Signature line changes coming soon

[Charles L. Cotton]

Signature block size:
A few of our Moderators have pointed out that some Members have signature lines that look like billboards. They are so tall that every post takes up 3 or 4 inches even for a one line post. This is obviously a problem when people are using small monitors or smart phones to read the Forum. Plus, it simply looks bad.

We haven't set a maximum pixel height, but the Moderators will discuss it and a limit will be set in the next week or ten days. The character limit will also be reduced from 300 to something lower. If you have a large signature, then give some thoughts what you really want to keep. I have no idea how the software will treat signatures that are over the limits that will be set so it would be a good idea to see what yours is in terms of pixels and character count.

Back links to TexasCHLforum:
More and more people are including links to their websites in signature lines. Often these are links to businesses. Over the last year or so, we have made three requests that people posting links to other websites include backlinks to TexasCHLforum. Advertising on TexasCHLforum is fine (within our rules), but courtesy would seem to prompt a return favor. Unfortunately, few people have honored these requests. Effective Monday, Dec. 19th, posting a link to a commercial site in a signature line will be allowed only if a backlink to TexasCHLforum is posted on that website. If the link is to another board or discussion forum, just put the link to your signature line on that board. The backlink rule does not apply to another discussion board or blog that is noncommercial.

We realize that there may be reasons why Members cannot or do not wish to link to TexasCHLforum and that's fine; we're not offended. For example, you don't see a link to the Forum on my firm website or my wife's real estate website, but I don't include a link to them in my signature line either.

When this rule goes into effect, the Moderators will begin checking for backlinks, but this will obviously take a good bit of time. They certainly won't have time to send PMs to people violating the rule asking for compliance, so they will simply delete the links in signature lines. Please don't replace the link until you contact a Moderator and let them know you have placed a backlink. They will verify it and let you know it's okay to post the link.

Thanks,
Chas.

[Oldgringo]

Good job! Thanks.

[tbrown]

Thanks for doing this. Maybe there can be a limit on total height, so someone who includes a picture gives up some space fand can't post as much text as someone without a pic. Also it would be nice to be able to use a quote from a song, poem, speech, etc. as long as it's no more lines that the signatures where people list their entire gun collection or CHL timeline.

[Oldgringo]

Thanks for doing this. Maybe there can be a limit on total height, so someone who includes a picture gives up some space fand can't post as much text as someone without a pic. Also it would be nice to be able to use a quote from a song, poem, speech, etc. as long as it's no more lines that the signatures where people list their entire gun collection or CHL timeline.

Right! Who cares about someone's gun collection, CHL timeline, scriptural passages...or pictures of their family or pets or cars or whatever. Concealed is concealed.

[tbrown]

Right! Who cares about someone's gun collection, CHL timeline, scriptural passages...or pictures of their family or pets or cars or whatever. Concealed is concealed.

If you don't want to see them at all, that's an easy fix.
ucp.php?i=prefs&mode=view" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Oldgringo]

Right! Who cares about someone's gun collection, CHL timeline, scriptural passages...or pictures of their family or pets or cars or whatever. Concealed is concealed.

If you don't want to see them at all, that's an easy fix.
ucp.php?i=prefs&mode=view" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

nofluff.jpg

Thanks. I did not know that...either.

[speedsix]

...me, too, neither...that's better...hard for these old eyes to sort all that out sometimes...the li'l pic by the name helps me spot a poster...by the time I learn all these program secrets...the Boss'll get a new program...

[Lambda Force]

We haven't set a maximum pixel height, but the Moderators will discuss it and a limit will be set in the next week or ten days. The character limit will also be reduced from 300 to something lower. If you have a large signature, then give some thoughts what you really want to keep. I have no idea how the software will treat signatures that are over the limits that will be set so it would be a good idea to see what yours is in terms of pixels and character count.

In addition to character limits, it would be cool if the software automatically cuts off pictures in signatures if they exceed the 128x256 limit. Automatic means less work for the moderators.

[TLE2]

Any more specificity as to when "soon" is yet?