Signature Character Limit

[Mynder]

Hey,

didn't know where else to put this up. I just redid my signature, and noticed that even though it was pretty short in itself, it exceeded the 300 character limit.

I noticed this is because of the limit including the BB markup, and hence, when there are links (especially to other threads in this very forum), the link URLs count in full against this limit.

Now, don't get me wrong, I used a URL shortener service, but I think that is hurtful for two reasons. One, users won't see the correct URL when they hover over the link, and two, short URLs make it harder for search engines to index links (not so important for signatures, but still).

Is there a big technical reason for the limit to include the markup (I guess because it'd have to be separated from the contents itself, or at least require filtering that would just mean more work with little "profitsss")?

Is it meant as general discouragement for including links in your signature?

[rei]

i don't have any answers but i have also wondered about the character limit. maybe my counting is off (honestly, i didn't actually count) but it seems a couple of mods have signatures that would be more than 300 characters. maybe this limit is to cut down on marketing in the forums? or maybe it is part of vBulletin? i have wondered myself, and wanted very much to use a specific quote as my signature but i couldn't edit it down enough to fit within the limit.

[Mynder]

Originally Posted by rei

i don't have any answers but i have also wondered about the character limit. maybe my counting is off (honestly, i didn't actually count) but it seems a couple of mods have signatures that would be more than 300 characters. maybe this limit is to cut down on marketing in the forums? or maybe it is part of vBulletin? i have wondered myself, and wanted very much to use a specific quote as my signature but i couldn't edit it down enough to fit within the limit.

My issue is not with the limit itself. Keeping a signature somewhat smallish so that it doesn't fill up the thread with repeating "noise" is very reasonable. But this limit includes all markup/BB codes, so also includes URLs. To make my short signature fit this limit, I had to use a URL shortening service to replace the longer forum links.

While this doesn't seem like a big issue, it does take away a user's ability to "know where they go" before they click. Plus, of course, you need to get a short URL for the links that exceed the 300 character limit.

[Lil Chris]

Originally Posted by rei

i don't have any answers but i have also wondered about the character limit. maybe my counting is off (honestly, i didn't actually count) but it seems a couple of mods have signatures that would be more than 300 characters. maybe this limit is to cut down on marketing in the forums? or maybe it is part of vBulletin? i have wondered myself, and wanted very much to use a specific quote as my signature but i couldn't edit it down enough to fit within the limit.

Mods do get some leniency in signatures, simply because mods are unlikely to "abuse" the signature area.

As to the character limit, it's most likely a function of vbulletin, I haven't researched it, but I'm sure there is probably a reason for it. Perhaps abuse of some kind, or to prevent abuse.

[Brutha]

Is there a big technical reason for the limit to include the markup (I guess because it'd have to be separated from the contents itself, or at least require filtering that would just mean more work with little "profitsss")?

I think it's simply the way the software on which this forum is hosted does things.
You might try to search some plugin that changes the behavior or convince the folks at vBulletin to change the way the software works but apart from that there no easy choice to have a limit that's not a character limit.