything after it is usually chopped off.

If you want to use a < in a post, always remember to put a space after it, as I have done in this post.

Ok thanks, it works now.

[therother]

I guess that's what I ask too. Use systemavatar instead then, use a generic custom one (a smileyface?), leave it empty or indeed add yet another toggle.

Hmm, would it be possible to automatically set the url avatar to be the system avatar until people customise it? That way you could turn off system avatars and only view custom avatars.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Woo-Hoo I get to be a guinea pig! I have turned off my avatar to attempt to only have 1 it seems to work on my computer, but my frined has not been able to see anything on his. I am not sure what is wrong. Thanks for resizing the image and whatnot it looks great!

[TosaInu]

Hmm, would it be possible to automatically set the url avatar to be the system avatar until people customise it? That way you could turn off system avatars and only view custom avatars.

Yes should, and I think that would be a good way.

Uesugi Kenshin
Displaying Url avatars is off by default, guests and not logged in members are not able to see them. Your friend has to log in as well and toggle DUA (Display Url Avatar) in his UserCP.

If you want to see Url Avatars only, please just disable viewing Avatars and do not delete the avatar from your profile. When this is done en masse, we are actually deleting the fun for those who do like the system.

[TosaInu]

Hello,

Changed code a bit and now the systemavatar is used when someone doesn't have an urlavatar. People who have Warning_Level 3 can no longer show the avatar, nor can users demoted back to the low privilege account.

[TosaInu]

Uesugi Kenshin,

Post a one liner please without displaying your signature (option while posting).

[tibilicus]

Er I have only just realised that you need a certain amount of posts to get a new Avatar. Im going to be here a while then I have only done about 24..................

[therother]

Absolutely excellent job! Just been surfing around a bit with system avatars off, and it works perfectly.

It seems Zero Tolerance isn't the only guy who codes fast!

[Uesugi Kenshin]

I was not suggesting we get rid of system ones, just want to show only my new one. It looks great by the way.