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aresvallis) wrote in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_suggestions2012-03-17 03:06 am
Icon keywords
Title:
Icon keywords
Area:
Icons
Summary:
The icon keywords are an old and outdated system, it'd be easier for users if a better management system was put in place, especially for high numbers of icons.
Description:
Icon keywords really need to be updated. It is difficult and cumbersome managing keywords for icons especially when having a high number of icons. The current system has literally not changed much since 2001. It would be nice having a sort of keyword managing place, one where you could assign icons (and drag and drop would be awesome there!) or rename or merge keywords as you can for entry tags. Additionally, keeping a list of keywords that you've used but don't currently have an icon assigned would be helpful and useful to roleplayers. Even if it's just a static list would let the user see what they've used. As denise said here:
http://dw-biz.dreamwidth.org/7186.html?thread=773394#cmt773394
it might be computationally expensive getting a retroactive list from old comments, I'd suggest not doing that though and just adding a old keyword if someone actively views a comment with an old keyword- it would be looking for that icon anyway and it'd just display the default when it doesn't find it, though I'm not familiar with how the process works exactly.
This suggestion:
Should be implemented as-is.
12 (22.6%)
Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
9 (17.0%)
Shouldn't be implemented.
8 (15.1%)
(I have no opinion)
23 (43.4%)
(Other: please comment)
1 (1.9%)
Edit!!!! In order to clarify + additional:
It is extremely awkward managing keywords from the icon page from a little tiny text area box, particularly when having many large sets of keywords on one icon with only commas as a separator. I suggest a separate manage area for a list of icon keywords currently in use, and possibly a list of keywords used in the past for reference and the ability to reassign old keywords to new icons. People do not always remember exactly the way they typed a keyword they don't actually have saved.
We have a management page for entry tags, where we can delete, rename, merge and view what is tagged to a specific entry tag. I am suggesting something similar for keywords- if not their own page, at least a section on the icon upload page where we do not have to deal with the tiny text area and only the text area. I can see being able to select a keyword with a check box and hitting a "Rename" button to be able to rename keywords, or select two keywords via check box and hit a "merge" button, or select some "delete" button. Then possibly an "add new keyword" button. That would make keywords more manageable and I don't think it'd require a lot of work, and we already have a check-and-hit-button to delete icons themselves.
We can only rename keywords, we cannot merge them. I've tried to merge keywords, and it didn't work. There is no obvious option nor way to merge keywords. Trying to rename one into another fails. -This is on Bugzilla and is already on the to-do list, but it's part of the bigger management system, so I thought I should include it.
Renaming keywords is sort of a hit or miss using the text area on the icon page, especially if there are multiple keywords to an icon. You do not know if the rename was successful until you go to check comments made with the old keyword- there is absolutely no confirmation, and it is far too easy to typo and create a horrible Frankenkeyword out of the one you're trying to rename and one of the others. Then it becomes annoying trying to undo that because there is no undo button, either, and you have to figure out what keyword you renamed, fix the innocent keyword, and try to rename the suspect keyword again.
This is the same old tired system that has been in use since LiveJournal's early days: By that, I am implying: surely with new coding and technology we should be able to have a more dynamic, easy to use icon and keyword management option.
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I do also really like the idea of being able to see old keywords! I'm always having to take screenshots of my icons before I start switching them up, just in case I want to use that keyword later.
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omg Mr Flibble!Yeah, someone suggested subsets for keywords, and I pointed that method of keywording. I wouldn't mind an alternative to organizing icons, really, but we do kind of have a "sort by keyword" option. I'd like to see that expounded on actually.
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Mr. Flibble's very cross...The sort by keyword option is pretty awesome, and I do love it so :P But it's not always the ideal method for categorising / making subsets, since it uses up limited characters (I've had a few keywords I've had to battle to cut down as a result). Also, sometimes you might want multiple levels of categories - like say, a category for a fandom, then a category for a character within that, etc etc. That you definitely can't do with the keywording system, because it just gets complicated and messy.
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"Complicated and messy" is part of the reason why I suggested a revamp/new management system. I always wind up banging my head against a wall sorting a ton of keywords on a set of 15 icons for my RP journal... When I had paid accounts at LJ I remember it being nightmarish trying to categorize the 130 by expressions with only keywords. Glad to see someone agrees with me!
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Now if only we could actually choose which icons were inactive when paids expired, I would be the happiest rperno subject
striketext, i mean.)no subject
I would never have to deal with my Aladdin account ending up entirely with icons of Abu again!I shall eagerly await for when that gets implemented ♥
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Clearly I should try to find someone who actually knows how to code and bribe them into resolving that one :PHow many bugs are there? I remember hearing about #8, so I know that one's an old one. I imagine over time you'd acquire quite a few!
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Now there's an interesting image if you take that phrase literally...no subject
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Hence Aladdin ending up with lots of Abu icons. I think it must go alphabetically if it can't get enough data from your posts, hah