FYI: new feature table on website coming

[admin]

I'm redoing the website a bit. Especially the "Product" page has become a stinking heap of rotting features, one taking the air off the other. Time for a little breeze...

This is work in progress... just to give you the idea:
http://www.xyplorer.com/features.php
Could be like the Central Station of looking up stuff. I'll make it sortable and searchable, too...

[j_c_hallgren]

Initial feedback:
1) The color background in "Feature" table makes reading it difficult from some angles on my LCD..black text on a shade(s) lighter background might be better.

2) Didn't quite follow at first glance what the Read/Wiki col were for..maybe those 3 cols should be under a major hdg "Documentation"?
Also, I'd maybe make the "read" be "Website" or "text" or similar..

3) The arrows for links were atypical with no explanation....and the double arrows? Huh?

4) Given that wiki is user maintained, the possibility of page name chgs without your knowledge is potentially possible, so having links here may break on extreme rare occasions.

5) The feature table seq needs to be tweaked, which I'm sure you'll do as some major items are embedded in list in odd places.

[RalphM]

Initial feedback:
1) The color background in "Feature" table makes reading it difficult from some angles on my LCD..black text on a shade(s) lighter background might be better.

2) Didn't quite follow at first glance what the Read/Wiki col were for..maybe those 3 cols should be under a major hdg "Documentation"?
Also, I'd maybe make the "read" be "Website" or "text" or similar..

3) The arrows for links were atypical with no explanation....and the double arrows? Huh?

4) Given that wiki is user maintained, the possibility of page name chgs without your knowledge is potentially possible, so having links here may break on extreme rare occasions.

5) The feature table seq needs to be tweaked, which I'm sure you'll do as some major items are embedded in list in odd places.

While I agree with jc on points 1 and 4, I really like the rest as is and I wasn't confused by the double arrows neither, as each arrow just points to a different location where additional info can be found.

Well done

[admin]

I think point 4) is quite unlikely. At least I would not dare to change stuff that would break links in the wiki. And even if it happens it's quickly adjusted.

[admin]

The current version (still in progress) should meet most needs.

[graham]

I like it - and it shows just how many features there are - maybe instead of alphabetic they are in order of user impact (at a loss for the right word here). I say this because a user will have a go at a link at what grabs his attention and those at the top are the likely target.

Code: Select all

overview over

English - would be better as 'overview of'

[admin]

I like it - and it shows just how many features there are - maybe instead of alphabetic they are in order of user impact (at a loss for the right word here). I say this because a user will have a go at a link at what grabs his attention and those at the top are the likely target.

Code: Select all

overview over

English - would be better as 'overview of'

Thanks!

Alphabetic order has a big advantage. I don't have to think about it, it's easy to update, and there is no discussion!

[calude]

about scripting
as per today the script part on the web site goes direct into coding but
the scripting "teaser" should also target "non scripters" by examples in plain english without any code like:
here are things that can be possible with scripts:
-save all last years .doc files in a zip file named doc_backup_07 in one click
-transfer the content of your digital camera SD card in its new folder renamed by today's month all in one click
-one click backup of 12 folders into a zip file
-list all the last month modified files in a folder in october_08.txt or october_08.html


you all know the program so much more than me ...
lets make this simple list grow

Calude

[j_c_hallgren]

While I agree with jc on points 1 and 4, I really like the rest as is and I wasn't confused by the double arrows neither, as each arrow just points to a different location where additional info can be found.

The current table (as of the time of this post) looks MUCH better than yesterday! I can actually read it easily even with my visual issues now.

I still think that a simple change of the "guides you through the doc.." phrase to "provides links to the appropriate sections of the documentation" or something like that would make it clearer.

Also, when I see a table of features with 'checkmarks' and all of them are checked, it makes me wonder why the need for that column...if there were diff vers so that one could see differences or the newest additions, then the checkmarks might be more applicable, IMHO.

[admin]

about scripting
as per today the script part on the web site goes direct into coding but
the scripting "teaser" should also target "non scripters" by examples in plain english without any code like:
here are things that can be possible with scripts:
-save all last years .doc files in a zip file named doc_backup_07 in one click
-transfer the content of your digital camera SD card in its new folder renamed by today's month all in one click
-one click backup of 12 folders into a zip file
-list all the last month modified files in a folder in october_08.txt or october_08.html

Definitely a good idea. I will add such a list to the Tour chapter on scripting. Including the IMDB chose which is real cool.

[admin]

Also, when I see a table of features with 'checkmarks' and all of them are checked, it makes me wonder why the need for that column...if there were diff vers so that one could see differences or the newest additions, then the checkmarks might be more applicable, IMHO.

Totally right logically. But here it's employed psychologically! The message is: XY 7.80 actually has all this cool stuff.

[Mesh]

Hmm. I have a point that I don't think anyone else has touched upon.

This chart has the potential to confuse a lot of people and/or give them the wrong idea.


When pulling up this page, people are looking at a table of features. This type of table is very common - but *not* as it's being done for XY. What people are expecting to look at is a list of what XY can and cannot do. So, at a quick glance, it looks like XY can do a lot of things in regards to text, but next to nothing in regards to video files? You see the issue.

It looks like a checklist comparison, and that's going to throw people off. It needs to be made a bit clearer what this list is meant to be, and what the right columns are really for. Otherwise, some people are going to get confused, and may move on without looking closer, if they get the wrong idea and think that XY can't, for example, Batch Rename or Catalog Folder Sizes for video files.


One way to do this is to break the table between the feature list and right three columns, so it looks like two tables next to each other. Then, above the right set of colums, have a header like "See more info" or some such.

[admin]

Hmm. I have a point that I don't think anyone else has touched upon.

This chart has the potential to confuse a lot of people and/or give them the wrong idea.....

Good point. I'll try to "defuse" it...

[j_c_hallgren]

Hmm. I have a point that I don't think anyone else has touched upon.

Actually, this is what I was trying to say in my first post, but you may have said it clearer than I did.

It looks like a checklist comparison, and that's going to throw people off. It needs to be made a bit clearer what this list is meant to be, and what the right columns are really for.

Then, above the right set of colums, have a header like "See more info" or some such.

.Again, I've written similar above...see my point #2...but RalphM didn't appear to agree with me.

Upd/Addendum: Looked at new vers...yes, that IS better! But I still suggest tweaking the title phrase "guides you through" as I'd posted or similar just to make it even clearer that it's links given the non-std icon.

[admin]

Upd/Addendum: Looked at new vers...yes, that IS better! But I still suggest tweaking the title phrase "guides you through" as I'd posted or similar just to make it even clearer that it's links given the non-std icon.

Ok, agreed. I thought anyway, that "guides you through the documentation" sounds too "official" for this mix of info bits and pieces.

So what about:
The following table gives you an overview of the most important features of XYplorer, and points you to various types of information.