|
Post by JohnEakin on Mar 14, 2011 20:50:24 GMT 8
During a recent email exchange, EXO mentioned how frustrating it is to spend days developing a new website feature which no one then visits. (You might be surprised at how much the administrator knows of your browsing habits.) So I fired off a few observations from my new guy perspective. In response, I received a very thoughtful explanation of why this site is designed the way it is and which encouraged me to keep digging for even more of the many pearls I've found on this site.
At Paul's request, I post my original message below so that he may respond with his excellent explanation that others may find as interesting as I did. Thanks, EXO, for the education and for making this site the fascinating place it is.
(Original email follows)
I have the opposite problem with my two little sites. I get involved in some other project, don't post anything, then wonder why the hits are down. <G>
A (hopefully) constructive observation from a newbie - your site is difficult to navigate. I'm still finding new areas - its kind of an Easter egg hunt. I only recently found the new topics area - it isn't listed in the forum jump area. Sometimes I only find new areas because someone has posted a link in a forum message - then I often have trouble finding my way back to the forum. There are also a few pages on which navigation is not intuitive.
I'd love to read the site "cover to cover" but I can't find a lot of new stuff so I end up waiting until someone points it out - then don't have time to read the whole new section I've discovered and can't find my way back later.
Wish I had an easy solution to suggest.
Best,
John
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Mar 15, 2011 10:25:28 GMT 8
John, Yes, I am very much aware that the site is difficult to navigate - it happens because (a) I have been building it for more than a decade and (b) there are hidden doors everywhere. It's a bit like Disney World. Some things work - and get added to, others don't, and they languish. It is indeed a kind of Easter Egg Hunt, and I have actually hidden a few easter eggs deliberately. I like to reward people who range widely, and who dig deep. I don't want to show the treasures to people who just blow in, and blow out again, never to be heard from again. (By way of an afterthought, though I generally refer to it as a website (singular), it essentially has become ten websites across five domain addresses.)In fact, I actually CREATED the forum so that I could generate discussion about various of its areas, new stuff etc. It is true that, like the size of the world, trends can develop in some areas that other areas never know about. For instance, to address your criticism, which is taken positively, I created a "recent articles page" at corregidor.org/_nav/nav_01.htmlI am preparing a five-column version of this, plus trying to learn how to cycle pages throughout the breadth of the site. It IS a vexing problem. I am trying to address it, and I DO appreciate your inquietude when you say that you wish you had an easy solution to suggest. I wish there was one. If you do find a place you find interesting, and you feel that others haven't been there, DO mention it in the forum. I console myself by saying that something which has been built over a decade cannot, and should not, be capable of being read in an afternoon. Not even in a week or a month of afternoons, either. One cannot get from newbie to Masters Degree in a single semester.
|
|
|
Post by okla on Mar 25, 2011 6:00:39 GMT 8
Hey EXO....Today (March 24) I have had absolutely no success when "dialing up" GHQ via Bookmark. I get an error message viz "Content Encoding Error - please notify website owner of this problem". This I have now done. I find myself now to be completly computer illiterate, although I earned my living for 20 years as a computer operator, I am an old magnetic tape/disk guy. Todays layouts are beyond me. My "monkey see, monkey do" method of the 1960s/70s doesn't get the job done these days for me. Therefore, I am reporting my difficulty to you as the PC screen requested be done. I have had similar conditions in the past, but it usually cleared up overnight,etc. I figured you were "off the air" while installing some new feature,etc. I am hoping this is the case today. Does it have anything to do with that "pimp listing" that crept on the site yesterday? Hoping I am not being a pest. Cheers. Postscript....I am able to get the forum/bulletin board by using Bookmark for Heritage etc, but the remainder of Corregidor.org is beyond reach for me, at present.
|
|
|
Post by EXO on Mar 25, 2011 9:56:15 GMT 8
Hi, Okla You did right. Firstly, I don't think your issue was because I blew off that "pimp-listing" urban vermin. The forum and the website are hosted at separate servers, by separate companies, under separate domains. Last night there were a few hours when I was having some 501 errors (I shan't explain) and they seem to have disappeared this morning (fingers crossed.) I have no idea if what was happening caused either or both our issues. This morning, the main entry portal ( corregidor.org ) came up normal, and navigation through to the GHQ page ( corregidor.org/_admin/CTN_central/ctn_ghq_index_composite.htm ) was also without error. The latest feature (the 4-column features footer) which I was attempting to load last night, is now there, and operating. And also a very special Field Notes item which I am sure will make your day. If you are still having problems, perhaps it is an issue with your computer browser, in which circumstance I would advise you to clear the cache. Regards, ExO
|
|
|
Post by okla on Mar 25, 2011 21:06:55 GMT 8
Hey EXO....Everything seems to be "ichi ban" this morning. I "shan't" look a gift horse in the mouth. All I know is I am back on the complete Corregidor.org site and wrapped in my "security blanket" once again. Thanks for responding to my "panic attack". Cheers.
|
|
|
Post by okla on Mar 26, 2011 3:44:26 GMT 8
Hey EXO....The new 4 Column layout,etc is super great. You are to be commended. A great addition to the Site. In my humble, it is double tough to improve on what you have done, but this latest feature certainly simplifies and speeds up the process of jumping from one subject/area to another. Great work. Cheers.
|
|