Is it possible to alter the layout of this forum (GimpChat)?

I find that the present layout where the "Recent Posts" is the main panel greeting you is sometimes overwhelming cluttered with posts about different Gimp versions and quite often with listings of code and compiles, causing requests for help, often by beginners, to drop off the main panel.

I would prefer a main portal panel layout where there are three or four categories, such as News, Help, Tutorials and Code (scripts, plug-ins and filters)

I am not complaining about the total content of the forum, I find that all the info is there and I am a regular visitor (2-4 times a day)

For example there are many forums where there is a small side panel to show "recent posts" but retain a categorised entry portal.

Cheers Wbool63

I don't know what would be the best layout but the technical stuff does seem to dominate the top slots. Your layout idea sounds pretty good Wbool63.

Could always create a shortcut to the forum of choice.

That sounds very interesting wbool. I like the idea of the side panel with the most recent posts. That way members can see what categories are active and of interest to them.
Nice idea Wbool

Would the main panel show a colored button if there are new posts I haven't read yet, like now? That is actually the feature that is most important to me, no matter what the other features would be.

I think it could be set up that way 2-ton. I have been on a couple of forums that had all the latest posts with bolded text to attract people that just want to see those but not always at the top. As wbool said they could be categorized. just a thought but he does make a very good point.

Hi Lyle , I have never thought about that and looking in my personal controls , I did not see it as an obvious option. But of course that is only a quick look. However I am not after a preferred sub-forum to greet me. I quite like knowing about other stuff too. It just seems that there is an over representation of technical entries.
A layout similar to (dare I say it) to Gimptalk with a small side panel to show abbreviated new entries, to me is a more user friendly layout.

I am concerned that we are turning away prospective new people because the simple help questions are "buried" in the clutter of technical issues and are dropped off the main portal too quickly and new people may feel overawed at the technical content and feel that the forum is not catering to simple questions. I know we answer all the "newbies" but this is not obvious to a newcomer as most likely the simple questions have been dropped off the main portal.

A simple 3 or 4 main categories portal, as seen in some other forums, would be a simple way to make the forum more user friendly to new prospects.

At least that is my opinion

You're spot on there. When I joined, it was because of people sharing their work and getting advice. I might not have bothered if I saw a load of technical stuff that didn't interest me.

In all honesty I prefer to see everything that is gathering the latest hits on any sub-forum. If its technical stuff that sounds above my head, I open it in another tab or ignore it all together. Not to hard to do.....

I don't really care which boards are the most active or getting the most hits, all I want to see is all of the boards that have posts I haven't read yet...I try to keep up with them all, not just certain subjects.