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2 things that make this 'redesign' complete rubish....

Although the whole approach Apple took in redesigning these forums is just ***-backwards, there are 2 things that are just mind-numbingly ridiculous. First, why isn't the search box linked to the forum you are browsing? After spending the mouseclicks to finally arrive at the forum I'm interested in, why does the search field still search the entire Communities? If I'm in the Motion forum and I type in something about an xml import, I really don't need to filter through search results from the itunes forum....


Secondly, when I 'refine the list' to get to the forum I actually want, why does the whole blue panel have to stay active. When I click to the second screen of the forum I'm in that same blue panel is there taking up 75% of the vertical space. I mean, did anyone at Apple really try to use this before if was released?


I've held off so long on posting anything about this. I just didn't want to be labeled as one of those people who just can't appreciate anything new, but this is just a horrendous step backwards. It really seems like some project manager needed something to justify his/her job so they took it upon themselves to sell the need to redesign this place. Really, really poor job in almost every aspect of what this has become.....

G5 dual 2GHz, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jun 5, 2011 4:42 PM

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24 replies

Jun 5, 2011 5:07 PM in response to chris catalano

First, why isn't the search box linked to the forum you are browsing?

In the forum that you're in (for example, this one), type some text into the search box and wait for the drop-down to appear, as per the following screenshot:


User uploaded file


By default, that's showing all forums. But if you click on the blue "Only for Using Apple Support Communities" it will show you just the results from UASC, as per:


User uploaded file


If you're still not seeing the items you're searching on, click "View All Results". That takes you a set of search results constrained on this forum:


User uploaded file

Jun 5, 2011 6:40 PM in response to b noir

Ok, I see that now. Honestly, when I'm searching (any forum, not just here) and there's spotlight style 'suggestions' as I'm typing I find it more annoying than useful. So I usually just finish what I'm typing and hit return so I can see the full results list. By doing that here, there's no way to change the results to just the forum you were in. Its really a case of truly breaking something that worked well.


Regards,
Chris

Jun 5, 2011 7:13 PM in response to chris catalano

So I usually just finish what I'm typing and hit return so I can see the full results list. By doing that here, there's no way to change the results to just the forum you were in.

We can still get there. Suppose we did that (just typed and hit enter) with the same search string. This time we'll get through to the "All communities" search results page:


User uploaded file


Click the wee blue "More options" thingy. Now in the "Restrict to Community, Project or Group" bit, type "Using" ... then pause:


User uploaded file


... and click the "Using Apple Support Communities" thingy that drops down. Then click "Search", and you be looking at just the results here at UASC.


Unfortunately, you won't be able to drill down all the way to "Motion" for example, because Motion isn't a Community. Final Cut Studio is the lowest level community over in those parts. Motion is a "category" within the FCS community. Categories (in the technical sense defined in the Jive software) are a bit like tags on steroids. Here's the description from the manual. (Many thanks to Colin Robinson for the link.)


Categoriesare words or phrases through which people can add content to predefined groups. You definecategoriesin a way that's specific to a particular place (a space or social group, for example). As you createcategories, give thought to how the place's content should be grouped. You can optionally associate certain tags with the category. If you do, someone who uses those tags with content will see the category's name highlighted. This is a cue to consider assigning the content to the category.


By creating or editingcategories, you can help ensure that content is organized in the best way for people using the space.


Managing categories (Jive SBS 4.0.15)

Jun 5, 2011 9:20 PM in response to b noir

An advanced search with all this stuff on one panel would be nice. Getting rid of catagories would be even nicer.


I wipped up my own advanced search by bookmarking a search page. Here it is:

https://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?resultTypes=&dateRange=all&peopleEnabl ed=true&q=unix&containerType=&container=&containerName=&username=rccharles&rankB y=relevance&newq=unix*&numResults=15


User uploaded file

Jun 6, 2011 5:56 AM in response to b noir

Ok b, I stand corrected about not being able to narrow the search results after the fact. BUT, is this better than the way it was previously? I think not. And it seems lots of folks hold the same view. Seeing this kind of a workaround along with the other user's post further down where he had to create his own advanced search bookmark just further strengthens my view of how badly Apple screwed up here. I really have yet to see a single example of how this has improved from the previous version.


Cheers.

Jun 6, 2011 6:52 AM in response to chris catalano

Regarding being better than the previous version or Apple screwing up, please understand that Apple didn't write the software that runs this site. That software is called Jive. The version previously used is very old, no longer supported, & on the verge of becoming unusable due to the ever increasing use of this site.


The old software might have been able to handle the load for a little while longer but they really had no choice: upgrade to the more efficient, supported version or watch discussions.apple.com slowly grind to a halt.

Jun 6, 2011 12:01 PM in response to chris catalano

Seeing this kind of a workaround along with the other user's post further down where he had to create his own advanced search bookmark just further strengthens my view of how badly Apple screwed up here.

🙂 I was using r's sort of bookmark at AD already in order to manage my searches more efficiently. So it's been a wash for me in that regard.


But the name of the game here hasn't been "you're wrong ... no you're wrong", but rather trying to make the existing system a bit easier for you to use.


Continuing in that vein. From your first post:


After spending the mouseclicks to finally arrive at the forum I'm interested in

Have you got your various communities (the ones that you spend most time at) "Followed"? If so, that can cut down the amount of time it takes to get from one to another, using the quick navigation controls up at the top of each page.


For example (using some old screenshots of mine), go "Your Stuff > Communities":


User uploaded file


That'll get you through to a display listing all the communities you're following:


User uploaded file


... so that cuts down navigation-clicking from one place to another to click-select (scroll if necessary), click.

Jun 6, 2011 8:58 PM in response to chris catalano

Might as well throw in the incredible number of mouse clicks to get anywhere!!!!


EDIT:

Oh, and the enormous amount of white space which only helps to cause the above.


Then there's the double scroll bar at the front page to ASC .... if you want a community low on the list, be prepared to scroll 2 scroll bars, one right and one left.


I was in the Adobe forums the other night and noticed they have an implementation of Jive and have done a much superior job. Adobe wins.

Jun 6, 2011 9:14 PM in response to buz

Might as well throw in the incredible number of mouse clicks to get anywhere!!!


Have you got your various communities (the ones that you spend most time at) "Followed", buz? If so, that can cut down the amount of time it takes to get from one to another, using the quick navigation controls up at the top of each page.


For example (using some old screenshots of mine), go "Your Stuff > Communities":


User uploaded file


That'll get you through to a display listing all the communities you're following:


User uploaded file


... so that cuts down navigation-clicking from one place to another to click-select (scroll if necessary), click.

2 things that make this 'redesign' complete rubish....

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