Forum Speed - A way to fix it

Ok.... this is really starting to bother me, I'm not sure how you guys/gals feel about it.

The fourms list, and forums message list pages take anywhere from 3 to 10 seconds to load, and the reason is because of the calculations being done behind the sences to tell you how many messages are unread by you.

I fear that these times will only get longer as the number of posts increase.

I would like to do something about it, but that something may mean eliminating this feature. I've noticed that other fourms don't have this feature at all, so maybe you won't miss it.

I know I like this feature, but I'm getting tired of the slow load times.

So I'd like to hear from you, the members, to give me an idea of how to handle it. Keep in mind, that choice #2 (Allow member to turn the "Messages Unread" numbers on/off during their session) is the hardest of 1 and 2 for me to accomplish.

Thanks!

Can it just tell you if there are new messages since your last visit without counting them? I personally like the feature that lets me see at a glance whether or not anyone has posted since I last looked.

The way it is set up now, whether it tells you the number or just tells you there are new posts, it would take the same amount of time.

But you gave me an idea to do what you suggest, but I'd have to rework how it figures out if there are new posts since you last message you read.

You the man!!

When I'm wrong, (sometimes) I'll admit it....

Turns out it isn't the Messages Unread numbers that are the problem.

I did some testing and found out it is the "Last Activity" info that is costing 4 - 5 seconds.

I will see what I can do to fix that, since I know people like seeing that.

On the bright side, we get to keep the Messages Unread numbers!

|UPDATED|9/4/2002 10:26:39 AM|/UPDATED|

I've made an "executive" decision!

I could not find any way to speed up the Forums List page, while keeping the "Last Activity" column.

So I have removed that column from the Forums List page.

The Last Activity column is still on the Forum Message List page, giving you the same info, but in a different spot.

I hope everyone is ok with this, as it was the best solution I could come up with.

Thanks!

Seems like a win/win to me. Good choice.


Jim O.