Preview Feature

[Canary42]

I firmly believe this feature would lessen nasty posts. (For those who've missed my previous posts explaining and extolling this feature, see below)

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The Preview Feature/facility

After putting together a post, before actually posting it, the Preview feature allows you to see the post as it will actually appear .

This has a number of advantages :-

1. Spotting typos
2. Checking links (i.e. you can click on them in the Preview screen)
3. Checking whether the italics feature works
4. Finding out if auto-censor has redacted anything
5. Last but not least giving you a chance to reflect (as recommended by Ed) before deciding whether it contravenes site rules etc.

If you are happy then "send", if not then edit or delete. I have occasionally (on Fora with this feature) decided to bin rather than publish. It stops you rushing headlong into trouble without having thought it through.

So folks, join the clamour (well, just me at present) for this feature now.

[goodgoalie]

Great idea. Would it be easy to implement tech-wise?

[bhg481]

I expect the crossword/alphapuzzle solvers would find it frustrating; they like to race to be first to answer.

[ladybirder]

Perhaps you could choose not to use it bhg.

[royfromaus]

I firmly believe this feature would lessen nasty posts.



Then you are deluded

[davebro]

I sometimes save posts to a doc file & review them later to decide whether or not to post. Usually I don't post them.

[choux]

On the other hand, Canary it could just feed an ego. But good for you for posting it, Ed will always consider sensible suggestions, I am sure.

[davebro]

another forum I use has both "preview" & "post" buttons so you do have the option

[naomi24]

Anything more than a line or two I type into a Word document and then copy and paste it into AB. That works.

[roadman]

could you not just read what you just typed rather than typing and clicking answer now without reading what you have just typed

[goodgoalie]

That would be the obvious thing to do, roadman, but it's clear that many posters on here don't bother to do it

[davebro]

//could you not just read what you just typed rather than typing and clicking answer now without reading what you have just typed//

NOOOOOOOO ! altogether too complicated :))

[youngmafbog]

//I firmly believe this feature would lessen nasty posts.//

I doubt it very much, for some it would be a great opportunity to add a bit more venom or nastiness in.

The other problem is that some of us dont have much time. Quite often I will post up and then have to go. If I am spending abit of time on AB I do as NAomi does. I have lost too many posts over the years after spending time typing them in only for AB to collapse. (Doesnt seem to happen these days though thinking about it.

Having said that, so long as it could be turned off then it could be useful.

[youngmafbog]

//but it's clear that many posters on here don't bother to do it//

See my post above. We dont all have all day to post.

[LadyCG]

What Roy said, sadly.

[Canary42]

To answer one of the doubts, you don't have to use the feature, you can post straight away (so crossword racers can relax).

[bhg481]

So long as it's optional I think it's a great idea. I would certainly use it for longish posts or posts containing links but probably opt-out for quickies.

[Canary42]

... on the other hand, say if you're a perfectionist, or a bit uncertain, you can use the feature iteratively :-

Type up post
Preview
Edit
Preview
Edit
Preview
Edit
Preview
Post (or abandon altogether of course)

[aelmpvw]

compiling my post, due to quality checks, it will arrive later today

[Canary42]

LOL