OT: Forum Preview Tool

Jonathan Neal wrote on 2/10/2009, 2:05 AM

Hello all,

Since I've been dropping in more often I thought I would update the forum preview tool I wrote.

http://madison.thewikies.com/sonyforumpreview/

Basically, the forum preview tool gives you a preview of your post while you write it, live, as well as provide a graphical interface for using and previewing the forum's tagging options, for things like bold, italics, underline, etc. All of the major tags, including links, images, and videos are supported.

One of the new features is the special live preview bookmark that you can add to your browser. When clicked, this will instantly deploy the live preview tool here on these forums for use while you're making a new post, editing an existing post, or writing a reply. In fact, I used the live preview bookmark when I wrote this, and then again when I edited it. Enjoy!

Jonathan

How to add and use the live preview bookmark
(as seen and tested in Firefox and Internet Explorer)

1. While on my Sony Forum Preview page, right-click the link that says: Add this link to your bookmarks to deploy on the forums.

(as seen in Firefox)

(as seen in Internet Explorer)

2. When prompted, give the bookmark a name. I've named mine Forum Preview Tool.

(as seen in Firefox)

(as seen in Internet Explorer)

3. While on the Sony Creative Software Forums making a new post, editing, or replying, select the preview tool from your bookmarked favorites.

(as seen in Firefox)

(as seen in Internet Explorer)

4. If everything worked right, you should now see the live preview tools.

(before)

(after)

Enjoy.

Comments

xberk wrote on 2/11/2009, 8:55 PM

Thanks this could save some time in posting on the forum. I'll try it.

HEY Jonathan
This is terrific!!

Serena wrote on 2/11/2009, 10:36 PM

OK, its works! Thanks Jonathan

ushere wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:48 AM

oh you beauty!!!

erikd wrote on 2/12/2009, 3:02 AM

Wow! You must be really smart!!!

Thanks!

Jonathan Neal wrote on 2/12/2009, 9:57 AM

Thanks for all the kind words, but I hope this helps you all out in more ways than just text formatting. :-)

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 10:50 AM

Jonathan, I used to be able to do BOLD and ITALIC together?

Grazie

AlanC wrote on 2/12/2009, 11:56 AM

I think you still can

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 12:05 PM

no I can't

Grazie

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 12:07 PM

Well I'll be !£!"£"$ !!!

I don't SEE this in the Preview pane of the "Editor" - But here I do!! Weird?!?

Grazie

FrigidNDEditing wrote on 2/12/2009, 12:08 PM

I see - so when I click on reply I need to then click on the link that you say to bookmark. Then I can preview what I'm writing and see how it will show up.

SCS Forums FTW!

Dave

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 12:15 PM

. . but I "used" to be able to see ALL the formatting in the preview pane. Now I have the [ b ] and those other things ?!??

Grazie

Jonathan Neal wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:26 PM

Grazie, now you can bold and underline text and see both styles applied in the preview. I don't know how I missed that, thanks. :-)

rs170a wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:32 PM

Much better Jonathan.
Thanks!!

Mike

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:35 PM

Well, yes. But now I have 3 [u] codes stepping-in AND an extra Preview AND my type?? Jonathan? You alright?

"I'm worried about Jim?"

Grazie

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:38 PM

Sent email - g

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:44 PM

I meant I sent a "VEgas email"! - Me Bad!!!

G

Grazie wrote on 2/12/2009, 2:52 PM

Ah! Easy huh!

Grazie

Jonathan Neal wrote on 2/12/2009, 4:06 PM

I edited my first post to include a tutorial which explains how to add the live preview tool on these forums. I hope this helps.

Christian de Godzinsky wrote on 2/13/2009, 2:01 AM

Hi Jonathan,

This is elegant. Many thanks to YOU !!

(just had to test that it works :)

Christian

TeetimeNC wrote on 2/13/2009, 5:05 AM

Sweet!

FuTz wrote on 2/13/2009, 4:18 PM

"including links, images, and videos are supported."

..! does that mean we'll be able to show images or clips right here in the posts ?!

xberk wrote on 2/13/2009, 4:35 PM

FuTz -- nop. Just links to images, videos etc. elsewhere.

PeterWright wrote on 2/13/2009, 5:04 PM

I'm using Opera, and the Preview tool opens separately from the Reply window, and I had to copy / paste to get this in: (still easier than before)

- could that be an incompatibility with Opera?

Edit - Apparently Yes, I just tried in IE7 and it works as described there.

Porpoise1954 wrote on 2/18/2009, 5:43 AM

Hmm.. Interesting... and obviously works fine in FF

and saves having to type the codes - although touch-typists will probably still be able to do that quicker than the rest of us can take our hand away from the keyboard to locate the mouse, move the cursor to the required button and click!