Admin Center

[Joshua Dickerson]

What do you think of the current admin center?

What problems do you see with it?

What would you like to see changed?

Could you come up with some suggestions?

[babjusi]

I like the Admin Center the way it is, especially the Package Installer. The only thing that I would like to be added extra is the option to back up the database through the Package Installer, that would be awsome

[Deaks]

I like what it has in it, however a new look would not go a miss its still quite identical to the older versions.

SMF released a new default theme however the layout is still same maybe small difference but it  has an old feel when you compare the old default to the new.

[Tim]

Another few questions, do you feel as if everything is easy to find, is it easy to maintain a forum, when you compare SMF's center with that of other software you use (don't limit yourself to forums) how well or bad does it do and why? ...

[Jorin]

Well, I think the admin center is well structurized, but can become some detail changes to make it a bit easier. For example: Why are the options to change between PHP- and SMTP-Mails in the advanced server settings and not in news and newsletter, where I can send Mails to all members?

Second thought: When www.simplemachines.org is down, the admin center waits for the timeout till it is shown. Is there any way to fix this?

[nitins60]

Many times, i felt, SMF should change the SECTION of group and thier permissions. It never ends up with a solution without frustrating me.

1. When installing mods, if test fails, it must show on which line and code around that place displaying will be much helpful for users and SMF support speci/Mod Writers. 

THE BEST BEST BEST SUGGESTION IS "TEMPLATES" MUST DEFINE ONLY THE WAY OPTION SHOULD BE SHOWN. It shouldn't contain any functions. WHICH BECAME THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR CUSTOM THEMES, WHERE MODIFICATIONS(MODS) FAILS  

[Joshua Dickerson]

Many times, i felt, SMF should change the SECTION of group and thier permissions. It never ends up with a solution without frustrating me.

1. When installing mods, if test fails, it must show on which line and code around that place displaying will be much helpful for users and SMF support speci/Mod Writers. 

THE BEST BEST BEST SUGGESTION IS "TEMPLATES" MUST DEFINE ONLY THE WAY OPTION SHOULD BE SHOWN. It shouldn't contain any functions. WHICH BECAME THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR CUSTOM THEMES, WHERE MODIFICATIONS(MODS) FAILS 

What do you mean by not containing functions?

Well, I think the admin center is well structurized, but can become some detail changes to make it a bit easier. For example: Why are the options to change between PHP- and SMTP-Mails in the advanced server settings and not in news and newsletter, where I can send Mails to all members?

Second thought: When www.simplemachines.org is down, the admin center waits for the timeout till it is shown. Is there any way to fix this?

SMF also sends other types of email other than your news so it wouldn't make sense to put it there. What if when your mouse went over it, it would give you a brief overview of what each section is? Do you think that would help with that?

I thought that if the page could not find the "Live From" page that it would just stop. Are you saying that it doesn't stop trying?

[Jorin]

A brief overview... Hm, if you think that will help, you still can try this  Oh, another idea: I will add a picture of the idea, I can't explain it very good, sorry  But with this solution every option can be found easier, I think.



Till 1.1RC3 the ACP waits for a minute (sometimes a little bit more) till the ACP is shown. It seems he waits for the news from the sm.org-site which are shown in the ACP main site. If this is still with 1.1.1, I can't say for now...

[Daniel15]

Second thought: When www.simplemachines.org is down, the admin center waits for the timeout till it is shown. Is there any way to fix this?

Till 1.1RC3 the ACP waits for a minute (sometimes a little bit more) till the ACP is shown. It seems he waits for the news from the sm.org-site which are shown in the ACP main site. If this is still with 1.1.1, I can't say for now..

This is changed in SMF Development Edition . If it can't connect to the SMF website, it still loads normally, using cached JavaScript files (SMF itself downloads the JavaScript files and caches them )

A brief overview... Hm, if you think that will help, you still can try this  Oh, another idea: I will add a picture of the idea, I can't explain it very good, sorry  But with this solution every option can be found easier, I think.

Awesome idea, I like it a lot

[m3talc0re]

Keep the admin templates separate from the forum's templates/themes. If you get a syntax error in the forum theme, in say the index.template.php, you can't view the admincp either without changing themes through the browser's address bar (ie: index.php?action=forum;theme=12).

The layout itself seems kind of dull (like the 1.1 theme...). There are a few boxes, a few bars with backgrounds and that's about it besides text. vB and IPB's AdminCP's are fairly similar, but honestly, I like phpBB3's approach, which I think SMF should take a cue from.

THE BEST BEST BEST SUGGESTION IS "TEMPLATES" MUST DEFINE ONLY THE WAY OPTION SHOULD BE SHOWN. It shouldn't contain any functions. WHICH BECAME THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR CUSTOM THEMES, WHERE MODIFICATIONS(MODS) FAILS

He's talking about how like phpBB uses seperate template files and in these files, the only php type coding (which I use loosely) is like <% LOGIN LINK %> which would show up in the forum as Login or Logout. Then the template file for the links is in a completely seperate template file. Over time I've come to get used to SMF's way of using the template system and to be honest, I like it better than phpBB's for the most part. It's still got some kinks, but I'm hoping they'll eventually be ironed out. Like my shared template files thread in the Request Features board or whatever. Since SMF displays posts and pm's almost identically, the display template should be shared between the two. By doing so, the post box itself (mean each individual post made) should have it's own template JUST for create the post's box/container containing the poster info and the post itself. For a lot of mods though, it'd just be impossible to make it work for all themes.

Back to the admincp though, some features/options are kind of hidden, they're so deep into the settings, sometimes which you would think would be somewhere else. Like the reset options for example. When I first started using SMF, I thought they were for just that, resetting all options to their defaults or something instead of what they're actually for.

I'm sure I can think up more changes, just not at the moment

[fallen_angel]

I have to say when I first tried SMF I was a little overwhealmed by all the options in the ACP - I came from phpBB where everything's a lot more basic (or at least it was when I was using it). I wouldn't move back though. It took a bit of getting used to, just trying to find where everything was, but the layout seems to have been simplified a little with 1.1.x. A lot of the minor code changes I'd got in to fix minor niggles like the italicised child boards and such like have gone as many issues seem to have been addressed.

What I think would make life easier, especially for those who aren't too comfortable working with the code, is a way to put in a number of posts before sigs show, without having to delve into the code, in the same way you can specify sig chracter length.

Layout wise though, I think the admin center's looking good.

[Daniel15]

What I think would make life easier, especially for those who aren't too comfortable working with the code, is a way to put in a number of posts before sigs show, without having to delve into the code, in the same way you can specify sig chracter length.

If you want this to be added as a feature, please make a posts in the Feature Requests board

[fallen_angel]

Duh! Will do. I'd be dangerous if I had a brain! Came up with a couple of others last night - I think I probably need to get out more...

[WhiteEagle]

I would like where you just could back up the members and the messages. So that if you ever needed to move it and had lots of mods installed, it would restore just the members, membergroups, boards, and ppsts.

[bloc]

I think its primary the layout and how to find things that are asked for here, not the actual options themselves.

Its mentioned here to take cues from PhpBB3..what portions could be beneficial for SMF?  

[fallen_angel]

Eeeep! phpBB has evolved into something that's useful?!?!? 

Okay, phpbb3...
This maybe an option, rather than layout, but the ability to see which bots have visited without having to delve into site stats is nice.

Probably all the PHP info would be a little overwhelming to new admins, and if SMF had something like that, you could probably have an "advanced" tab, or "server info" in the 'server settings' section.

The attachment settings section is quite nice, especially the ability to make attachments to PMs (something SMF doesn't have currently?)....sorry, I suppose that's an option rather than layout...

Overall, they seem to have made some vast improvements since phpBB2 with the different options and configuration options available and the combination of the tabs along the top and then the categories and sub-categories down the side made it very easy to find stuff (easier than SMF I hate to say). Overall though the whole of the phpBB system including the admin panel just don't seem quite so polished somehow as SMF, and the whole phpBB system just feels spartan somehow including the ACP (no change from previous versions of it there). SMF just *feels* somehow more high quality, and visually much more pleasant, even just using the default theme.

Off-topic again I know, but I do like the layout of their new user control panel.

Okay, so maybe they've evolved a bit....  

[iceberg]

Admin suggestion.

Menu's can be a pain to move around and add/change ESPECIALLY if you use custom themes. adding a chatroom for example - the mod known the default theme but if we put something custom on, then we have to know coding to adjust the menu in the theme.

would it be possible to add something to the admin section called MENU - where we can edit what's on the menu, move it around, add an item and link...like this:

default skin
add chatroom
chatroom knows to put CHAT in the menu.

custom skin
add chatroom
chatroom has NO idea.

but what if the admin panel would pull the menu down and give us an interface to say:

Add Topic (enter topic name - CHAT)
Add URL (path to the chat)

and it will put it there for you? maybe even a "button preview" for custom graphics.

this would help me a TON on keeping my themese up to date. just wondering how hard it would be to do and hope this is a good place to ask.

[m3talc0re]

When I get back from my trip (I'm leaving within the hour, will be back Sunday), I'll have to install phpbb3 again so I can take screenshots and explain what I mean better.

[mark866]

I like the admin centre that SMF has provided already, but I would like a section put on where you can make your own custom bb codes like in vBulletin.

[Daniel15]

I like the admin centre that SMF has provided already, but I would like a section put on where you can make your own custom bb codes like in vBulletin.

There's already a mod for that (search http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/)

[Sverre]

I'm fairly pleased with the current ACP, but there are a couple of improvements I'd like to see in the next version...

• Ability to quickly change theme on the "Current Theme" page (a drop down maybe?) to speed up work on multiple themes
• Improved hierarchical structure. My opinion isn't necessarily the best one, so I won't go into too much detail, but personally, I miss a "Features" category (so we would end up with something like this):
  
  
  
  • Features
    
    
    
    • Basic Features and Options
    • Calendar
    • Karma (MOD material if you ask me )
    • Search
    • etc
  
  
  • Forum
    
    
    
    • Boards (and Categories)
    • Topics
    • Posts
• Somewhat related to the above: If possible/logical, options can have multiple access points - in my opinion, Attachments, Smileys and Message Icons belong under "Features", but they can also be sub-options under Forum > Posts
• Page Indexes both at the top and bottom (i.e. "View all members", "Ban log", etc.)
• A link to the admin part of the online manual
  like this maybe:
  

  Configuration
  Members

[Sverre]

I posted this in another thread about the next generation ACP, but I'll post a link to it here since this is probably the place it should have been posted in the first place... In my opinion, this could be a nice improvement of the ACP's usability for new SMF admins:

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=158461.msg1014236#msg1014236

[brianjw]

I would also rather have in the manage themes not break out each section of code, lay the entire code in one text area

[Sverre]

Moderation Log
Entries in the moderation log are presented on two lines, and with the background colour changing between windowbg and windowbg2 every line, it becomes difficult to see which lines belong together. It would be much better if the background colour changed every other line, so both lines of a log entry had the same background colour, or use borders to separate the entries like in the error log.

[ladynada]

I noticed some people suggested cosmetic changes to the admin section. You might want to look at the ultimate them I uploaded, where you can skin the entire admin section separately from the rest of the board.  For example, I have a dark blue back with white letters on the center headings in admin.  There are a few options that still use the standard windowbg and windowbg2, but very few.

here are some of the var names you can style in css:

adminside_bordercolor
adminside_catbg
adminmain_tborder
adminmain_titlebg
adminmain_windowbg
admin_tasks

etc. there are a few more

it makes you feel special (or your moderators with admin privs) to go into an area that looks totally different.

nada

[brianjw]

i like that idea

[tL0z]

What about a "preview" function for the e-mails we send to the members?

[Harro]

Definatly a good idea.
I always send out html newsletters.
First I check it in dreamweaver, then send a copy to myself and then to the whole forum.
Just to make sure everything looks as it should.
So a preview would be great

[brianjw]

Also maybe even an html editor for it too just to make it all snazzy. But could the variables still be used in this editor.

I recommend FCKEditor cuz Tinyportal built it in to their system and it works great

[L.G.S]

I'd like to see a more colourful and large admin centre, with a few images or something for each section because right now its plain and boring..

[the_Jman]

I think the Admin Center is clear and easy to use. I love the package installer. When I used PHPBB I found installing mods to be a pain, but with SMF it is simple and quick.

The only suggestion I have for the Admin Center would be for the membergroups and permissions.
Perhaps they could go under one tab, and it should be easier to access all the options.

For example if I want to change the 'stars' I go into one part, but then if i want to change what boards this usergroup can see or edit, I have to go to another part.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it isn't very clear. Perhaps it would be better if it just listed the groups.

Regular Groups
Admin
Mod
Sponsor
Premium
etc...

Postbased
Newbie
JR Member
etc...


And you just clicked on the group you wanted to change and all the option came up.
So for example I click on 'Sponsor' and then on the next page I can change the star, change the amounts of stars, change his name colour to silver, allow him to see all the boards, allow him to edit boards 1 and 2, allow him to edit his posts etc...

Sorry If I am not very clear.

James

[babjusi]

I am looking very forward to the admistrator panel of the new version 2.0. I read that it would have many new things

[Sverre]

Hehe... I thought about suggesting an ACP search a while ago, but I decided not to post it because it sounded rather far-fetched in my head Lo and behold, judging by 2.0 Alpha's changelog, it seems like something along these lines have been implemented... It will be interesting to see how close it is to the idea I had

[brianjw]

Does anyone know when 2.0 comes out? (an estimate atleast)

[codenaught]

As asked and answered many times before, a loose goal for when we hope to have SMF released is mentioned in the 2.0 announcement topic.

Whilst we are not able to commit to a firm timetable for release of 2.0 we are hoping to get an initial beta in the hands of our Charter Members come June this year, with the first public beta likely to be around late October.

[pcjunkie]

I haven't read it all, so....


What would be great, I mean a real time saver would be a simple groups drop down next to the members name in admin giving the admin the ability to rapidly assign groups, moderators, admins, permissions.

What I have seen is boards with 200 or more people and 5 tiers of permissions divided among that 5 groups (10 with master admin, Moderators and moderator groups have to be there as well)

So adding 200 ATM is tedious unless you know what the data base can do.....

[brianjw]

Thats a long time not being a charter member. It takes that long to beta test?

EDIT: of course this looks like a big release so that might be why.

[babjusi]

Thats a long time not being a charter member. It takes that long to beta test?

EDIT: of course this looks like a big release so that might be why.

That''s one of the benefits of being a charter member. And it takes time to beta test, cause these guys work thorougly and deliever a great and perfect work

[kerrang!]

I'll do this in two ways. (what I first thought and what changed after becoming used to smf)

First thoughts;
I personally thought it looked messy and I wasn't keen on it. (I loved the front end) I did like the information displayed when you login with all the handy links, although I took awhile to become used to.

My thoughts now;
I still believe it could be more organised and more easier to navigate. The learning of how the control panel worked would of been much quicker if it was more tidy, although these are just what I thought.

I'd love smf to to for the IPB/PhpBB style admin center, with the top navigation and sections within. I do prefer IPB's style although it could be improved like all things.

Kudos,
~Kerrang

[Gary]

I'd love smf to to for the IPB/PhpBB style admin center, with the top navigation and sections within. I do prefer IPB's style although it could be improved like all things.

That is an option on how to do things, in fact, IPB is actually a mix of our sidebar which you can use or the new method which if you look in Introducing SMF 2.0 you can see contains a drop down.

You can switch between the two easily. Which is not shown in those screen shots.

-ALM