Hi everyone,

I am not even sure how to phrase this question. It just seems like when users come and go, it doesn't correlate well with time.

Our Who's Online Timeframe is set to 5 minutes. If we want it more accurate, do we lower the number. Sounds like a nobrainer but I guess I look at it like if the user leaves, it will show them on for another five minutes. Maybe just a good explanation will help. TIA.

Bert

Well this is something of a bone to pick at. Looking between the whos on line island and the whos online detail page. They hardly ever will match.
The time limit is pretty much how long ago they were online to appear. But that only applies to the detail page if you refresh your browser constantly.
Then add in there is a internal cache time for the island and the detail page, it confuses people more.
Version 8 was addressing this issue to allow you to also set the internal cache time to update the info in the browser.

So bottom line.
You have it set for 5 minutes.
That means a user needs to be online for five minutes to show up.
But only after the internal cache updates the info.

Meaning for example I am online for the last five minutes and I do not appear in the island because the internal cache has not rebuilt the island.
But I select the whos on line link to goto the detail page which forces the cache to be rebuilt and I appear.
Then I go back to the summary page and I appear in the island.

Clear as mud I know.

FYI.
Goto your whos online detail page and time how long the screen updates on its own.
That time would probably be the best for you.

Ruben,

Thanks. I apologize, but I should probably not be an admin for our board, but at least I try. Can you explain the difference between the island and the online detail page and how I can time how long the screen updates on its own?

Just select the island. When you get the detail page showing where everyone is at or viewing.
You will see the page will update on its own without selecting the refresh button on the browser.
I think it is around 5 minutes. just use your wristwatch to time how long it takes to update on its own.
You probably should wait for two times since you may be in between the cycle times.
For example here the detail page is:
http://www.ubbcentral.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/online

It takes one minute to refresh. I can't believe I have been on the AC board for almost eight years nearly everyday and have never clicked on the Who's Online.

So, should I set the timer to one minute?

Thats up to you. One minute will use more resourses than 5.
But it will still always be off a bit till the cache updates it.
I recall the default setting was something like 10 minutes.

One problem with the who's online is the fact that if you turn off the left and right side bars there is no link to access who's online, this link should be default on the forum index page at the bottom.

Actually, I think that if both sidebars are "off" it should be added to the header for those with permissions to view it.

It needs to be added quick to catch up with the times, who's online has become the most important module for forum administrators now days so they can spot spambots fast.

Thanks everyone. As far as being able to spot spambots, given I am the only admin, not sure how good I would be able to catch them.

I guess I will try 2 or 3 to meet in the middle.

I still can't believe I never clicked on it.