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 CAD / Development / Organizations / LDraw / 948
947  |  949
Subject: 
Re: Site change suggestion
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw
Date: 
Thu, 29 Jun 2000 15:20:58 GMT
Viewed: 
4233 times
  
In lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw "Larry Pieniazek"
<lpieniazek@mercator.com> wrote:
> Fred Gloeckner's comments aside (let's face it, he's way smarter than most of
> us at using these tools) LEdit is hard to use if you're a mouser. To be fast
> with it, you need to memorize commands (which I use too many different programs
> to do) and be a fast touch typist. My brain is too small for that.
> 
> SO having the first thing that newbies find be something that sells them LEdit
> and LDraw is just flat out wrong, IMHO. Get them hooked on the format with one
> of the much easier to use programs. Such as MLCad.

Yes.

> On the other hand, making the site MLCad focused per se is also wrong. It's
> great, it's my favorite by a lot, Mr. Lachmann is a god among men, but there
> are other good programs out there, other approaches.

Yep.  That's the concensus which I gather from this thread - it needs
a good balance between the new and the original, for both types of
users.

> Balance is needed. Organise things so that newbies find their way to the good
> easy to use stuff and get hooked, but that all the info is there. In fact, the
> "getting started" section should offer alternative ways or paths... one for the
> mouser which most of us at this point are and one for the power keyboard user.

Yeah.  After Kidvention, when I start doing some changes to the site,
I will strongly think of how to impliment that on the Start page.  I
also agree that the main page should be cleaned up and more
newbie-friendly.

I also plan on setting up a Kidvention visitor resource page before
Kidvention, so they can be referred there and get a similar
introduction and then be sent off into places on the site where they
can start out themselves.

> On the site itself changing to use fancy stuff.
> 
> <system architect and UI expert hat on>
> 
> Don't do it.
> 
> It's not worth it for the sizzle, and if you're doing it for other reasons,
> look into content management systems. There are freeware macro language
> extensions that will, for example, let you create and maintain commonly
> included things like button bars, the banner at the top, and so forth, *once*,
> and include them where they are needed. They generate straight HTML once you
> run them through a processor.

I'd be interested in learning more about these options.  I am planning
on using Dreamweaver behind the scenes (won't effect the appearance
and function of the site much) to make it a TON easier for me to work
with.  Always open to (easy to use) options.

> Going down a proprietary content creation path is tempting, especially if you
> want to learn how to use the tool. Go do that on your own site. Don't do it on
> a site that is maintained by others as well as you. Don't do it on a site that
> may have high traffic, and that may have users who are differently abled or who
> have less capable hardware than you do.

Ok.

> Stick to the standards, avoid gadgets, avoid java, avoid javascript, avoid
> flash, avoid media player extensions. Make sure that you are not excluding
> users if you can avoid it. Make sure that you are not excluding contributors if
> you can avoid it.
> 
> My opinions. Not everyone agrees but it's what I advise my clients too.

After the gentle prodding of a few people in this discussion, this is
what page I'm on too with the issues about the site.  I'll do my best
to see that it is updated in a clean, easy to follow manner sharing a
balance between the two programs, and making it clear for new users.
Without stepping into the 4.0 browser range.

-Tim

http://www.zacktron.com
http://www.ldraw.org
AIM:   timcourtne
ICQ:   23951114



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Site change suggestion
 
For true newbie-focusism, one of the first questions the site should answer is: "What do I need to do so I can just view LDraw models from the Web?". Steve (26 years ago, 30-Jun-00, to lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Site change suggestion
 
In lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw, Travis Cobbs writes: <snip> Great thread. A few points off the top of my head, no order... <user hat on> Fred Gloeckner's comments aside (let's face it, he's way smarter than most of us at using these tools) LEdit is (...) (26 years ago, 29-Jun-00, to lugnet.cad.dev.org.ldraw)

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