New format needs work.

Started by jerryo, 04/09/2018 11:39PM
Posted 04/10/2018 08:39AM #20
I have been working more on the new site tonight and found another item to bring up.

If we are placing a new ad, I see an option for font color, but font size is gone?  There used to be an option for small medium, large if I remember correctly because all of my older ads have the special character inserts for font size.

Thanks, again.

Mike
Posted 04/10/2018 08:44AM #21
THE "OLD" OR PREVIOUS FORMAT WORKED VERY WELL FOR MOST OF THE USERS.

ONE CAN BUT WONDER WHAT PROMPTED ASTROMART TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WASN'T BROKEN.  ADVERTISERS?

PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THIS WHOLE MATTER I'M GOING TO GET FAMILIAR WITH "CLOUDY NIGHTS." 
IT IS MORE CUMBERSOME THAN YOUR OLD FORMAT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE STABLE.
Posted 04/10/2018 09:15AM #22
Originally Posted by wjlee
Go to "My Account". Under the first section "General", select "Display settings". Under "Classifieds", you'll see "Display the following columns in the classified list:" with a bunch of check boxes, select "Price", and any other you'd like. Then, at the bottom of the page, click on "Save" to save your changes.

BTW, I'm not a big fan of the new format. I think it's because of the size of the font. It used to be smaller. Perhaps some control over that? Being a web developer for 25 years (yes, back when it was new! and improved! with more whitening power! wink), I realize how much work goes into these things, so it's not a big deal for me.
Thanks WJLEE,

   That was indeed VERY helpful advice.  I haven't changed my settings in 11 years since joining - probabaly not even back then. The defaults were always "wisely" sufficient.

   However, TWO more bugs showed up, now.

(1) Hasn't been a problem for me, but the page now wants me, ... after more than a decade of it not being an issue ...  to use ONLY INTEGERS for my address's  ZIP code. Is this website ONLY for USA members?
I could request, but I'm sure the Canadian Parliament would decline my asking for a  change of my ZIP code to suite AstroMart's web design, demands for an INTEGER format.

(2) I changed the SETTINGS for Classified ad pages to show 40 listings. Yes, I know, that was greedy of me, but if you don't ask, you don't get. So, apparently, the web designer limits the list to just 15 ads - the rest is needed for totally blank space,... perhaps for "reflection" on the quality of the layout.

   Possibly,  a more efficient page layout would be to have a button to view the sponsors, leaving the rest of the "non-scroll-bar page left for the important stuff - like people's  ads.
Or, you could even have a (small) scrolling "corporate" sponsor list BOX. That would probabaly be more noticeable than the dead column at right, likely most of us appreciate, but ignore. How about, a "right side,  column  HIDE/CLOSE arrow - after we notice the overpowering list of sponsor names. Then the page wouldn't need a horizontal scroll bar, to waste our time.

   Sure am glad the new web page wasn't released on Easter Sunday - April 1st.

Bring back the CLASSIC A-M Page.
Posted 04/10/2018 09:43AM | Edited 04/10/2018 06:19PM #23
First, let me say I appreciate the effort and enjoy Amart very much. I probably visit it more than any other site. I saw a beta of this but unfortunately didn’t have time to play with it much.

I believe Cloudy Nights tried the same switch about five years ago and it was a total disaster, so much so that they went back to their old format.  This seems to be a very similar product to what they tried.  

I agree with others that the old format was great, at least for the classifieds. The formats for the Amart discussion forums were not so good but I never used them, mostly because I look to CN for discussions.

If you have any relationship with the CN owners/moderators you should talk to them about their experience.  As this new site stands, way too much space is taken up by ads on the right or generality on the left, making the middle section way too small to be useful, even on an iPad.


Having just been through a database switchover at my Company that was not successful, I highly recommend you go back to the old format while you try to sort out the issues.  

Again, I appreciate the effort.
Posted 04/10/2018 10:36AM #24
does anybody at Anacortes actually read this???? if so, please speak up

it is obvious this was brought online without ANY checkout of features and functionality

for example, I tried to change my display settings so I received 100 listings per page,
NO CHANGE even after logging out and back in, this should be just 1 one small example of this new structure not getting any serious debug before exposing it to us users! ugh
Posted 04/10/2018 10:49AM #25
Originally Posted by hull3
does anybody at Anacortes actually read this???? if so, please speak up

it is obvious this was brought online without ANY checkout of features and functionality

for example, I tried to change my display settings so I received 100 listings per page,
NO CHANGE even after logging out and back in, this should be just 1 one small example of this new structure not getting any serious debug before exposing it to us users! ugh

It was tested extensively for quite a while but not with the entire databases loaded.....since the full equipment ads data was not loaded that particular issue was not tested.....most everything reported today has been fixed....I am quite sure it will be fixed shortly.

There is little doubt most of the issues showing up are a result of the new site not having the full databases loaded and now that they are some issues are to be expected.

Most of the ongoing discussion about issues can be found in the "Everything I hate about Astromart" forum (#2 in the forum list) and is probably the best place to report issues you have......

20" MidnighTelescopes f/5
8" f/16 Muffoletto Achro
Meade 6" AR6 f/8.0 Achro
Celestron C11
Parallax PI250 10" F/5 Newt
Vixen FL102S,NA140SS,R200SS
80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk with WO APOupgrade lens, 90mm f/16.67 Parallax Achro
LXD75/LX200, Mini-tower, GP-DX, CG5 ASGT, LXD650, GM-8, G11, GM-100, GM-150EX, GM-200 and a Gemini G40
4" portable AP convertable 44" or 70" pier
Stellarvue M7 Alt-Az, TSL7 Pier/Tripod
12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA
Posted 04/11/2018 12:31AM #26
The former website was better functionally in presenting classified info.  If the objective of this new web change is to provide a new look, then mission accomplished.  However, if its main objective is to “also” support your classified user community then in my opinion these changes missed the mark.  Depends on what’s your objectives with these changes.  Right now, a person has to deal with columns with headings running into two lines instead of one with no indentations to focus on what your looking for.  Fewer classifieds on the screen so more paging to the “next” page.  Lots of finger use to move the classified information back and forth to see further description of the item.  Very annoying.  Also, a lot of wasted visual space.  Yes, it visually looks better but your classified user base is “more concerned with the information”.  And quickly determining if we’re buying or selling something is our main concern.  The new format will simply require “more” navigating and to our way of thinking is less efficient.  Bottom line, I will take whatever you give me but, for me, I would like to quickly determine “what’s for sale”.  Everything else is secondary.  A good example of presenting information to a client is just about any financial website you use. Your former website format was hitting it out of the ball park doing the classified information job.
Posted 04/11/2018 01:23AM #27
Originally Posted by Delgado39
The former website was better functionally in presenting classified info.  If the objective of this new web change is to provide a new look, then mission accomplished.  However, if its main objective is to “also” support your classified user community then in my opinion these changes missed the mark.  Depends on what’s your objectives with these changes.  Right now, a person has to deal with columns with headings running into two lines instead of one with no indentations to focus on what your looking for.  Fewer classifieds on the screen so more paging to the “next” page.  Lots of finger use to move the classified information back and forth to see further description of the item.  Very annoying.  Also, a lot of wasted visual space.  Yes, it visually looks better but your classified user base is “more concerned with the information”.  And quickly determining if we’re buying or selling something is our main concern.  The new format will simply require “more” navigating and to our way of thinking is less efficient.  Bottom line, I will take whatever you give me but, for me, I would like to quickly determine “what’s for sale”.  Everything else is secondary.  A good example of presenting information to a client is just about any financial website you use. Your former website format was hitting it out of the ball park doing the classified information job.

Some of what you are talking about is user configurable using the settings under "My Account"

Number of ads displayed per page can be set to whatever you like, I think it defaults to 40....I have mine set at 25 now.

I don't follow you on some of it.....if you can take a screenshot of the columns/headings issue you are talking about I am sure it would help. Along with OS, Browser info, resolution you have your monitor set for ie 1024x768 etc.

20" MidnighTelescopes f/5
8" f/16 Muffoletto Achro
Meade 6" AR6 f/8.0 Achro
Celestron C11
Parallax PI250 10" F/5 Newt
Vixen FL102S,NA140SS,R200SS
80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk with WO APOupgrade lens, 90mm f/16.67 Parallax Achro
LXD75/LX200, Mini-tower, GP-DX, CG5 ASGT, LXD650, GM-8, G11, GM-100, GM-150EX, GM-200 and a Gemini G40
4" portable AP convertable 44" or 70" pier
Stellarvue M7 Alt-Az, TSL7 Pier/Tripod
12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA
Posted 04/11/2018 03:31AM #28
Can't see price information on using mobile device, terrible layout in general,  please bring the old page look back asap
Posted 04/11/2018 04:55AM #29
Originally Posted by astrowiz1
Can't see price information on using mobile device, terrible layout in general,  please bring the old page look back asap

User configurable in the "My Account" settings same as it was in the old system. I believe the new defaulted to NO though......

Wont be bringing back the old software as it is no longer supported.

20" MidnighTelescopes f/5
8" f/16 Muffoletto Achro
Meade 6" AR6 f/8.0 Achro
Celestron C11
Parallax PI250 10" F/5 Newt
Vixen FL102S,NA140SS,R200SS
80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk with WO APOupgrade lens, 90mm f/16.67 Parallax Achro
LXD75/LX200, Mini-tower, GP-DX, CG5 ASGT, LXD650, GM-8, G11, GM-100, GM-150EX, GM-200 and a Gemini G40
4" portable AP convertable 44" or 70" pier
Stellarvue M7 Alt-Az, TSL7 Pier/Tripod
12.5" f/5 MidnighTelescopes DOB Swayze optics
Monroe GA