Chat Musings

As you are likely well aware, ZCS is testing out a new chat module. This is a NEW version of OLD chat (same company), an has a few enhancements such as sounds, and better handling of weblinks and pictures that you want to share. It also has several under-the-cover enhancements that should help make it more stable.

Just like all other technology.. tech is always marching forward. Some day (month?) soon we won't have the option but to go to the new version. We are not sure when this will happen, but we decided for now that it's better for us if we try to use the new module, while we have a window to help fix any bugs in it, before the old one is closed down.

The new format is different.. it has some advantages and some disadvantages. One thing to be aware of is that if you click on the Settings icon (looks like a gear), you can set "Compact" mode - that is closer to the old format.

Some people have commented that they can't tell who is online with the new chat. If you will look in the bottom right corner of the site, you'll see this:


This "Chat Bar" is similiar to the one in Facebook. If you click on the left icon, you will get a list of people who are still online, and have been active on the site in the last 15 minutes. If someone is signed in, but hasn't switched pages within 15 minutes, they won't be in the list.

In this same "Chat Bar", if you click on some person's avatar, you can have a private messsage session with them.. outside of the main chat room.

If you click on the Room List icon (second icon in blue) - you can see the most recent messages in the main chat room.

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I am working with the developer to see if we can get the "Who Is Online" module (left side of home page) updated to work with the new chat.. I'll report on that soon. I will also post some more "tips" in this thread over the next couple of days.

For now, I'll open this thread for ANY comments.. I'd ask that you keep it polite, but let us know of any problems or suggestions.

Oh, and by the way.. if you would like to suggest any new sounds to be added to the list.. there is room for several more sounds to be added to the current ones. It would be easiest if you could post just a a link to the sound - we've got to ensure that we don't violate any copyrights.

Loren.. that is when you're on the chat page itself...
Look at the BOTTOM RIGHT of THIS page where you're reading this message.

Far bottom right corner icon says "BC".. the discussion above is about that popup-box.

I'm sorry.. I worded something above incorrectly.
The box at the bottom of each screen shows Who is ONLINE (recently), not who is in chat.

I can agree that we need something to show who is in chat. I'll work on that.

Several people have reported seeing this:


It's now been fixed.