|
There are lots of times where someone wants to post formatted text - especially tables of information of some sort - and are unable to format it well.
Creating a [ code ][ /code ] block, much like the [ ooc ][ /ooc ] blocks, that simply makes everything inside appear in the default fixed width font for a user's chosen internet browser would be very helpful in allowing post formatting for a minimum of new code added on your end, hopefully.
Another vote here for the [code] tag, or something else that would allow verbatim output.
|
|
Another vote here for the [code] tag, or something else that would allow verbatim output.
Well, that would be good too, but I want the fixed width font, specifically. Like the font you see when typing up your post. This would allow tables to be represented clearly with spacing if you were posting tabular information. And as it's simply a font change and a way to ignore square brackets, it would hopefully be relatively simple to add.
Well I'm certainly on board with this idea. I've encountered situations where putting up a table is the best way to get a point across or where the argument is ultimately about probabilities and the posters want to show each other formula etc. but the message board makes delivery messy.
Another vote here for the [code] tag, or something else that would allow verbatim output.Well, that would be good too, but I want the fixed width font, specifically.
Yes, but presumably you also wouldn't want to have multiple spaces collapsed into one space, etc. Hence my comment about "verbatim".
(For instance, I just put 12 spaces between the words 'have' and 'multiple', but you wouldn't know by looking at my post...)
Chief Technical Officer
|
Another vote here for the [code] tag, or something else that would allow verbatim output.Well, that would be good too, but I want the fixed width font, specifically.Yes, but presumably you also wouldn't want to have multiple spaces collapsed into one space, etc. Hence my comment about "verbatim".
(For instance, I just put 12 spaces between the words 'have' and 'multiple', but you wouldn't know by looking at my post...)
Ick. The removal of multiple spaces at rendering time is part of the HTML spec. We'd have to sub in non-breaking spaces to avoid that, and that could get ugly. (And before anybody suggests the HTML <pre> tag, it may not work as you expect for all browsers.)
(And before anybody suggests the HTML <pre> tag, it may not work as you expect for all browsers.)
For which browsers does it not work?
|
Chief Technical Officer
|
(And before anybody suggests the HTML <pre> tag, it may not work as you expect for all browsers.)For which browsers does it not work?
I haven't tried to test... I'm just going by the html spec, which says:
The PRE element tells visual user agents that the enclosed text is "preformatted". When handling preformatted text, visual user agents:
- May leave white space intact.
- May render text with a fixed-pitch font.
- May disable automatic word wrap.
- Must not disable bidirectional processing.
Note "may" instead of "must" for the white space option.
Yes, but presumably you also wouldn't want to have multiple spaces collapsed into one space, etc.
(For instance, I just put 12 spaces between the words 'have' and 'multiple', but you wouldn't know by looking at my post...)
If you check some of my posts, you'll observe that there should be multiple spaces without them being removed (i.e. the "table" I put in the dumb humans thread). You do this by entering an ASCII code for the character instead of pressing space. In Windows, hold down the ALT key, and on your number pad type 0160. This will insert a space that will still show up (at least in Chrome and IE, I don't really use FF or Safari).
Example: ALT+0160 FTW ;)
Regardless, I too would like to see table support added in some fashion. Even if it's just thru the addition of tag specifying a fixed-width font. (People can always use dots to space things out if they don't want to type ASCII codes).
Example: ALT+0160 FTW ;)That's the non-breaking space I mentioned above.
It sure is. I was just pointing out how those who didn't know how to make one could if need be.
Bump.
Just wanted to say, I think it would be worth the trouble.
Tables and grids are an integral part of the hobby, and it is a constant nuisance that we can't represent these on the forums. I'm not saying we're entitled to have any such feature, but I would be very pleased to see it implemented. Probably more than any other single messageboard feature.
The old Discus forums software takes tabs from tab delimited text (or from cut and paste from a spreadsheet) and automatically converts the tabs into <TD> and <TR> pairs.
A really easy way to fake the appearance of spaces would be to simply designate a particular character (like the period) as being for spaces. Then when the code sees such a character, it simply sets its color to be the same as the background color of the table.
Even if that's too much work though, 0gre's method would be just fine.
Hundreds of messageboards have this technology.
We should take it from them...
BY FORCE IF NECESSARY
Vic,
Whitespace can easily be preserved with css. Almost all browsers will honor it as well. Just set a css property 'white-space: pre-wrap;' and it will work. Lines will still break if it hits its partent's width, but whitespace (including tabs) will be preserved. See this w3schools page on white-space for more info.
Also, since you already convert/ replace "[ url ]" and such could you not just replace "[ monospace ]" to <span style='font-family: Monospace;'>Text</span>?
-sidthesquish
If what you really want are tables, than why not request an actual [table] tag (and row, cell) instead? HTML is already set up to handle tables. Trying to fake an already-supported feature ... seems like a waste of creativity :-)
Although I quite happily grant that it's not a resource that seems in any great need of conservation from either Paizo or the posting community.
MI
|
Chief Technical Officer
|
Whitespace can easily be preserved with css.
I know, and that's likely how this request will eventually come to be implemented. But first, we'll need to revamp much of our HTML to better utilize CSS (and we'll also have to find places where we actually rely on the default behavior). In short—that's a good fix, and probably the right one, but not a quick one.
But first, we'll need to revamp much of our HTML to better utilize CSS (and we'll also have to find places where we actually rely on the default behavior).
Yeah, adding more stuff that combs through content and selectively replaces stuff is not something to be done with haste. You never know when some user is gonna put something really strange in there and screw the pooch. Those users... You never know what wacky hijinx they will get into. Something I deal with every day in my job.
But I do reckon a wholesale reevaluation of your markup is never a bad thing, and always a smashing fun time. It is certaily a good time to add something like this.
I know paizo has a dedeicated web team, I see them popping on here a bunch, but I know nothing of the front end designer to developer ratio. I personally love the site. Its simplicity really lets the content pop, but I've taken a look under the hood a few times and there are plenty of zombie goblins dancing around there that look like they havent seen the light of day since 2000, which in web years is centuries.
But yeah keep up the good work. This website rocks!
|
But first, we'll need to revamp much of our HTML to better utilize CSS (and we'll also have to find places where we actually rely on the default behavior).Yeah, adding more stuff that combs through content and selectively replaces stuff is not something to be done with haste. You never know when some user is gonna put something really strange in there and screw the pooch. Those users... You never know what wacky hijinx they will get into. Something I deal with every day in my job.
But I do reckon a wholesale reevaluation of your markup is never a bad thing, and always a smashing fun time. It is certaily a good time to add something like this.
I know paizo has a dedeicated web team, I see them popping on here a bunch, but I know nothing of the front end designer to developer ratio. I personally love the site. Its simplicity really lets the content pop, but I've taken a look under the hood a few times and there are plenty of zombie goblins dancing around there that look like they havent seen the light of day since 2000, which in web years is centuries.
But yeah keep up the good work. This website rocks!
From what I remember, the IT staff is Ross & Gary, with Vic supporting/managing, and another post being advertised. They've got to cover all actual office IT concerns, plus any maitenance need on keeping the site running & orders flowing, which understandably goes ahead of improving the site.
From what I remember, the IT staff is Ross & Gary, with Vic supporting/managing, and another post being advertised. They've got to cover all actual office IT concerns, plus any maitenance need on keeping the site running & orders flowing, which understandably goes ahead of improving the site.
Oof. Thats totally makes sense. I can totally understand that daily IT and keeping the ecommerce running means time for new developments is limited. Its a very similar position at my current job. Luckily the business stake holders get it in there head to 'redesign' every year or so. We usually pad the dev time on that and take care of all the minor (and not so minor) upgrades that have been accruing over the past year.
Also might explain the Software Developer job opportunity listed on the site. Oh that I lived in the Greater Seattle Area, or that telecommuting was an option. If I lived alone, I might be able to relocate, but moving my fiance's job too is problematic.
Rob
If what you really want are tables, than why not request an actual [table] tag (and row, cell) instead?
Because the <pre> tag would allow you to do table-like stuff (sort of), but the <table> tag wouldn't allow you to do formatted text.
Of course, having both of them would be awesome.
|
Chief Technical Officer
|
From what I remember, the IT staff is Ross & Gary, with Vic supporting/managing, and another post being advertised. They've got to cover all actual office IT concerns, plus any maitenance need on keeping the site running & orders flowing, which understandably goes ahead of improving the site.Oof. Thats totally makes sense. I can totally understand that daily IT and keeping the ecommerce running means time for new developments is limited.
We do spend a lot of time on new developments, but I'd say that maybe only ten percent of them result in something that's in any way apparent to customers.
When we do get around to more CSS-ifying, that's probably still going to be true—an awful lot of the work will be in cleaning up, optimizing, and replicating the current look and feel, and only a tiny bit of the effort will go towards actual new features at first.
When we do get around to more CSS-ifying, that's probably still going to be true—an awful lot of the work will be in cleaning up, optimizing, and replicating the current look and feel, and only a tiny bit of the effort will go towards actual new features at first.
Sounds fine to me. I only rezz'd the thread as a declaration of preference.
I am familiar with this "reality" you speak of, and I have found it to be quite vexing.
|
|
I searched to see if this request had been made in the past, and found out I made it. Surprise! Heheh.
I would just like to restate a desire for a new ([ code ]?) tag. All I would look for is the replacement of a non-fixed width font with a fixed-width font. That can be used to create tables and graphs and such. I don't care about preserving whitespace and such - I used periods or dashes or underscores as seems appropriate for the clarity of whatever point I'm trying to get across.
Might this be something that could be added as an option for posters?
Believe it or not, this is actually creeping slowly up the todo list.
That makes it sound like it belongs in a Bestiary :-O
Adding another vote of "yes please!" to the list. I have no understanding of the tech-gabble you good folks have expressed, but it sounds good. I (and some others I know) would find being able to post/create/format tables very handy.
still not implemented, i guess.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I looked at the thread title and I thought "that would be a nice feature". But now I see I already expressed that sentiment seven years ago.