Differences

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--- viewing_the_forum_on_a_mobile_device [2017/12/08 20:12] – karen_henry
+++ viewing_the_forum_on_a_mobile_device [2025/06/30 13:32] (current) – removed references to OrionMobile theme karen_henry
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==== Viewing the Forum on a Mobile Device ====
-If you are viewing the forum on a smartphone, tablet, e-reader, or similar device, you may choose to use a theme designed for mobile devices.
+If you are viewing the forum on a smartphone, tablet, e-reader, or similar device, you may choose to use a theme designed for mobile devices. We currently have one mobile theme available, called "MyBB GoMobile".
-We currently have two different mobile themes available:
+This theme provides most of the forum functionality, though with some limitations, allowing you to read and post on the forum, access your User Control Panel (User CP or UCP), and so on. You can always choose to not use a mobile theme if you prefer, and can switch between mobile and full (desktop/laptop) themes at any time.
-  * MyBB GoMobile
-  * Orion Mobile
-Both of these themes provide basic functionality, allowing you to read and post on the forum, access your User Control Panel, and so on.  However, some functions, such as the ability to view Alerts and Unread Messages, are not available with these mobile themes. We recommend that you experiment with these themes to see which one you prefer. You can always choose to use the default ("desktop") theme instead.
+**Note:** a word about terminology. The MyBB software uses themes to define the look of the forum. However, it doesn’t only use that terminology. The User CP setting to select the default theme is called "Board Style", and the mobile themes have links to select the "Full Version", which means the default theme selected under Board Style. These terms all just refer to themes.
-=== Switching from Mobile to Desktop Theme ===
+=== Summary ===
-In Orion Mobile:
+The different settings and selectors for mobile themes can be somewhat confusing until you understand how they work, and if used incorrectly, may give unexpected and undesired results. The components that affect mobile theme use are:
-  - Click "Themes" at the bottom of the page.
-  - A dropdown list is displayed, allowing you to choose from all of the available themes.
-  - Select "Default" from the list to switch to the regular desktop theme.
-In MyBB GoMobile:
+  * The User CP Options setting "Use a mobile version if I visit from a mobile device?".
-  * Click "Switch to Full Version" at the bottom of the page to switch to the regular desktop theme.
+  * The User CP Options drop-down list under "Board Style".
+  * When displaying one of the Default themes, the footer drop-down theme selector list and the link "GoMobile".
+  * When displaying the GoMobile theme, the footer drop-down theme selector list and the link "Switch to Full Version".
-=== Switching from Desktop to Mobile Theme ===
+The main thing to remember with these settings and selectors is that the Board Style (theme) is only used to select the theme you want on your //non//-mobile devices. While you may choose to use the GoMobile theme for that, you normally wouldn’t. Any change to the Board Style setting, either directly in the User CP Options or via one of the theme selector drop-down lists, will affect the "Full Version" used by all of your computers and devices that aren’t currently using a mobile version (ie. theme). In other words, this is a global setting across all of your devices.
-{{:quickthemeselect.jpg?200|}}
+To correctly use the GoMobile theme on a mobile device, the User CP Option "Use a mobile version if I visit from a mobile device?" must be enabled (ie. checked). Then, when you visit the forum with a mobile device, by default it will be displayed using the GoMobile theme. This selection is local to the mobile device, stored in browser cookies, so will not affect the theme used on other devices, including other mobile devices.
-To switch from the default or "desktop" theme to one of the mobile themes, do the following:
+When using a mobile theme, to switch to the Full Version theme (ie. the one selected under Board Style), use the Full Version link at the bottom of the page. Do not change the Board Style, either directly in the User CP, or via one of the drop-down theme selector lists. This selection is also stored in browser cookies, so the mobile device will continue to use the Full Version until a mobile version is reselected.
-  - Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the dropdown in the lower right-hand corner, just above the date and time.
-  - Click on the dropdown list to display all the available themes.
-  - Select "Orion Mobile" or "MyBB GoMobile" from the list.
-** IMPORTANT! ** When you change the theme using any of these methods, it affects ALL devices that you use to access the forum. For example, if you change the theme to Orion Mobile on your smartphone, the next time you view the forum on your desktop or laptop, you will need to switch back to the default or "desktop" theme.
+=== User Control Panel Options ===
+Two settings are configured in your User CP under Edit Options.
+{{:ucpotheroptions.png?|}}
+== Board Style ==
+The Board Style drop-down list is used to configure the theme used on non-mobile devices, or when a mobile device has switched to the Full Version. Normally one of the Default themes would be selected, as these have been specifically designed for desktop and laptop use, but any of them can be selected.
+{{:boardstyleselector.png?|}}
+This setting is global across all computers, and across all mobile devices that have switched to Full Version.
+== Use Mobile Version From Mobile Device ==
+The "Use a mobile version if I visit from a mobile device?" option must be checked to allow mobile devices to automatically use a mobile version independently of the current Board Style setting. Otherwise mobile devices will use the Board Style theme exactly the same as desktop and laptop computers do.
+=== The GoMobile Theme ===
+The GoMobile theme is the default mobile theme used on mobile devices, when the User CP option above is checked. If you wish to use this theme on mobile devices, there is nothing more to do.
+To switch an individual mobile device to the full desktop/laptop theme selected under Board Style, use the "Switch to Full Version" link at the bottom of the page.
+{{:gomobilefooter.png?|}}
+The drop-down theme selector list can be used to change the theme used by the Full Version, and thus all desktop and laptop computers (since it's a global setting). However, changing this setting while using the GoMobile theme can be rather confusing. Initially it //may// switch to the selected theme, but since the mobile device is still actually selecting the GoMobile theme, the next time any forum page is opened, it will switch back to the GoMobile theme. It will only continue to use the selected theme if the "Switch to Full Version" link is also used.
+=== Desktop/Laptop Default Themes ===
+The forum currently includes four Default themes, intended for use on desktop and laptop computers, and possibly larger tablet devices. The desired Default theme should be selected in the User CP Options under Board Style, though may also be selected via the drop-down theme selector lists at the bottom of each screen (in the case of the OrionMobile theme, the "Theme" link must first be selected).
+On mobile devices, when the "Use a mobile version if I visit from a mobile device?" option is enabled, all Default themes provide links at the bottom of the page to switch to the GoMobile theme.
+{{:defaultfooter.png?|}}
+Once the GoMobile theme is selected, the mobile device will store the selection in browser cookies and continue to use the selected mobile theme.
+Note that these links can also be selected from a desktop or laptop computer, and they will operate the same as with a mobile device. The only difference between a desktop/laptop and mobile device is that a mobile device will automatically use a mobile version by default (ie. before any of the mobile theme links have been selected), whereas a desktop or laptop won't.