[Theforum] evolt-ia: contact pages

javier velasco lists at mantruc.com
Wed Jan 16 06:52:43 CST 2002


WOW, thaks a lot 'Ron L' for such positive feedback!

i owe an explanation (sometimes i get lots of things unexplained, sorry)

those pages are very rough drafts, my idea was to present the solution
of even having such pages with the text/combo layout to help users send
their message quicker, then if wee agreed it was a good thing we could
start refining them.

"Luther, Ron" wrote:
> 
> Hi Javier,

hi Ron :)
 
> On m.e.o. - Looks pretty good.  I would really ask for a "more info" box
> so they could explain at greater length what they might be running into.
> [Recently I ran into an issue/question about how to get Perl working on
> my m.e.o. account.  Without a "more info" box, this form wouldn't have
> helped me.]

well, actually i was going to add a more info box the next time i edited
the page (as soon as ie got some feedback)

i could use some help defining the common option problems

> On l.e.o. - Looks pretty good. I think I would change the wording on
> "subscription address" to something more like "email address I receive
> this list at".  I'm torn over whether a "more info" box should
> (optionally) be added here.  I think the drop-down might be tuned to
> handle 90% of what folks might run into here.  Maybe that's good enough
> - maybe if they have a more involved question they should just post it
> on thelist? <Thinking as I type.> Yeah, forget the 'more info' box.

the purpose of this page is to let the user explain subscription
problems

yes, more info should be possible on all these pages, not to restrict
the user, just guide them.

the plan is to try to handle -as you say 90%- with the drop down
keep the opitons coming


> On Development - If I understand the intent here, (I'm guessing that
> this is somewhat in response to Lou's question/suggestion to have a more
> centralized mechanism for members to report usability issues with
> evolt), then I like the idea.

not at all, this was thought the first time i started playing with the
redesign project, vay before lou came into the converstion. i thought
about this when reading the messages sent throught the contact form, and
answering. i started seiing a patter in the messages, there were lots of
them that talked about the same problems.

then i went to (www.nathan.com)'s seminar, and he showed this thing that
combined text with pull-downs in a very plaful and gracious way.

so i put these two ideas in the blender and got to this solution for our
contact forms, i actually built the mock up pages weeks ago, but was
waiting for nathan's approval to use it, so now i'm showing it to you
all

>  [OTOH, If it's to be used by someone like
> me to say - "I'm having trouble with a custom CF tag on my personal
> site" ... then I'm '-1' on this. Okay?]  

i agree 100%

> If that's the case, then I'm
> thinking this one needs more tuning than the other two.  

the plan is to direct people with development problems to thelist, from
the main contact page

when doing it i came up with the possibility of allowing people to send
questions directly to thelist, and getting answers to their mail. i'm
still not very convinced if this is a good idea or not, i'm reluctant to
use it. i think it merits a lot of discussion.

> There is a typo
> in there.  I think I'd change the title to something more along the
> lines of "evolt usability issue".  I think I'd change the "my problem
> is" to something more like "the behavior I noticed was".  I think that
> maybe there is a chance here to add a little more 'prefatory' text:
> 
> "Form for Reporting Evolt Usability Issues
> 
> This is the 'right place' to report usability issues you may have run
> across on the evolt web site.  Whether you're gotten a database error
> message while searching the archives, or pressed a command button that
> didn't do anything ... Anything evolt is fair game to be reported here.
> 
> What happens when I fill out this form?  Once you fill out this form,
> your comments, description, and email address will be posted in a
> message on theforum where it will be discussed and perhaps acted upon by
> other evolt members.  You can join in the discussion by joining theforum
> here.
> 
> Rest of the form stuff.
> 
> Doh! Never mind.  I guess the old brain cells aren't quite warmed up
> yet.  It just kinda dawned on me that your form *IS* geared to first
> time evolt site (currently non-thelist member) types.  Hmmmm ... I'm not
> sure I wanna be 'mom-of-the-world' just yet.  I'm guess I'm kinda
> leaning towards a parochial "if they are at their wits end and all that
> concerned over learning development - make 'em join up to pick our
> brains" attitude today.  So, I think I'd be against 'diluting' member
> questions with questions from folks who aren't members.  -1 for now.

here i lost you completely 
are you talking about adding another page to report usability issues?

-- 
Javier Velasco
Information Architect @ Chile
Work - http://www.nurun.cl
Me - http://mantruc.com
Family - http://evolt.org




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