PA and Secretary Community - Deskdemon.com

Oh no!  Bring back the old DD.  Don't like the format at all.  Couldn't find where to log on, then when I eventually did, I couldn't find the forums page, and no prior warning either!!

How do you get to the Forums page after logging on...??!!  There is a lot of wasted space on the right hand side of the homepage - is this for a reason?

Humph........

I think it is more an intial log on shock.  I think it will take a few days to get used to where everything is.  I like the new softer colors.  Everything looks like it is still here just more organized.   I am going to have to take some time later to look at what is new.   So far, though I thought I was on the wrong site, Iike it.

I had to post after looking at the site a bit more.  Wow!  There is a whole new section!  Groups, Videos, Events and more.  It is 1 am here and will have to look at this more tomorrow.  

I don't like it at all, a quick overview with screendumps to show where everything is would help.  There doesn't seem to be any logic to it.

I've done this before for colleagues and co-workers when I've created new web pages on the intranet.

I posted in sound off about change ... :-P

Hi, here is a fast update.  We have been working around the clock over the weekend to get everything moved over and updated.   DeskDemon is quite a large site and we have the new Community & Network area.    The majority of the work is done, but on Monday we will be finishing the final details.   Please be patient.     Log on seems to be having some issues.

Gee sorry you don't like it, but I am sure you will get used to it.   Besides having a nav bar across the top and adding a sub nav bar where needed, the site is basically the same information. (should be no white space on the right by the way)   All the latest features in the middle, ads on the side.  Tools are still on the left.  

I will definitely be posting some information on the new area.  In a nut shell we have added:

Groups - Groups have their own member list and message board, but in addition you can post events, documents, videos, photos that only each group can see...
Events - A calendar of events, can be public networking events, conferences, webinars...
Blogs - Start your own blog...
Listings - A business directory
Classified - You can post your classified
Albums - a place to post photos of events, your business, your friends, pets...
Videos - We have posted videos but we also have compiled training videos where you can find out how to do many software skill or softskills.   You can post or embed videos and add to the collection.
Polls, post your own poll or respond to one the polls other people have submitted.
Twitter!  If you have your own Twitter account, check out how you can Twitter directly from DeskDemon.  
Content - A place where the viewers can contribute their own written features on many topics.
Links - Share your popular links (similar to Digg) on the Links page
Browse Files - Share files and documents with your peers.

The DeskDemon user can contribute to all sections, you have to go to the drop down menu "My Apps" to add information.   There is a lot to take in and in the next day or so I will post some more information in the Sound Off section.

Susan,

I couldn't find where to log on, nav bar not that obvious and logon area is too far up the page, not that visible.

As for the format, I have a huge space on the right with all the ads down the left.

Can't see any reference to changes on DD website in the Sound Off forum.

Error message on Video link.

What's the difference going to read new email messages from My Deskdemon (on the left hand side of the home page), than from the Networking section?

- Should there be one email inbox where we read messages?
- Which inbox do my emails come to?  Are the above linked?
- Is there a quicker way to go to read new emails than having to navigate through  the sections?

Also I keep getting booted out and am having to log in constantly.

Susan,

You pm'd me asking to send you screen dumps of what I am seeing on the various DD webpages.

Firstly the message I am posting has just bounced back so the original emailing option does not work - which was why I asked from where do we send emails?  You need to remove the old link form the home page (left hand side under My Deskdemon) as this no longer works.

In the "new" email section, there is no option to compose a draft message for editing later - might be worth looking at.  Also there is no option to browse my address book for contacts - any thoughts?

Finally there is no option to attach screen dumps so I am unable to send these to you.

There are a lot of issues here which should have been tested before any new web pages went live.

Hello

I agree there are some unresolved issues - the main one for me being that I cannot amend some of the settings in Network and Community (the first page including the time zone); which appears to relate to e-mail address.  It is not urgent, and I am sure if it is a known issue it is in the pot to be addressed - if it is an unknown issue Susan, perhaps you would get back to me for more information once you have all the earlier points addressed.

Overall I like the new site, although it was a bit of a shock this morning; it brings it up to date with other networking fora and once we are used to the new features Desk Demon offers us so much more.  Good luck with ironing out the glitches.

Cathy

I had a difficult time loging in this morning too. Once I got logged in had no problem finding the forums.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

Wow this looks fab. I managed to log on inmediately. I haven't gone through all the newbies yet, but so far, so good. Thanks!

I couldn't see a nav bar, I also see the space Gee refers to and couldn't find the forums easily so clicked on a link of a posting to get here quickly.

I will try to have a further look later but agree there is quite a bit of work to be done - maybe you shouldn't have pressed the 'go live' button just yet???

Jackie, Peer Moderator

Susan:  When I tried to login it scrambled and said to send a message - tried that but it would not go through - it took three tries before I was able to login.  ... I liked the old format a whole lot better.

Due to the high level of graphics and features uploaded to the new look DD site, navigation to various pages is extremel slow.

This means by the time pages have loaded, I have been booted out and have to log in again in order to get to the page I want.

It is very slow and definitely not as quick to navigate as the previous version.

Is anyone else have difficulty seeing new postings that used to appear in brackets in red font??

I haven't got any problems at all. All loads quick, no blank areas, unread messages shown up ... funny being a Spanish Computer :-)

I really like the new design. I can see from a quick whizz that there are loads of new features and to me the site does look more organised.  The community stuff looks pretty impressive and I'll have to investigate that properly.  I haven't found problems logging in and actually prefer the login at the top of the page.  Forums weren't hard to find either as I went in from the left of the page.

I'm not sure what I think about the website, having seen the former for a while.

I've logged on twice today and so far here are my comments:

I find the new home page rather too busy;
I can't see a site map or an "A-Z" directory, either of which would be useful;  
It would be great if I could personalise the homepage, then it really would be "My Deskdemon";
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "news".  An announcement about envelopes is not, I'm afraid, really "news" to me;
The lifestyle section might be improved if there were proper links from the articles to websites.  For example the article about flexible benefits has a good description of the author, but no link to the author's website.  The article about handbags has no photos of the handbags, but details of the author.  Click on the author's details and you get to her website to buy handbags, but not see the examples she mentions in the article;
The Hub section: I would like to see that word as a link TO The hub.  You have "The Hub" on the page and "Forums" accessible through the "networking" tab at the top.  It might be less confusing if it were one or the other.

There are always going to be teething troubles and adverse remarks.  I think a lot is a result of how people read pages online.   People probably tend to see the middle of the page more and so that middle section about today on DD, offers etc is probably extremely important.  I like the colours chosen - a big improvement on the previous website.  


Winter Rose

Laugh long, sing loud and dance when you get the chance

I had trouble logging on, but once on it is great.  I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I think this look is MUCH better. More modern, clean, I know were to find the current content and it looks much easier to find old content.   The sign in, is now at the top and the forum post is on the second bar. Ok got it, doesnt take brain surgery to figure out.   I just have finished looking at all the new areas in the Community and Networking and have to say I am a bit overwhelmed.  There is so much there I don't know what to look at first.   I will look into that more.  

I have worked on web design and see the huge amount of work that has been put in.  Good job and thanks for making your community better.   I do hope the sign in problems are fixed soon.  That is the only issue I see so far.

Had trouble finding where to log in.  After I did, I received error messages.  Web page error.  I tried to e-mail to the link to report the problem, but the messages would not go through.  I finally did get logged in on the 4th try.  Here I am.  It's a little crowded to navigate through, but I think once we get used to the new format, it will be easier.  

I think we have solved the log on problem.   I have logged in successfully on the first try a few times.   Once I did get the "log on screen" a second time, but looking at the top, I was logged on.

Susan,

I have logged on at least 10 times this morning despite DD showing I am already logged in.  Every time I try and reply to a posting I get booted back to the home page and have to log on again.

Has the email issue been fixed?  Where is the address book?  Where is the option to send attachments?

Is there a user guide for the new look DD?  or a help section at least?

For info,

I can send and receive external emails via the "old" email version on DD but emails to Susan via her Deskdemon account get bounced back - strange.

The "new" email version on the upgraded site does not work.

I think we need some clear indication of what functions have "gone live" and are working, and what areas remain "under construction" and a time frame for their "go live" date.

gee - what browser and version you are using?

Marie
Peer Moderator

Gee, there is no "new" email version.  It is working (I have been using it daily) fine for most people, actually you are the only one I that I am aware that is hasn't worked for.  If any else is having problems, please let me know.

The attachments are where they have always been.   I am not sure why it is getting bounced back but you can try susans@deskdemon.com as well.   We have no areas that are "under construction" that are live.   We are working on a new forum board but as you can see that is not up.   Everything was tested before going live and working perfectly, but sometimes unexpected problems happen and we will work to fix those.  

Have you looked around the home page?  In the same spot you get your email, which you must have found if you are sending an email to me, there is your address book and to do list, notepad, edit profile.    As Maire asked, and I did in the private message,. what browser are you using?  Internet Explorer, if so what version?  Firefox, Chrome? Netscape?  Sarfari?  We tested all those browsers, so it maybe you have an old version of one.  

As for an overview or tour of DeskDemon, we are working on something.  It will include our new Community and Networking area as there are many new features.

Susan / Marie,

I am using Internet Explorer 7 but still having trouble with the DD site and email.  

There is a MY DESKDEMON option on the left hand side of the page and I have to access and send email from there.  The MESSAGES option on the general networking pages do not work.  I have just emailed you and have attached screen dumps so will try and send others as I come across them.

As for emailing you nothing is getting through to you via the old email version or the new version.  I think you should delete the links under the MY DESKDEMON option I mentioned above if they are now obselete.

If the new email version is working, where is the address book?  Where is the option to attach files?

We didn't change our email system.  It is the same.  Let me take this off the message board and see if we can figure out what is going wrong.  I just got 2 emails from you and we can figure it out that way.   If anyone else is having similar problems, let me know.

Change is good.  Just have to reorient to where everything moved.  Logged in from my smart phone.  No problem.

Susan,

Can we leave this on until it's resolved?

I am led to believe all headings under the new nav bar are functioning, and that nothing on the site is under construction, however I disagree as per my emails to you and screen dumps.

Will be good to get this sorted.

Ok I see one confusion and let me clarify and try to see if we can post some instructions on the networking area as well.    Our email system is the same as it has always been and is accessible from the home page.  Our networking has its own internal email where you can quickly and easily email one of your "friends" on your friends list.  It will notify you if you are accepted to a group.  It is purely internal to the networking area.   This email does not work for outgoing mail and is just a simple means of internal communications within the networking area.  

I will see if I can post some clarification so it is more understood.

We are going to looking into your other issues.

All,

I have just corresponded with Susan who has confirmed my queries -  I was right, not all links/options are fully functional - Susan will explain.

I was accessing email and forums correctly (via the My Deskdemon link on the left hand side of the home page).  Apparently the Messages option on the Networking heading is internal email for networking so I wasn't going mad!

I have managed and created web pages in a previous role for an IT company and it is always good to create help files or a webcast to show changes or new functions.  Anything that is still under construction is usually hidden.

I think I need a drink now!  

It's not a bad idea to announce the changes ahead of time, too, so users aren't shocked when they visit the site after the upgrade. For some, it's comparable to coming home and finding a totally different house where yours used to be.

Of course, I log in so sporadically that for all I know there has been an announcement and I missed it!

Gee, to my knowledge everything IS working all of our links and options ARE functional.   We need to figure out why they are not working for you.  I can see by the screen shots  you are having issues, which we will figure out and get fixed.  

We announced that we had some changes coming soon.    I personally don't like to announce coming soon because issue come up, delays occur.  I mentioned this in the last editors letter of the magazines!  But I will give you a heads up, new message board with many more features, better search, is coming soon.  (Long over due)

Worked great for me today.  Great job.  Just don't change the format of the HUB.  i really like it the way it is.

I agree with Peaches!  DO NOT CHANGE THE HUB! "If ain't broke, don't fix it!"