How do I increase spacing between ads?

Badger · April 28th, 2010, 03:48 PM

Hi Chuck ...

Note the spacing between the ads in the attached screen.

I notice that in a lot of screens, ads tend to run together and it's sometimes hard to visualize where the description of one ends and the next starts.

How can I space them out more?

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · April 28th, 2010, 07:44 PM

Accessories - PhotoPost Classifieds

I would have to see your template because there should be spacing of the text like shown there

Seano · April 28th, 2010, 11:54 PM

I've just upgraded to vb4, updated to the latest classifieds and got the same problem.

It happens when the ad description is longer than the example you have shown, Chuck. The longer description spreads across multiple lines and then ends up taking more vertical space than the preview pic...

Are we able to limit the amount of characters shown on the ad preview? Or even remove it completely so just the title remains?

Badger · April 29th, 2010, 05:58 AM

I'd be happy with a few carriage returns between the ads themselves to open up spacing ..

Our beta testers of Classifieds say it's going to get really confusing with a lot of ads listed. Any chance of having the title appear in a larger font, or a different color for the title, just so it helps show a clearer separation between ads?

Thanks for anything that can be done ..

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · April 29th, 2010, 09:14 AM

I think I know your issue its still using in that template a style we dont want we want to use blockrow in vb4.

Try searching in showcat.php for this

Code:

Content visible to verified customers only.

replace with this

Code:

Content visible to verified customers only.

You can click the link I posted and see how it looks now

Badger · April 29th, 2010, 02:06 PM

You're not referring to showcat.tmpl are you?

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · April 29th, 2010, 02:12 PM

No I am referring to the actual showcat.php file located in the main classifieds directory

If you arent comfortable doing that you can try later today as I will most likely be posting a dot release tonight with changes I have made to correct any issues and the spacing issues in vb4.

Badger · April 29th, 2010, 02:15 PM

Ok, it was a PHP file ...

Looks much better !!!... thanks ..

Chuck, is there any way we can a subtle demarcation type dotted line (or some such thing) between two ads?

The space increase is nice helps a lot, but the way it looks for us would be exceptionally clearer if there was some kind of better graphic delineation between the end of the text of the first ad and the start of the title for the next one, or even a way of having the ad title appear in a different (bold?) type.

See how our title is actually slightly higher than the icon in front of it? (see pic)

Thanks for listening ..

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · April 29th, 2010, 04:57 PM

well if I find a clear style class that adds a line I will let you know. I am still going through the various style stuff in vb they have changed so much in the releases in the past month so its hard to really keep up. You code templates to be compatible then they change something and you have to make another change.

Seano · April 29th, 2010, 07:34 PM

Thanks Chuck, it's an improvement. I don't have any screenshots on how my classifieds used to look on 3.8, but I'm fairly sure you could see all the table borders around the ads, columns etc. I am not sure why mine don't display anymore, as I think they would help a lot to make the ads look clearer.

My theme is stock vb4 with only minor colour changes. I also think a way to reduce the amount of preview text would be good too.

Chuck S · April 29th, 2010, 08:25 PM

well if you look at the default vb style you see there is no real lines between rows in blocks etc which is alot of the issue trying to find style classes that work

Badger · April 30th, 2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck S

well if I find a clear style class that adds a line I will let you know.

Thanks Chuck ..

Even a prefix/suffix field for inputting an HTML code for the Ad Title that we could use to create a BOLD or color highlighted title against our background, would also help a lot with establishing the demarcation points between ads ...

Regards,
Doug