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Pierce.Reid

Wishlist: A Wishlist Forum

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A number of TMG wish-list items have recently cropped up on the list and it would seem useful to have them grouped in a separate forum.

 

I think there should be at least a forum for suggested improvements to the current version of TMG. This would allow others to comment (including adding their support, to give Wholly Genes a measure of how much it is desired). It would also be a place for developers (or others) to identify problems with implementing each suggestion, and possibly ask for direction on different implementation options.

 

Suggestions that already have a solution should be answered on the Wish list forum, and then some time after I think they should be moved to the regular forum, since that is where solutions to users' problems are normally recorded.

 

When items have been accepted for development, then we would know that Wholly Genes are trying to make it work. That would not mean that the idea would be reality on the next release, but at least we would know the developers are spending time trying to solve the problem.

 

Suggestions could be removed some time after a new release implements the suggestion. If a suggestion is rejected, developers should say why so we would know why we would not expect it.

 

Pierce

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I fully support the idea of a separate forum! It would be a great improvement if we (the users) get feedback and are informed on what to expect in coming releases.

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While I think this would be really great, I suspect the programmers would consider this their worst nightmare! Of course my suggestions would be knowledgeable, effective and useful..... well, I think so anyway. :rolleyes:

 

However, I know from experience that programming, and database applications in particular, are not as straight forward as they might appear. And more than a few of the wishlist items are really user support/training issues, which would seriously clutter the forum and hinder the whole purpose of having it separate. Not to mention that some might find it frustrating/embarrassing to have their suggestions moved, much less blown up by the technical logic or a programmer.

 

Having said that, a separate forum for very experienced users or those that are also software specialists in another field could enhance the product. Sort of an expert-level forum, similar to higher-level user support. I would guess that some users, notably those that create utilities and tips, probably have some higher access. Any new forum should be closed, either completely or partly - only the above users could post for example. This last would provide some interesting and possibly amusing posts for the rest of us, I'm sure.

 

Instead of moving suggestions out that already have solutions, the suggestions from the main forum could be moved to this special forum with a note on the original that it is being considered.

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  I would guess that some users, notably those that create utilities and tips, probably have some higher access. 

 

 

I don't, just figure if I have figured out a way to get something to work, might as well share the tip. You make some good points, but I think any user should be able to ask for a wishlist item. If you limited it to certain users who would decide who they were? Bob? Wouldn't we rather he be busy working on the next update or version? A knowledgeble user may have used TMG for years and may not even use all the features that are available, must less desire to see new ones.

Even items that can be done in the current version may not be obvious to all readers. And how to handle them can be done in many different ways that we all benefit from the shared use of how to do something? I am not apposed to another forum thread for wishlists, but I really think it ought to be open to all users. After all, someone who just bought the program may have done so to do a certain task, and thier wishlist may be something no one else would have thought of. And how can you need something you haven't thought of? B)

Edited by GenerationGoneBy

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I wish there were a way of getting ice-cream out of my keyboard

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A number of TMG wish-list items have recently cropped up on the list and it would seem useful to have them grouped in a separate forum.

 

I think there should be at least a forum for suggested improvements to the current version of TMG. This would allow others to comment (including adding their support, to give Wholly Genes a measure of how much it is desired). It would also be a place for developers (or others) to identify problems with implementing each suggestion, and possibly ask for direction on different implementation options. 

 

Suggestions that already have a solution should be answered on the Wish list forum, and then some time after I think they should be moved to the regular forum, since that is where solutions to users' problems are normally recorded.

 

When items have been accepted for development, then we would know that Wholly Genes are trying to make it work. That would not mean that the idea would be reality on the next release, but at least we would know the developers are spending time trying to solve the problem.

 

Suggestions could be removed some time after a new release implements the suggestion.  If a suggestion is rejected, developers should say why so we would know why we would not expect it.

 

Pierce

 

What am I missing here?

 

In my opinion, the result of dividing the forum would be to assure that each post (wish or not) would be viewed by fewer people.

 

One can respond now to a wishlist item or any other post! There is not one thing that cannot be done in the current, single forum. Also, a lack of response to a wish list item doesn't mean that it is not a good idea. It could just mean that the wish, as posted, says it all.

 

Best wishes (pun intended),

Mike

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What am I missing here?

 

In my opinion, the result of dividing the forum would be to assure that each post (wish or not) would be viewed by fewer people.

 

One can respond now to a wishlist item or any other post!  There is not one thing that cannot be done in the current, single forum.  Also, a lack of response to a wish list item doesn't mean that it is not a good idea.  It could just mean that the wish, as posted, says it all.

 

Best wishes (pun intended),

Mike

 

Mike,

The problem I see with the current system is that it is hard to identify all the suggestions that have been made, both by experienced users and new users, including those who are looking for features they had in other products. It would help if all suggestions were started with some key word, such as "Wishlist", but that would require training forum users who are interested in new features.

By the way, I used the "My Assistant" feature to look for "Wishlist" - there were 7 out of 273 entries in this forum, 3 of which listed "wishlist" somewhere in the body of the message threads.

I'm glad I stimulated some thoughts on the subject.

 

Pierce

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Mike,

  The problem I see with the current system is that it is hard to identify all the suggestions that have been made, both by experienced users and new users, including those who are looking for features they had in other products. It would help if all suggestions were started with some key word, such as "Wishlist", but that would require training forum users who are interested in new features.

  By the way, I used the "My Assistant" feature to look for "Wishlist" - there were 7 out of 273 entries in this forum, 3 of which listed "wishlist" somewhere in the body of the message threads.

  I'm glad I stimulated some thoughts on the subject.

 

Pierce

 

Thank you for you reply.

 

It would seem that training people on which list to use for what type of message would be more difficult than teacheing them to spell "wish list" or "wishlist" if you prefer.

 

I just glaced at 4 pages of messages and found far more than 7 examples of "wish list" appearing. Spelling, maybe?

 

United we stand, divided, well...too bad for us,

 

Best wishes (no pun intended, this time),

 

Mike

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Thank you for you reply.

 

It would seem that training people on which list to use for what type of message would be more difficult than teacheing them to spell "wish list" or "wishlist" if you prefer.

 

I just glaced at 4 pages of messages and found far more than 7 examples of "wish list" appearing.  Spelling, maybe?

 

United we stand, divided, well...too bad for us,

 

Best wishes (no pun intended, this time),

 

Mike

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Thank you for you reply.

 

It would seem that training people on which list to use for what type of message would be more difficult than teacheing them to spell "wish list" or "wishlist" if you prefer.

 

I just glaced at 4 pages of messages and found far more than 7 examples of "wish list" appearing.  Spelling, maybe?

 

United we stand, divided, well...too bad for us,

 

Best wishes (no pun intended, this time),

 

Mike

 

Mike,

You've pointed out a slight flaw in the keyword search: do we use "wishlist" or "wish list"? If we can't be consistent, then it will take at least two searches to get them all. And do we do just the Version 6 forum, or all forums, or version 5 plus version 6 plus UK, plus... And when version 7 comes out and gets its own forum... And keyword searches will pick up threads where the word or phrase is used casually, not as part of a specific wish list item.

 

A separate forum would be able to handle postings slightly differently from the regular product forums. Entries are not specific to a particular release, so they would be carried over from one release to the next. When improvements address a wish list item, they can be posted under that wish list entry, and eventually would be removed (or archived) It would be nice to know when a wish list posting has made it over to the official Wholly Genes wish list, or to do list, or being worked on list. If design problems, or work load scheduling, or whatever causes a wish list item to be put on the back burner, it would be nice to know that. If other users see an item that they feel would be valuable, they could add their support. Some users might even be able to suggest how the feature could be implemented fairly easily. I see such a forum as a more a place for interactions between Wholly Genes and the users as to which direction the product should or can go.

 

Pierce

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Mike,

    I see such a forum as a more a place for interactions between Wholly Genes and the users as to which direction the product should or can go.

 

Pierce

 

The product I give technical support to (accountancy software) has a wish list with 2 ways to add an item. Users have a link on the website to Add a Wish or when someone gets technical support then the technician can add it.

Earlier this year when the new reasle was being considered and what features to add I, along with others, attended a session and looked at the wish list. It was a half inch thick A4 print and that was the adapted version where the duplicated wishes were put together. Impossible really to go through completely. We skimmed and chose what we thought were the better ones, based on our support of the system. Other groups did the same to come up altogether with 20 wishes.

Having said that, 40% of the new features the year before were customer requests.

Some of the requests will never be implemented in that product as they are features of the larger product we have and including them would have an impact on sales of that product.

The new version launched in September with some of those features in it.

Just wish it was error free (sigh).

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I also support the idea of a Wishlist forum.

 

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but perhaps an even better solution would be a tracker system with a category for "wish", in addition to the "bug", "quirk" and other useful file categories. There are many alternatives for such a tracker system, for instance Mantis. With a tracking system, our wish, bugs and quirk reports will be much more visible to all and we can see their progress all the time. :)

Edited by Prognatus

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I doubt very seriously that WG will announce in advance which wishlist items are to be implemented in any future release (as opposed to bug fixes that have been solved).

 

A good clue however is whenever Bob and some of the "senior" batatesters join a discussion as to how people envision a certain function will work - at that point you know that at the very least the wished for item has come to their attention and they feel it merits more discussion.

 

 

A number of TMG wish-list items have recently cropped up on the list and it would seem useful to have them grouped in a separate forum.

 

I think there should be at least a forum for suggested improvements to the current version of TMG. This would allow others to comment (including adding their support, to give Wholly Genes a measure of how much it is desired). It would also be a place for developers (or others) to identify problems with implementing each suggestion, and possibly ask for direction on different implementation options. 

 

Suggestions that already have a solution should be answered on the Wish list forum, and then some time after I think they should be moved to the regular forum, since that is where solutions to users' problems are normally recorded.

 

When items have been accepted for development, then we would know that Wholly Genes are trying to make it work. That would not mean that the idea would be reality on the next release, but at least we would know the developers are spending time trying to solve the problem.

 

Suggestions could be removed some time after a new release implements the suggestion.  If a suggestion is rejected, developers should say why so we would know why we would not expect it.

 

Pierce

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Yes, Yes, Yes!

I have browsed many of the relies and wholeheartedly agree that WISHLIST should be a unique Forum. It would then be great if the TMG team could acknowledge comments, with "Impossible at present", Great idea - will implement in next minor (or major) upgrade" Etc. :rolleyes:

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I fully support the idea of a separate forum! It would be a great improvement if we (the users) get feedback and are informed on what to expect in coming releases.

 

I agree. A separate forum subject would be easier to find Wish list items.

Anita Cooper

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