PRX Builder List View
I’ve been focusing on usability for PRX Builder. What can I improve? How can I make the experience even easier?
The new List View for Contacts, Links, and Multimedia is a small change, but I hope that it will make a big difference when you create your next release. You can now view all of your items in a very simple format. If I’ve designed this correctly, I shouldn’t need to provide you with any further instructions. Give it a try and feel free to leave comments on this post.
While you’re at it, you can let me know what bugs you about PRX Builder. Go ahead and gripe away in the comments below. Then I’ll be able to make things even better.
Andrew said,
Wrote on November 13, 2007 @ 1:52 am
Shannon,
The changes look fine, the only hiccup for me is if I want to change Technorati tags once the release has been posted to PRXreleases. Is this possible without re-posting the release?
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on November 13, 2007 @ 8:15 am
Hi Andrew,
There’s a barrier between PRX Builder and PRX Releases. I don’t want it to be too easy for people to update PRX Releases because I try to maintain an editorial standard on the site. Adding additional Technorati tags is a bit on the technical side in PRX Releases, but you can edit your release separately in PRX Releases after it’s been posted. You can also always email me with any changes.
I’m evaluating the posting process right now and looking to streamline some things. This feedback is very helpful.
Abby said,
Wrote on November 13, 2007 @ 11:04 am
It would be very helpful to have less delay from when I request to have it posted and when it actually is posted. I’m not sure if there’s an easy way to do that.
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on November 13, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Thanks, Abby.
That’s a tough one. I want to maintain editorial control because I don’t want junk on PRX Releases. Even if the release is perfect, there are still minor formatting fixes that have to be made before it’s ready to be posted. Sometimes the release is completely inappropriate and there’s time spent going back and forth with the author. I really try to work with people if they’re new to the process.
I’m definitely going to improve the process to make it more clear, but we’re still dealing with a free service and we don’t have the staff to respond as quickly as I’d like. Perhaps I need to focus more on setting expectations too.
Nicole said,
Wrote on November 16, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
It would be great to have an auto save function if possible. Or if there was a pop-up box that asked if you wanted to save before going to another screen. I lost an entire release that I had been working on for hours because I forgot to save that section before hitting “preview.” Obviously, not your fault, but it would be great to have the reminder.
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on November 19, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
I’m sorry to hear about your data loss. That’s frustrating. There is an autosave feature in PRX Builder. If you install Google Gears, PRX Builder will automatically save backups of your release.
I have a love/hate relationship with autosaves. Sometimes on Google Docs, it autosaves a version of a doc that I don’t want to keep. I’ll look at popping up a reminder. The key would to grab your attention, but not interrupt the release creation process.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on December 2, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
I’ve added a “save” reminder that will popup every 10 minutes. Let me know if that helps or if it doesn’t.
Again, you can install Google Gears and it will automatically turn on ‘Auto-backup’.
I’ve also changed the buttons — Instead of ‘Continue’, you now have ‘Previous’ and ‘Next.’ This is a little thing that should make a big difference in navigation.
Andrew said,
Wrote on December 6, 2007 @ 2:01 am
Shannon, I’ve got releases up on the PRXreleases site that are generating quite a lot of views. Is there any way of adding some code so I can track who is looking at it etc. I use Google Analytics for my own web site and blog – can I add the Google code to the PRXrelease page to track it? Or would your Tracer application be better.
I have a client who is very busy and can’t always give me the feedback I need on how many results the releases I put out for them are getting.
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on December 6, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Andrew,
That’s a great request. It makes sense for me to implement that for you, but I’ll have to look at how to share the information with you so that it’s simple for you (and private). I’ll get back with you soon.
Andrew said,
Wrote on December 7, 2007 @ 3:28 am
Thanks Shannon – Another idea just struck me: how about an RSS feed for all releases I post that I can then run into a web page or a blog?
Shannon Whitley said,
Wrote on December 7, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Andrew,
The RSS feed already exists. It’s actually been there from the beginning, but it was a little beyond most people and so the feature hasn’t been promoted. I’ll make the feed easier to identify.