New format for viewing threads? - "comment trees"

The discussion threads have a different format today. Do you also see it, or is it only me?

If I click on, say page 5 (and last) of a thread, I get the very first text of the entire thread, followed by a "tree" with names of contributors and the first line of their message. These are clickable.

Reading several contributions thus requires a lot of clicking. I have also noticed that when, after reading a comment, I click Back and expect to be sent back to the comment tree, I do get a comment tree but from Page 1, not Page 5. It is a lot of work to read the last, say, 10 unread posts that way...

What is the reason behind this change? Will it stay that way?

Dhyana,

In the upper right corner of the begginning of the thread ( to the right of the thread's Title )
there are three choices: outline * [standard] *linear+

Did you perhaps accidently click [outline] ? Verses [standard]? when I click outline, that seems to be the only way I see what your describing. Aside from that, I have not noticed any changes

Hope that helps

Dhyana,

I agree with you that this new format is quite awkward.

Anoher consequence of the new format is that the newest comment may be buried toward the middle of the "comment tree" and not immediately apparent.

I am hoping that there's some board setting that will allow users to choose between this new format and the old one, but I haven't yet found that setting. I trust that the board administration has some good reason for making the change, but I personally don't like it.

How long has this "outline" format been available? What an interesting coincidence that Dhyana and I both encountered it for the first time this morning!

Anyway, thank you for pointing out the toggle between the formats. I have switched back to the standard format, and will reserve use of the "outline" format for particular occasions when it seems beneficial (e.g. looking through very long threads for particular members' comments).

Dandavats. All glories to the Vaisnavas.

I believe that this new format just became available. I am glad to see the standard version is still intact as I much refer it.

Radhe Radhe!

Rasaraja dasa

Thank you, dear Srijiva, Vamsidas and Rasaraj for your responses. I have toggled [Standard] and everything is back to normal.

Yes, the Outline format may be quite useful when searching for something in a very long thread.

It's been there as long as I can remember, and I also didn't do anything at all to activate it for anyone. How odd that it should change in such a way for several members. (Has Braja been playing around with the database? )

Anyhow, I'm glad you all got it sorted out.

I don't know how to play, only destroy...but no, I didn't do anything. I encountered the same weirdness myself last week and couldn't remember selecting the Outline view. Perhaps it can be toggled by hitting a hot key? Certainly had me confused as to why the threads had suddenly changed.

I know what happened... I experienced the same thing twice during last few days, and when it happened to me for the second time, I guessed the cause. I think, that Gaurasundaraji is using this type of forum appearance. Recently he made some links in his replies to other threads within this forum, and obviously those links have information in them to view forum in "Outline" mode; and when somebody clicks such a link, her view also changes to "Outline"...

(See, for example, one of the links in this reply by Gaurasundaraji. It effectively converts your view to "Outline")

Ah yes that must be it. I sometimes view this forum in 'Outline' mode and make links in that mode. So people who click on the links that I provide inevitably switch to 'Outline' mode themselves, how curious!

Sorry for any inconvenience everyone!

(Don't get turned off clicking on my links though! I'll figure out some way )

Gaurasundaraji, simply replace "&mode=threaded" with "&mode=linear" when you inserting links in "Outlined" mode. For example:



replace with



The first one sets forum to "Outlined" mode.
While the second one does nothing with forum appearance.

Better even, remove the &mode= section altogether to let people keep whatever format they are currently keeping.