KosBuster Gets Spiked.
Keep in mind that the messaging system will get a revamp. It is on the TO-DO list, so in addition to trying to explain some of its current functionality, consider this diary an aggregation of suggestions for helpful improvements too (but no emoticons; sparkly, dancing or otherwise or i'll leave Daily Kos forever and post a pouty, 2 day TTFN, sternly worded letter).
WARNING: my apologies to dial-up, in advance, for all the graphics. More knowledgeable and successful KosBusters made me put these in here. (Threatened to lock me in The Break Room if i didn't.)
Step over the squiggly and we'll talk.
First of all, we need to try a little standardization of nomenclature. The messages and messaging here are not e-mail or web-wide IMs. Those terms imply a greater level of functionality or greater expectation of what this system should do (and it gets a bit confusing to my last 2 functioning brain cells when i'm trying to help someone figure out what went wrong).
There are already dozens of apps, ad-ons and widgets out there for the full bells and whistles, tech crazed, multitaskers (you know who you are). IIRC, kos and the dev team were after a quick, easy-to-use system that was light on the site's software/hardware but would still be helpful and exclusive to our little group of 300,000+ members.
The second thing to keep in mind is that clicking on "messages" doesn't always show the same results if you are a member of a group or groups.
That's Really Me
All three of the circled items in these two screen caps
do take you to ALL your messages and message threads in list form.
And they are the one link i use most often.
The only down-side, as i see it, is that only messages that are in some way unique to you (invitations, person-to-person, etc.) show up as (x New Messages)
It's already been suggested that perhaps a (X/Y) format could be used to distinguish between X= personal and Y= group new messages or just give a total of ALL new messages that are in your list.
Wait! What's the difference between these "personal" and "group" messages you're rambling about?
That's a very good question (
Toastmasters insists you always start an answer that way, whether you give a real answer or not.) A personal message is one you initiated if you're outside of a group message center, a Kossack to Kossack, Kossack to group, or an invitation sent to you by a group or an auto-reply that you've been promoted or locked in the group's break room (status change).
A group message/discussion thread is one started within the group to either another group member or to the whole group. These are the backbone of collaborative effort for editors and admins.
And right here may be good place to point out an important mix of the sorting. As a contributor to a group, that is an author who's supplying drafts to the group, you can and should send a message to the group for each of your submissions. You won't be able to see all group messages, but you will be starting a thread that you and the A's and E's will use to collaborate before publication.
In that light, you and the group would be well served if your message header includes the draft's title, maybe the date/time you'd like to have it publish, etc. Each group will come up with their own criteria for indexing, but i think you catch my drift.
Here's my brilliant example, that i was the first to ignore:
The underlined were categories of bugs that we started testing again when they finally let us in the door.
I gotta cram in a couple more graphics (cause it's group rules and i promised without crossing my fingers), but this one may actually help unconfuse the people i've already tried to help.
Some people were wondering why they would read a message but when they went back to the list it was still marked as unread (xx/1 new). If you use your browser's back button you also have to refresh the page for the mark to change to (xx+1). If you use the MESSAGE CENTER tab it takes you back to the list and forces the updated number. You save ...what... 2 extra clicks and some confusion/frustration (so that graphic paid its way). There is also a link at the bottom of each thread that says "return to messages." You can use that or the message tab to go back to your main mailbox.
Second from last graphic (i promise W/O x fingers), just not sure why i made it.
Oh yeah ..... How you're kept abreast of recent message activity part II:
As you can see, this is from my Top Bar or Welcome Back message link (cause it says "all geez53's messages:" that's why). The most recent will always float to the top by time stamp of course and get the neat background shading but what i wanted to point out here is that it also tells you if it's group related. (Plus it proves i can make a rounded corner rectangular highlight.)
Untel Inside
Last one, That makes 6 which meets the minimum requirement of
KosBuster Diary Requirements Chapter 9, Sec. 3, Par. 5, lines 4-7 (yeah, some group's rules are a bit more defined than others) ;}
This one is not at all illustrative of anything, just thought you might want to see the brand spanking new message server.
Totally "Green", has 97% efficiency rating, runs on natural gas or LP in case of power outage and it keeps the towels in kos' bathroom toasty warm.
The black bucket at lower right is temporary storage for deleted messages, so we can get them back for you for a while, but they'll be a little ...umm....damp.
Okay, i'm done. I'll be monitoring from The Break Room where i'm still trying to vacuum the Cheeto dust, donut crumbs and spilled Red Bull from the Closing Ceremony Partay.
And while i'm at it, i'll add this now to avoid the update: Yes, all your critiques, points of contention and factual mistakes you've found in this diary are inciteful, acurate and valid. But please, you must understand, I DON'T GIVE A RAT'S [Well...geez...Great effort....We'll take it from here and get you published.]
Gabriel, would you get the old fart a cup of coffee please and help him get back on his HoverRound, thanks.
KosBusters! is a group of DK4 beta testers who decided to continue bug hunting and feature testing now that DK4 is the official platform of Daily Kos.
In addition to locating bugs and testing newly released features, we plan to post informational diaries—such as this one—to aid everyone in using and navigating the site. If you have any questions, we are happy to answer them as best we know how. We are not currently accepting new members.
Previously, from KosBusters: