Toyark Revamp is LIVE!

Tony_Bacala · 03-22-2013, 10:42 AM

Toyark Update - New Front Page, Skin & More! - The Toyark - News

We'd like to introduce you to the newly renovated Toyark.com! To start, we've given the entire site a fresh coat of paint. Spaced things out a bit, changed up the sidebar to read a little easier.

We've switched up the back end of the front page areas, we are now running on a different system. So if you see any errors floating about, any broken links, etc, it's most likely due to that. We've tried to make it as seamless as possible, but there are bound to be some errors. Feel free to let us know in the forum thread (linked to this story).

In this new system, we've decided to start using a tagging method which will let us specify what each story is about in more detail. You will now see links to Company (Hasbro, Mattel, etc), Character (Batman, Iron Man, etc), Scale (3.75 Inch, 6 Inch, etc), and Sub-Line (Marvel Universe, Marvel Legends, etc). This should hopefully allow our regulars who are only into particular toy lines, styles of toys, particular characters and the like to find and browse just what they are looking for on Toyark.com. You can find this under each story in the black strip, or, from the drop down menus at the top of the site.

For those used to the Marvel, DC, Star Wars, MOTU links on the sidebar, you can now get to those threads by clicking "Forum Topics" in the drop down menu at the top of the site. These will pull up tagged threads for each topic. To get to the news areas for those topics, use the "News" drop down menu at the top of the site.

Even though it doesn't look like it, this was a major structural change on our part, so things are a little incomplete right now. We just wanted to get it live and get some feedback before moving forward. As time passes, we will tweak and adjust, maybe add some of the sidebar blocks back, etc. Just let us know what you like/don't and we will do our best!

Feel free to use this thread to let us know what you think. If you see any problems, let us know and we will try to address them ASAP.

If you have been having problems logging into the site, or staying logged in, please clear your cookies in your browser settings, and re-log-in. This should clear that up.

Enjoy!

TheLongestDay · 03-22-2013, 10:46 AM

NnNNoooOOooOooOO I dont like change!!!

In all honesty it looks great,my only gripe is the sidebars dont have boxes/lines around them which makes it a bit harder to read for me...but then I am old.

Tony_Bacala · 03-22-2013, 11:18 AM

If you were pulling Toyark.com News RSS Feeds into your various RSS readers – please be aware all urls have changed. For the technically literate, you can access the specific category feeds again by checking the source code, in the head section. For normal folks, we will have a list of feeds available soon. Until then, you can access the main feed for all toy news here: The Toyark - News

Also of note: If you have been having problems logging into the site, or staying logged in, please clear your cookies in your browser settings, and re-log-in. This should clear that up.

MegaPrime33 · 03-22-2013, 11:27 AM

Not bad. I like the new fonts.

Exodus · 03-22-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegaPrime33

Not bad. I like the new fonts.

Love the new look, just miss the side bar that was on the right side...

ludovicotek · 03-22-2013, 12:02 PM

It will take a little while to get used to, just like all the previous changes. But so far, it's pretty cool. Quick question, can you no longer access the User CP from the main page?

Tony_Bacala · 03-22-2013, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludovicotek

It will take a little while to get used to, just like all the previous changes. But so far, it's pretty cool. Quick question, can you no longer access the User CP from the main page?

Not directly, at the moment. Just PMs if you have any, and your profile page. Trying to keep all forum specific linkage, other than recent threads, sub-forums, tags, to the forum areas only.

Ravenxl7 · 03-22-2013, 12:33 PM

I like it. Looks different, but not "OMG WHAT HAVE THEY DONE!" sort of different. It's still recognizable. That said, I still very much disprove of Marvel toys getting it's own discussion...

77kustoms · 03-22-2013, 02:05 PM

Only thing I dislike is not having private messages visible when I hit the site, aside from that Kudos! Lookin good!

Crazy Jetty · 03-22-2013, 02:13 PM

Oh goodness... I'd thought my connection, or computer had screwed up and was displaying things all wrong, again. >_<

Tony_Bacala · 03-22-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77kustoms

Only thing I dislike is not having private messages visible when I hit the site, aside from that Kudos! Lookin good!

Your PM's should be available to you on the front page. They are in the sidebar area though, when viewing the main page or news areas.

If you are on a monitor with reduced size window, or a phone or small tablet - the sidebar is actually pushed down under the news. Same goes with forum. While viewing forum on smaller screens, sidebar shoots to the bottom.

Johnnyakiba · 03-22-2013, 02:59 PM

Totally fresh~! I FREAKING LOVE IT~! WOO

Optimus Neeson · 03-22-2013, 03:26 PM

There should be some sort of User CP button on the home page (or every page). As it is now, I can't access my profile unless I click on Private Messages, and then navigate from there. My username itself is not a clickable link when I'm on the home page - it only becomes clickable when I enter the forums.

Tony_Bacala · 03-22-2013, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimus Neeson

There should be some sort of User CP button on the home page (or every page). As it is now, I can't access my profile unless I click on Private Messages, and then navigate from there. My username itself is not a clickable link when I'm on the home page - it only becomes clickable when I enter the forums.

I'll try to address both later tonight.

Exodus · 03-22-2013, 07:05 PM

Awesome the sidebar is back! Love it, great job!

Now waiting on Joe to let me know how to post some news...:P

Tony_Bacala · 03-23-2013, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optimus Neeson

There should be some sort of User CP button on the home page (or every page). As it is now, I can't access my profile unless I click on Private Messages, and then navigate from there. My username itself is not a clickable link when I'm on the home page - it only becomes clickable when I enter the forums.

Username has been made clickable, can jump to your user profile page quickly.

UserCP and Subscriptions links added under private messages line.

This was done only on front page, since the front page areas and regular forums are a bit different.

And remember, if you are on a smaller screen, like phone or tablet, or have your window reduced in size on your regular computer, the sidebar with this data will be pushed to the bottom of the page.

Will be tweaking other things as well, so if you have feedback on the overall layout change, let me know. Later!

Optimus Neeson · 03-23-2013, 04:52 PM

The fixes are excellent. Thanks!

03-22-2013, 10:42 AM	#1
Tony_Bacala Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,661	Toyark Update - New Front Page, Skin & More! - The Toyark - News We'd like to introduce you to the newly renovated Toyark.com! To start, we've given the entire site a fresh coat of paint. Spaced things out a bit, changed up the sidebar to read a little easier. We've switched up the back end of the front page areas, we are now running on a different system. So if you see any errors floating about, any broken links, etc, it's most likely due to that. We've tried to make it as seamless as possible, but there are bound to be some errors. Feel free to let us know in the forum thread (linked to this story). In this new system, we've decided to start using a tagging method which will let us specify what each story is about in more detail. You will now see links to Company (Hasbro, Mattel, etc), Character (Batman, Iron Man, etc), Scale (3.75 Inch, 6 Inch, etc), and Sub-Line (Marvel Universe, Marvel Legends, etc). This should hopefully allow our regulars who are only into particular toy lines, styles of toys, particular characters and the like to find and browse just what they are looking for on Toyark.com. You can find this under each story in the black strip, or, from the drop down menus at the top of the site. For those used to the Marvel, DC, Star Wars, MOTU links on the sidebar, you can now get to those threads by clicking "Forum Topics" in the drop down menu at the top of the site. These will pull up tagged threads for each topic. To get to the news areas for those topics, use the "News" drop down menu at the top of the site. Even though it doesn't look like it, this was a major structural change on our part, so things are a little incomplete right now. We just wanted to get it live and get some feedback before moving forward. As time passes, we will tweak and adjust, maybe add some of the sidebar blocks back, etc. Just let us know what you like/don't and we will do our best! Feel free to use this thread to let us know what you think. If you see any problems, let us know and we will try to address them ASAP. If you have been having problems logging into the site, or staying logged in, please clear your cookies in your browser settings, and re-log-in. This should clear that up. Enjoy! __________________ Transformers at TFW2005.com!

03-22-2013, 10:46 AM	#2
TheLongestDay guardiangraphicdesign.com Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,164	NnNNoooOOooOooOO I dont like change!!! In all honesty it looks great,my only gripe is the sidebars dont have boxes/lines around them which makes it a bit harder to read for me...but then I am old. __________________ WANTED: Bossfight H.A.C.K.S blank figures

03-22-2013, 11:18 AM	#3
Tony_Bacala Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,661	If you were pulling Toyark.com News RSS Feeds into your various RSS readers – please be aware all urls have changed. For the technically literate, you can access the specific category feeds again by checking the source code, in the head section. For normal folks, we will have a list of feeds available soon. Until then, you can access the main feed for all toy news here: The Toyark - News Also of note: If you have been having problems logging into the site, or staying logged in, please clear your cookies in your browser settings, and re-log-in. This should clear that up. __________________ Transformers at TFW2005.com!

03-22-2013, 11:56 AM	#5
Exodus Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 8,534	Quote: Originally Posted by MegaPrime33 Not bad. I like the new fonts. Love the new look, just miss the side bar that was on the right side... Last edited by Exodus; 03-22-2013 at 07:04 PM..

03-22-2013, 12:08 PM	#7
Tony_Bacala Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7,661	Quote: Originally Posted by ludovicotek It will take a little while to get used to, just like all the previous changes. But so far, it's pretty cool. Quick question, can you no longer access the User CP from the main page? Not directly, at the moment. Just PMs if you have any, and your profile page. Trying to keep all forum specific linkage, other than recent threads, sub-forums, tags, to the forum areas only. __________________ Transformers at TFW2005.com!