Amazed, but not amused

Today I sent an answer in which the ftp instruction 'c_d' (without underscore) was present.
This forum's software changed de lettercombination 'c_d_' into **.
It did that in plain text and between Code-tags.
Even in this post I can't easily explain what is going on, because the software does it in this post too. Since when is c_d a 'four-letter word' in English ?
I tried to solve it using html-tags and PHP-tags but to no avail.

Another point: it doesn't make a very professional impression in an Excelforum that Excel-attachments do not get a proper icon (nor xls, xlsm, xlsx), The same apllies to doc, docx and docm.

Furthermore I'm not impressed by the forum's formattingpossibilities of text between tags. Although the formatting icons stare at you optimistically, using them results only in longer text between the original tags. I've seen other fora that do what is being suggested by the presence/enabledness of icons. Formatting elements of VBA-code can have a very educational function, what is after all a forum's raison d'être.

At last, some other fora give a warning if a new post has been placed while you were inventing your most incredible answer ever. In that case you can preview the new post before posting that ultimate solution. It can also prevent that helpers are being 'punished'/'infracticated' for helping because a moderator asks the OP to comply to the rules (cfr. the infraction-thread)

I'm sure there must be some 'geek' who is able to make this forum as userfriendly (for OP's and 'helpers') as we suggest OP's to strive at in their programming.
Who is coming forward ?

c_d relates to an anti-spam rule implemented some time ago I believe.

Geeks to tweak the site - good luck with that.
From a technical standpoint nobody here has any control as the site is run by the owner and maintained by his minions.
In the past two or three years the only significant functional change was the creation of a new skin that nobody asked for and which remains sufficiently buggy that a number of us (self included) still prefer to use the old one.
(oh and the creation of a Windows/OS forum [excelforum.com] and a dedicated 2008 forum for the 15 people using it)

We all hear what you're saying and to the above I would add additional points re: overall forum structure .... but the truth of the matter is, sadly, ain't gonna happen.

edit: never say never but ... never

A lot of the smaller points don't bother me that much and I've always quite liked the new skin and never really had problems with it although I think I might be in a minority.

The sheer number of fora and sub-fora is plainly ridiculous though and just means folk have little or no clue where they are supposed to ask their questions. I tend to look at Excel General and Excel Programming and that's about it most of the time. I''ve seen people complaining about the lack of areas at Mr Excel which is the other extreme but I think the happy medium could surely be found without too much effort.

The last word in the previous paragraph is the deal breaker as it appears the site owner is prepared to put in little to none while happily watch the folk that contribute here put in loads.

It's been a while since we had a good moan. Maybe it's time.

Dom

Who is the site owner? He must have a profile here. Does he contribute much?

Yes Dom - frustrating is not the word.

Obviously none of the Mods get paid (nor do they expect to), however, I don't believe it to be unreasonable for the Board members to expect some sort of consultation process as and when changes are afoot.
To put the above into context: the first the Mods knew of the new skin was when the site admins began LIVE testing ... a practice they still persist with despite our protestations.

Obviously it would be great if we were able to make suggestions and have them taken on board / deliberated but given we're not really part of the decision making process that's rather "pie in the sky".

Ever since I've been a Member here the topic of Forum overhaul has been discussed in depth.
Andy Pope (when Mod'ing) put together a proposed structure ... all who replied agreed it was the way forward. I would say that was around 2 years ago.

Since then we've been told that the plans are to make this forum the greatest forum in the world. I'm not sure anything of note has happened since then...

It's not all doom and gloom... I do recall the Mods being consulted as to the value in adding a pyramid scheme forum or something of that ilk... thankfully our voice was heard and it has yet to appear.

Tip: use Today's Posts via Quick Links to view all threads simultaneously - that's what a lot of us do

Thanks DO for explaining. I'm rather 'new' here, so wasn't aware of the forum's history.
I looked at the 'news' of the owner's website. You will see how recent that news is. Not very promising....
But still there is 1 admin in our midst...

I'm only Admin in name, I have no way to make the sort of changes talked about

The site was sold by Joseph Rubin before I joined so ExcelTip.com etc is all a little outdated.

Originally Posted by snb

But still there is 1 admin in our midst...

If you're referring to Roy - he is a Super Mod but doesn't really have any different powers to the rest of us.

Nobody that actually contributes to the site in a meaningful way on a daily basis has any control over functionality.

We try to make the best of what we have... in some cases we have far too much and in other cases far too little.

The text correction thing seems to be a common theme on many sites. I know that on MrE, some strange things get corrected - like OnLoad (I think). WTF?