Ok ... today we started deploying the BSC Lex onto the site server.
There are a number of technical issues that we need to check and double check but by next week we will hopefully have a BETA version up.
Here are a few of the highlites of our Lex ...
a. Our Lex will track your activities and you will be able to go and view a list of what you have downloaded and if anything on your list has been updated since your download.
b. When you select a lot for download our Lex will tell you which of the dependencies you do not already have ... later we will integrate this with a Master Dependency Control Tool that will help you manage your dependencies.
c. Apart from the normal Comments and Vluation by users their will be a specialist review feature for every object and in this Review a user will get the low down by a group of Reviewers that will evaluate the lot purely Technical.
These are just a few of the more prominent highlights ... soon some of you will invited to come for a test drive ... &hlp
oooh! sounds really usefull. &apls
A couple of questions:
Does this mean all BSC dependencies packages will be uploaded to SC4D?
If not, will it be able to link to off-site dependencies?
This sounds like a very useful set of features and thank you more making this possible :thumbsup:
Yes we will link to ON-SITE and OFF-SITE dependencies. This Lex is developed around the needs we have all experienced from other download sites and we are trying to make it a usefull and practical application.
You guys rock, that's some very useful options :thumbsup:
QuoteYou guys rock, that's some very useful options
Silvio nailed it- what more can I say?
SC4D is shaping up as the SC4 place to be.
This sounds very promissing indeed. One thing that has made me shy away from some BSC stuff is being unsure of what dependencies I already have and also which ones I need to get still. I may have to clean out my plug-ins and reevaluate what I have and or need. This will make my life alot easier to do that.
---Gaston
Sounds good :thumbsup:, great idea :thumbsup:
Great, I'm actually rebuilding all my plugins, deleted everything, and already started to redownload & install stuffs
If you want I can write something about the difficulties I'm facing ( not that much in fact, but I read the readme :) )
A couple of sneak peeks of the new LEX.
First this is the screen you will see when you access the LEX. It will have a choice of lots and a link to get the individual pop up with more details and the download link.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy171%2Fbarbyw%2FLex_content_00.jpg&hash=1fd488b1b87db4e991e71bf0507fcfd4a10c774d)
Next the individual pop up for each upload once you click on the More Info/Download link:
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy171%2Fbarbyw%2FLex_details_00.jpg&hash=73591dbfb3f20c5d2ef6df3be8e3d6899ea4d8e1)
As you can see there are details of the lot and a Download Here link, a description of the lot and then a section for Comments and Valuation. This part is optional and you do not need to comment to rate or rate to comment or do either to download but your comments will be displayed and a count of each rating will be shown. The valuations are simplified so you only have to say if you like it or not. If you like it but don't want to download you have to option to make that rating and a comment too if you wish.
Eventually the Dependencies will be checked and links provided to the location of dependencies wherever they are hosted. Uploaders will have a list of dependencies that they can use to list which ones are required.
this is wonderfull what a great idea barby &apls &apls
That's what I thought, this will overcome anything else seen before and will be of most help either to uploaders and downloaders. &apls
The LEX looks very very nice! :thumbsup: &apls
This is just perfect - sounds as music in my ears. &dance You guys (and ladies) rock!
Looks great, I can't wait to see this up and running :thumbsup:
I hope a function to reset every data is incooperated to be used when reinstalling.
Everything else sound like music in my ears. :thumbsup:
That looks awesome &apls . A big thank you to all those involved :thumbsup:
Impressive!! Im looking forward to using this. Do you have any screen shots btw of how the upload process will flow?
:thumbsup:
jplumbley, sorry I don't have any screenshots although I did help with the initial testing some weeks ago and it was a very simple process.
WOW, this will be a terrific help to those of us that can't remember what we've downloaded! &Thk/( I can't help having Senior moments, I'm a senior!
Join the club ;D
This looks like it will be invalueable to alot of people.
Thanks wont be said often enough so
Thanks!
Wow, color me impressed! If it'll make my coffee for me, life will be perfect. You folks are fabulous!! :thumbsup:
Will this be the end of the infamous brown boxes. :'(
Hopefully, YES. :thumbsup:
What a great initiative. Hopefully the Master Dependency Control will bring some organisation in the dependency-chaos. Great work!
Nik-Nik
Ha, ha, NikNik. I even have brown boxes from time to time but that is through my carelessness. Brown boxes only appear if you do not have the model for a building. They don't happen with props.
Any way, here is another sneak peek for you. This is a fresh upload. Note that a user has a choice of Valuation but only 3 choices and there is no need to Valuate or Comment to download. It also indicates that the user has not downloaded this file yet.
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi5.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy171%2Fbarbyw%2FLex_details_00a.jpg&hash=6a4ea63d4ce8e2146f65981f6962b2d0e3c86b1c)
The first BETA will hopefully be available very soon. Keep watching. :thumbsup:
The BSC Lex looks wonderful (wonderful picture), can't wait to use it! :thumbsup:
:thumbsup:Wonderfull work as always Barbyw. You`re not the goodness for nothing . Thanks &apls
Thanks for the kind words but I am just the messenger. ;) The hard work is being done by Colyn and his team. It certainly looks an improvement on the STEX and I like how downloads can be tracked so you can see what you have downloaded. Also like the three point rating.
Wow, this will be a wonderful tool.
I can't help but think this will be a ton of work on the backend side of things.
The amount of links needed to be created and the adding in of new items as they become available, seems scary.
I'm sure that has been allowed for by the LEX creators though, and I am really looking forward to trying it out.
Thanks for your reply Barby. There is only one other question I have now about this. As NHP we have quite lengthy descriptions sometimes describing the terrain, and now 2 installations methods using SC4Mapper and SC4Terraformer so users will only need on or the other. Is there a limit to the length and is it possible if the description is long enough for a scroll bar be put in place?
EDIT Oh I saw something else cool (maybe).... What is the "post review" "read review" links? Can you actually leave a full blown review of the uploads? If so that would be much better and more productive than the comments section!! Maybe some REAL feedback will come from this section.
:-[ Sorru folks . Great job everyone &apls Keep going.
Ok ... the clock is running and we are very close to opening the door on a small crack and let a few in to take it for a test drive.
I will open a new topic for BSC LEX - FAQ abd will give an outline and background to the philosophy around the LEX Design.
So where does 1 go about getting a key to this door?.Thanx
The FAQ is now open "$Deal"$
I would like to throw out a great big thanks to all that have worked on something like this. This will so useful to people like me that have a problem with seniors disease :party: and can't remember if they got all the dependencies that go along or that have already downloaded it, just for the life of them, can't remember where the heck they saved it....lol :angrymore:
Anyway, great big thanks to all &apls can't wait to give this puppy a spin. &dance
Wel Electra ... I am a "senior" too ... so rest assured I am trying to make it as easy as possible for me ::)
This looks fabulous. A big thank you for everyone working on this!
Ok I am happy to report that the LEX is up and running and we are taking in a few registration to see how it goes ... I gues that by the weekend things will be running as it should.
Thanks for your patience.
great news cant wait to try
Ok things are looking good sofar. Registration process works well and uploads and downloads happens without problems ... I am happy. A few cosmetic issues has been highlighted but nothing serious.
So it looks as if tomorrow it will open. &hlp
$%Grinno$%
same as my son when he is happy :D :D :D
( I mean "A senior dancing like...." ;) )
This looks really interesting :)
I eagerly am waiting to try it out
I might just see if I can rework my bomb parkto look more aesthetically pleasing. The original used just maxis props and most of the work was in the technical area.
can't wait to use it... :thumbsup:
:o Wow...how did I miss all of this news #?¿?¿?$ ????
It looks fantastic! I can't begin to imagine how much work it must take to come up with something like that. I think TheTeaCat already said it, but thanks can't be said enough! But here it is once more, anyways: Thank you so much for giving us this amazing product!
thankyou its amazing excellent idea with the logging in
Colyn, et al: &apls Fabulous work on the BSC Lex. This is going to be invaluable for many people and I can't even begin to imagine all the hard work you have put into this. Just two teensy tiny things. Privilege is spelled incorrectly and the comma between the page numbers needs to be moved one space closer to the 1 (told you they were miniscule -- I'm anal about that kind of stuff, what can I say?).
And I'm not sure if it's do-able or even worthy of consideration but it would be nifty if the shaded areas around the lot names were color coded (yellow for industrial lots, green for residential, etc.). Kinda like the way wouanagaine formatted the output report for the SC4LIG, which makes it easy to discern what's what without opening up individual lot descriptions.
Anyway, great work and thanks again for the opportunity to test it.
edit: One more thing I'd like to see and I'm not sure if it's a function of the LEX but when a creator updates a lot, as a user I'd like to know if it's a critical update (must doze existing lots before installing new version) or a minor update (just replace the files in plugins folder). Sometimes I see that a lot's been updated, but there's no explanation behind the update.
Colyn and everybody working on the LEX: you did a great job. This is the best what could happen to the SC4-devoted community ! &dance
I personally like to see the upload date mentioned in the front page. In addition, in case "older" files are uploaded to the LEX, it would be nice if the original date of release was mentioned (in the description?) as well.
Ok ...
@ VAB ... I have noted your remarks and will see what can be done ... I will fix the spelling.
@ sebes ... I will modify the Lot Matrix to include a bit more info ... pure oversight on my part in my quest to get the backbone up and running.
Tp all ... the LEX backend is my problem ... how UPLOADERS display information is their choice and it will be you as users that can talk to them about that. "$Deal"$
Thanks for the comments. Talking of comments ... I really need the BETA visitors to use the comments a lot and the Valuation etc. and do a few downloads just for the hell of it.
Had a problem seeing the File Downloads button for some reason. I had to log out and in again to get it back. Will that link to the new LEX?
Hello,
I have done my first quick test with the LEX.
Very well done IMO. I uploaded a file and also downloaded 3 leaving, 3 comments and 3 Thank you very much.
The downloading went smoothly for me. No problems what so ever. The commenting was nice and easy too.
The upload process was nice. I liked the fact that there was only one screen to upload compared to the 3 or 4 steps at ST. The only comment/request I have about uploading would be to allow for the use of the Enter key, and allow for links and other editting properties like colors and bolding.
I am very happy with the LEX, good job!!
JPlumbley
Where is the link to the LEX #?¿?¿?$
@ JPlumbley
Go look ... I took the liberty to clean your Description up ... Click the edit button and then copy the description content out to Notepad to see what I did. That Description box will accept HTML Source.
@ bat ... we are testing and the link is still not public ... Jeronij is inviting the people that will contribute to get their input. It will not be long ... we are loading stock in ... No use in opening the store with a parade and there isn't much to get $%Grinno$%
Quote from: bat on January 13, 2007, 10:42:12 AM
Where is the link to the LEX #?¿?¿?$
Hi bat, it has not been published yet to the public. We are giving it the final touches so you can fully enjoy it ;D Thks Colyn ;D
Hey thanks Colyn!!
Now, I guess I have to learn HTML all over again. Its been since grade 9 since I learned HTML (10 years ago).
Checked that you need to registered and then logged in with the exchange before you used it
Checked that all pages work.
Checking the frame on the left but I cant seem to get the menus to work links dont appear to be present. leaving the exchange and re entering did not fix this. looks like work is still being done on that area.
Downloaded the BRT coalmine
and rural walls left comment Both tests sucessful
Overall looks excellent and works smoothly. &apls
will the dependency tracking be ennable once we have dependencies online?
you might want to think about adding categories for the types of lots/mods/BATs and maps at some point but that can be done later once there is a bit of content. Infact I would be supprised if it wasnt already thought of.
looks like i will need to learn html but that should not be a problem as I am learning to edit it when doing my readmes. While those arent up to the level of BSC yet they do have the list of items if required just not linked.
preparing an item for upload at a later date merging all of my 2006 props into one pack it will be small; better than 2 smaller files. I have a policy of releasing an anual prop pack at the end of the year that includes all props released in that year, mostly as I identify them by month /year uploaded. There is not 1 every month nor is there ever likely to be.
At this point the USER menu links are still dead and there is another menu that opens once you have UPLOADER status.
The Catagory and UPLOADER info on the main screen has been disabled because Barby and Jeronij are uploading other peoples files initially ... once they have done that we will reset the actual UPLOADER data in the tables and surface the information.
Dependency tracking is a application on it's own and will be plugged in once we have decided on the output format ... all dependency linking can be retro-fitted to existing objects in the exchange.
Thanks for testing and reporting.
Just wanted to share with you that downloading is very easy and simple (and that means something if said by me :thumbsup:)
Commenting is easy too, and I also figured out (after some attempts) how to do the value thing.. (that "click to submit" button was not flashy enough for me probably :D)
&apls
It's the best thing since slice bread.
I think all the links to prop packs from Pegasus' Plex are incorrect; they're still pointing to the old host. Diggis and I are nearly completion of the definitive props pack list (current as of a couple days ago) and we'll get you a copy when it's completed (any particular format you'd prefer?). Actually, the links to the MTP are switched in your list - the one under Plex is pointing to ST.
Colyn
No problem I would expect a similar style of report on what I release.
I want to know the problems not how someone feels about it.
Just my engineering training coming through.
@ Vab ... I would lik eit in a 800 wide HTML Table please and thank you.
This LEX will always be a community project ... because it is For the Community by the Community.
Ok we have done the last touch ups for the Version 1 release ... those that have access please look and comment.
So far everything seems to be working very well, I like the clean and simpel look.
The logo on top of the page is not showing up properly in Mozilla/Firefox, it is a bit squashed.
Download history, latest 9 and popular 9 links are not working, I get the Quality TM.
Futher I can upload(at least I get the screen for it), download and comment.
I must say I am very impressed by the work you have done here.
Colyn, not sure if you're aware, but the prop pack list Diggis & I compiled is *all* (or nearly *all*) props ever released either at ST or Peg's - there are roughly 345 entries. Please let me know if you want *all* prop pack links or only certain ones. Diggis is also working on a texture list so that should be available soon, as well. As I don't get over here on a daily basis, feel free to PM me here or at Peg's (same screen name both places).
VAB I will appreciate the full list in Excel FOrmat please.
Hi LEX creators,
I have a technical request for LEX. &idea I would love to have a "back" link and a "next" link for the pages. I don't know how many of you all use those on web pages or forums, but I keep looking for them and they aren't there. :'( :angrymore: Call me anal, just a pet peeve and a request. :P $%Grinno$%
Otherwise the LEX is wonderful....thanks bunches for creating it for us members. &apls
Look at the bottom of the page ... what you ask for is there and you can use the browser back button on most pages ... I will see about the NEXT and PREVIOUS in that Pages string.
Thank you.
I'm just wondering: could the images on the LEX thumbnails be changed to 250x182px, like on the STEX?
Some of the images look extremely odd and grainy, I wonder if this could easily be fixed (by showing only a section of the image eg, like what the STEX does right now)?
We have applied the lowest possible overhead consumption to the image management and if the uploaders stick to 250 wide then things are ok.
&hlp
Sorry if this in the wrong area but I can't Login to LEX this morning.Can someone please look into this for me.Thanx
Quote from: Bluebeard on April 05, 2007, 05:10:10 AM
&hlp
Sorry if this in the wrong area but I can't Login to LEX this morning.Can someone please look into this for me.Thanx
I'm having the same problem, now I have a pop-up box instead of the usual login page.
The "Box" don't bother me it's just not even the "Box" knows whom I am. &hlp
Like the past couple of poster's I also can't log into the LEX this morning. The sign in screen has changed and maybe that's part of my problem. Note, it does have my email address listed so it seems to recognize me.
I could have swore I posted this to the Help thread but somehow it ended up her. Sorry I goofed.
I dont know if this is the answer... But Colyn posted in the LEX comments that due to tight budget constraints (money coming from the site hosts) that at some points the LEX may be shut down for periods of time to save on bandwidth issues. He went on to say that it would not be down for more than 7 days at a time.
I hope that everything gets back under control. Good luck Colyn, Jeronij and the rest of the SC4D team....
Ok the Login issue should be sorted out now ... sorry for the inconvenience but we had to do an extensive overhaul of the LEX.
thankyou i can log in now