What's the time, please?

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

Hi folks,

Just a question about the date/time in the Last Post column. As far as I can determine it appears to be "Mountain Time", i.e. GMT+7 Is it possible to change that to the local time for the user (i.e. me ) or is that just a limitation of the BB software? Will the proposed new software offer that facility?

It's just that it would be nice if I could easily tell (at a glance) which threads had changed or been added since I last looked at a forum. I quite often find that I have to open up a thread and scroll to the last post to remind myself if I've read it. And since the site is rather slow at the moment (I have a 1Mb connection) that can take some time (up to 30 seconds). Thinking about that, an order of posting preference would be nice to (i.e. "last to first" or "first to last").

I expect I'm just going over well-trodden ground here but I thought I'd mention it. 'Cos I care, see.

Jules

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Hi Julian,

It is indeed Mountain Time (U.S.)

We've actually talked about the user-specified time zone thing for the new software. No final decision was made, but remember that anything we can do to make the pages served to multiple users the same, the more caching, and thus the lower the server load is. And as you may have guessed (you've seen them 503's I'm sure) this site gets hammered.

You have noticed the yellow markers that show which threads have new posts since your last session, yes?

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

Yes, I've seen the yellow markers and they're quite useful when I first log on, though they're not 100% accurate, i.e. some threads that I've already seen in their entirety are marked yellow. Strange. Of course it relies on me remembering to log off (I make a point of it now ) and during a long session, flicking between forums, the markers don't help.

Good point about the caching in the new app. A nifty JavaScript, executed on load, may solve the problem for those users who wish it.

I was thinking of offering my help with the implementation as I understand from an earlier thread that you're busy with family matters at present. However, I'd better finish my SCJD before taking on more work, but I'd be happy to help out after that.

Jules

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Of course it relies on me remembering to log off

Jules,
I never log off and it works for me. I assume that the time is based on what time my session began.

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

I'm not with you, Jeanne. If you never log off then doesn't that mean you never start a new session? The sessions never seem to expire for me without logging off. Still, the time displayed is not much help (well, unless I subtract 7 ).

As I said, I also get the yellow markers on some threads that I viewed in full in my previous session. I dunno if the login somehow takes my local time and uses that or what...

Still, I still enjoy the site so better not complain too loud, eh?

Jules

[Jim Yingst]

it appears to be "Mountain Time", i.e. GMT+7

It's currently Mountain Daylight Time, GMT-6. It's indicated at the bottom of most pages in the site.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

I'm not with you, Jeanne. If you never log off then doesn't that mean you never start a new session? The sessions never seem to expire for me without logging off. Still, the time displayed is not much help (well, unless I subtract 7 ).

Jules,
Let me try to explain that better. I don't log off because I don't like waste time logging in. You get a new session by being inactive for 30 minutes (assuming JavaRanch didn't change the defaults) or closing the browser window and opening a new window or by logging in. I'm thinking the session doesn't usually expire for you because you use the Internet so frequently

As I said, I also get the yellow markers on some threads that I viewed in full in my previous session. I dunno if the login somehow takes my local time and uses that or what...

You get this when someone started the thread after you logged in. For example:
1) You login or start a session
2) Someone creates a thread
3) You read said thread

Also if you access JavaRanch from another computer, it shows all the threads as unread.

I only have to add 2 to get the time

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

Hmmm, that's the second time Jim's picked me up for writing crap! Must pay attention. :roll: Hadn't spotted the time note before. I've just spotted the little window on the Reply page with the original thread page in it too! I've been using the Back button until now.

Anyway, Jeanne, the yellow marker thing isn't down to what you describe. Some of the threads are the ones that I've replied to myself in my previous session, not new threads. Since I started this thread I've been keeping an eye out and it only seems to be the oldest yellow-marked thread in the list that's marked incorrectly, but I'm sure there have been more previously.

I suppose the point is moot if the site is being rewritten.

Jules

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Some of the threads are the ones that I've replied to myself in my previous session, not new threads.

I didn't realize we were talking about that too. The timestamp of the thread is updated when anyone posts. So the last update of the thread occurred after your last login. (obviously since you were the one doing the posting)

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

So the last update of the thread occurred after your last login. (obviously since you were the one doing the posting)

Ha! I'm not quite that daft!

Here's the sequence of events:

Reply to someone's post

Log out

Log back in again

Notice that the thread I replied to is marked in yellow with my posting as the last one (or indeed someone else's posting that I read in my previous session.

Still a mystery.

Jules

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Jules,
It makes sense to me. One more shot at explaining what I am thinking about

Sequence of events at sample times
1) 1:00 - Log in first time - Server makes a note of this time.
2) 1:05 - Reply to someone's post
3) 1:10 - Log out
4) 1:15 - Log back in again - Server finds all threads updated since last login (1:00)
5) 1:15 - Notice that the thread I replied to is marked in yellow with my posting as the last one (or indeed someone else's posting that I read in my previous session. - Since last update was 1:05 (after 1:00), it shows as yellow.

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

OK, got it. D'uh, maybe I am that daft after all!

I was thinking that it would only highlight threads updated since my last logout, which would be nice, but that wasn't what you were saying. I suppose if your session just times out or the browser dies you might be interested in threads updated during your last session. Maybe a third colour is called for; perhaps a nice red...

Thanks for you patience. :roll:

Jules

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

Ha! Just thought of a workaround!

Logout then log back in again and log straight out again! Problem solved.

How sad is that?! :roll:

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Jules,
Cool. I'm glad that works for you.

[Marilyn de Queiroz]

or ... you can click on the My Profile link on the right at the top of the page and click on "View/Update Profile" twice. You have to click twice or it doesn't work right.

[JulianInactive KennedyInactive]

That's sounds like less of a pain, Marilyn. Thanks.