Information Time for some changes

[Aviador]

@Ashley.S. our maintenance man is concerned about the number of attachments the forum is carrying and the associated work and risk backing up these files on a regular basis. We have literally thousands of attachments, 16.2k to be precise which includes media in the forum gallery. We have over 4,000 attachments that have file sizes above 1MB.

In previous efforts to reduce these files we introduced an attachment quota system where only 10 attachments can be uploaded without the need for subscribing but this on its own isn't enough and I am looking at ways to continue to provide the same level of service without reducing the pleasure of using the forum. In the meantime, I would like to ask that everyone considers if their attachment uploads are not only necessary but add value to the forum.

Please avoid the following attachment and gallery uploads

Proof you were there photos

Bottom of the aircraft steps

Airbourne wingtip photos

Blurry images

Any images that are over 3000 x 1000 pixels

Any photos uploaded to the gallery without full descriptions

It's also worth noting

Spreadsheet data can be copied into post without the need to upload large attachment files. Large attachment files will need to be removed after 12 months as we simple don't have the space to keep them all.

As ever suggestions are welcome on this.

Aviador

 

[Kevin Farnell]

It might be worth 'sticking' this to the top of the 'Latest Posts' column for a while (if possible).

Kevin

 

[Ashley.S.]

It might be worth 'sticking' this to the top of the 'Latest Posts' column for a while (if possible).

Kevin

Best we can do is make it a featured thread on the forum homepage and mark it as a sticky in this forum. The alternatives are a notice, which I am about to place

 

[Nethercote2019]

You need to speak in a way that everyone understands as to most this will seem a strange message to people who have never managed to load a picture

 

[StanMan]

Just a couple of random thoughts:
Maybe data files could be automatically deleted after a period - say 18 or 24 months and, whilst I appreciate some folks may not be familiar with compressing images for web viewing, the 3000 x 1000 pixel dimensions stated in the attachment criteria at the top of this thread are quite generous. A reduction to 800 to 1000 pixels wide should be sufficient for the purposes of this web site.
An alternative would be to consider cloud storage for data and image files that were, for example, older than 12 moths.

 

[Ashley.S.]

Having reviewed some settings, we are able to enforce a maximum image size if we so desire. We can also enforce the maximum number of attachments and maximum storage for attachments (which should currently be enforceable), however, I would need to test to see if this can be applied to the media gallery as well or not, though when I tested it last time, I don't think it worked too well...

 

[Aviador]

You need to speak in a way that everyone understands as to most this will seem a strange message to people who have never managed to load a picture

We have given step by step instructions on how up upload images plenty of times over the years. Have you looked in the help pages?

 

[Seasider]

I reduce my photos to 1020 x ? same as I do for ebay.

 

[JENNYJET]

Could photography be treated as an email attachment and not as a part of the body of the specific posting? Otherwise I can only suggest a modest charge to cover costs!

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'll try reducing the size of the screenshots that I post. I appreciate that spreadsheets can be copied & posted, however I find that my monthly statistics display better as screenshot!
Let's see how it goes when September's stats become available from the CAA.

 

[Aviador]

Over the last week I have spent hours manually deleting files. Using the guide in my post above I have removed in the region of several hundred files so far. I'm trying my best to keep what I would consider to be essential files but images and attachments that don't meet the criteria are being deleted by the oldest first. Most of the files I have removed are over 5 years old.

 

[JENNYJET]

May one ask if the amount of material on the home page impinges somewhat on resources? I understand that media has to offer a front page to draw it's audience within etc., but can this be compartmentalized?

A thought outwith my competence perhaps?

 

[Aviador]

May one ask if the amount of material on the home page impinges somewhat on resources? I understand that media has to offer a front page to draw it's audience within etc., but can this be compartmentalized?

A thought outwith my competence perhaps?

That would be bandwidth not actually disc space so not currently an assue.

 

[JENNYJET]

Duly noted Sir!

 

[Aviador]

The forum MEDIA gallery has now become an area for registered user only. Image collections will no longer be visible to non-registered members. This is because the forum is getting close to it's bandwidth allowance.

 

[Aviador]

@Ashley.S. our maintenance man is concerned about the number of attachments the forum is carrying and the associated work and risk backing up these files on a regular basis. We have literally thousands of attachments, 16.2k to be precise which includes media in the forum gallery. We have over 4,000 attachments that have file sizes above 1MB.

In previous efforts to reduce these files we introduced an attachment quota system where only 10 attachments can be uploaded without the need for subscribing but this on its own isn't enough and I am looking at ways to continue to provide the same level of service without reducing the pleasure of using the forum. In the meantime, I would like to ask that everyone considers if their attachment uploads are not only necessary but add value to the forum.

Please avoid the following attachment and gallery uploads

Proof you were there photos

Bottom of the aircraft steps

Airbourne wingtip photos

Blurry images

Any images that are over 3000 x 1000 pixels

Any photos uploaded to the gallery without full descriptions

It's also worth noting

Spreadsheet data can be copied into post without the need to upload large attachment files. Large attachment files will need to be removed after 12 months as we simple don't have the space to keep them all.

As ever suggestions are welcome on this.

Aviador

Over recent weeks a number of users have told me they have run out of attatchment space and requested more attatchments.

The attatchment limit for non-subscribers is currently set at 10, thereafter members are required to subscribe to enable more attatchments and to activate the attachment manager.

The forum does not currently have enough people taking up subscription membership to allow us to cover continuous growth of our servers and for this reason I am currently looking at different possibilities to secure the best option for our members and non-members.

I need to remind everyone that the forum Media gallery is the correct location to upload images, not as attachments within the forum. The reason for this is because attachments tend to be only viewed once where as media in the Media galley can be viewed over and over again.

Your attachments quota should only really be used for files such as a pdf document.

You will continue to be able to upload images and files but somethings will need to change. Over the next few weeks I will inform you what those changes are but I can tell you today that I have already decided the Travel Photography gallery is going to have to go. Sadly, it has never been used for what it was intended for which was to accompany travel reviews within the forum. If you have any photos in the Travel Photography gallery you would like to keep, you will need to download them before the 1 September before this is removed.

Please continue to adhere to the uploading photos etiquette I have quoted from an earlier post. If you have any questions or concerns please ask here...

 

[Aviador]

I've given the forum a tidy and tried to make quieter areas of the forum more relevant.

The Avgeek and Aviation Industry forums had lost their way so they have been merged and have become a new forum called "The Ramp"

The new forum is aimed at anybody who works at an airport or in the aviation industry and at those who share in interest in aviation.

Previous passenger forums have been renamed The Cabin and The Lounge to represent the people who the forums are aimed at. The aim here was to make the forum easier to understand and navigate.

Two of the general forums have been merged into other forums as they weren't being used.

As ever, suggestions are always welcome and if you would like to share your thoughts, please do.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I look forward to navigating my way around the updated areas.

As always, thank you for your hard word.

 

[Silvercity]

@Ashley.S. our maintenance man is concerned about the number of attachments the forum is carrying and the associated work and risk backing up these files on a regular basis. We have literally thousands of attachments, 16.2k to be precise which includes media in the forum gallery. We have over 4,000 attachments that have file sizes above 1MB.

In previous efforts to reduce these files we introduced an attachment quota system where only 10 attachments can be uploaded without the need for subscribing but this on its own isn't enough and I am looking at ways to continue to provide the same level of service without reducing the pleasure of using the forum. In the meantime, I would like to ask that everyone considers if their attachment uploads are not only necessary but add value to the forum.

Please avoid the following attachment and gallery uploads

Proof you were there photos

Bottom of the aircraft steps

Airbourne wingtip photos

Blurry images

Any images that are over 3000 x 1000 pixels

Any photos uploaded to the gallery without full descriptions

It's also worth noting

Spreadsheet data can be copied into post without the need to upload large attachment files. Large attachment files will need to be removed after 12 months as we simple don't have the space to keep them all.

As ever suggestions are welcome on this.

Aviador

Could they be deleted after say a month, generally these things are topical to the time they were posted.

 

[Aviador]

Could they be deleted after say a month, generally these things are topical to the time they were posted.

The way forward is everyone will be becoming responsible for their own attachments. When your quota is full you will need to decide which you want to delete to enable you to upload more. Those who pay a subscription will have a larger amount of storage. Those who don't will have limited storage.