Does this bother anyone else?

[Ryce]

http://i.imgur.com/vju7XmV.png

I'm not suggesting vital dev time go to recreating the forums... but who... in the hell...?

[Krashport]

Its just not made for widescreen, you could always go buy a CRT.

Also see;
http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml

[Ryce]

Yeah... I'm a web developer. There's no need for this. They have it set to 910px width and aligned to the left. At least center it...

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

To be honest, I find overly-long lines of text more difficult to follow when it comes time to go onto the next line, but to each their own I suppose.

I imagine it has a bit to do with the fixed width of the banner across the top, and everything else aligned by it.

[Clou777]

heh ive only just noticed it xD

cant be unseen...

[Okipuit]

We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future. This update will address the current left-align and restricted width layout. :)

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future.

Yes, but will they be out of beta?

[Morier]

We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future. This update will address the current left-align and restricted width layout. :)

Any plans to update the ls community site, so it shows gear that is in the game?

[Ryce]

We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future. This update will address the current left-align and restricted width layout. :)

Thanks for the update! Looking forward to the new version :)

[wildsprite]

http://i.imgur.com/vju7XmV.png

I'm not suggesting vital dev time go to recreating the forums... but who... in the hell...?

you know, it didn't really bother me till you pointed it out, thanks....lol

[Brievel]

Need to add something pretty there.

[Mirage]

We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future. This update will address the current left-align and restricted width layout. :)

Thank you.

Might I suggest adding it as an option, where users can choose between dynamic width to fill the entire browser window, and a narrower theme like we have now, except centered?

[Babekeke]

I just zoom in until the gap is gone. Makes the text much easier to read too. I always just thought that the issue was that they made the whole thing too small!

[Mirage]

Zooming in eats up all the vertical size, requiring you to scroll down constantly and stuff. It's really annoying.

[Dragoy]

Hmmm, I never really thought about that, except for when I sometimes make my browser be at the size where it's more or less even from the sides... More often it's only somewhat wider. I definitely (almost) never have any browsers full-screen size because I have too many other things going on at the same time (other browsers, games, videos, software compiling, and what have you... sometimes all at once!).

I can understand if one is annoyed by it though, and while it doesn't affect me, I am glad to read that they have plans on updating the site(s). Can only hope it wont become worse but c'est la et al.

[Alhanelem]

Honestly, I think it fits the main site well, which is left-aligned intentionally.

[FrankReynolds]

What ever happened with this? I haven't honestly looked at the code on this site, but generally speaking this is something that should take a programmer a few minutes... It's been months.

[JouriStarz]

I'm assuming it won't happen until ARR is released because their forums are also getting an update pretty soon along with the Lodestone.

[Frankbrodie]

You have a tiny monitor is all I'll say.
That blank box is 1/2 of my screen rather than the 1/3 it looks like on yours.

And no it never bothered me. ^^

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I'm not suggesting vital dev time go to recreating the forums... but who... in the hell...?I have a VERY large screen my system. Most every site has a large amount of space in it, but. Usualy their pages are centered so the space is less noticable.
We have plans to update the Official FINAL FANTASY XI forums in the near future. This update will address the current left-align and restricted width layout. :)SE's deffinition of "near future" concerns me. That aside, since this is the forums, realy the whole thread is a non-issue.

[Mirage]

Honestly, I think it fits the main site well, which is left-aligned intentionally.

It fits the main site. That does however not mean that it is as functional as it could have been. On my monitor, there is more brown-gray space than actual forums when I maximise my browser. That's a huge waste of screen space.

[OmnysValefor]

On windows:

Hold control and scroll your mouse-wheel down a few times.

As long as you don't have trouble reading, this fixes the problem.

Edit: This will not change other sites, so you're not going to be further zoomed out facebook, etc.

[Ryce]

I've since switched to Chrome and installed the StyleBot extension. A few CSS hacks, and I've got nice wide forums on my machine ^^

http://i.imgur.com/ENyeD1I.png

[Mirage]

On windows:

Hold control and scroll your mouse-wheel down a few times.

As long as you don't have trouble reading, this fixes the problem.

Edit: This will not change other sites, so you're not going to be further zoomed out facebook, etc.

That actually makes a smaller amount of text visible at the same time, which is kind of the opposite of what I wanted when I bought a large monitor. It's not a solution, not even a decent workaround.

Zooming in enough for the page to fill my window width would mean I can only see a single short post on screen at the same time. I can normally fit two.

[Alhanelem]

It fits the main site. That does however not mean that it is as functional as it could have been. On my monitor, there is more brown-gray space than actual forums when I maximise my browser. That's a huge waste of screen space.
I've been consistently asking the quesiton "who maximizes their browser?" most major websites have a fixed width by default, and the browser window doesn't need to take up the whole screen- which mine generally doesn't as it makes task switching easier for me if I'm trying to do something while simultaneously referencing a page on the internet.

[Trumpy]

i maximize everything. i find it annoying when i cant maximize something. also dislike when i maximize somethign and it doesnt make something bigger, kinda cracks me up sometimes. sometimes i click on another window underneath on accident when something isnt maximized, so i minimize that risk by maximizing the window!

[Mirage]

I've been consistently asking the quesiton "who maximizes their browser?" most major websites have a fixed width by default, and the browser window doesn't need to take up the whole screen- which mine generally doesn't as it makes task switching easier for me if I'm trying to do something while simultaneously referencing a page on the internet.
Who maximizes their browser? If you really didn't figure it out already, I do. Many forums have dynamic width forum styles.

Good for you that you don't keep it maximized "while referencing a page on the internet", but "referencing pages on the internet" is not what I do most of the day. The fewer things that can distract me from what I'm doing, the better. When you already have problems concentrating, it's not a good idea to fill the screen with even more things that aren't what you initially planned on doing.

[FrankReynolds]

I've been consistently asking the quesiton "who maximizes their browser?"

Almost anyone who has more than one monitor. I have 5 on my desk. When I play I usually have FFXI on the screen directly in front of me. The left justification means that there is a larger than necessary gap between the screen with the game on it and the area where this text is displayed.

But that's not honestly why I want them to center it. I want it centered because it's annoying that their sites are programmed like it was 1999.

[Alhanelem]

The fewer things that can distract me from what I'm doing,Well, todays PCs were built for multitasking, so multitasking is exactly what I do with them.


Almost anyone who has more than one monitor. I have 5 on my desk.I know a few people who have 2, I don't know anybody else who has 5. Lots of people still only have 1.


I want it centered because it's annoying that their sites are programmed like it was 1999. This isn't really an ancient setup, I see it all over the place even today. So there's unused space on the side of your browser. I really don't see it as a big deal.

[Dragoy]

I, too, mainly use a single monitor these days, but even if I had two or more, I am quite sure I would not have a browser covering everything. Very likely it is that for other things the space I would use.
With 5 monitors it might become more likely, if I knew where to put that many monitors in the first place!

One thing I kind of want to more or less jokingly ask is: does no one here ever use the Google search-engine or/and browse the YouTube? ^^;

I admit, I am an avid user of DuckDuckGo myself, but oft I read about rumours of such sites being quite popular indeed. Granted, I think some of them use some of the space for some previews and stuff...

Awesome.

In any case, I don't see the style as old as much as catering to a minimum resolution without providing much (any) changes for the higher. I like options, so the ability to change the behaviour should be included, but this obviously lifts the workload over things! I definitely like to customise things, which is likely one of the reasons for using one of the most customisable Linux distribution in existence, but I digress!

All in all, it fits my normal use of patterns, or patterns of use quite well, but I'd definitely like there to be more options for ebullibody! Still eager to see what they will do. If they will do. Anything, that is.

[FrankReynolds]

Well, todays PCs were built for multitasking, so multitasking is exactly what I do with them.

I know a few people who have 2, I don't know anybody else who has 5. Lots of people still only have 1.

This isn't really an ancient setup, I see it all over the place even today. So there's unused space on the side of your browser. I really don't see it as a big deal.

Every computer in my office and every person that I know who plays games on their PC has 2 monitors or a TV and a monitor. Either way, I don't really see how having the webpage would hurt you or anyone else in any way. Just about any web dev. (I assume that the people administering this site are professionals) should be able to make this change in a couple of minutes.

To recap:

* This has no negative impact on the ability to use the site.
* This modernizes the look and feel of the site.
* This has virtually no cost involved.
* This takes mere minutes to implement.
* You are not the arbiter of web design.
* You are not the arbiter of monitor placement / use / possession.
* You don't use the site in a way that would be affected one way or the other so your input is of little value to anyone.

[Babekeke]

I can't be bothered to multi-quote everyone, so my apologies:

I use a 15.5 inch widescreen monitor on my laptop. At 100% the actual font size on the screen is about 2mm high, and I'm sat at around 60-70cm from the screen (from my eyes). Maybe it's just my eyesight going in my old age, but that's just too small for me. Thankfully, the website only covers about 70% of the screen at that view (window in full screen mode). Zooming to 125% makes the text larger and the website fills almost all of the screen width. Zooming to 150% takes some of it off the screen.

Sure, I can only see 1 post at a time, and if it's a long post, only part of it. But I can only read 1 line at a time, so what does that matter?

As a reference, I can see the top of the blue banner above franks post, down to the line before his sig. His sig is hidden without scrolling down.

I get about 1.25 inches, or 3 cm of grey to the right of the website. I don't see the issue.

edit: oh and as for everyone using multi-screens? Not likely. I doubt that many people in the UK are using multi-screens. They recently introduced them at my work, but I've never seen anyone privately using more than 1. It certainly would negate the effectiveness of a laptop to require a 2nd screen lol. Though I do use a separate USB keyboard so that I can have the KB on my lap whilst sat on the sofa.

<alt> <tab> is fine.

[FrankReynolds]

I can't be bothered to multi-quote everyone, so my apologies:

I use a 15.5 inch widescreen monitor on my laptop. At 100% the actual font size on the screen is about 2mm high, and I'm sat at around 60-70cm from the screen (from my eyes). Maybe it's just my eyesight going in my old age, but that's just too small for me. Thankfully, the website only covers about 70% of the screen at that view (window in full screen mode). Zooming to 125% makes the text larger and the website fills almost all of the screen width. Zooming to 150% takes some of it off the screen.

Sure, I can only see 1 post at a time, and if it's a long post, only part of it. But I can only read 1 line at a time, so what does that matter?

As a reference, I can see the top of the blue banner above franks post, down to the line before his sig. His sig is hidden without scrolling down.

I get about 1.25 inches, or 3 cm of grey to the right of the website. I don't see the issue.

edit: oh and as for everyone using multi-screens? Not likely. I doubt that many people in the UK are using multi-screens. They recently introduced them at my work, but I've never seen anyone privately using more than 1. It certainly would negate the effectiveness of a laptop to require a 2nd screen lol. Though I do use a separate USB keyboard so that I can have the KB on my lap whilst sat on the sofa.

<alt> <tab> is fine.


The size of the screen doesn't matter as much as the resolution. On a 1080p monitor, almost half of the screen is grey. The larger the monitor, the larger that half a screen looks. On my 24" monitors at home, that means that there is almost 9 inches of empty space between the content on my game monitor and my browser monitor. More importantly, it means that I am looking at the far left edge of my screen instead of the middle. Almost every publication in print has used padding on both sides of the page to center the content for thousands of years. I'm not sure why this style of programming ever took hold on the web.

It bears repeating though: This adjustment has no adverse affect.

As for how many people have dual monitors... I have no interest in researching and providing proof that dual monitors are a popular set up beyond the fact that almost every aftermarket video card and / or laptop computer ever made has / had multiple monitor support for a reason.

[Alhanelem]

Every computer in my office and every person that I know who plays games on their PC has 2 monitors or a TV and a monitor.Well, everyone in your office and every person you know is a lot richer than I am, apparently.

And frankly, i'd upgrade just about any other component in my PC before i'd consider a second monitor.



It bears repeating though: This adjustment has no adverse affect.Not saying it does, though the way I see it, there is no adverse effect or problem caused by the way things are now, which is probably why they're slacking on it. I just don't see why people are making such a fuss about it. Fixed width is common, and I'm willing to bet the only adjustment the'yre going to make is centering it instead of left-aligning it. The main reason why sites use it is it creates a consistent appearance for all visitors for the most part regardless of whether their window is big or small, resolution is high or low, and it makes formatting easier.


I have no interest in researching and providing proof that dual monitors are a popular set up beyond the fact that almost every aftermarket video card and / or laptop computer ever made has / had multiple monitor support for a reason.To give people the option of doing so- not because everybody does it, but because there are people who do use it.

Also, there isn't anything more or less modern about fixed width. Even the most visited website in the world, google, uses a fixed width.

I was just giving my perspective on the issue, so I don't know why you felt the need to go all out to battle against me. Don't even bother responding and you'll save us both a lot of trouble.


I use a 15.5 inch widescreen monitor on my laptop. At 100% the actual font size on the screen is about 2mm high, and I'm sat at around 60-70cm from the screen (from my eyes).This can be easily fixed by increasing the font DPI in Windows, or by increasing font sizes in your browser settings.

[FrankReynolds]

And frankly, i'd upgrade just about any other component in my PC before i'd consider a second monitor.

I think most people do just that to some degree.

I upgraded my hard drives first, then I upgraded my video card to a card that I thought would run whatever I would need it to in the foreseeable future ( I didn't buy a top of the line card because I mainly play FFXI which doesn't benefit much from that). Next I did the power supply because it failed. Then I added memory. $35 for 8 gigs seems like plenty to me. At first I used to use my TV as the monitor to play my game and I would mess around on the internet, watch video, edit music / video etc. on the other screen. I eventually decided that that was over the top and got a smaller monitor for my game screen. Eventually when that rig got long ion the tooth (The cpu fan mount broke, so my cooling unit was held on with zip ties), I just built another one with similarly priced parts.

Anyone who works on multiple documents or sites at the same time benefits greatly from having two monitors. The tax compliance officer at my office has 3 monitors and makes use of all of them quite well. I've seen people who play flight simulator games with 5 monitors for an iMax like feeling. Most kids / students could benefit in the same way.

At any rate, who cares how mangy monitors people are using? It's a simple thing that makes the site easier on the eyes. FFXI is a game with lots of downtime and having a second monitor alleviates a lot of boredom.

[CyrilCade]

I've since switched to Chrome and installed the StyleBot extension. A few CSS hacks, and I've got nice wide forums on my machine ^^

http://i.imgur.com/ENyeD1I.png

For those that would like to reclaim some screen space before SE updates the forums: you can download Stylish and apply the FFXI Official Forums - Simple (http://userstyles.org/styles/87265/final-fantasy-xi-official-forums-simple) user style. This uses client-side CSS to remove the background and stretch the page to 100% of your browser window.

[FrankReynolds]

For those that would like to reclaim some screen space before SE updates the forums: you can download Stylish and apply the FFXI Official Forums - Simple (http://userstyles.org/styles/87265/final-fantasy-xi-official-forums-simple) user style. This uses client-side CSS to remove the background and stretch the page to 100% of your browser window.

Thanks! I downloaded that extension, but I never got around to messing with it. That helps a lot.

[Mirage]

Totally installed it. Thanks bro.

Just can't let this slip past though.

Well, todays PCs were built for multitasking, so multitasking is exactly what I do with them.
Yeah, and so what? My PC multitasks, that doesn't mean I have to multitask all the time too. Sure, my PC can and does do several tasks in the background, but that doesn't mean I want or need to see them happening, and definitely not all the time.