Stylesheet tweaks for visited links
February 7, 2008 3:46 pm StoriesonlineI’ve made an experimental change to the storiesonline’s listings pages stylesheet that causes check marks to appear next to visited links.
The reason for this change is to help those with color blindness who are unable to see the difference in color between visited and unvisited links.
There is no functional difference from before, and since this is a stylesheet thing, it means that it depends on the browser and the history setting of the browser.
Let me know what you think about it.
February 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I think that’s great!
February 7th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I am one of those color blind people. I did not know that their was a difference between visted and unvisted.
Thanks now I know what I have been Missing
February 7th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I would actually prefer to disable the visited / unvisited change completely - for SOL it adds little value for me. Great idea for some though. Can this be a preference?
February 7th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
The implementation is too complicated to make it optional. It’s either on or off for everybody.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Neat idea to make things easier. I’ve got only a little color blindness but on some background colors the link color change doesn’t show well.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Very cool. I like seeing the visited links more clearly — especially on the updates page. This way I can see at a glance those stories I’ve started!
Thanks!
February 7th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Fantastic,
With some more tweak and Javascript It is possible to show an special mark “updated since last visit” using the same browser history basis.
For avid reader which get lost in the Stories updated in the last 30 days pages that would add great value.
For example I visited
http://storiesonline.net/story/55306
and http://storiesonline.net/story/55306:72618
the last update (not visited) is
http://storiesonline.net/story/55306:72656
So having an hidden link to the last chapter and comparing trough JS the visited status of the story index with the one of the last chapter let you change the link style and thus show a different check mark.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Once I saw the check marks, I immediately came here to see what was what.
And I got peace of mind discovering that it’s moot for me, and yet it serves a positive purpose for others. There’s no down side.
KUDOS - Laz!
February 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
I like the check marks. Just to bring something to your attention, though…when the first line in the story title is a long one (such as “A Sub’s Recurring Dream” by niteowluk99), the check mark all but disappears.
Keep up the good work, sir. We much appreciate it out here.
LH
February 7th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
How long does it stay checked after you visit?
February 7th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
It stays checked for as long as your browser’s history setting.
Safari’s default setting is one month. Firefox’s default setting is for 10 days. IE7’s default setting is for 20 days.
February 7th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Good idea. Like many others I don’t need it but the effort will make a big difference to those who do.
pcb
February 7th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Great idea for those that need it. I don’t know how hard Gauthier’s suggestion would be to implement but I think it would be very useful for me. Just don’t let it worry you if it’s overly difficult to do.
The Hooter
February 7th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Now if we could only get the programmers at Firefox (and others) to add this as a feature for ALL websites, then some links that don’t change color, or use strange colors will be discernable from others on the page.
Great idea!
Harry
February 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I think it is a swell idea. Maybe even excellent.
Wilbur
February 7th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Now I’ll have to click every storey (like I do at assm.asstr.org/assm) so that my g/f dosn’t see what stories I have and haven’t read *LOL* it keeps her guessing and adds fun to the bedroom 0:-)
February 7th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I think it’s a great idea…as and if i was having trouble either seeing or even remembering where hell I had been…it is a helpful,untintrusive tool. And all of us could use a few more tools…right ???
February 8th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Thanks a LOT !!!!
I am also color blind. It’s SOOOO nice to see some people make allowances for us. I really appreciate it, and I know others do too. By the way, what made you think of it?
February 8th, 2008 at 12:56 am
A user asked for a way to tell what he had already accessed and complained that there wasn’t enough contrast between the links.
February 8th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Good call!
A big plus for those that need it, no problem for the rest of us.
Would be a worthy addition to web standards.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:18 am
Laz,
I’d like to see a more permanent version of the visited/unvisited indicator, tied to my account. This would (a) last more than however-many days, so when the home page rotates up yet another story by an author with 200+ stories, I know if I’ve read it; and (b) let me have a consistent view from multiple computers.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:10 am
I don’t like it. Doesn’t really bother me, but it’s not that hard to change the color users machines of the links (In Firefox: Tools, Options, Content[tab], Color[button]).
I can see it helping out the extremely impaired, but is it really for everybody. If they are that bad then a browser extension () would probably be much more helpful to them.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Sorry about previous post. Visit the link for a Firefox browser extension for the colorblind. I haven’t tested it myself, but the description seems to cover a lot.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:53 am
u can give you a pointer on how to make an option to disable/enable the check mark in the css
February 8th, 2008 at 3:58 am
A fine idea!
- As H the H says, if only we could get others to implement this change as well!!
February 8th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Mystery Solved! I had been wondering what those check marks were and had discerned their meaning but not their purpose. Thanks for caring enough about your members to spend the effort to make things easier for them. One more reason why SO is the best online.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Ha… just noticed, the check marks serve another purpose… They seem to say: yup, that was a good one…
February 8th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Don’t like it. At all.
I’m sure in time I get used to it, but right now I find it really annoying.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hmm, let me revise.
With most of the pages it not even noticable, but I mostly visit the My Library pages. It’s redundant there. Practically every link is visited there, and thats a lot of check marks in a small place.
February 8th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
annoying, but not overwhelmingly so - as others mentiond, it’s easy enough for people to change the colors - or visited link icons - on their own.
for those that want the check removed, here’s a little greasemonky script to remove it from firefox
function addGlobalStyle(css) {
var head, style;
head = document.getElementsByTagName(’head’)[0];
if (!head) { return; }
style = document.createElement(’style’);
style.type = ‘text/css’;
style.innerHTML = css;
head.appendChild(style); }
addGlobalStyle(’a:visited {background:none !important; }’);
February 9th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I wondered about that. I think its cool and helpful and nice of you to do this.
February 9th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Greetings
Those check marks are a neat little trick for those that need them. Easy enough to ignore if the colored links show.
Brian
February 9th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
If it helps someone, then I guess it’s a go, but as much as I’m on the site, it sure is an irritant to me.
Roust
February 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Is there any way to take it off the Library? If the story is in the Library, then you have been there. My Library looks like it has the hiccups.
Roust
February 10th, 2008 at 6:19 am
If you are using Firefox, and have adblock installed, then adblock the checkmark, and lo: it disappears.
regards
Smurf
February 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Bravo, it’s good to see things like that added for the main comfort of “some” of the collectivity.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I think it’s a great idea. Sure, it made me wonder, and while I don’t need it, I have no problems with living with it, so that those that aren’t so browser sohpisticated can get along with SOL.
I do agree that the Library probably doesn’t need them, but I don’t see you taking the extra time to have different style sheets for the library.
Good job, Lazeez! And thanks for the explanation!
February 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I changed the stylesheet for the library, so now the ticks don’t show there.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Great, I don’t need it but it is good to see the result of thoughtful thinking
February 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I had never noticed the check mark. good idea
February 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Great idea, and thanks for the expalantion here. I immediately wondered what the checkmark signified.
I like Gauthier’s suggestion too. Perhaps it could result in an asterisk next to recently visited titles.
I appreciate the loving good care you put into this wodnderful site. I still wish you would add Amer Express so I could be member.
February 11th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Ciladan was just about to use it until I saw Smurfs post of just adblocking the checkmark to get rid of it. Thanks to both of yah!
To Firefox users that don’t use adblock, Shame on you! Heh Heh
February 11th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
This is great. I’m VERY colorblind; and it helps a lot.
February 12th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Good idea, although I think that “Next” / “Previos” links do not need it (the main menu like e.g. “Updates” don’t get it, so I think it is possible).
I’m also quite sure that it can be done using browser stylesheets for those who need it, by the way.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Good Idea. Simple enough, yet useful.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:41 am
It is a wonderful idea - Thank you for your thoughfulness
February 20th, 2008 at 5:17 am
I don’t need the marks myself, but certainly have no objection to them. I *was* curious about what they were!
I noticed at least two folks this has already helped, so I don’t understand why anyone would bitch about it.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
It’s an upgrade that does it’s job. Given the volume of stories, this helps remind users of what they’ve read or at least visited. Thanks
February 26th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Hi Lazeez,
My previous comments that SOL is a remarkable site are further substantiated by this change.
It’s a help to me also not because of color blindness but because it guides me.
Thanks for your consideration of some people’s needs.
SOL, still a truly remarkable site. I wish that other web sites had the foresight you have.
Victor.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:42 am
Anyway to help the visaully impaired is great
Stuart
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:15 am
I just read the blog responses about the check mark. I’m not color blind, I don’t for see ever being color blind. It does not interfere with my reading so leave it. Nice addition for those who are handicapped. Is it true that color blind people have a lot sharper vision and can see a lot farther?
March 6th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Good idea!
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:14 am
Hay that’s cool! I think it is great that you can help out the handicapped!
March 27th, 2008 at 5:53 am
Lazeez, you may find this link of interest for further ideas on “accessible” websites.
http://www.section508.gov/
section508 dot gov
This was a good tweak that will help many. Many of the recommendations are just as subtle and most people will never notice. Until they need to.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
I think the concept behind the checkmarks is cool… I use Opera browser and can switch between various styles and font colours easily, so finding settings that work for colour-blindness is easy. I’m not myself, but my 2 roomies are totally blind and limitted-vision. The checkmark might help with some screen readers.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I think the check marks are a very thoughtful idea. It is in keeping with the standards by which you run this website.
A tip of the hat to you.
cw