Announcements

[LesD]

I have read with some surprise that some idnet.com email users felt that there has been a lack of information about the current problem.

Not being at home when the malicious SPAM attack struck I was obliviously unaware of the matter until I snuck on at work for a snoop at the forums. As soon as the IDNetters page opened there was a great big, unmissable message in a bold font right at that top.

There were regular if not frequent updates but lost in the reams of other posts, you know the ones asking question, some that were sympathetic and others that most certainly were not.

I would like to have seen, in addition to the message in bold at the top of the IDNetters forum, all the updates in the Board headed Announcements. This way it would be obvious where to look without wading through everything else that numerous others including me had posted.

Note no proliferation of "smilies" as this time I have a serious point to make.
Well maybe just the one!  IDnet

[Sebby]

I think the issues is, Les, that IDNetters remains an unofficial forum, so it was our discussion rather than an IDNet announcement, so to speak.

I'd like to say slightly better information on IDNet's site perhaps. Yes, it would have been nice to hear more from Simon D here, but I'd imagine he was severely stressed out and trying to get things moving.

There are lots of lessons to be learnt from this, and hopefully we will see some improvements in the future.

[Tacitus]

I agree with Les.  iDNet need to review their system of announcements and keep people informed in a clearer and more timely manner.  Another lesson learned!  

I know people can subscribe to the newsfeed, but not everybody is that tech savvy

[Rik]

The reason I opted to use the news fader, rather than announcement, was that it put the news unmissably on the front page, Les - and thinks were changing frequently. We normally don't make IDNet service announcements for them, unless requested to do so.

[LesD]

The reason I opted to use the news fader, rather than announcement, was that it put the news unmissably on the front page, Les - and thinks were changing frequently. We normally don't make IDNet service announcements for them, unless requested to do so.

Yes the "front page" announcement was excellent. For me I have had no issue with the flow of information but others certainly do.

The posts from Simon at IDNet are welcome but that not easy to find if you have been away from the forum for a while, especially not knowing that they have been made. I for one sort of came across them while "thumbing through" if you see what I mean.

[Rik]

That's why I linked it in the news fader, Les.

[LesD]

That's why I linked it in the news fader, Les.

I guess I don't know what the "news fader" is Rik.  because if it is what I think you mean, namely the link at the top of the forum, this link takes me to one particular post, an important one agreed but there are others and later ones like this one:

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=9072.msg202870#msg202870

that I have just had to go searching for. This is the point I wanted to make when I started this thread.

[kinmel]

The reason I opted to use the news fader, rather than announcement, was that it put the news unmissably on the front page, Les - and thinks were changing frequently. We normally don't make IDNet service announcements for them, unless requested to do so.

I am sure there are others, like me, who do not land on the front page, my bookmark takes me straight to unread posts.

If the information had been in Announcements then the unread posts would pick it up.

This is NOT a complaint, merely a comment.


I think IdNetters has once again proved what an invaluable resource it is to IdNet; well done the Mods  

[Rik]

I guess I don't know what the "news fader" is Rik.  because if it is what I think you mean, namely the link at the top of the forum, this link takes me to one particular post, an important one agreed but there are others and later ones like this one:

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=9072.msg202870#msg202870

that I have just had to go searching for. This is the point I wanted to make when I started this thread.

The fader is the bold announcement at the top of the front page, Les. It's called a fader because you can have multiple messages 'rotating' on it.

I understand your point, but the problem with the system is that it's manual, so unless a staff member is around, not everything gets linked in.

I'll do an update now.

[Rik]

I am sure there are others, like me, who do not land on the front page, my bookmark takes me straight to unread posts.

Point taken, Alan, but I tend to use the fader when a situation is changing rapidly (there were seven updates yesterday) and partly because people have complained they haven't noticed announcements in the past.

[LesD]

I understand your point, but the problem with the system is that it's manual, so unless a staff member is around, not everything gets linked in.

The staff do a grand job Rik. Rest assured there are countless folks that will back me on this point and I am not looking to have you alter anything now but I think that since we have an Announcements board that is where Simon from IDNet's post would have been more visible!

Your link in the news fader could then have pointed there.

I shall go away now and  as it's time to do the big weekly shop! 

[Rik]

I'll see what I can do...

[Tacitus]

If you login to your account control panel announcements are being put up there, albeit currently (11.26am) a little tardily. 

I think this points to the need for perhaps two points where information is posted, even if it does mean duplication.

Perhaps the answer is to raise 'iDNet Service Announcements' (rename to "Current Service Status"?) to a main board rather than a child, with all major outages/problems posted there.

[Rik]

We'll have a think about it, Tac. The problem, in part, is that it needs a member of staff around to update the forum stuff.

[LesD]

We'll have a think about it, Tac. The problem, in part, is that it needs a member of staff around to update the forum stuff.

For the "think tank" for the future, if say a link from the top of the forum pointed to a thread in a board that only Simon and other IDNet (or forum staff) posted in, the link would not have to be updated by forum staff once it was created. If only those I mention posted in this thread then it would only contain their announcements!

P.S. BTW the sky blackened and rain threatened (it is the 5 of July after all  ) so the weekly shop was put on hold by she who is in control of such matters. Just in case you wondered why I had popped out from behind the settee again! 

[Rik]

I've just received some 300 emails... 

For the "think tank" for the future, if say a link from the top of the forum pointed to a thread in a board that only Simon and other IDNet (or forum staff) posted in, the link would not have to be updated by forum staff once it was created. If only those I mention posted in this thread then it would only contain their announcements!

Let me think about that Les...

[Tacitus]

We'll have a think about it, Tac. The problem, in part, is that it needs a member of staff around to update the forum stuff.

Don't know about Simple Machines but on VBulletin, I think you can restrict specific fora to only allow posts from certain peeps.  This might mean they have admin privs, but only to that forum.

[LesD]

I've just received some 300 emails... 

Ah but you are the main man! 

I have moved from the little yellow "Error" triangle to the Login prompt box which brings back scary memories of my Tiscali days  but from what I have read this spells progress! 

This edit is because I have just seen this:

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=9132.0

and it works for me! 

[Rik]

It does mean progress, Les. I suspect they are phasing users 'live' to avoid meltdown - I can't get on anymore.

[Rik]

Don't know about Simple Machines but on VBulletin, I think you can restrict specific fora to only allow posts from certain peeps.  This might mean they have admin privs, but only to that forum.

That's how it works for the iDNet service announcements board, Tac. It's just working out how it would look as a top-level board.

[LesD]

It does mean progress, Les. I suspect they are phasing users 'live' to avoid meltdown - I can't get on anymore.

Ah well never mind with 300 mails to read that should keep you busy for a minute or two! 

[Simon]

I wonder if it would be possible to have the news fader at the top of the Unread Posts index page as well?  That way, people who don't enter by the front door (me too, Alan!), won't miss anything.  We'll have a think about that one. 

[Rik]

Poor Lance.

[Sebby]

Poor Lance.

Absolutely!

[Simon]

 

[Rik]

Ah well never mind with 300 mails to read that should keep you busy for a minute or two! 

That and updating all the announcements here and on TB. Not only that, I gave you a top-level board for IDNet Service announcements.

[LesD]

That and updating all the announcements here and on TB. Not only that, I gave you a top-level board for IDNet Service announcements.

Much appreciated  but already spotted and acknowledged here:

This edit is because I have just seen this:

http://www.idnetters.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=9132.0

and it works for me! 

Great  Take a break like a good many others you deserve one.

[Rik]

Thanks, Les - it must be lunchtime soon.

[kinmel]

It is good that even simple comments are taken on board and considered 

[Rik]

We try very hard to deliver the forum the members want, Alan. Sometimes we can't do certain things, but when we can, we try to do it fast.

[Tacitus]

Not only that, I gave you a top-level board for IDNet Service announcements.

I think I would rename it "iDNet Service Status" Rik.   The one above is already "Announcements" and it could get a bit confusing..  There's probably loads of name combinations - I'm trying to separate future maintenance announcements from 'current problem' announcements/actions.

I know, you can't please all the people etc 

[Rik]

It's difficult, Tac. I've just changed the description on the forum announcement board, which I missed when I 'un-childed' the IDNet board. However, their board has to cover a multitude of purposes from announcing new services to telling us about problems. At the end of the day, that isn't its prime purpose, those announcements are covered by the network status page and RSS feeds, so I'm stuck for a good, all-embracing, name. Suggestions welcomed.

[pup]

Rik
   couldnt you put in a marquee or something under "you are here" and link it to the news fader?  that way where ever you start in the forum, you would be alerted to a announcement.

just an passing idea...

 

[Rik]

Not sure we can, Pup, that would require a major re-write of the code, and there are limits to what we're allowed to do to it. The quickest solution may be to make more use of the announcements boards, which will then show as new posts - but we're still kicking ideas around.

[Baz]

what about     IDNet Status.....or similar

[Rik]

You mean a copy of the network status page from the IDNet website, Baz?

[Baz]

yeah could be, I didnt actually mean that but thats a good idea even just an initial link to that then maybe some extra info when available

[Rik]

That could be done as an announcement, with a link to the login page. Nice idea, Baz. 

[Baz]

thank you     i do occasionally get good ones 

[Rik]

I used to when I was young too, Baz. Of course, it relies on IDNet having their status page updated faster than I post.

[Baz]

dont know if thats a compliment or a 'watch out for this when you get older' warning 

but I am getting there anyhoos...

[Rik]

Aren't we all, Baz.

[Lance]

I wonder if it would be possible to have the news fader at the top of the Unread Posts index page as well?  That way, people who don't enter by the front door (me too, Alan!), won't miss anything.  We'll have a think about that one. 

Well Simon, if you like entering via the back door, that is up to you!!!

I'll take a look at the news thing and see what I can do!

[Simon]

I was very careful not to say that, Lance!   

[Lance]

 

[Lance]

I'll take a look at the news thing and see what I can do!

As you'll see, the news now shows on the unread posts page too!

[Simon]

Nice one, Lance!