Line size in posts: what determines it?

hazel · 12-10-2017, 02:49 AM

I have noticed that, while most threads fit snugly on the page and you can still see the side panel, some have such long lines that I have to keep scrolling sideways to read them.

It seems that once a single post in a thread has this property, all subsequent posts have it. When you add a post, the editor no longer does automatic returns at the ends of lines.

What causes this and can something be done about it?

ondoho · 12-10-2017, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazel

It seems that once a single post in a thread has this property, all subsequent posts have it.

at least on that page.

i know the [PHP] code blocks tend to do that, and adding a really large image can do that also.

i have no further explanation; just one more reason for posters to act responsibly.

pan64 · 12-10-2017, 04:17 AM

Yes, I think if you have a code/quote/php block (any kind?) that will keep the text entered as-is, so lines will not be wrapped. The width of that block is determined by the longest line (inside).

frankbell · 12-10-2017, 07:58 PM

Quote:

I have noticed that, while most threads fit snugly on the page and you can still see the side panel, some have such long lines that I have to keep scrolling sideways to read them.

I have noticed the same behavior occasionally, but I have not seen propagate to other threads.

ondoho · 12-11-2017, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazel

It seems that once a single post in a thread has this property, all subsequent posts have it.

i took it for granted that people have basic knowledge of html and css...

this is an html problem - the page width is determined by the widest element, it seems (and that's why it affects the whole PAGE and not just one post).

it would be good practice to reduce elements to "max-width: 100%", but that may have other disadvantages like losing content.

rtmistler · 12-11-2017, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan64

Yes, I think if you have a code/quote/php block (any kind?) that will keep the text entered as-is, so lines will not be wrapped. The width of that block is determined by the longest line (inside).

This is what I've seen. A code section will make the width grow and it will keep it for the thread.

jeremy · 12-11-2017, 10:23 AM

Thanks for the bug report. This should be addressed in a future code upgrade.

--jeremy

dugan · 12-11-2017, 12:33 PM

Fun fact: the Wikipedia article on "Internet trolling" used to have a large, prominent section just for "page widening". Which is intentionally posting stuff to make the forum's text columns wider than designed.

It was important enough (for a long time) that when I took it out, someone else put it back in.

frankbell · 12-11-2017, 07:56 PM

Quote:

i took it for granted that people have basic knowledge of html and css...

Thanks for the schooling.

(I wonder whether this falls under the category of "basic knowledge," at least for those of us who learned on our own (that means me). It would seem more like something a hobbyist would pick up when encountering it.)

Next time I run into this phenomenon, I'll look to find the widest element on the page.