Welcome to the new Listal

After several months of testing I am pleased to release the new version of Listal today

Here are some of the changes and improvements in the new version:


1. Redesigned header, simplified from the old version

2. Instant search results when you type in the header search box

3. Mobile optimized, most pages look better when browsing with a phone or tablet

4. New add to list dialog with list search

List improvements:

5. New list note editor, use bold, italics etc without needing to know codes, upload images directly to the list note. No need to upload an image separately any more

6. Add list items directly on the view list page without needing to go to rearrange

7. Add custom list items - Create items for a list without adding a full page to the Listal database

8. List header image - Make lists look better by adding a large header image

9. New rearrange page - Better interface for rearranging lists. Ability to drag items and scroll the page, drag items to any place in any section. Collapse sections for organising lists with large numbers of items and sections.

Item page improvements:

10. Item page reporting options, report problems with a item page with a link at the bottom of the page, page also now shows who originally created the page.

11. New gallery page design with a wider layout and shows landscape orientated images better.

12. Post image link added to top of gallery page to quickly add an image

Hate to say it, but I agree, I've never warmed to it, but we have to go with what the owner wants. My logic is if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and the only thing that needed attention was the image server.

One request though, you applied a text fix for our lists to stop things bursting out of frames, can the same be done for pre text on our old lists, or do we have to dredge through them all manually?

Edit: Actually, I'm not sure that I'm bothered. I just tried editing a framed list, and when I hit save... this happened...
www.listal.com/list/musical-journey-with-freddie-mercury (fixed myself)
This is simply because all image widths are lost when you open the code.

I think as I have thought since it was first put on beta, the code changes are just too big a leap. I think we may just leave it there.

Thanks for a couple of good years or so.

This new set up sucks! We should be allowed to keep the old one as an option!

You should say specific reasons, saying 'it sucks' really isn't helpful for fixing/improving things you don't like.

Hate to say it, but I agree, I've never warmed to it, but we have to go with what the owner wants. My logic is if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and the only thing that needed attention was the image server.

You say 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have liked the original site when launched 8+ years ago, it worked but didn't have image uploads or custom list or many other the other features that people use today. The old site is the result of hundreds of changes and improvements over the years just like this new one is.

Actually, I'm not sure that I'm bothered. I just tried editing a framed list, and when I hit save... this happened...
www.listal.com/list/musical-journey-with-freddie-mercury
This is simply because all image widths are lost when you open the code.

I think the problem here is that the image tags didn't have any width specified in them, this can be fixed though.

Also defaulting to the old text editor for older lists might be an option.

The old text editor? I see 'source', but no option for the old editor, but if that is an option... I'm overjoyed, where is it please?

There would have been no width needed in the old code because the images were made to size.

Also, apologies for being somewhat snarky. Listal is about the only site we use (apart from reference points for our lists), as you probably know, we spend a ridiculous amount of our life on this site (less at the moment since projects require a lot of episode viewing too, but it's all Listal-related), we really don't want to lose this site, but it has to work for us.

How can I add hq pics now?

I'd actually like to see the old editor as an option for all lists, new included. It's simpler to edit code with, and does what we need it to. I get that the new code allows users to do more, but we have no use for linking to elsewhere, I'd hate to direct users elsewhere anyway, it could lead them anywhere if they don't keep an eye on the address bar.

Oh, and to be helpful... there seems to be an issue with the loading of profile headers, and the profile backgrounds are not staying put, they're scrolling with the page. I also think that an alert on the main page for messages might be an idea, having the alert hidden behind the icon might mean that messages go unnoticed.

I'm looking at it now on my phone (Android using Chrome as the browser) and all I can see is the left side of the old homepage (where the promoted lists are located). Same thing on my profile page, only the left side is visible.

What happened to the user rankings?

The report duplicate item page feature never works. Whenever I enter the url of the original/duplicate item that is to be kept, I get the "item not found" message.

The user ranking died because some people here thought it was not needed

Also i looks like the image server is already crashing its taking forever for pages to load and when they do half the pictures show broken thumbnails

New list note editor? I want the old one, or explain properly how to use this new one. And the letters are soo big :D My profile looks weird :D

The new list editor is raw html (source option), which is pretty straightforward, but the old one was much simpler to use, and the code needed was much less, and it was clearer to read and edit. I guess bbcode is old hat, but it does what it needs to.

Edit: Users here are used to images directing them to the listal page for that image. Images can now lead elsewhere. This in my opinion is dangerous, if only because of the habit of thinking it's all internal.

I'm trying to fix the images now

Everything looks good now Tom thanks

Tom, the mobile issue resolved. It appears all of the information is now presented in a single column.

I checked out the list rearrangeing earlier today,it is much much better! It works much more smooth,the collapse and expand works well.
I only call for a way to mark several items when rearrangeing the lists,so I can drag more than one item at a time.

I will be boycotting Listal for several weeks while things get fixed! /snark

I have no opinion as I have not done much since the changeover. I appreciate all your efforts, Tom. I have been a Listal user for nearly 5 years now. Love it.

I think the layout is ok,only that some of the site's text(not links) could be a tad smaller and that all the link fonts maybe could be in arial and black?,and spaces between pics in the galleries a bit more narrow.
But else I think it's fine,agree with the major about the crisp thing,It's not that far from old Listal.

Search results show in the search box,which is greaaat!! Makes the site feel much more accessible(if that's the right word)!

to be honest i like it quite a bit, its just a nice change it definitely gives the website a more modern look and in terms of visuals its actually more appealing, overall i think the changes will make more sense on the practical side of things than on the visual side, change is very scary to a lot of people so just give everyone some time to get accustomed to it, i definetly do not agree at all with the whole "if it aint broke dont fix it", progress is the best friend of success.

summing it up great job ;)

The font is working in Internet Explorer but not in Firefox.

Is it possible to return to the original version of Listal. This change (although, props to the amount of hard work put in) was very unexpected and seems somewhat unfair, as several users, including myself, may have preferred the original one. In all honesty, I have only checked out the beta Listal three or four times. It was never really something I connected with... That's just my opinion.

We've decided that we'll be sticking around, but we're going to clear out all of our lists, and then remake the ones we care about (episodes, chaplin, laurel & hardy) to fit the new site. We'll hold off for now though because there may be more changes as feedback comes in, and we don't want to remake lists only for fonts etc to change. It's time to use Listal as a store for information that we want to refer back to, and nothing else. Even if we botch everything now, things may change again in the future, so best to make things that won't be too impacted in the future. No frames, simplicity.

A tutorial on how to add pics to lists would REALLY be appreciated. It appears having a statement like this:

Embed this image On Listal by using this code )

is pretty pointless if I can't simply drop it into the notes!

Every time i try to resize a big image on a list as soon as i click off of it the image breaks and all its shows is a broken thumbnail.

Edit: I just switced to a different picture which i was able to resize for my list not sure what the problem was if it was just that picture or it just started to working randomly.

I think that the website is much more accessible and user friendly now, especially for the newest members, it took me some time to get accommodated to always using tags with the old one. The only thing that bothers me a bit and I know others too is the bigger layout, but that can be fixed to a certain point by using CTRL and - to shrink it, though it also shrinks lists and everything that's not weird looking. I'm sure that if this would have been the old version and the old was the new, people would've liked to stay with this one instead of switching to the one they're accustomed with now, it's just that many people don't like to change something that they consider already good enough for them, especially if they had it "mastered". Is there any feature the old site had and this one doesn't have? Aside from the images working right, which is a temporary problem.

There seems to be more cons than pros with this update. All of my lists are completely ruined and I have no clue how to recode, due to the overcomplicated method required. I was in the process of making several new lists, but all of the hard work I have put in just went down the drain because of the update. Everything is either slow or broken... Please fix this. Listal is supposed to be a democracy, as all users are entitled to their own opinions and are given equal opportunities to enjoy Listal as they please. The fact that the option to switch between beta and pre-update Listal has been taken away is unfair and I am on the edge about how much I will be using Listal in the future.

@BK50
its the servers acting up they keep popping in and out im sure its having problems adjusting to the new site

Don't like it all

It was easier for images to load properly on the old setup of the site, the new setup leaves a lot of uploaded images with broken thumbnails and when clicked on not loaded at all

What the hell happened to Listal? It looks so bad. And on my phone it looks worser. The re arranging items don't show the pictures. And even some of my lists pics don't show up. Bring back the old one. It easier to use.

Count me as someone who is thrilled to see the rankings system gone. This should never come back in my opinion. Seeing the comments in this section just pretty much confirms people added "garbage" to rack up points.

so the max image count for galleries is only 20 even though i have it set at 100 and when i try to switch it this comes up

www.listal.com/viewimage/9260073

Same here: I have most of my lists set for 20 entries at a time. On "old" Listal, you could scroll from 1-20, 21-40, etc. Now,...??

I think the list noteedit is ok ,at least when adding just a pic(haven't really tested the other options),instead of copying the usual listal code to add a pic you can now rightclick and choose copy pic,and then choose to paste the pic in the noteedit box,or just drag the pic to the box.
couldn't do that before right,or could we?

BUT!!! ...
The pictures we add to lists from listal galleries should automatically direct us to the picview when clicking it !,don't give us the option to remove that by giving us the chance to choose if we want to link the image or not!
I click the pics all the time to get the bigger version,to save the pic or to vote for it!

Anyone counting the number of servers crashes since the launch?

i don't like that in the image galleries the bottom of the images are cut off rather then showing the full image like it did on the old listal

TBH this new site sucks, can we go back to the old one...............