bookmarks vs: number of posts to show per page

[MikeE3]

I've got many, many bookmarks in my browswer (Safari) that were created when my general setting for 'posts to show per page' was set the the forum default (10 per page).

If I change the posts to show to 20 or 40, then my entire history of bookmarks do not work correctly. The bookmarks were created by 1st clicking the the post# within the thread, then bookmarking it to my browser.

When I click the bookmark the link shows up briefly in the browsers URL window, then redirects to some 'other' page/post of the particular thread.

Is this an issue between ECF forum and the Safari browser?

Is this just an unfortunate quirk how the ECF forum works if the bookmark was created when the settings was 'default' then change to something else?

Is there a work-around where i can change my posts per page setting and still have my 'old' bookmarks work/link to the correct post.


Thanks for any feedback / help.

 

[corruption42]

Its a difference of where pages fall between the standards. The same effect can be seen on any vBulletin based forum when you change the default view... unfortunately, I don't think theres an easy solution.

As an example -- look at this url:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/380363-my-face-hurts-2.html#post8627221

I just randomly pulled a thread that showed multiple pages with my default -- my default is set to 40 posts per page. The first post of page #2, is post #41 -- yet the forum will be confused by the URL when someone with a default of say, 20, tries the same link. The reason it gets confused, even though the specific post is listed, is because the URL includes page number in the address (the -2 before the .html) and the portion after the # is merely a metadata indicator within the page. Since the indicator specified does not exist on the page loaded, it will automatically jump to the top of page 2 -- which for a person with 20 posts would be post #21.

Its a bit confusing, I know -- but unfortunately, the choices are either re-bookmark the sites with your default numbering, or use an alternate browser than the one you stay logged in with for browsing bookmarks. In other words -- copy the bookmarked link, then load it in say, Firefox vs Safari, and don't log into the site in Firefox -- this will keep it at the default page view, and your URL's will still be valid.

Hope that helps!

Edit: Fixing the presentation of the URL for clarity

 

[MikeE3]

Thanks corruption42. I suspected the forum (vBulletin) was working that way from my 'testing'. Nice of you to confirm my suspicion.

Not to be complaining or sniping but i spent 40 years working with computers (everything from application design to operation system design) and 'this' seems a flaw to me in the roots of vBulletin design/implementation. Seems to me it would be better to "index/use meta-data pointer to" the particular post within the thread not to a post within a page.

That way not only would my bookmarks work independent of the post per page setting - but I could reliably share a link to a post to someone else using the forum to a particular post and not be concerned if we both have the same setting for posts per page view. This explains a number of times when someone includes a link to another post and folks say it doesn't go to the expected post. Could very well be the 'poster' and the 'reader' have different 'posts per page" setting.

For the last couple weeks my work-around has been to rename the bookmark to include the post# - then if I ever use the bookmarked link and it doesn't take me to where I think it should - I can search out that particular post# at least.

Thanks again.

 

[oldsoldier]

That is a complaint that is better leveled at vBulletin. Hell even third party devs hate that and try to use thread number or straight post number when possible.

 

[MikeE3]

That is a complaint that is better leveled at vBulletin. Hell even third party devs hate that and try to use thread number or straight post number when possible.

OS - please don't get me wrong. I wasn't complaining to/at ECF. That's why I said "Not to be complaining or sniping....'this' seems a flaw to me in the roots of vBulletin."

I was just making a comment from my perspective. Sorry if you thought it was a negative comment directed at ECF or its admins.

 

[oldsoldier]

Oh I understood you, I'm just pointing out that complaining to them brings more visibility of the design flaw to them, which (hopefully) makes it get a higher spot on the todo list. All bets are off though because it seems they are more focused on vB5 and lawsuits right now.

Sent via Tapatalk - Please disregard any egregious typos

 

[tiburonfirst]

this has been a flaw within vb for as long as i can remember and vb developers don't seem to care.

it is very frustrating trying to track down a linked post that goes astray. and here's my question for sarge - couldn't '40 posts per page' be set as the default and only option on ecf?

 

[corruption42]

I'm all for a 40 per page default... but I prefer cramming more content into a single page load wherever I can

 

[MikeE3]

this has been a flaw within vb for as long as i can remember and vb developers don't seem to care.

it is very frustrating trying to track down a linked post that goes astray. and here's my question for sarge - couldn't '40 posts per page' be set as the default and only option on ecf?

Noooo! that would screw up 17 month's worth of my bookmarks