RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Topic started by: sem73 on Friday 01 June 12 07:20 BST (UK)
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Hi All
9/10 times I'm on Roots (confession...on a daily basis!) I'm viewing on my i-phone....yesterday all change and it's a mobile view version...keep switching to classic then it's back to mobile again :( can't get used to this :( .... maybe I hate change to much!! :D
Sarah :)
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Has Rootschat had some work done because I come on here on my mobile phone but have not been on here for couple of weeks now when I do I have to scroll right to the bottom every tine and click on classic or I cant see my profile, surname table, messages etc ?
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I'm having similar problems on Android. It won't stay on 'classic' view.
Pauline
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I have enough trouble reading texts on my phone - especially without glasses!
Just don't see the point of squinting at internet or TV on mobiles?! ;D ???
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There's another thread going about the mobile version of Rootschat.
Seems to be some teething problems.
Pauline
Moderator Note: topics now merged
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Well at least I know it is not just me the 1st few times I came on I logged in and it still kept telling me I needed to log in until I went right to the bottom and saw classic or mobile mine was on mobile which I am using but I changed it to classic and it was fine some of us are not so lucky to have a laptop of 2 that their kids have not broken so hence I am using my mobile phone
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Hi - does anyone know why I can't get the proper format of Rootschat on my ipod any more? I have a brown version and have to loggin everytime - it doesn't recognise me. I am puzzled because it still goes through the Broadband box thingy just like my pc does, and the pc still has the usual format, and RC recognises me when I go through the pc.
Harlemswife
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Mine wont stay on classic at all , keeps logging me out and is not showing some posts sometimes . It also seems to be using up more kb and taking longer to load a page . Perhaps the site going through maintainance or a site upgrade and its only temporary ? ? ?
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we are not upgrading at the moment, and the site software is pre-Android and pre-Tablets and pre-Internet-phones so there is no telling what could be happening in such cases.
Bob
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Thanks mods . Anychance of finding out whats wrong ? . Its very hard to use this way . No menu . No latest posts showing (welcome page ,if you can find it ) and some latest posts missing . It takes about 20 minutes to find a specific thread or your own profile . Keeps freezing/crashing and logging in and out . . If you try to go back to 'classic'/'desktop' old veiw it just goes back to the main forum page and the whole process starts again when you click on a link. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . apart from that its alright :)
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good to see its not just me thats having the problem. it was fine till yesterday. now its unusable :( :(
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Hi,
I rely on my mobile PA (Samsung - no, not a Galaxy!) to view Rootschat when out and about, and late at night.
I just used the "normal" www.rootschat.com web addresses.
All worked smoothly and responsively, with presentation identical to what was presented on my computer. Also, no need to pedantically "Log In". Magic.
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However, something seems to have changed in the last few days. The sites URL's start off loading, but are then being forced in to a redirection - loading an "m.rootschat...." shape.
These take ages to load, then present horrible brown coloured screens.
Frequently, the phone complains that the memory has been exceeded.
There is an option to select "Classic View", but this only lasts for the current page, then reverts to the "mobile" URL redirection once more when I try to move on once more.
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This effectively renders the site unusable from my mobile.
The problem is peculiar to the rootschat web site.
Other sites remain beautifully clear, responsive and useable.
Please can you unwind the recent change that you may have made?
Else advise how to best achieve an easy life once more?!
Capt. Jock
Moderator Comment: Topics merged
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any chance of a mod moving this to technical help
it would be good to see if anyone has any ideas on how to fix it
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http ://www .rootschat .com/forum/index.php?topic=600505.new#new (Topics now merged)
have a look capt
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Thanks for that PR,
Definitely confirms it as a serious (deliterious) change that has been made to the site's top level web pages.
[Such obviously having been made without proper impact assessment (IA) & user acceptance testing (UAT). Grr!]
Interesting to see that the topic to which you pointed is hidden away under "The Lighter Side" ...
Perhaps Rootschat users need to become more expectant!
[In the IT service delivery business this issue, consistently affecting a substantial section of the user base, especially in such an across-board and immediately unexpected way, would be considered a "serious/major" problem.]
Capt. Jock
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I tried using the site with my ipad last night after reading this thread and all appears normal?
My iphone however has the issue!
see first pic with the drop down menu? I can't select my profile. If I select "back to home" at the bottom of the drop down menu I go to the welcome page, but the layout is weird. I first have a list of options (see second pic) and the list of latest posts do not have any separation. Its only when you go into a thread do you see a small separation bar.
This is using safari same as my ipad... both have the latest apple software versions.
Hope that helps if Bob wants to pass on to the background techie person. If you need any more screenshots let me know.
Jenny
ps
menu list:
Login
Register for free
Activation email?
Help
Library
Search
login
Register
Back to home
welcome screen options:
Login
Register for free
Activation email?
forum
help
More Options gives the same options as the above menu list
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Tried accessing through Opera browser and its the same :(
another ps to help whoever to resolve the issue
if you go to rootschat forum index page
this is the address I see on the iphone which is totally different to the normal one I see on my pc or ipad
http://m.rootschat.com/site/rootschat_1/default?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rootschat.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3FPHPSESSID%3D5bgdeojesiv0lvjdjh00119qv0%26action%3Dlogin2#2120
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Well at least I know it is not just me the 1st few times I came on I logged in and it still kept telling me I needed to log in until I went right to the bottom and saw classic or mobile mine was on mobile which I am using but I changed it to classic and it was fine some of us are not so lucky to have a laptop of 2 that their kids have not broken so hence I am using my mobile phone
seems janeann1966 has found the answer right at the bottom of the page (lots of scrolling!)
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Capt. Jock, I would refer you to Bob's message:
http ://www .rootschat . com/forum/index.php/topic,600505.msg4501961.html#msg4501961
(Topics now merged, see reply #8)
No changes have been made from Rootschat's end.
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I've merged two topics about this, to keep all information in one place, for the site owner to look at.
Bob
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Well at least I know it is not just me the 1st few times I came on I logged in and it still kept telling me I needed to log in until I went right to the bottom and saw classic or mobile mine was on mobile which I am using but I changed it to classic and it was fine some of us are not so lucky to have a laptop of 2 that their kids have not broken so hence I am using my mobile phone
seems janeann1966 has found the answer right at the bottom of the page (lots of scrolling!)
this just changes it for one click. as soon as you click on anything it goes straight back to mobile view. then when you change back to classic your back at the menu board again
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Hi non technical reply could it be if not browser, a hosting issue?
This is from an IT mate in my club.
Keyboard86
Phew! Cannot wait to inform Brendan " My IT mate" what a clever b****er he is!!
Keyboard86
PS I have had same problem, plus pre-predictive on this mobile reply!
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I'd wonder about cookies, simply because every other site I seem to use recently has been seeking cookie permissions anew.
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Well, I'm intrigued by it ??
Surely the cookies wouldn't be able to totally change the appearance of the whole site ?
Pels.
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Sorry Everybody!!
We've been trying a mobile version of the RootsChat site to make it more accessible to mobile devices. Unfortunately I was away in a conference when I tried some of these changes, and I didn't let anybody know I was doing them (yes, that's silly, again I'm sorry). I'm making a few mistakes along the way, and it shows by the feedback that we are getting from many of you who are using mobile devices!
I'm going to try and iron these out, but please keep the feedback coming.
Trystan
RootsChat Caretaker
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Hi All, I cannot reply using my own post as a quote, so look to see my ammendment!
Keyboard86
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Re the mobile site .... I would agree with the poster that said clicking on the Classic option only works until you click on something else and then you are back to the mobile version. Another difficulty I have found is that when it does this I then have to log in again
I'd wonder about cookies, simply because every other site I seem to use recently has been seeking cookie permissions anew.
The Cookie thing is a side issue. There was a change in the law in MAy 2011 but which is now coming into force regarding cookies and basically websites will no longer be able to place a cookie on your system without your consent.
I believe that many will still continue doing so as it is a law which will be difficult to enforce or police.
From the Information Commission website:-
Cookies or similar devices must not be used unless the subscriber or user of the relevant terminal equipment:
(a) is provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purposes of the storage of, or access to, that information; and
(b) has given his or her consent.
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Hi non technical reply could it be if not browser, a hosting issue?
This is from an IT mate in my club.
Keyboard86
Phew! Cannot wait to inform Brendan " My IT mate" what a clever b****er he is!!
Keyboard86
PS I have had same problem, plus pre-predictive on this mobile reply!
So, is the Host the problem or not!
Keyboard86
Still on predictive
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Keyboard86,
No, the problem is me trying to implement a mobile site for RootsChat (see my post above).
Trystan
RootsChat Caretaker
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Hi Trystan,
The days of "We can't be bothered working out the full multifarious repercussions of this change, so lets launch it and see who complains" are long long gone! Simply not acceptable in the 21stC.
Suggest that the management of your organisation needs to seriously address the subject of Change Control in the launch process of releases of your web site software.
[Get/study the appropriate ITIL (& PRINCE2) books.]
Your high level public interfacers are denying that any change has been made, yet you are admitting that you made one unilaterally, without due assessment, authority, notification (and availability to support?). Phew!
The Rootschat user base is world-wide.
This is a serious booboo!
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Delivery to mobile devices is a complex scenario.
Extensive work is required on the combinations of platforms, OSs, and browsers.
[Get friendly beta-testers on-board for all major changes ...
The current one would not have got out of the foundry!]
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I onced worked for a company who encouraged innovative action.
However, they recognised the dangers.
"If we don't see you making mistakes, then we reckon that you are not pushing yourself hard enough."
[N.B. Such being very distinct from "Free feel to make mistakes."!]
This was backed up by:
"Make the same mistake twice, and you are out!".
This concentrated the mind wonderfully!
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On the technical side ...
The Rootschat "classic" view was fine on my Samsung mobile.
The only minor complaint that I might have made was that it was sometimes difficult to select e.g. Page 2 of a multiple page topic.
This was due to the smallness of the icon and its closeness to alternatives.
Such was worked round by expanding to full screen scaling, then e.g. "pushing" the "1" icon off screen.
Perhaps you might consider making a helpful "mobile" mod to make these "Page" active areas have a larger extent?
[e.g. stretching proportionately across the screen, rather than being clustered closely together in the lower LH of the page ...?]
Capt. Jock
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Hi TheWhuttle
I'm trying to work out whether you are a friend of Trystan and having a dig at him or whether your post was serious.
Andy
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Hi Andy,
Serious management problem.
[An unauthorised/non-notified release was made.]
Serious technical/service problem.
[The change made was majorly deliterious,
particularly to the very sphere that it was meant to enhance.
Yuk presentation, Excrutiating to use (and sometimes unuseable).
It is still extant, even after several days of complaints.]
Suggest that you discuss it over with an adult.
Capt. Jock
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Hi Andy,
Serious management problem.
[An unauthorised/non-notified release was made.]
Serious technical/service problem.
[The change made was majorly deliterious,
particularly to the very sphere that it was meant to enhance.
Yuk presentation, Excrutiating to use (and sometimes unuseable).
It is still extant, even after several days of complaints.]
Suggest that you discuss it over with an adult.
Capt. Jock
You are aware that Trystan (along with Sarah) actually owns Rootschat.
I'll take note of your suggestion about discussing it with an adult and refrain from any further discussion with you.
Andy
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Capt. Jock, (TheWuttle)
There's not much I can comment on your postings regarding this. I've stated why the change happened (or is happening) and I apologised for it, and that we are working on ironing out the glitches. Sorry if this isn't acceptable to you.
Trystan
RootsChat Caretaker
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This has been put right now - thanks Trystan - Harlemswife
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No problem ;)
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Hi Trystan
All seems well & back to "normal" from an i-phone point of view!..phew!
Thank you!
Sarah :)
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And my e reader Kindle never had an issue throughout the entire episode so I am as always WELL satisfied with RChat
Cheers JM in NSW
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Members need to remember just how "big" Rootschat is and to try and implement something like this is not easy when you have to take into consideration every click/link a member might use.... a real nightmare!
I realised it was an inhouse error by googling mobile websites with iphones, the buck was firmly passed back to the website owners and there isn't an option to turn the search for a mobile version of a website off from the phone software.... Ok if your website is small and manageable but RC is big and the linking will need lots of testing before letting it go live.
Tristan you have my symphathies... :) perhaps a little note somewhere on the site to say you will be doing some testing on the mobile version next time might avert some of the anxious posts.
Jenny
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Thankyou site owners and mods people :)
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Hi Andy,
Serious management problem.
[An unauthorised/non-notified release was made.]
Serious technical/service problem.
[The change made was majorly deliterious,
particularly to the very sphere that it was meant to enhance.
Yuk presentation, Excrutiating to use (and sometimes unuseable).
It is still extant, even after several days of complaints.]
Suggest that you discuss it over with an adult.
Capt. Jock
Also keep in mind "Capt Jock" that Trystan, the owner of rootschat, does all of this for no payment and very little thanks and is also employed in a 'proper' job away from rootschat. The site is free for us to use and manned by volunteers, so it might pay to be mindful of this when making your comments.