Proteus script - for BBC DNA messageboard layout adjustments & improvements
Please note: this page is a rather hurried hack of a much bigger instruction page I wrote for a previous script.
To be honest, I'd much rather be hacking code than writing help pages, so don't expect anything fancy.
The Proteus script is designed to improve the layout of the BBC DNA message boards and add various other benefits
Browsers
- This script is currently only supported for Firefox, preferably version 3.5 or higher
- Firefox is free and is dead easy to install
- Please note, you are not restricted to having just one browser on your system.. there is no problem in installing mutiple browsers..
individual users of the machine can choose to use whichever browser they prefer.. and indeed, a single user will likely use each browser for different tasks.
Also be aware that some really crappy sites from the dark ages will only work with IE, so you may need to revert to that browser on occasions anyway
- Opera and Chrome may, just may, be supported at a later date. If you're good.
Sure they'll possibly run the script as it stands but there will be bits that won't work properly yet, if at all.
So if you do try to use it under one of those browsers please don't bother us about any problems you may have. We've got enough to deal with, thanks.
Firefox
- To install Firefox go visit the Firefox front page
- For Firefox to run our script we also need something called Greasemonkey
- Greasemonkey is a Firefox extension which will allow user-defined javascripts (like ours) to be automatically run after a page (from specific sites) has loaded
- If you don't have the Greasemonkey extension already then you'll need to install it like this:
- Whilst using Firefox as your browser, go visit the greasemonkey add-on page (for convenience, open it in a new tab) then:
- Firefox 3.x.x, click on the [+ Add to Firefox] button (this should be the latest version)
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A dialog box should appear and after a few seconds the [Install now] button should become enabled. Press it to install the Greasemonkey extension
- Note: you may need to give Firefox permission to install this extension - Firefox will warn you if it doesn't have your permission - and the extension will not load
- Once you've successfully installed the Greasemonkey extension you need to shut down Firefox completely and restart it for the extension to take effect
- Under Windows or Linux: select "Exit" or "Quit" from the [File] menu or close all open browser windows and the download window if it is open
- On a Mac: quit Firefox from the [Firefox] menu
- Restart Firefox and come back to this page
- Note: you need to have Javascript enabled otherwise the script will not be able to perform all its magic
The Proteus script - an overview
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This is the user-defined script that does something useful each time a DNA message board page is loaded.
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There is just one script, Proteus, which implements several different features, not everybody will want all of the features.. some of them are handy helpers that might suit some people but not others
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All features can be used independantly of each other or in any combination.
Each feature can be enabled or disabled from a configuration panel
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To access the configuration panel, click the config link in the dark bar which should appear at the top of any messageboard page
that has been manipulated by the script
How to install (or update) the script
- Here is a link to the script: proteus.user.js
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To install the script:
- Firefox: Left-mouse-click on the link
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A dialog box will appear showing you some information about the script; click [Install] to install it. The script
will be installed with seemingly little feedback - keep an eye on the status line at the bottom - but be quick as the message comes and goes very quickly (dammit).
- Important: if, instead of displaying an install dialog box, you are invited to save the script,
then try this:
- Click [Tools]-->Greasemonkey--> and untick "Enabled"
- Click [Tools]-->Greasemonkey--> and retick "Enabled"
- and then try left-clicking on the script link again
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If all is well, you're all done. You can, if you wish, now go to the message boards to see the difference.. but you would do well (at least at some stage..
and certainly before asking a question about the script) to read the next section and the notes section.
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If, on the boards, you see no difference then something is awry, recheck these instructions carefully, if you're at a loss then ask for help in this thread
Script features
So that this page doesn't become even more unweildy there is only a brief description of each feature given here.
Some features deserve more detailed explanations and in these cases the feature name is
a clickable link that takes you to a page with more information.
Note: Some pages are empty or lack detail, I only have so much time/dedication, your best bet is to read all the release-notes for information on some features
generalSettings
a few controls for general script use
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Note: don't change the standard page chunk size unless the messageboard posts-per-page changes from
its current value of 50. This information is required for the catch-up links (and maybe other things later on, who knows).
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This section also contains a setting which configures the script to automatically check for updates on a regular basis: every 7 or 30 days
- this happens transparently and silently, your browsing will not be interrupted - unless a new version is detected, and then you just get a pop-up alert box
- it does *not* automatically update anything, all it does is to check the latest version on the site and alert you if there is a newer version available
- important: this feature is enabled by default (at 7 days), disable via the config panel it if you don't want automatic checking
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gives you a little bit of control over some links the script adds to its black bar
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allows you to classify threads so they appear in separate sections on a thread-list page
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eliminates the "bog-roll" effect, making better use of your screen
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adds bold, italic and underline formatting (i.e. *bold*, /italic/ and _underline_ as in the Howerd2 days - and rather like any other half decent messageboard)
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a few page information enhancements and controls, including in-thread [subscribe] & [unsubscribe] links
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Hides the BBC provided member/user-ids which are displayed next to the poster-name at the top of posts and replaces them with a less cluttered
version which can be edited by you to more memorable alias (complete with colours and other whizziness)
redecorate (and associated fontManager)
adjust colours, fonts and other visuals on a per-messageboard basis
threadOmatics
adds popUpPost and post-highlighting features. See release-notes for version 2.3.0 for more details
unsubscribeOmatic
Adds bulk unsubscribe feature to your "My Discussions" page
watchOmatic
your "My Discussions" page can be set to auto-refresh and indicate counts of new threads/posts in the document title (thus being visible in the tab title)
It can also be set to bubble unread posts to the top of the table
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Manipulates the BBC's "Who's Online" page and optionally adds posterId aliases
Notes
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Once the script is installed, if you find you want to temporarily disable it or to remove it completely then
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Firefox users can do so by selecting [Tools]-->"Greasemonkey"-->"Manage User Scripts", making sure the script
is highlighted in the list on the left, and check/uncheck the "[x] Enabled" checkbox at the bottom or press the [Uninstall] button as appropriate.
A much simpler, quicker way to disable the script temporarily is to click on the Greasemonkey icon at the bottom right of the browser,
when he's looking grey and sad then no Greasemonkey scripts will run, click again to make him coloured and happy looking to re-enable the script
- You will need to refresh the page you were on to see the effect of the disabling/enabling/uninstall
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This is very much a work in progress - in fact this first version of Proteus is an interim hacked version and needs a lot of tidying up as well as
some much missed features of the old script put back. We're working on it. The script will be improved and updated with the missing features as soon as time and energy permit.
Note also that the new messageboard pages are still in a state of flux and it is possible/likely that the script may suddenly stop working properly or stop working altogether.
If that happens, please no wailing, we'll probably notice it too and we'll try to fix it as soon as time and energy permit. Geeks need sleep too, you know.
Check the version numbers to see if you are on the most recent version (your current version is displayed in the dark bar of a modified page and in the [About] dialog)
To install a new version of the script just follow the same instructions as for the original script install (just the section: How to install (or update) the script)
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We are open to suggestions with the script. If there's something you think might be useful then
don't be afraid to ask and we'll see if it's possible.
Best place to ask is in this thread
which is also the ideal place to ask questions regarding the script and its use.
Authors
- Achilles Grytpype-Thynne
- studioj - jont {;¬· >···{
Version history and release notes
Proteus script (proteus.user.js)