We want your feedback! Publishing a Post/Comment
catherinem
June 13, 2010, 03:55 AM posted in General DiscussionThere has been a lot of discussion recently about using html when writing posts. We're planning on making some changes to the options available when writing a new comment or post. Before we do this, though, we'd like to hear your feedback. Please see the images below and let us know what you think (what you'd change, what you like, what you don't like). Thanks in advance for your input!
*Note: links will be automatically converted within the text window - that is why there is no button on these mock-ups for inserting a link.
bodawei
June 13, 2010, 04:36 AMIs it possible to have a preview function?
pretzellogic
June 13, 2010, 08:57 AMAlso FYI. I made a comment in the "My computer froze" lesson, but I don't see it in the general discussion thread. Not sure what this means about my account or the system.
zhenlijiang
June 13, 2010, 09:11 AMCatherine I can't see any images in your post but here is what I have:
Bullet points and setting off quotes I don't use. I don't at all mind if those functions are gone.
I use a lot of color in my text, highlights too. Inserting links and images I do all the time. If those were to be taken away, usability in making posts would be greatly diminished for me.
I currently do use a bit of HTML in the Reply to comments within discussions, mostly for making links (I think people are considerably less likely to copy and paste an URL address themselves but will click on a link if provided), but I hate the extra work to be honest (can not for the life of me memorize the tag. so am looking it up every time).
And regarding HTML tags, I've said this in the Technical Problems on Site thread I made on this--Line Breaks <br> does not work.
My first reaction when I saw the new post-writing box without the current toolbar--I would like to know, why you guys would call attention to the User Group Vocabulary Picture of the Day and then just a few weeks later make it really hard for any user to contribute further posts to this Group.
Undo is also a function I appreciate very much.
Does everybody understand the new Attach File function? How does that work?
........................................
To be perfectly candid here, I am getting a little weary of giving so much feedback. It is not simply complaining and whining, it is actually generosity on our part and a lot of work, to be doing so much of this about so many usability aspects of the website. Really there are already enough issues as it is. Why create new ones by tinkering with those things that are not broken?
catherinem
In this instance we are not trying to create anything new. We are trying to standardize the tools available when creating a post or adding a comment. I appreciate your feedback, and that of everyone else. No one is required to give their two cents, we simply felt that with so many vocal users it might be valuable to allow more users to be more involved in the early stages of changes made to the site.
zhenlijiang
I'm not complaining about this open invitation to give feedback; that was my way of saying that recently there have simply been way too many ongoing issues with the usability on this site. Too much beta material made live and inconveniencing users.
The former post-writing tools (which are still available to us to make comments in these discussion threads, and also when we go to Edit our already-published posts) were standardized weren't they? Those were just fine, yet for whatever reason the recent changes were made. That is creating a new issue for no reason that I can understand.
bodawei
'In this instance we are not trying to create anything new'
Catherine, you are talking to seasoned complainers here. This sentence is just not true - and it is likely to get our backs up., at least those of us who 'squeak non-stop'. Just taking one point here - the 'Attach File' function. It appeared so recently I haven't had a chance to find out how to use it. Can you use it to insert an image and, if so, how do you do it? I did try to use it on an image but it did not work - what is it for? What are its advantages over the system that we have grown used to?
xiaophil
I would miss being able to color and highlighting text. I would also miss having bullets and numbers. Is there a reason to get rid of these features?
xiao_liang
I don't see what's wrong with putting the full set of formatting tools on every new post/follow-up post. Removing them seems counterproductive.
pretzellogic
June 13, 2010, 09:15 AMFYI, I don't see any images "below".
catherinem
Yes, this is true. They were visible originally but due to a technical error the team is currently working to fix they now cannot be seen. Should be back up soon. If not I will post links to the images separately.
pretzellogic
Good feedback. Thanks!
zhenlijiang
June 25, 2010, 03:53 PMOur questions about the "Attach File" in the "new" posting format haven't been answered. How it this supposed to work? Has anyone used this?
Why change something that was fine as is? Posting / commenting tools were standardized, until the "new format" was introduced partially. And now you're trying to standardize again. I think what you've left out is an explanation of why the new format was introduced in the first place, resulting in a mix and the need for standardization. An explanation would help us understand.
xiaophil
June 13, 2010, 04:20 AMBut will you be able to change the text of the link. In other words, will I be able to take a link like this:
http://superbad.com/
And do something like...
This?