8 replies to this topic

[Jorpho]

May I suggest that the link to this thread be made a little more prominent? It's impossible to know what the "Extras" pack contains from the name alone. Also, most of these extras seem to have no chance of running on Windows 2000.

Edited by Jorpho, 13 March 2009 - 05:36 AM.

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 Jorpho, on Mar 12 2009, 09:35 PM, said:

May I suggest that the link to this thread be made a little more prominent? It's impossible to know what the "Extras" pack contains
from the name alone. Also, most of these extras seem to have no chance of running on Windows 2000.

I will have to say I looked to see if you have a point but I'm wondering what is left to say when the main forum page states the
following about the "Addons" and "Extras" modules, which is a good start...

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Adobe Reader, DirectX, .NET Framework, Sun Java JRE, Flash, Power Toys, Shockwave, Silverlight and other software that is not
included in the Windows/Office monthly releases.

And a quick click of the link takes you to the "Depot" and right at eye level, the very first line it says "Important Topics", and the very first
link is to the "Extras Addon Pack" page - how is this difficult? You click this link and you are met with the "Contents" of the Extras"!

I'm sure Heiss or Dakota will like having you visit their forums.

This just seems like a frivolous first post.

[James]

Please do not post suggestions in the AutoPatcher Extras Addon pack topic.

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Please post information only on newly updated included applications here. Please refrain from posting bugs and troubleshooting steps in this topic.

Posts moved.

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[Jorpho]

 James, on Mar 13 2009, 03:00 AM, said:

Please do not post suggestions in the AutoPatcher Extras Addon pack topic.

Oops, sorry.

 gUiTaR_mIkE, on Mar 12 2009, 11:21 PM, said:

I will have to say I looked to see if you have a point but I'm wondering what is left to say when the main forum page states the following about the "Addons" and "Extras" modules, which is a good start...

Well, for starters, that little tidbit is here in the forums. If you click on the "More about these releases" link in Apup, you get taken to http://www.autopatcher.com/ , which has no mention about the Extras pack. Looking in the forums is not intuitive.

Secondly, it's obvious that Adobe Reader is in the Adobe Reader addon pack, DirectX is in the DirectX addon pack, and so on, but it's just not obvious what the "Extras" module is supposed to contain.

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And a quick click of the link takes you to the "Depot" and right at eye level, the very first line it says "Important Topics", and the very first
link is to the "Extras Addon Pack" page - how is this difficult? You click this link and you are met with the "Contents" of the Extras"!

It might seem obvious to you, but that's quite a few clicks - and none of these steps explicitly suggest you're getting closer to finding out the contents of the Extras pack.

I really like Autopatcher, but this seems like a major area for improvement. I really think the Extras addon ought to have a better name, or at least a more easily accessible link.

[James]

 Jorpho, on Mar 16 2009, 04:59 AM, said:

If you click on the "More about these releases" link in Apup, you get taken to http://www.autopatcher.com/

That's a valid point and has been noted for improvement in a future release of Apup.

 Jorpho, on Mar 16 2009, 04:59 AM, said:

I really think the Extras addon ought to have a better name, ...

What do you suggest?

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I want to be respectful, but I'm stubborn, like you, so I have to respond and then I'll be done, and let you have the last word on this.

=> More about these releases" link in Apup...
True, but the Important releases have links from autopatcher.com to their respective forums. The "Extras" are not "Essentials", but once in the forums it really isn't that hard to find additional forums. It's worth mentioning, long before you have even downloaded apup.zip and extracted the contents, and are connecting to the internet, it has been stressed over and over, please use the forums, read the FAQs before you use the software so you get off on the right foot.

=> It might seem obvious to you, but that's quite a few clicks...
It's 2, count em, TWO. Then you are met with the contents of the "Extras"! You have the main forum link to the "Addon" and "Extras" page, and then a link to the "Extras Addon pack" - that's 2 clicks, and then the list is right in front of your face.

=> I really think the Extras addon ought to have a better name...
Fair enough. Look at what is included in the Extras and then come up with your ideas, all ideas are welcomed. BTW, Reader is singular, DirectX is singular, Java is singular, Extras is plural, so of course it may take a little effort from the user to get familiar with the package but that's the point of the contents page.

I just have to wonder why this is such a big deal for you, especially for an offering that is low on the list of priorities?

Mike

[Jorpho]

 James, on Mar 16 2009, 01:25 AM, said:

That's a valid point and has been noted for improvement in a future release of Apup.

Okay then. (It would be even better if the description, or the direct link to the description, was available in Apup, without having to download anything first.)

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What do you suggest?

It's true, the package does include a diverse variety of stuff. I'd be tempted to suggest subdividing it further, or putting some of its contents into other packages - like I mentioned in my first post, what good are the XP Powertoys if you're not running XP? But I would agree that may be asking too much.

 gUiTaR_mIkE, on Mar 16 2009, 01:28 AM, said:

True, but the Important releases have links from autopatcher.com to their respective forums. The "Extras" are not "Essentials", but once in the forums it really isn't that hard to find additional forums. It's worth mentioning, long before you have even downloaded apup.zip and extracted the contents, and are connecting to the internet, it has been stressed over and over, please use the forums, read the FAQs before you use the software so you get off on the right foot.

It might make sense if the description of the contents of the Extras package was right there in the FAQ (or even a link to the thread describing the contents of the Extras package), but as it is there's too much hunting involved to get to the relevant thread. Fine, maybe it is two clicks - but it's two clicks on some pretty dense pages of text.

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I just have to wonder why this is such a big deal for you, especially for an offering that is low on the list of priorities?

But how exactly is the typical user supposed to know that "Extras" are low priority? Certainly not from the name alone. I mean, Fedora Linux used to have an "Extras" repository that contained all kinds of useful stuff that was essential for most users. (Fortunately they got rid of that a few releases ago.)

Edited by Jorpho, 19 March 2009 - 06:17 AM.

[James]

This could be seen as an Apup interface or usability problem rather than a forum problem.

If you start-up Apup, scroll down the list, see the "Extras" item and think "What is that?" then there is no help button that gives more information on that particular release. It's at that point that you have to go to the forums to find the Extras release contents.

AutoPatcher has a feature, where if you click on an update a short description appears below the selection list. Apup doesn't have this.

Would that help?

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[Jorpho]

Sure, that would be one possible solution to the problem.

Edited by Jorpho, 19 March 2009 - 01:47 PM.