The AM Forum

In an effort to reduce the bandwidth for our dial up users we have changed the maximum size allowed for avatars.  The new size for avatars is 100w by 150h (pixels).  The avatart file is quite large and by reducing the size we will decrease the download time of the site.

If your avatar is showing a slidebar at the bottom then the avatar is too large. Please take a miniute to check and correct this if need be. The BBS  program has been set up to return anything larger than 100x150.Many of us have avatars in place from the old site which allowed for larger files. So many of us need to correct this.

Offensive, distasteful or sexually oriented avatars will be removed. You will be notified if this happens

Thanks for you support

    How do you edit your avatar? I can get to everything else.  >:( >:( >:(

Hi Roy,
Go to Personal CP in the left hand column.

Then, see left inner column "Modify Profile."

Click on Forum Profile Information and you'll get three choices in the main box.
If you have photoediting software, take your favorite picture and size it to within 100x150, or less.

(http://www.wa3vjb.com/pics/DogLog.jpg)

I made this one a square for example, 100x100, and could either upload it as a file or URL it from where it's already uploaded.

Hope helpful.

  Been there Paul but just can't get my picture to post? No way have I been able to move it. I have it down sized and ready to go. Just don't know what I'm missing.  Thanks

I can do it from here Roy, I will fix it for you

All set Roy

Hi Gary,
I tried to fix my avatar but I still have that slide bar though it does slide as far as before.
When I click on it the properties say 96X90 which should be under the required limits. What am I doing wrong?

Regards
Q

You are fine Q.

This site is set up to be viewed @ 1024 X 768. If you are runmning at a lesser resolution the slide bars will show.

I am viewing you @ 1024 X 768 and you are fine.

I reworked about a hundred of these before i decided to post the request for help on this.

  TNX Paul 73 :)

   Was playing around Paul and changed my avatar but now can not change it back. It just does nothing when I try to upload any picture now ??? No big deal though - I will try another time. ( this is a picture of a blade off of my wind generator )

Can you do it for me too, Gary?  I've already e-mailed you the compressed pic of an ELMAC A-54H that I would like to use for a while.

Thanks,
K2VHerb

  Hey VH I got my avatar posted again here.If you want I will post a picture of  Erb on yours for you. ;D  73 ( I think I posted to many just playing around and had to wait for a while )

Hey VWX, you're too kind!
VH

Roy,
 Maybe you could fix Herb up with a picture of the constitution....Lee,N2UDF

Roy,

I have tried everything that's been suggested here, and nothing seems to work.  By the way, I see your caption for the 4 X one rig, but no photo of it.

VH

  Don't understand why I see my avatar here( HB 4-1000 ) and you don't Herb. Yours is fine. Anyone else out there that can tell me if my avatar is posting? How about it Lee or anyone.  Thanks 73

It's there, Roy...in all its glory.  What a beautiful rig!

Mine is fine?  Can you see my Elmac A-54H?  Jay sees your four by one, but I don't.  Anybody see my little old Elmac?

Herb

Hey Roy, now I see your big rig on ONE of your posts, but not others.  I also now see my caption, but still no old Elmac.  Wierd stuff. ???

VH

My next avatar:
(http://www.radiomuseum.org/images/klein/usa%5Fheath%5F83%5Fcantenna%5Fhn31%5Ffront%2Ejpg)

       Herb your mighty Elmac is OK on all your posts. I think you or your computer(or both) are all :-\ up. Thanks Jay N3WWL for letting me know my avatar is working.   73.  (and yes I spelled Irb wrong on a previous post)

I see that we all have some sort of picture or mini avatar below our call letters. Can I change that? Could I have something shiny rather than the brown antique radio? NOT the titanium hair dryer that k2orc sports. ;D

Besides that silly table model ac-dc radio, I see only a very few avatars on people's posts.   I see K8VWX's big 4-1000 rig on ONE of his posts.  I have yet to see my ELMAC avatar.  What's up with that?  Other people see mine.  Wierd
 :(  Is there an explanation?

Herb, clear your cache...

I have the same question..... how do I get rid of or change that wooden table radio below my call?..

Paul, I like the dogs playing poker  ;D ;D ;D

Maybe I should try a velvet Elvis next!

Do animated avatars work here?  I can't seem to get one to work yet I could have sworn a few people have animated avatars. yes/no?

Yes

   Just tried to edit my avatar and it just will not work.Same with Herb k2vh.No big deal will leave it alone. ::)

err ahh hey G, is that missing box under my call only for my enjoyment?... I thought maybe you would replace it with a photo of Jay-low..  ;D ;D

This is still one of my favorite avatars.

One of the funnier things happened on 75M about a year ago when this avatar was first up for a few weeks. Herb/JVM, in a tactful tone axed Gary if he had gained some weight lately. Gary came back with silence and then sounded confused. Herb then mentioned that he saw a recent photo of him on the BB.  Herb was serious. Everyone gagged with laughter. Priceless.....   ;D

I know what prompted you to re-post this -- some chain email (that I just got too) with a pile of "Halloween Costumes" that no doubt includes the famous ralphing pumpkin.

On "this" version --

I have to agree Tom.
The loss of height and the gain of girth is hilarious.
Let alone the camel toe.
Yes, let that alone.

The picture is almost as good as that crazed, Hitler-youth shot I took of you at Chuck's when you had a buzz cut.

Can't find it at the moment or I'd post it for reconsideration.

HAVING A BIG BELLY -- 75 dollars

HAVING BIG VISIBLE NADS -- 150 dollars

PUTTING GARY'S HEAD ON TOP OF THEM -- PRICELESS

K2 Very Ha Ha Ha

Oh, heck, I ain't shy.  Might as well get it over with.... ;D ;D ;D

My worst shot ever taken - by master photographer, Paul Courson:

Tom,

All you need now is the carnival hat and cane! All that's left is teach Yazz to sing. ;D

Whoa!! Travis Bickle and Tom JJ: twins separated at birth?
Inquiring minds want to know.

(http://www.film.org.pl/images/zalamanie/travis.jpg)

(http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5882.0;id=455;image)

Most Honolable mastel VU!
Glasshoppehl pay tlibute with most fratteling pictule fol his avatahl.
Showls Mastel Vu lheady to pay tlibute to a mohst favolite god, a EV, the RE-20 god.

Glasshopphl.
(Head down, bowing silently with gong being struck in background)

Honorable 2ZE,

Thank you vely vely much for avatar tribute. You give new meaning to "Mr Ugly".

Speaking of nice hair....  here's a shot of a famous ham, evidently after he got his hair "done".   

(http://home.comcast.net/~k1jj/wsb/media/254120/site1008.jpg)

Nice "ground plane" Tom!!  ;D ;D ;D

(http://amfone.net/Amforum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5882.0;id=455;image)

OH MAN hurt me BAD

I like the hair ::)

but that's electronic pornography you've got me standing next to.
 :-X

The animation (often an animated gif) is handled by your browser.  Is your anaimated avatar the only one that doesn't work ?? Are you able to see the animated emoticons  above blinking their eyes and the animated scrolling "M" format button moving ?? If not then you may have a browser glitch.

I see animated avatars for those that have them.  I've tried uploading an animated avatar(s) but I end up with a single frame showing.  Anything else that I view on the BB that's animated seems to work OK Fine, smileys, M, etc..  I wonder if file size has something to do with my uploaded avatars not working ???

That makes three of us. I can't upload one.

Maybe some of the folks I've met at hamfests decided that MY mug would bust too many
monitors!  <<grin>>



Mr. T.

I  am looking into this. I had the same problem with some avatars. Others worked just fine.

Update to follow

Can you upload one from your hard drive, or does it have to come from a website?  I tried, using the "browse" function to define a path to the picture file, and when I clicked "modify profile" nothing happened.  Am I missing something?

Go to "Forum Profile Information". You have a choice of several options

Personalized Picture:
Do Nothing
   
I have my own pic:
Specify your own avatar by URL. (ex: http://www.mypage.com/mypic.gif)
   
I will upload my own picture:

When done, click on change profile. I just changed mine by uploading from my hard drive.

Don: Just tried changing mine, as I described above, and it didn't replace the one I already had there. Not sure what the answer is. I just posted the question to the Moderators. Maybe I missed something here.

Just tried to post a new avatar - still won't work for me???? :(

Is it the proper size, Roy?  Do you get an error message when you try and upload it?

I just changed my avatar without any problem. If your avatar size is over 100X175, it won't work.

The key is this: "The largest size allowed is 100 wide  x 175 high. The program is set up to refuse the avatar if larger than those dimensions." Follow what I said above. Then double click on "Browse"  and it should point to your C: drive. Change directories to where your proposed new avatar resides. Double click it, and the entire link to it should appear in the Browse field. Click "change profile" and if it doesn't exceed the size requirements, it should appear as your new avatar. If you don't see it, even after you refresh the screen, most likely it's too big.

The size I was trying to post is 324x243 pixels and I do not get an error?

You won't get an error message. It just won't load the avatar. The one you want to post is too big. 100 X 175 is the max.

Just shrunk my picture t0 133X100 and it still will mot post - I GIVE UP

133 X 100 WONT WORK
TRY 100 X 133

No more than 100 wide and 133 high Roy

Gary

WOW! I got it to work - Thanks Gary and all who helped . (100 wide X 133 high fit) :)

Nice PIC. Roy

Gary
92 x 95 and I point it to my c drive and the pic file (jpg), press change profile and nothing happens to my profile.
Any ideas?
Tnx
KPD

Carl:
If it's the same picture you have in your post, I measure it as 130 W X 145 H. You have to size it down, save it, and then bring the saved picture into the profile.

Hi Pete,
It is a smaller version  (92x95) of the same pic
Tnx

can you post the smaller one here as you did the larger one?

I eyeballed your original picture with my graphics program down to 92X102, and as you can see, if you were here,  it uploaded fine.

So I can see
Thanks Pete. I'll play with it some more tomorrow
73
KPD/0

Brain doesn't function that early in the morning. I should have attached the picture I did. Take the picture below, copied it to your hard drive directory; then go to your profile as before and upload the picture; click change profile; refresh screen and see if it appears both in the profile picture area and on the left side of the screen under "Personal Menu".

Houston, We have lift-off
Thanks Pete!

Where do I find animated avatars or must they be constructed?  Is special software needed, if so, what?  Yes, I am a dummy about such things.  ;D

Thanks,
Rick/K5IAR

Thanks Mack, I'll give it a shot.  What if I want to customize it?  Maybe the info will be with the avatar.

73,
Rick

Remember, there's a limit to avatar size.

Something like this won't work:

(http://www.animation-station.com/cartoon/images/cart0011.gif)

Or this:

(http://www.animation-station.com/cartoon/images/cart0027.gif)

Thanks Pete.  How do you do that?  Is it possible to animate any avatar or does it have to originate as an animation?  I would like a small animated avatar, but I haven't seen anything like I want.

The animations are just animated GIFs. As long as they meet the size requirements for avatars on this site, they will work just like any other GIF. I've used this one in the past. Created the animation myself.

(http://www.amwindow.org/misc/avatars/strapperglobe1.gif)

If you're running Microsoft Windows, click start, then All Programs, and look to see if you have a program called Microsoft Image Composer. If you do, highlight it (run the mouse pointer over it) and see if you have a sub program called Microsoft GIF Animator. This program can gather a bunch of GIF frames and set them in motion. There are also some commercial animation programs on the market that allows you to do some real nifty things.

Here's a simple animation of 7 frames with 7 different pictures using GIF Animator. Pictures were grabbed out of my directory. As an example, you could take a bunch of pictures of a piece of equipment as you walk around it or as you rotate the equipment. You would use the Image Composer to scale them down and then add each one as a frame to the GIF Animator. The Animator also allows you to speed up or slow down the showing of each frame. When you're finished setting up all the frames, speed, etc., you can save it as a GIF file.
(http://amfone.net/Amforum/gallery/25_30_11_07_12_43_58.gif)

Pete,

Thanks a million!  I'll check to see if I have the MS program as I do run Windows.  If not, I'll see about a commercially available package.  So, it's kind of like the old "flip books" we used to get in cereal and stuff?  Too cool.

Thanks again,
Rick

Just what pray tell is the point of an avatar?

I can understand a thumbnail pic of the ham or his shack or Teddy Bear for that matter.  Perhaps I am just too old to understand why grown men need to identify with silly cartoons.

As a point of interest, I have the same  opinion of those silly faces.

js

Come on, Jack, lighten up.  I'm an old man and I still like Ed, Edd and Eddy every now and then.  There is no purpose to avatars, they're just fun to some of us.   ;D

Rick/K5IAR

An avatar (abbreviations include AV, ava, avie, avy, avi, avvie, avis, avies, avii, and avvy) is an Internet user's representation of himself or herself, whether in the form of a three-dimensional model used in computer games,[1] a two-dimensional icon (picture) used on Internet forums and other communities,[2][3] or a text construct found on early systems such as MUDs. The term "avatar" can also refer to the personality connected with the screen name, or handle, of an Internet user.[4]

The ( silly faces ) are called emoticons.

Definition:An emoticon is a short sequence of keyboard letters and symbols, usually emulating a facial expression, that complements a text message. An abbreviation itself (of emotion icon), the term is sometimes referred to by the name of the original emoticon, the smiley.

 A portmanteau of emotion (or emote) and icon, an emoticon is a symbol or combination of symbols used to convey emotional content in written or message form. Some examples of text-based emoticons include:   :)   :(

Yep, fun is good; fun is healthy for us old guys. The road isn't endless so have fun while you're still driving on it.

Pete,

The wife's cats freak out over the eyeball.

The Japanese girl was nice, also. ........   klc

Don't recall having a Japanese girl avatar.

" Don't recall having a Japanese girl avatar. "
 

Thought it wer u , now I can't remember who did have it... 

klc

There's an online editor too. The site also has a bunch of animations they you can edit/modify.

http://www.gifworks.com/

I chose not to dignify them with a Madison Ave name.

At the expense of sounding like a pompous intellectual, expressing emotions with words is part of being literate.  Substituting silly faces for words is dumbing down  literacy.

Kind of like multiple choice questions on an exam.  As in... pick the picture you like, don't bother trying to draw it.

I guess I am a pompous intellectual.

js

Pompous or not, you most certainly are missing the entire point of emoticons. As an intellectual, you'll know that some 80-90% of face-to-face communications is actually conveyed by nonverbal means or other than the actual words (e.g. facial expressions, tone of voice, body position, hand motions). In this forum, all we have are the words, so it is far harder for the poster to convey the full message, and far easier for the reader to misinterpret the words. Emoticons are an attempt, all be it a rather simple one, to help convey some of the tone of voice or emotion behind the words.

Since you didn't already know this, I hearby revoke your Intellectual Club membership card.  [That was a joke, in case you didn't get the tone.]

Ever wonder how many online flamefests were started by the non-verbal misunderstanding of intent?

IIRC, The emoticon thing started decades ago at IBM, called something different then and didn't involve the little graphics we now see. Being left-handed, I always made my faces 'backwards' (according to right-handed people, that is), and inevitably had someone thinking I was sad. They'd try to read the face like a right-hander, never realizing that the eyes were under the mouth in that case. Some programs later addressed this, at least for a while. Most still do not. It's tough living in a right-handed world of discrimination. (:

The amusing thing now is to see the internet shorthand like we've used for years (IIRC, FWIW, IMHO, YMMV, LOL, etc) make the leap to text messaging where kids abbreviate even more words, as a way of being cool and outsmarting the 'rents and teachers.

BTW KC, I think the animated avatar you refer to is/was used by none other than K1JJ.

 

Jack, I just don't think many (most?) of us see our internet exchanges as literary works. When you spend a fair amount of time online, it gets old fast. We replace much of our other communication via Land Line and (to our detriment) over the airwaves with this.

The biggest shortcoming with respect to intent comes in open posts like this. I could bullshit with you, make a sarcastic remark or whatever else, and you'd likely see it as such since we've spoken voice-to-voice a number of times. Someone else viewing it could read in an entirely different meaning.

And especially when dealing with a differing opinion from your own, most of us want the other party to know it's nothing personal, no harm intended, and so on. Just a different view.

I'm not for dumbing down anymore than you are, but I know from experience that I can be misunderstood online. Even through email!

BTW, this is a cat  =^..^= and so is this  >^oo^<  Just in case it ever comes up in conversation.  ;)

There is one thing for sure.  We all have our opinions, likes and dislikes and we all have our own style of expression.  Everyone is certainly entitled to exercise their expression freely and without condemnation as long as it's not detrimental to others.  I like using "smileys", "avatars" and the like to express my feelings and hopefully prevent someone from misunderstanding my words.  Jack, and I'm sure others, prefer not to use these tools and that's great.  Thankfully, we have a choice. 

Two cents worth from a not so literate guy...
Rick/K5IAR

Actually, as a moderator, and one that by title has to read every post on this board, having "visual expressions" within the text can sometime clarify the actual tone of the responder. Without them, it is sometimes difficult to understand what the poster is really trying to say (i.e. a troll, flaming, perceived personal attack, or someone just under the influence of too much Friday night beer, etc.).

(http://www.gifs.net/Animation11/Holidays/Winter_holidays/ornament.gif)

I certainly can't argue with that but there is no reason why they could not or should not be.  Just because it is so easy compared with letters of the good old days, does not mean we should dumb it down.  Note I said should.... it is clearly the option of the writer.

I judge people by the way they write and what they say just as I judge people in person.

The good news is that the folks who make computers still see fit to provide spell checkers.  If an emoticon is worth a thousands words than why not just a rough approximation of the spelling and not worry about that either?

I don't expect to win this war but it's fun to vent my spleen.

js

Being happy all the time is boring.

Those are some interesting bits of text speak that could provide fodder all by themselves for a dissertation.

I use BTW all the time because I say it quite frequently and it's easier to type and a verbatim abbreviation.

I once asked what IIRC meant but have since forgotten.

IMHO is an oxymoron because people don't have humble opinions.

LOL is right up there with a smiley... inane, bad grammar and conjures up images of a nut house.

My spleen is where I keep all my nasty thoughts about other people and it needs to be vented now and then so I don't become nasty too.

Great night on 80 meters.  Tested my semi-automatic CQer twice and connected both times.  VE3JM and KA1ZGC ... sort of reminded me of trolling for salmon... "two in the box".

js

Geez Jack.. we sure wouldn't want you to become nasty too! ;D  (Smiley inserted to assure you this is a joke)

Rick/K5IAR

If I remember correctly "JJ" had the jiggly-wiggly Japanese girl avatar.

I changed my avatar to the new smaller dimensions. I would like to request that the size of the avatar be regulated slightly differently.

I request the avatar 'size' be primarily defined by the size of the file rather than by the size in pixels.

The dimensional size is one thing, and does not affect bandwidth for members on dialup.

The file size is another thing, and this is what affects the bandwidth for members on dialup.
This is probably the reason behind the physical size limits given in the topic.

I request that avatars be allowed to be the old large dimensional size, as long as the data size of the file is kept to a certain value.

Here are the examples I am illustrating to prove this can work. Both are about the same file data size, but one is bigger and more viewable.

The file "what to try_s.jpg" is 100x119 pixels and the file size is 8108 bytes.
The file "what to try_s1.jpg" is 150x176 pixels and the file size is only 7698 bytes.

The file that is smaller data-wise, is viewably larger and much more viewable.

The small-looking file that conforms to the dimensional size rules is actually taking more data space on the system and downloads.

I hope this makes sense and is reasonable. I would like to ask what is the data size limit the management is trying to achieve.

On another BBS, the rule is "its width can be no greater than 160 pixels, the height no greater than 160 pixels, and the file size no more than 63 KB.".

The other board's file size of 63K might not be appropriate here, but I suggest that a 20KB limit in logical file size and a perhaps 160x160 limit on image size would be quite reasonable for dialup use and also allow nice looking avatars, especially for those running high resolution. 20K is not much, and once in the member's cache, does not have to be downloaded again during the same session.

The third file, the PNG file, conforms to the "100 pixel wide" rule, but notice how much data it requires - 16796 bytes.
This example is to point out that those wishing/willing to do a little 'art' with their avatar have many options to comply to a byte-wise file size rule, while also having also goodly-sized avatar.


Thanks for reading,

Patrick J.

Dear administrators,

I guess this flew in under the radar so I would like to revisit it.

I request the avatar 'size' be primarily defined by the size of the file rather than by the size in pixels.

The dimensional size (height x width) is one thing, and does not affect bandwidth for members on dialup.

The file size (K bytes) is another thing, and this is exactly what affects the bandwidth for members on dialup.

Please see the above post for my full request, examples, and reasoning.

Thank you,
PJ

PJ,
Interesting point and I would agree that they be allowed to be limited by file size.

If it is a file size/transfer issue then even your largest is smaller then some of the others on this page. And it is far smaller in pixels and bytes then some of the fancy sig files gifs that show up. (Which I enjoy)

If it is cosmetic issue i.e. a uniform piece of real estate then that is up to Garys taste and preference I guess.

I like to change mine and there are times when I crop or shrink it, I loose the interest of the pic. So yes if we can go back to larger I'd like to see it.

There are other avatars I see here that I wish were larger as I wonder what they are but can't see the detail

Thanks for raising it again

Carl

/KPD

I find it effectively a version of Shorthand, not necessarily a dumbing down.

Considering the early days of networking, a Plus.

Oh Goody.

A converstation in which I can add to the general din, none of the specific points and from whom will be remembered very long by most of us.

I use smiley's 'cause they're fun.

I use the King's English when it's necessary.

I(I, i, ...) now declare that avitars are lots of fun too.

They show personality and are changeable;  can show mood, pride, latest interest.... you name. it.

But!  I try not to use HBS* grammar whenever possible, vis., "actually, absolutely, going forward, clearly," etc.

"Clearly, Absolutely, and Actually" seem to be delimiters used by the herd to show "inness."  Can't think of too many instances where those words are useful in my life  ;D     ....but I do catch myself using them occasionally.

(* sorry, added later, - Harvard Biz School)

HBS continued a long tradition..

Behold!
Forsooth,  (oe meaning)
Indeed,
Verily verily I say unto thee?


Bur what about icon logical size vs. pixel area?

Oooops,

You're asking us something technical and trying to bring us back on topic.
Are either allowed here?   ;D

Yeah, I think avitars ought to be somewhat larger, vis, Miata.net in its olden days, say at least 140 wide by 160 vertical if the images are "moderately" compressed JPG's. 

Ya don't want to get too wide as it eats into the message text area; at which expansion point is it no longer an avitar?

The moderators are strangely silent about the request

I guess that means "No"?

It's a difference of a few pixels. Gary is busy with real life. Carry on.

I tried to change mine right after the software change was made, but couldn't make it work.  I haven't attempted to mess with it since.  Maybe I'll try again when I get some time on my hands.

Mine worked. They have to be no more than 100 pixels wide now I believe. Yours may be 'legacy' size, larger; so beware if you do U/L one, it won't take it unless the size is as required.

I tried to upload an Avatar of 100 x 100 pixels but get this message

Your attachment couldn't be saved. This might happen because it took too long to upload or the file is bigger than the server will allow.

Please consult your server administrator for more information.

Uploading took seconds. Please tell me how to upload