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Topic: A few new-user observations |
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imno007 |
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I've only been using PS a few days now and I want to point out real quick a few needed improvements I think should maybe have priority (because they're likely the kinds of things a new user like me is going to look for when first using the script), and I also want to say what I like about it at this early stage. The first impression is always the best and all that, right?
First the complaints, to get them out of the way: it needs better import options, for one thing. I'd like to be able to import links with category structures intact. I found a nice program that extracts categories complete with subcategories from DMOZ but unfortunately all I am able to import are the thousands of links, which would then have to be manually sorted. The ODP importer that PS has works pretty good, except that I've discovered that is skips listings that are double-spaced. In other words, if you have two or three URLs listed, then two or three more listed after a double-space, the first ones will be imported and the second group will be ignored. (I've already pointed this out to support, BTW, and I'm sure they'll do what they can when they can.) But how about an ODP importer like Indexu has to grab whole directories directly to the database? Please! [A later note here: ODP starred links get skipped too, and they are of course listed first, so does the import also have a problem with the graphic, the star, next to the those URLs?]
Second: there needs to be some way, or some better way, to sort the categories/listings. I'm getting most of my initial listings from DMOZ and I am sorting my listings alphabetically, but this often means that sub-categories and URLs can't be placed optimally. For example, if I'm importing from a category named "Characters", there is typically a subcategory named "Relationships", which in PS is placed alphabetically amongst the subcategories with character names, when it should be separate from them. And there has to be some easy was to also separate an URL(s), to give it prominence, as with starred listings. There might be some easy way to do this that my over-stressed brain just hasn't slowed-down enough to discover yet, but I'm not seeing it there with all the other directory options - and that's where it SHOULD be.
But you know, with that out of the way, no other complaints are coming readily to mind. I'm sure I'll come up with one or two more before long, but I'm good for now. On the whole, I really like this script. The interface is very clean and, on the whole, very intuitive, so you don't have to spend a lot of time figuring things out before you're able to put it to work, and it has more features than most of the competition. The one or two other scripts that can compete in features are more expensive and much less user-friendly for the non-programmer type like myself. I should know, I spent a LOT of time looking at all those other scripts before buying PS - and so, even though I think it needs a few improvements, I can say that I genuinely THINK I made the best decision choosing PS over the others.
Support so far has also been excellent. All of my emails have been answered promptly and courteously, and I've never got an angry response to any of my complaints, just a polite thank you for pointing out a problem. Maybe I'm easy to please but, believe me, I've had much worse support!
So, all in all, so far so good. Here's to hoping it only gets better!
And BTW, even if the import options can be improved, I've still managed to build hundreds of categories with almost 9,000 links (so far) in the last couple of days. It could be worse! 
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Total Posts: 74 | Joined:
Jun 4, 2003 - 8:38am | IP
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imno007
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Hate to add more complaints, but I just want to say that there should be a way to rename and relink Related Category links! Also, there has to be a better way to link to related categories than category IDs, it takes way to much time finding these numbers. (Not to mention the fact that I have yet to see an id pop up ANYWHERE on the browser when I pass my mouse over a category! I have to look for them in the URLs.)
Oh, and it would be great to have a Check Broken Links option in the directories themselves, so that you could just click a button and have a directory checked before you leave it - instead of having to navigate back and forth.... |
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FocalMedia Team
Moderator
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Thanks for your suggestions. We will consider it for future versions.
Gerrit
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Jul 27, 2002 - 4:28am | IP
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imno007
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Thanks, guys!
Here's another for you: we need to be able to link directories to other directories in the database so that we can do cross-linking as many sites do, such as on dmoz and yahoo when you see that '@'.
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GegaBit |
Advanced Member
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Quote:
category IDs, it takes way to much time finding these numbers. (Not to mention the fact that I have yet to see an id pop up ANYWHERE on the browser when I pass my mouse over a category! I have to look for them in the URLs.
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Welcome on board 007!
2 ways to get those IDs:
- when passing the mouse over the category name the ID will be displayed at the bottom left.
- or what I laways do, go to the "Directory Manager" top left of your screen you will find "Stats + Tree" which displays all the IDs, keep this window open while you work.
All the best
Gegabit |
Total Posts: 168 | Joined:
Mar 17, 2003 - 12:28pm | IP
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imno007 |
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Heh Gegabit - thanks!
I still don't see an Id displayed in the browser, in the lower left of it or anywhere else, but I shamefully admit that I overlooked the Stats + Tree menu, so I officially retract that complaint.
The most common problem I'm having now, just in adding directories and Urls (other than limited import options), is not being able to cross-link directories and not being able to edit the Related Categories links. I think the implementation of the latter is horrible as it is because it requires you to go back and rename directories that show as related, otherwise their connection won't always be immediately apparent to the visitor - and of course renaming them often creates reduntant names both in the directory and in the navigation structure that visitors see.
But thanks again for the pointer, Gega, and I hope everything is going well with your own directory!
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imno007
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Okay, thanks for that directory cross-link pointer, guys! I'm gonna have to take a better look at these things before complaining.
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Total Posts: 74 | Joined:
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imno007
Member
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Just have to backtrack a bit here and say that I think there still should be a better way to find category IDs. Though I'm grateful for Gega pointing out the use of the stats + tree window for me, it's still too hard. We should be able to at least collapse the category trees on that window. After creating a couple thousand directories, I'm finding it too time-consuming and eye-straining to scroll for directories, especially with no search options available on this menu. ( I could open an editor, I guess, but who wants to keep doing that?)
Okay, now someone point out something obvious I've missed!
(Oh, and if you guys ever do allow for collapsible directories, I beg of you not to make it so that all the directories are opened by default when you use the stats + tree window....)
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Total Posts: 74 | Joined:
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imno007 |
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This has probably been pointed out by someone before, I doubt it takes genuis to figure it out, but a good way to get a subdirectory(s) listed at the top of a page, rather than auto-sorted with the rest, is simply to put a space in front of the title when you're creating the directory. The space doesn't show up when you preview or generate the page. It's not a perfect solution, because if you do the same thing with more than one directory, they will themselves still be auto-sorted at the top, but it's helpful.
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Total Posts: 74 | Joined:
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