Categories display is unintuitive and doesn't make sense

achan070

Don't know if this is only for Bootstrap or is default to Vanilla, but how the category section displays threads doesn't make sense.

See pic: http://i.imgur.com/yrPoiTr.jpg

That is shown after I click the "General" category. It DOES NOT show you any of the threads under the "General" category. How are we supposed to navigate to find the threads under said category? All it shows is the most recent thread. What's the point of clicking on categories if it doesn't let you see the threads?

Any way to make it show all the threads?

whu606

In Dashboard, under Forum / Categories, check that you haven't selected

Display root categories as headings.

Separately, any chance you could phrase your questions a little less aggressively?

achan070

Yes, I don't have that option checked.

I chose to voice my discontent for this particular issue on purpose. Assuming it's working as intended and I didn't mess up something, then it's pretty silly.

R_J

@achan070 said:
Don't know if this is only for Bootstrap or is default to Vanilla, but how the category section displays threads doesn't make sense.

Wouldn't it have helped to then check first if it is your configuration or Vanilla? Even if you don't want to try this with your installation, you can still easily check it here: http://vanillaforums.org/categories/vanilla-2-1

Whenever something doesn't work the way you expect it, do the following:
1. Disable all plugins, except HtmLawed
2. Disable all applications, except for Conversations and Vanilla
3. Enable default theme (Baseline)
4. Now check if that annoyance still appears

If yes then
5. You will have to write a custom plugin or extend the design of your theme. Ask community for help.

If no then
6. reenable everything. Theme, application, plugins - one after another - and check after each step when the error first shows up. That way you can find out which theme/application/plugin is the one that doesn't work the way you like.
7. Go to the addons section of this site open the erroneous theme/application/plugin, press "Ask a question" button and write down your concern

whu606

OK.

If you choose to post that way in future, personally, I will choose not to respond.

achan070

@R_J

Ok, so then it's not supposed to be like this. Now I know.

It's not a plugins issue as I've just done a clean install on a new domain and the problem still persists. I downloaded from http://vanillaforums.org/addon/vanilla-core-2.1.5

@whu606‌

Originally I had thought this issue was normal and not a problem on my end, hence the criticism. It was justified.

peregrine

r_j and I have both given you suggestions on how to troubleshoot problems.

regarding your posts.... (the css questions in other posts and this non-css related one).

We have also given you suggestions on how to provide better info when posting questions and etiquette, Often times an image helps, but sometimes it require a look at your site, so you need to provide a link to your site to test things, if you really run into problems, or a snapshot of site with the developer tools shown in console.

I have also given you suggestions on tutorials for css and developer tools and firebug.

Grab the fishing rod, because we are running out of fish, if we don't see you attempting to use the fishing rod.

First explore the dashboard options using bittersweet or the default theme and see how things work, and then, once you understand better, explore other themes like bootstrap, after you got things squared away.
Some theme like bootstrap have different css class and id's then the standard themes, so you will need to explore css tutorials as well as firebug and/web developer tools.

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/218767/#Comment_218767

achan070

Used both Softaculous and Installatron to do clean installs, category problem still exists. Now we can rule out the problem being on my end.

I'm going to chalk this up to bad file coding in the current version, unless someone can prove otherwise.

peregrine

@achan070 said:
Used both Softaculous and Installatron to do clean installs, category problem still exists. Now we can rule out the problem being on my end.

ha!

@achan070 said:
I'm going to chalk this up to bad file coding in the current version, unless someone can prove otherwise.

you are having a bittersweet experience with the assumption that you know all configuration options,

use bittersweet theme to test.

I'm going to chalk it up to you not understanding and blaming others for yourself not understanding or experimenting and lack of css knowledge, and no attempt at learning coding or development tools.

when you click on categories

http://vanillaforums.org/categories

this is what you should see - out of the box.

you can change setting in the dashboard under home page settings.

if you want categories and links to display under categories as your home page.

choose mixed layout in the dashboard homepage option.

$Configuration['Routes']['DefaultController'] = array('categories', 'Internal'); //categories home page


$Configuration['Vanilla']['Discussions']['PerCategory'] = '5'; //change the number of threads display under each category
$Configuration['Vanilla']['Categories']['Layout'] = 'mixed';  // categories with discussion threads.
$Configuration['Vanilla']['Discussions']['Layout'] = 'modern';  // modern layout vs. table.

achan070

Jeez, it was really that simple. It didn't help that the others led me the wrong way when it was just an issue of changing an option in the dashboard. Also, couldn't you have let me known that from the get go instead of posting it only when I made a challenge to everyone to prove me wrong?

Well, regardless, you were a help once again, so thanks.

peregrine

@achan070 said: It didn't help that the others led me the wrong way when it was just an issue of changing an option in the dashboard.

I didn't know what you wanted. I assumed you had experimented. I just had a clairvoyant moment, and guessed that you might not be explaining what you really wanted, since you were pointing to the wrong page in your image.

once again you don't accept the responsibility, and foist the blame on others. but you get points for saying thank you.

@achan070 said:Well, regardless, you were a help once again, so thanks.

you are welcome. glad I could help. however.

you really need to read these links a few times, spend more time actively learning, instead of actively blaming.

lol. I'm not a mind reader (all the time, just sometimes)

http://vanillaforums.org/badge/crystal-ball

I also added these I am sure they will be useful. read them PLEASE

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/18015/how-to-ask-questions-on-the-internet

when-asking-a-question

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/25115/how-to-how-can-a-new-user-better-help-the-community-

and a few other helpful links:

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/23130/forum-post-ettikett-etiquette

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/17954/food-for-thought-forum-etiquette

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/23483/advice-for-all-those-just-starting-out-with-vanilla

troubleshooting tips: http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/20231/how-to-become-somewhat-adept-at-modifying-vanilla-

btw, all of us who answer questions, learned by experimenting and trying out all the options from the dashboard, to see the impact. I suggest you do the same, if you want to get the most out of your forum and understand its capacity to change things. you don't have to be a programmer to experiment changing options in the dashboard, and see what things do.

Your question should have been "How do I show discussion listing by category", not how do I change Category listings page.

R_J

I'm out. A guy who

a) does no research by himself at all and
b) is impolite to helpful people

is not a guy, that I want to help.