Stylesheet tweaks for visited links

#1 | Written by Annie on 2008/02/07.

I think that’s great!

#2 | Written by Bart on 2008/02/07.

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

#3 | Written by Steve on 2008/02/07.

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?

#4 | Written by Lazeez on 2008/02/07.

The implementation is too complicated to make it optional. It’s either on or off for everybody.

#5 | Written by Darin on 2008/02/07.

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.

#6 | Written by The Prophet on 2008/02/07.

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!

#7 | Written by Gauthier on 2008/02/07.

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.

#8 | Written by zzturk on 2008/02/07.

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!

#9 | Written by Longhorn__07 on 2008/02/07.

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

#10 | Written by Mike CAmpbell on 2008/02/07.

How long does it stay checked after you visit?

#11 | Written by Lazeez on 2008/02/07.

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.

#12 | Written by pcbondsman on 2008/02/07.

Good idea. Like many others I don’t need it but the effort will make a big difference to those who do.

pcb

#13 | Written by Duane (Hoot) Gibson on 2008/02/07.

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

#14 | Written by Harry The Hermit on 2008/02/07.

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

#15 | Written by Wilbur Peters on 2008/02/07.

I think it is a swell idea. Maybe even excellent.

Wilbur

#16 | Written by K' Rex on 2008/02/07.

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:-)

#17 | Written by esteban on 2008/02/07.

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 ???

#18 | Written by DarkMystic on 2008/02/08.

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?

#19 | Written by Lazeez on 2008/02/08.

A user asked for a way to tell what he had already accessed and complained that there wasn’t enough contrast between the links.

#20 | Written by Mikes on 2008/02/08.

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.

#21 | Written by Harold Wilson on 2008/02/08.

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.

#22 | Written by DT on 2008/02/08.

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.

#23 | Written by DT on 2008/02/08.

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.

#24 | Written by Jordache on 2008/02/08.

u can give you a pointer on how to make an option to disable/enable the check mark in the css

#25 | Written by EmmSea on 2008/02/08.

A fine idea!

- As H the H says, if only we could get others to implement this change as well!!

#26 | Written by Sat-is-fied on 2008/02/08.

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.

#27 | Written by Bill the Cat on 2008/02/08.

Ha… just noticed, the check marks serve another purpose… They seem to say: yup, that was a good one…

#28 | Written by Vega on 2008/02/08.

Don’t like it. At all.

I’m sure in time I get used to it, but right now I find it really annoying.

#29 | Written by Vega on 2008/02/08.

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.

#30 | Written by Ciladan on 2008/02/08.

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; }’);

#31 | Written by Samantha on 2008/02/09.

I wondered about that. I think its cool and helpful and nice of you to do this.

#32 | Written by Brian Jones on 2008/02/09.

Greetings

Those check marks are a neat little trick for those that need them. Easy enough to ignore if the colored links show.

Brian

#33 | Written by RoustWriter on 2008/02/09.

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

#34 | Written by RoustWriter on 2008/02/09.

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

#35 | Written by Smurf on 2008/02/10.

If you are using Firefox, and have adblock installed, then adblock the checkmark, and lo: it disappears.

regards

Smurf

#36 | Written by Marc0 on 2008/02/10.

Bravo, it’s good to see things like that added for the main comfort of “some” of the collectivity.

#37 | Written by Andrew Johns on 2008/02/10.

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!

#38 | Written by Lazeez on 2008/02/10.

I changed the stylesheet for the library, so now the ticks don’t show there.

#39 | Written by Scimitar on 2008/02/10.

Great, I don’t need it but it is good to see the result of thoughtful thinking

#40 | Written by fred on 2008/02/10.

I had never noticed the check mark. good idea

#41 | Written by Old Prof on 2008/02/10.

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.

#42 | Written by DT on 2008/02/11.

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

#43 | Written by Forsetti on 2008/02/11.

This is great. I’m VERY colorblind; and it helps a lot.

#44 | Written by Shadowhawk on 2008/02/12.

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.

#45 | Written by Felinicis on 2008/02/12.

Good Idea. Simple enough, yet useful.

#46 | Written by Maine Yankee on 2008/02/17.

It is a wonderful idea – Thank you for your thoughfulness

#47 | Written by The SnowSnake on 2008/02/20.

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.

#48 | Written by BlackIrish on 2008/02/25.

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

#49 | Written by Victor Klineman on 2008/02/26.

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.

#50 | Written by Stuart on 2008/03/03.

Anyway to help the visaully impaired is great

Stuart

Lazeez's Corner

Recent Posts

Browse by Tags

Stylesheet tweaks for visited links

Leave a Comment