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I've released, as part of our TechEd 2010 celebrations (or by pure coincidence - you decide) a new article layout:
http://beta.codeproject.com/KB/asp/readfile.aspx[^]
I'd like your comments and suggestions so I can do final tweaks this week and go live. If it's an abomination, speak now. If you have suggestions, I'll try and get them done fast. If you just think it looks good, then that's nice to hear too!
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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Looks fine to me and I think I can see what it is trying to achieve. While I have no strong feelings I think I prefer the current layout with the article link tree to the left.
It's time for a new signature.
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No major change, if there were only thumbs up and thumbs down for layout, I would not see a fit vote; if there were a 1-to-5 scale I would vote 3, and reconsider later.
Here are some comments:
advantages
+ slightly more modern look, needs getting used to
+ nice set of icons for print, ...
disadvantages
- Bob got demoted; your beta has the main/green menu bar higher up; it makes sense, doesn't look as good (maybe needs getting used to too); having green above and orange below the ad in the header does not look pretty.
- distraction pane now at the right, I don't like it there (*1)
- missing: last update date near first posted date (*2); I know it's near the author's name now, I don't think that is where it belongs
- the vote histogram not immediately visible, and no arrow cursor when hovering
- the new tabs look good but act very slowly
still not improved
= voting histogram is hard to read (try getting vote count on a short column), why not make it 3 times as large?
suggestions
1. make the search bar (bottom part of header) green, same as menu bar, rather than orange.
2. consider a lighter shade of green
3. in the header, let the author's hyperlink point to his profile page, not his article list; and add a (more articles) hyperlink if there are more.
(*1) The first thing I do when installing a new Visual Studio, is move the Solution Pane to the left; having navigation means and other tools to the left seems much more natural. If you must offer it on the right, can you make that a user setting?
(*2) Could easily be fixed.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Hi Chris,
IMO you have posted this in the wrong forum; "Article Writing" is visited by article writers, you however probably want the opinion of article readers, which is a much larger and somewhat different audience.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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It's also visited by editors, sub-editors and mentors, as well as those thinking of writing, or who have already written.
Basically: exactly the people whose opinion I'm currently after.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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The layout at a first glance gives a 1990 look. The current header compared to the new design, is easy to read and all the information is easily available, also all the tags are shown. It gives a clear separation between the article and the article details.
I would rather have the source code link on top of the article than in a separate tab; all it contains are a few links.
The links below the header with names are better. Was there a reason to change share to Digg?
The links on the left are something I used a lot. Would like to have that while reading an article, make it easy to navigate to different sub topic or open it in a new window.
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Hi,
I was curious to note that this article :
ViperWorks.Ignition WinForms Framework[^]
Requires DevX commercial controls to be used.
In the submission guidelines it state : "An article is acceptable if it can be used on its own using the tools, libraries and components that a developer working in the given technology could reasonably be expected to own, or which is free (as in no charge)."
Has there been a change in CP policy in this regard ?
thanks, Bill
"Many : not conversant with mathematical studies, imagine that because it [the Analytical Engine] is to give results in numerical notation, its processes must consequently be arithmetical, numerical, rather than algebraical and analytical. This is an error. The engine can arrange and combine numerical quantities as if they were letters or any other general symbols; and it fact it might bring out its results in algebraical notation, were provisions made accordingly." Ada, Countess Lovelace, 1844
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I believe there have been other articles like this in the recent past, and in all cases the authors have been encouraged to offer alternative free components in place of the commercial ones. If you haven't let the author know, I'm more than happy to inform them that they have introduced a barrier to using their code.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx
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Hi Pete,
My own thought about this is :
The article in question is a "major piece of work" in the sense that it obviously represents a big effort by the writer in terms of time, energy, coding. It's certainly not something whose major focus is dependent on the commercial controls; at least on casual examination it looks like the DevX controls are mainly providing the UI (could be wrong, there).
I sense the author has a lot of creative energy, and I do think that's valuable and should be encouraged.
If an article depends on a commercial product for its essential functionality, where that functionality could not be recreated in .NET in some reasonable way using the standard libraries, then I think the article should be not allowed.
On the other hand, imho, articles that depend on open-source libraries, like jQuery, should be fine (and I assume they are allowed).
best, Bill
"Many : not conversant with mathematical studies, imagine that because it [the Analytical Engine] is to give results in numerical notation, its processes must consequently be arithmetical, numerical, rather than algebraical and analytical. This is an error. The engine can arrange and combine numerical quantities as if they were letters or any other general symbols; and it fact it might bring out its results in algebraical notation, were provisions made accordingly." Ada, Countess Lovelace, 1844
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I've dropped him a note.
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx
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I remain hopeful he can offer a free alternative. Let's wait and see
Thanks Pete!
Thanks,
Sean Ewington
The Code Project
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We have a lot of unedited articles. A boatload. What we don't have is hours in the day and so I was wondering how best to harness the awesome power of you guys in helping us get these articles a little lovin'
Years and years ago we had a fixed group of editors who had been tested, vetoed, and had been given The Power of Editing. It worked OK until these editors found a life, a job, maybe even a romantic interest, and ran out of spare time.
I'd like to resurrect this, but a little differently. My thinking was: anyone who is platinum can edit any article, no questions asked. To augment this we allow anyone who wishes to edit an article a chance, and if they pass a basic trial period they are let loose to go forth and edit. And earn rep points and also be in the running for outright bribes (prizes, software, gadgets etc)
How much interest is there in this?
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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I'd be willing to help out as time permits. I assume you must have some editing guidelines, right?
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Yep - we have an old, dusty tome that provides the guidelines.
cheers,
Chris Maunder
The Code Project | Co-founder
Microsoft C++ MVP
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I'd be more than happy to help out. I have been a member on this site for a long time and always regretted for not having written an article. Editing the articles could probably be a first step in writing an article in the near future.
Let me know if my reputation qualifies me to take up the trial period test.
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Chris - I'm sure I could find a minute or two to help you out if you need it. I like being bribed
"WPF has many lovers. It's a veritable porn star!" - Josh Smith As Braveheart once said, "You can take our freedom but you'll never take our Hobnobs!" - Martin Hughes.
My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Onyx
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I'd be willing to help out in between providing technical answers to forum questions, and working on my external (unpaid) projects. I'm sure such a task would give us lots of opportunities to learn some new skills.
It's time for a new signature.
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I'm sure I could help with editing articles, I would like to contribute a bit more, provided there were some guidelines (and not too many all at once! )
Ali
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June is going to be busy month for me but after that I will be glad to be of any help. Coincidently I will be writing my PhD thesis at that time so I will be in writing and editing mode
-Saurabh
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I would definitely be interested in editing articles, it may also help me to finish writing the article I have been working on for a while 
Lloyd
^-^-^-@@-^-^-^
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^^ ^^
Moose.
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Sure.
My email is larry_mintz@primus.ca
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there is no need to publish your e-mail address, unless you need to test your SPAM filters...
There is a little widget under each message, which people can use to send you an e-mail through CP, then you can exchange whatever you want to exchange. It is optional though, check your checkboxes...
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Hi
I've also posted an article http://www.codeproject.com/KB/applications/HelpSystem.aspx
But it still says "Status - Composing". And in My Articles page, it is "Unfinished article".
Can someone please help?
Regards,
Vinit
VKS
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when you try and edit your article, you might notice a tiny checkbox (right above or right below the edit box), something like "make public" or "publish" or "unfinished" or "don't publish yet" or whatever it is called nowadays. That is the one you should set appropriately.
I know, it isn't easy to spot right away. I wish they'd make it a lot bigger, red, and blinking.
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [Why QA sucks] [My Articles]
I only read formatted code with indentation, so please use PRE tags for code snippets.
I'm not participating in frackin' Q&A, so if you want my opinion, ask away in a real forum (or on my profile page).
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Thanks much, Luc. It helped me a lot and now my article's status is changed to pending.
VKS
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