Social Network - Feature Requests Go Here

About the paid member upgrade package thingy thing:

Would it be a one time payment or would it be like a yearly subscription?

And I vote members who have been active on the forum for more than 2 years get extra space (and the 2 year mark can be pushed back every year to become 3 years, then 4 etc. :cool:)

This will not be a one time fee. It would be a monthly/yearly subscription. The default space has not been figured out yet, but it will be plenty to upload midi, sibelius and finale files. Nothing is definite yet, but it is most probable that we will not give extra space to long time members. Keep in mind you will not be forced to subscribe to enjoy the features of the social network. But subscriptions to YC will have its advantages, one being you can download mp3's of others to your computer. Non-subscribers can only listen through lo-fi or hi-fi but this should not be a problem because everyone can have their own customized playlist.

I'd like to see an ''Opus folders'' feature: the ability to categorise a work as a single work even if it consists of multiple pieces/movements. Something like: Opus 10, Sonata In X Major - Dropdown menu - Mvt, 1 Mvt, 2 Mvt, 3

I think I see what you are saying. Perhaps an easier way to do this is to have some kind of "add" option next to every piece, for additional movements so they can be categorized in one group.

Slightly unrelated - can we have a mini pop-up version of the shoutbox that we can keep open, say, just to the right of our main window, to view while browsing YC at large?

YES!

Revive the floating shoutbox! One of the greatest features of YC. Ever.

So many hours wasted chatting in that wonderful sandbox-coloured window...

Back then, I actually remembered when I was having a conversation and checked back on the window... I wouldn't randomly depart a conversation due to closing the window or trying to read a thread... *reminiscent*

Wow, that sounds awesome! Bring back the floating shoutbox!

can we have a mini pop-up version of the shoutbox that we can keep open, say, just to the right of our main window, to view while browsing YC at large?

Yes, we can. :)

Check out the new Popup button on the shoutbox.

Check out the new Popup button on the shoutbox.

That's spectacular! Well done, Mike! :thumbsup:

See? Every once and a while, I have a good idea.

Now all you need to do is make it resizable, so it can be vertical, because being horizontal (outside the main window) seems bulky and space-wasting.

WOOOOO Floating shoutbox! Go Mike!

We have a pop up shout box? SWEET!:D

EDIT: is there anyway to resize it?

If the popup window is viewed vertically, the buttons go off the side of the page and the text box used to type the shout is squashed into nothing. Yes, I hear you saying, "Design a new set of controls for the popup shoutbox", but I see little need for it.

As for resizing, it shouldn't be strictly necessary. However, if it isn't displaying properly on your setup, let me know.

If that is the case, can you create some (optional) code that will send it to the top of all other windows?

Okay, I've just been reading this whole thread and I found something that troubles me greatly. There will be paid subscriptions???!!! I'm sorry, but I think making people PAY to be members is a pretty bad idea. I'm poor, and I DO have NO way of paying for subcriptions over the internet, if I had to pay to be a member here, I couldn't be a member anymore. I know there happens to be a few people on this forum that would probably end up leaving. I also think it is horrible because the reason I joined this site in the first place was because I don't have to pay to be a member. I can share my music, see other people music, have discussions, yadda yadda, all for free. If one had to pay to become a member, I'm sure this would discourage some, though too many new members to come and join. I have fun here, I really enjoy it, but I would never have come in the first place if I had to pay for it, and I'm just afraid more new people could be warded off by the bill.

Another thing: What wrong with "borrowing bandwith" off of other sites? It's the members choice to provide links to their works on other sites, isn't it? It's their accounts on eSnips and all those other sites, isn't it? Let the members themselves worry about it. I don't think YoungComposers should integrate mp3 upload, its just too... well... big and involved, esp. in bandwidth. Those members who feel it best to post an mp3 should do it just like they HAVE been doing it, using free internet storage, that's what those sites are there for in the first place, right? To store peoples' music, pictures, videos, and other stuff so they can share it. I also think it would be a good idea to encourage people too put their actual files on their own sites. They could be paying for they're own bandwidth you know, and if they are using free web hosting/space, then that's what those are for, right? Putting stuff they want to share on it. Maybe I'm just getting all hyped up here, but I should YoungComposers should do all it can to remain free. I know the site could grow with all these changes, but I think it remains to be seen how many members or would-be-members could be warded off by the subscription payments. How much would this be, anyways? And if there HAD to be paid subscriptions (which I would detest), it would be better to have them for a year, for I think a month is too short. Of course, there should always be the option between the two.

As far as the profile goes, would it be too much to ask for a setup similar to the one used on Sibeliusmusic.com? Here's an example profile on their site: (if you've already seen one, look again, you'll want a refresher)

Philip R Buttall

I love how they set it up. I don't think there should be too much customization available, but I think the actual content of the profile (like the biography, interests, ect.) should support html code in addition to the vB code. No little fields to input the information that cuts off after so many characters, we need to be able to TALK about ourselves in the profile, not fill in a few generic, best describing words. Umm, by the way, why the heck is html code disabled on the forum? So many times in a post I wanted to simply illustrate something using text and characters but I couldn't because vB code doesn't have a

 tag ??:w00t:??. If you are afraid of having people put in viruses or something like that, just use a script that takes out any script or active x content out of posts/profiles. Also, there will definately need to be a [i]links[/i] section in the profile, so we can put our personal website, profiles on other websites such as YouTube, eSnips, what-have-you... and such goodness. That would be emmensely cool.

I'm done now, I'll probably come rambling by again soon.

EDIT: If you would like help setting up the templates for the profiles, I might be able to provide some assisstance. Would this use a .css file? That would probably be the way to go, have users select the style they want, and the approprite style sheet would be applied for colours. I don't think layout should be customizable. I could help in making the various style sheets for the different colour schemes if you needed me, you would just need to send me an example and I could make bunches of different ones. I have good taste. Relatively. Just an idea. And btw, why don't you just make the popup shoutbox resizeable so everyone would keep quiet, it only ONE attribute, in ONE tag. I don't see why people ARE complaning though, I like to have the shoutbox set horizontally above my brower, so it fill the screen horizontally, but it only a few rows high. Also (I really seem to like that word), I vote to NOT have the shoutbox view at the top of every window. For one, that's a lot of code to change (I would imagine), and since everytime you go to a different page, the shoutbox would have to reload. I would think this would make for slower loading times, since the shoubox would have to load on every page. But maybe it wouldn't, the shoutbox is actually on a different server, isn't it? Also, having on every page would take up too much space, when you look at the statistics, a lot fewer people actually use the shoutbox, to others it would just be annoying and just plain THERE.

...something that troubles me greatly. There will be paid subscriptions???!!! I'm sorry, but I think making people PAY to be members is a pretty bad idea. I'm poor, and I DO have NO way of paying for subcriptions over the internet, if I had to pay to be a member here, I couldn't be a member anymore.

As far as I understand it, there will be no fee to be a member, nor for most features befitting a member. A nominal fee would be for some sort of enhanced features... i.e. extra storage space, more customization, etc...

There's no reason to fret, no one will need to leave or be forced to pay for membership.

That's my understanding anyways... Mike, care to clarify?

Most of what you said is what I have planned for the social network. We will try to arrange this so that users can use templates. No css formatting will be allowed to help keep the site looking professional and speedy. One thing that confuses me is your gripe about no html. We just don't allow html in signatures, but we do allow html within posts. The layout of the social network is to be figured out still, but it can be changed with a template. Once the coder has shown me screenshots of the layout, we can make a decision about how it should look.

No need to panic about fees. The forum and social network will be free. Paid subscriptions will add extra space. I know SoundClick offers unlimited space for free (as of now) but YC will be very different, and it would be unfair to compare us to SoundClick. Our main differences should be the ease of use of communication amongst one another (ex. the built in instant messenger, the forum, email system, notices about pieces being rated, etc), and a much more accurate and efficient way to rank music and videos in our own custom search engine. Everyone will have a set default space, but I have not decided that limit yet. Editors/Admin/Moderators possibly will have more space than a regular member. Paid members will have even more space. The paid model is necessary if YC is to add new functions, and I have a great idea for the site, but can't do it unless I obtain the capital.

Okay, that's a relief, thanks for clearing all that up for me! NOW I get it...:)

As far as the profile goes, would it be too much to ask for a setup similar to the one used on Sibeliusmusic.com? I love how they set it up. I don't think there should be too much customization available, but I think the actual content of the profile (like the biography, interests, ect.) should support html code in addition to the vB code. No little fields to input the information that cuts off after so many characters, we need to be able to TALK about ourselves in the profile, not fill in a few generic, best describing words.

I have to disagree there. I like the layout of profiles on this forum (as well as most others) because it's easy to find the information you're looking for because it keeps it basic. I'd rather be able to see when the person was last active or their MSN adress at a glance than having to search a mass of text (and considering this is a forum, a lot of it would be poorly writen). Besides, we do have profiles that do that. Have you ever clicked the profiles tab at the top of the page? Here's an example: http://www.youngcomposers.com/articles/Jonathan-Howie

Umm, by the way, why the heck is html code disabled on the forum? So many times in a post I wanted to simply illustrate something using text and characters but I couldn't because vB code doesn't have a

 tag ????. If you are afraid of having people put in viruses or something like that, just use a script that takes out any script or active x content out of posts/profiles. Also, there will definately need to be a links section in the profile, so we can put our personal website, profiles on other websites such as YouTube, eSnips, what-have-you... and such goodness. That would be emmensely cool.

There is a space for your personal website and having html disabled is actually a good thing. It means, for starters, that the look of the forum is more uniform IMO because people can't do things like using the

 tag or embedding videos. I think it also helps reduce spam. :)

... Besides, we do have profiles that do that. Have you ever clicked the profiles tab at the top of the page? Here's an example: http://www.youngcomposers.com/articles/Jonathan-Howie ..

Ooh, wow, I never saw that before! I always thought that that took you to the same profiles as when I, say, click your username on your post in a thread. This is, more. My only problem, it only displays full names on the list. We know people by user name, say, bob_the_sane, so how do you know who's who? I say the list should be organised by user name, then have their full name in parenthesis. But hey, you don't ever have to listen to me. :)

The purpose of the profiles is for your name to be found in search engines (that yc profile is the third result if you try searching for ''Jonathan Howie'' on google) so using your forum name would be kinda pointless..

Umm, by the way, why the heck is html code disabled on the forum? So many times in a post I wanted to simply illustrate something using text and characters but I couldn't because vB code doesn't have a

 tag ??:)??. If you are afraid of having people put in viruses or something like that, just use a script that takes out any script or active x content out of posts/profiles.

Just to add to what's already been said:

"Taking out any script or active content" is easily said, but almost impossible to do under all circumstances, given the virtually infinite number of ways in which Javascript and ActiveX code can be obfuscated. Not to mention the fact that users can quite easily screw up the layout by using broken HTML, and/or play any number of mischievous tricks which don't even necessarily entail scripting.

That being said, I'll go create a

 custom BB Code now.

I misunderstood your complaint about why no html is allowed. We will not allow html because most people will end up bloating the site with poor unvalidated html, which in turn will make this site very slow. Not to mention it poses a security threat, and I would rather have the YC team use their time to check for copyright infringement and perform quality control, rather than to find things wrong with the site structure. Furthermore, I want the site to look uniform and professional. Anyway, this is what the wiki is for. You can format webpages and collaborate content writing through this.

Okay, back to feature requests...

Could we have away messages? It would be very useful if you are in the middle of a conversation and you need to go away for a few minutes. Equally useful for saying "I'm working on my new piece right now..." or something so people know you're there but you might not get back immediately.

I don't know how this would be integrated, but it would be nice to have this for everything, the vBulletin, chat, and messenger.

I've lodged that with the developers, but I'd be surprised if it were to make the cut.

It certainly won't be for everything, anyway, since they won't be making feature additions to vBulletin.

:huh:

My parents will never pay for extra space. Whatever I say they'll think it is a waste of space.:)

But I want to add mp3s....:(

I have a paypal account set up at 14 years of age. All you need is a bank account.

I have a paypal account set up at 14 years of age. All you need is a bank account.

And some money to put in it...:huh:

that part's easy. :D