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Potential change alert: should we make bolding, underlining, links and smileys easier? And what of spellcheck?

111 replies

Tech · 14/07/2010 17:23

Hello all, Following on from the recent discussions on bolding, underlining, links etc, we are thinking of changing the "add a message" box on talk to have a small toolbar above it, a bit like in a word processor. This would have buttons for bold, underline and strikeout that you could use instead of typing ^, * and its mates. The smileys would also be on buttons, and we'd include a link button. If you wanted to add a link you could just click the button and paste in the URL from the other page. You'd see the effects on the text as you were entering it, kind of like a live preview.

Depending how we implement it, it may also support a spelling checker. We'd add a custom dictionary so it recognized mumsnet-isms and didn't complain about them.

So, if we did that, would you like it, love it, hate it? We'd keep the ability to use the manual codes in the text - partly because if you are on a mobile device you might not have the buttons and might have no other option.

So whaddaya reckon? Welcome enhancement or latest regrettable step in an inexorable process of disintegration?

Ta, Tech

OP posts:
maryz · 14/07/2010 18:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeenBeta · 14/07/2010 18:43

YES!

Absolutley. This site is brilliant many ways but technically it is light years behind other forums in terms of spell check, editing after a post is made, range of smileys available, etc.

I dont want jazy colours etc but making a post a bit more like word processing would be great.

Any chance we could have avatars too so we have a pictoral identity?

JackieNo · 14/07/2010 18:44

Yes to bold, underline etc. Don't care about spellcheck. I still do links the old way , and would still like to be able to type the smileys too.

RustyBear · 14/07/2010 18:48

Retiredgoth - my iPhone/iPad don't autocorrect fucking - presumably I've used it often enough for my phone to recognise it!

It also changed 'WTD' to 'WTF'.

Oh, and Boden becomes 'bodensee' for me, not Biden.

HotSprocket · 14/07/2010 18:52

Sounds better.

Would the spellchecker be annoying about typing usernames though? I suppose it's probably not done enough to be that bad.

TrillianAstra · 14/07/2010 18:52

Editing is BAD. No editing after posting. No no no.

bunjies · 14/07/2010 19:01

Yep, good idea. I use another forum that has them and it is much easier to use.

Tech · 14/07/2010 19:07

Hi, just to clarify, there's no suggestion we'll allow editing after posting. I think different text colours are off the menu as well. We are really only looking at the things you can do now, but making them a bit easier.

OP posts:
netbook · 14/07/2010 19:33

rather than making changes to the main site which most posters are happy with (there's a spell checker in chrome already) Can't we have the mobile app that has been talked about for months and months please?

Even a text only version would make life easier . There much be good portion of us that use mn on a mobile device of one sort or another.

Please???????

Quality · 14/07/2010 19:42

No, definately no editing after posting, would make trolling a nightmare, and no coloured typing! WTF would you need colours?

maryz · 14/07/2010 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Littlefish · 14/07/2010 20:01

Yes, yes, yes to a spellchecker!

Tech · 14/07/2010 20:04

Hi netbook, we working on the mobile version currently. As a result we are making changes behind the scenes which present an opportunity to enhance things on the main site as well. So we may as well do both - one isn't delaying the other.

OP posts:
netbook · 14/07/2010 20:13

Thanks for the reply, just being impatient.

SanctiMoanyArse · 14/07/2010 20:34

I don't use iPhone apps (I don't have an iPhone, would be weird if I did PMSL) but don't have a spellchecker on my MN / PC. I WANT one and if I don't get one then nobody is allowed to bitch about my typing ever again d'ya hear?

KristinaM · 14/07/2010 20:35

yes please

IMoveTheStars · 14/07/2010 20:36

Yes yes yes yes yes!!!

this will stop me typing things like [ wink ] and [ grin ] on FB/MSN and then have people wondering why I'm weird/outing myself as an MNer.

so thank you

hocuspontas · 14/07/2010 20:41

But how would we recognise Cod?

SanctiMoanyArse · 14/07/2010 20:46

Oh I do that Jared

But not as embarassing as when I do [ wank ] or [ bush ]

CMOTdibbler · 14/07/2010 20:48

That would be great. Def no avatars, coloured text, extra emoticons though

southeastastra · 14/07/2010 20:50

mn will then be full of people bolding italicing strikingout and underlining willy nilly and make the posts look really untidy

IMoveTheStars · 14/07/2010 20:57

I am not a toad. It's Jareth

expatinscotland · 14/07/2010 21:02

No to spellchecker.

NO to editing or a quoting function.

NO to coloured typing.

SanctiMoanyArse · 14/07/2010 21:03

OK I am so glad you said that Jareth

DH wanted ds1 to be called Jared and I said no, people would think he was Toadie

DS's friend IS called Jared and nobody ever says that

But you proved me right. YAY!

IMoveTheStars · 14/07/2010 21:06

why didn't my bolding work. I blame toads.

Sancti - I can't hear that name without thinking Rebecchi (sp?) on the end. It's the only flaw with my username

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