Site Updates

expanda

Site Founder
Staff member
Dec 22, 2009
3,892
1,961
113
43
Western, Sydney....
www.expandasdownunder.com
Hi everyone,

The site over the next few weeks will be going through a significant overhaul.

This is -

A) A public service announcement that it is coming

And -

B) An opportunity for you all to understand that it is coming and let us know what you all want / need

So with that in mind I would like to ask for any feedback about things you like currently on the site or would like to see in the future?

That includes things like -
  • Colour scheme of the site or any graphical / interface changes
  • Features you would like introduced
  • What you like currently
  • What you don't like currently (about the sites behaviour predominantly)
Can't promise anything but we will try our best.

I know look / feel can always can be a sticking point.

We have always tried to keep the site consistent with Jayco colour schemes i.e black checker plate / green font to match the stickers colour.

We are a little bit behind in this front with the font but the aim is to stay consistent with this design thinking in mind moving forward.

Some other things to expect -

  1. Different look / feel of the site
  2. New banner / logo
  3. Re written mobi site experience
  4. New merchandise (lots of problems with this in the past and we will solve this finally)
  5. Deeper integration with the media gallery
  6. Completely re written backend so the site will offer a variety of under the hood options to better edit / post and create content overall
  7. Improved ability to dive into the new topics being posted
  8. Enhanced messaging system
Overall this will setup us for the future and some other exciting changes not far behind this change prior to Xmas.

One final note; I know it has been asked before to allow a test site or similar when we go through major changes.

Unfortunately it's technically just not possible to provide a beta site as a complete public test to the forum as it's technically just unfeasible.

That said if there is a few keen people who really feel passionate about the design of the site please start a conversation with me and I'll see what can be done.

But this will be a fast moving upgrade as it's such a significant upgrade the longer it's left the more risk we are exposed to.

Thanks everyone and bring it on!!!
 

Drover

Well-Known Member
Nov 7, 2013
12,723
19,450
113
QLD
Roger, Dodger look forward to seeing what happens.......................have no dramas with this set up in fact I'm still finding out things since the last upgrade.................................
Currently happy as I can jump on have a look and move around quite freely, colour is good, maybe an improved search regime as the current one does seem to be clunky but thats not uncommon........
 
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bigcol

Well-Known Member
Nov 22, 2012
6,814
10,164
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Swan Valley Perth
more than happy with current format and colours

dont have any significant complaints - apart from the "Search"

you gotta do
what ya gotta do
 
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straydingo

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2011
1,137
645
113
Melbourne
Content rather than design (which is all good);
A new section of "suggested repairers/servicers etc"?
No bagging the dodgy ones, to avoid the libel suits - just peoples' positive experience with company X Y or Z to repair or modify stuff.
Not all of us are hands on people and we might need a little help from time to time.;)
 
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Bellbirdweb

Well-Known Member
Jan 24, 2014
1,921
2,746
113
Sydney
I’d like to see an FAQ section somewhere.

Many of the newbie questions that get asked have all been answered 100’s of times before, so rather than trying to find the appropriate threads, it may be worthwhile having specific FAQ categories.

Something like fridges, solar, weights and loading, electrics etc.

Also, the search really sucks on the current site, particularly when using an iPhone
 

expanda

Site Founder
Staff member
Dec 22, 2009
3,892
1,961
113
43
Western, Sydney....
www.expandasdownunder.com
Thanks for all the suggestions.

The site will be upgraded over the next few days and will be down for an hour or two.

Search is pretty consistent there is a change we can make to improve this but it's a big change so it will need to be done after the upgrade.

I'll keep you posted but aiming for January for search improvements.
 

expanda

Site Founder
Staff member
Dec 22, 2009
3,892
1,961
113
43
Western, Sydney....
www.expandasdownunder.com
I liked it how it was not being a tech head will take me ages to get used to it

Thanks for the support bluey :oops: I think?

You will find that everything you used before is still there as it was.

We have not changed anything from the core and I mean that all the forum boards are there as they where and you can post read etc as you were.

So day to day use should not be affected.

But we have introduced new features on top of this should you wish to branch out.

Some things to highlight -

1) Whats the new, this hand little icon is all over the site and gives you access to everything you really need at a glance. Bookmark it today!

http://expandasdownunder.com/whats-new/

2) Post new thread the big green button is all over the site and allows you to post into a forum with one click

3) Enhanced polls

The biggest change to a user though is the design and this should make it easier to use on a mobile device and desktop. The even greater change is what is under the hood. The creators of the software have been working on this update for 3 years and I have been following / testing it for over a year. It really is huge advancement but whilst under the hood it will unlock many new features as it free developers up. Things that would have taken months to develop we wanted to do in the past will now take days and this is a huge cost saving in development time.

We have another big change coming in the me year so you will see more about this.

It allows provides us with a band logo which will unlock a few thimgs we have really struggled with.

All that said I am here to support as change is change so please ask any questions you have remember no question is a silly question.
 
Last edited:
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Bluey

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2014
2,651
3,817
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Australia
I carnt thank you enough for running this site and what you do you have brought so many people together and made new found friends all because of you and helped so many with answers to there questions form our helpfull members
Make that green thing smallar ????
Wheres my stickers you where going to send me ??? I type a lot and dont seem to have same space going over what i type with arrows when i move page with finger and green thing
Your one of the greats top job 5 stars to you without you we all wouldnt know each other i would love so much to meet so many people on here but typeing to them and being in contact with them is the best untill i get the chance like when @Drover meets me at red rock or @big col drives over from perth thank you to all for just being there
 

expanda

Site Founder
Staff member
Dec 22, 2009
3,892
1,961
113
43
Western, Sydney....
www.expandasdownunder.com
I carnt thank you enough for running this site and what you do you have brought so many people together and made new found friends all because of you and helped so many with answers to there questions form our helpfull members
Make that green thing smallar ????
Wheres my stickers you where going to send me ??? I type a lot and dont seem to have same space going over what i type with arrows when i move page with finger and green thing
Your one of the greats top job 5 stars to you without you we all wouldnt know each other i would love so much to meet so many people on here but typeing to them and being in contact with them is the best untill i get the chance like when @Drover meets me at red rock or @big col drives over from perth thank you to all for just being there

I have something better for you than stickers ill make sure to send it January once I get stock of the new merchandise!

Yes agreed the big green button can be annoying ill see what I can do!
 
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Bluey

Well-Known Member
Mar 31, 2014
2,651
3,817
113
Australia
I will have to ask the misses about this bookmark thingy this tech stuff can be very helpfull but if your not so good at it your left in the dust now days
 
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