Please change the inbox and PM functionality...

[Mikeski]

I generally try to just have people send me direct messages when they are looking for my input on specific issues. Not sure if it's just me but I find the PM function very limiting and cumbersome while most other aspects of this site are so great.

I just finished a detailed explanation of how I would wire somebody's audio system given the amp and speaker combination of their particular boat. After spending about 20 minutes typing it up with connection details, load calculations, and other info I hit the send function and got the dreaded log-in screen. I know that when this happens it usually means that my message is gone into into the cyberspace abyss.

It would be great if there was an autosave function build into drafts.

It would be great if I could see the original message when I reply to a PM.

It would be great if I could make in-line coments to the original message.

It would be great if I had the option to respond from my own email and have the message re-directed through Planet Nautique.

It would be great if there was a link to my inbox somewhere conveniend, I am forever searching for the inbox and rarely find it without having to go to the link in my inbox. In gmail only the first message of a particular includes the quick link.

Not sure what any of this would take from a programming standpoint.

My $0.02

Mikeski

[SkiTower]

I have also lost a long a detailed PM message due to it timing out. I believe the answer at one point is to make your computer always be logged on to the account. MY solution is to type it out in Word or something else and cut and paste within the acceptable time limits.


It would be great if there was an autosave function build into drafts.
It would be great if I could see the original message when I reply to a PM.
It would be great if I could make in-line coments to the original message.

I second all three requests.

[NautiqueJeff]

I will look into all of these things. When you log into the site, do you check the "keep me logged in" box? It sounds like you're being logged out for inactivity. We need to have some sort of inactivity timeout. Otherwise people who don't actually log out would never be logged out of the site. This includes people navigating to other sites or simply closing their browsers. Let me see what I can do about these things. I can't guarantee a fix this week or next, because all of my extra time is being spent getting ready for the live webcast for the Masters, but I will address these concerns soon.

[SkiTower]

Thanks Jeff. Maybe just change the timeout to a longer timespan? It's frustrating to spend 20 minutes on a thought out detailed email and it get lost...

[NautiqueJeff]

Yeah, I think that will be the easiest solution. I will look into that.

[Mikeski]

my computer is in for service I was on the wife's so I didn't have the box checked

[M3Fan]

In general you should never get into the habit of typing long messages into web forms. A web page is by its very nature stateless- it's not a stateful client application like MS Word. This is internet 101. If you have to write something that is long and complex and takes time to create then use Word and copy/paste into the web form in question. Lengthening the timeout burdens the server with elongated sessions and will just bug the next person who then spends 1 hour typing something up into a web form. I'd vote to leave the timeout where it is right now.

[pj]

OK, Mr. I'll just use the default template that came with my free forum software