The new format for HRhero.com
System
5,885 Posts
I was out sick for a couple of days, and it's taken me most of today to catch up on the discussion about the redesign of HRhero.com. (:| Let me explain what is - and isn't - going on. This may be more than you want to know, but maybe not.
Several of us at HRhero.com have been working on the redesign for a while. Our focus was NOT the Employers Forum but the hundreds of other pages on the website. The changes that occurred to the Forum were incidental and, in some cases, accidental.
You see, every website has a master set of coding and programming that determines how all of its pages look. In addition, Forum pages have their own set of complex codes. (To see for yourself, go up to the menu bar on Internet Explorer, click on "View," then click on "Source." You'll see a bunch of mumbo-jumbo that's the coding for the web page you're looking at.) x:-/
When we changed the master coding for the redesign, it had some unexpected effects #-o on the software that runs Employers Forum. As you told us about glitches, our technical folks (Jim Robb, Brad Forrister, and Brian Holaway) tried to fix them as fast as they could.
I think they fixed most of the problems and are working on the rest. Please be patient. If you still see any glitches next week, let us know.
While we welcome your opinions about the website, please don't make personal attacks on others, whether they're HRhero.com staff or Forumites who disagree with you. I had to delete a couple of inappropriate posts today and several others in recent weeks. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
For the record, here's an update on a bunch of glitches:
- The text of messages look brown: It's black, really. But it's a thin font, which makes it look brown on some computers.
- Messages are in small type or change colors: Mostly fixed.
- Links look funny: We changed them to be blue if you haven't clicked on it, brownish-greenish if you have.
- Who's that lady on the masthead: That's not a photograph - it's a tiny mirror. x:o
- The blue menu bar overlaps other stuff: We fixed most of these glitches and are looking at the rest of the issues.
- Emotion icons: Fixed.
- About that lady on the masthead.... OK, it's not a mirror. It's just a stock photo. No one we know.
- I have to log in when I didn't used to: Fixed.
James Sokolowski
HRhero.com
Several of us at HRhero.com have been working on the redesign for a while. Our focus was NOT the Employers Forum but the hundreds of other pages on the website. The changes that occurred to the Forum were incidental and, in some cases, accidental.
You see, every website has a master set of coding and programming that determines how all of its pages look. In addition, Forum pages have their own set of complex codes. (To see for yourself, go up to the menu bar on Internet Explorer, click on "View," then click on "Source." You'll see a bunch of mumbo-jumbo that's the coding for the web page you're looking at.) x:-/
When we changed the master coding for the redesign, it had some unexpected effects #-o on the software that runs Employers Forum. As you told us about glitches, our technical folks (Jim Robb, Brad Forrister, and Brian Holaway) tried to fix them as fast as they could.
I think they fixed most of the problems and are working on the rest. Please be patient. If you still see any glitches next week, let us know.
While we welcome your opinions about the website, please don't make personal attacks on others, whether they're HRhero.com staff or Forumites who disagree with you. I had to delete a couple of inappropriate posts today and several others in recent weeks. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
For the record, here's an update on a bunch of glitches:
- The text of messages look brown: It's black, really. But it's a thin font, which makes it look brown on some computers.
- Messages are in small type or change colors: Mostly fixed.
- Links look funny: We changed them to be blue if you haven't clicked on it, brownish-greenish if you have.
- Who's that lady on the masthead: That's not a photograph - it's a tiny mirror. x:o
- The blue menu bar overlaps other stuff: We fixed most of these glitches and are looking at the rest of the issues.
- Emotion icons: Fixed.
- About that lady on the masthead.... OK, it's not a mirror. It's just a stock photo. No one we know.
- I have to log in when I didn't used to: Fixed.
James Sokolowski
HRhero.com
Comments
Not understading why the changes were being made and not having any communication regarding those changes was part of the issue. We all understand the importance of communication within our workplaces. We learn these lessons the hard way when we have to deal with staff who are upset and don't understand what is happening when big changes hit their lives.
We often chastise one another in what can be viewed as a harsh manner. Particularly when one is on the receiving end, but for the most part our intentions are good, if not always noble.
Thanks again and bear with us. We value the forum.
P.s. The voices in my head are telling me to use the 'we' language, I would never advocate speaking for others.
As for your sense of ownership of the Forum - that's a good thing. From Day 1, we wanted the Forum to grow into a real community, and it has. In the big picture, having a bunch of complaints is a lot better than apathy.
And you'll notice that I put some FAQs about the design on the main page of the website, [url]www.HRhero.com[/url] . (Thanks for the idea for the headline, Paul!)
James Sokolowski
HRhero.com
On a personal basis, I had more laughs from the other forumites because of the changes. Now, can you do something about that lady. x;-)
Oh, you are not allowed to get sick anymore. Ya hear??
Thanks for letting us know the situation and that you are working on fixing problems.
I am an addict of this forum and I believe I went into severe withdrawal.
You could still get rid of the lady and the yellow banner please, pretty please?. Just a suggestion, no offense, really, that's all.
Thanks for the update!
>yellow banner please, pretty please?. Just a
>suggestion, no offense, really, that's all.
But please, James, by all that is sacred do NOT replace her with a picture of Don D!!!
For the really big posts, I agree with another suggestion made by someone else - a "next post" button would be nice to save from scrolling up and down. x:-)
Brad Forrister
Director of Publishing
M. Lee Smith Publishers
[font size="5"][b]Here's the regular message font, really big and bold.[/b][/font]
[font color="990000"]This is brown.[/font]
This is the regular color of messages, which looks black when it's next to brown. Then again, I'm getting new glasses.
James Sokolowski
HRhero.com
Brad Forrister
Director of Publishing
M. Lee Smith Publishers