Should I purchase IndexU

[richrf]

Hi everyone,

I have been evaluating most of the directory software, and IndexU comes closest to what I am looking for. However, all of the complaints concerning support, the apparent bad manners of the lead developer who doesn't respond to email messages, and the poor communication between the development staff and the users, is a major red flag. I've looked at In-Portal and Gossamer SQL and both will do, but IndexU is still the best fit. So ....

I need to make some changes to the template to display Editors Picks, Hottest, Highly Rated, and New Listings, at the top of the page. In order to accommodate these blocks of listings, which should span horizontally across the page, I will need a fluid design.

1) Is it possible to design such a template?

2) How do I go about contacting someone who can do the work to get an estimate?

3) Is it possible to manage the system (I have Wordpress experience) without relying on the development team who do not seem to be at all available?

Thanks for any comments and recommendations.

Rich

[Bruceper]

Hello again. I was the one who responded to your post on the Directory Owners Forum.

A number of users here seem to have issues (and perhaps rightly so) with the lack of developer involvement with the forum. However in my capacity of support for nicecoder if I am in need (or a customer is in need) of Dody's help then he does step in.

Support is handled mostly by myself and peer support on the forum here. Many things have changed since I've come to work for Nicecoder and I'm doing my best to relay information from Dody to the forum.

The changes you want are possible.

As for someone to create the template that you want, you can post on the forum here for quotes and/or bids. There are a number of users that can create what you want. Previously Dody had mentioned that the Nicecoder programmers were available for design but they are currently tied up with the next release of IndexU and other projects.

Management of IndexU is simple and can be made simpler by setting up your directory properly including the use of spam filters. I don't know what you consider "management" but I am available for support and I can be found on the forum (and the support desk almost all day.

[richrf]

Hi there,

Thanks for your reply.

I do not think I would purchase a license until the new release is available, since there appears to be significant differences between versions. Is this correct?

I would like to contact developers who might be able to customize IndexU for me to get some idea of the costs. In which forum area should I place the request? Also, would the IndexU developers be more available for custom work once the next version has been released?

Thanks again for your help,
Rich

[Bruceper]

Yes they should be available after the release.

Yes there are very significant differences between 5.4 and 6

You can post a help wanted type of ad here http://www.nicecoder.com/community/f...splay.php?f=45

[esm]

Hi everyone,

I have been evaluating most of the directory software, and IndexU comes closest to what I am looking for. However, all of the complaints concerning support, the apparent bad manners of the lead developer who doesn't respond to email messages, and the poor communication between the development staff and the users, is a major red flag. I've looked at In-Portal and Gossamer SQL and both will do, but IndexU is still the best fit. So ....

While I am (currently, and probably for a long time ) the biggest critic on policies and procedures here on INDEXU, I am also the biggest proponent of the software itself. While I have differences with the programmer, dody, about how best to move INDEXU forward, he is an extremely good programmer. If there is a technical issue, he can solve it. You won't find anyone any better.

And Bruce and I have the same goal for INDEXU - make it better and help those who need it (ok, I don't do near as much helping as Bruce but he is paid to do it ). He has done an outstanding job of handling the general and admistrative duties for INDEXU. He's even learned a few technical things too . Actually, while he is not a programmer, he can help with quite a few technical things. He also generated some good documentation covering a number of topics.

INDEXU is written entirely in PHP with some ajax thrown in. Gossamer-Threads LINK SQL has a PHP front end with a PERL back end (at least they used to). Can you say YUCK...! Most everything about INDEXU is user-friendly. G-T is much more technical.

And there are a few folks (inspireme and mpdaddy to name just two, there are others, I just can't remember how to spell their names ) who have done quite a few MODs for INDEXU.

So, depending on what you need the software for, INDEXU could be a very good fit.


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[hdraye]

Dont think twice, go for it, you wont regret it.

And Bruce and I have the same goal for INDEXU - make it better and help those who need it (ok, I don't do near as much helping as Bruce but he is paid to do it ). He has done an outstanding job of handling the general and admistrative duties for INDEXU. He's even learned a few technical things too . Actually, while he is not a programmer, he can help with quite a few technical things. He also generated some good documentation covering a number of topics.
.

and thats another reason to get it, falks who help no matter one's question is unclear, stupid at times or complicated.

I want to say that a m greatfull for this team, or should I say family

I am using the script on 5 different dirctories, and expanding.

Thanx again for a great product and unmatched support.

[richrf]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the feedback.

IndexU is unquestionably the best fit for the project that I have in mine right now. I have been impressed from the beginning of my evaluation with the the smart user interface design and the accompanying user interface. It makes sense from the point of view of a visitor who is truly looking for information, as opposed to a directory architecture that solely exists for backlink building.

I don't want to waste my time on reviewing and learning old code, installation, and administration procedures. Has anyone had a chance to look at the new version's code and architecture, and can anyone who has comment on the durability, performance, and maintainability of the code. This is an area that I have had problems with other scripts.

Thanks for the helpful comments.

Rich

[esm]

One last comment. If you have enough money or coding ability (HTML/CSS, PHP) and time, INDEXU can be customized to handle a wide variety of "link directory type situations."


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[richrf]

One last comment. If you have enough money or coding ability (HTML/CSS, PHP) and time, INDEXU can be customized to handle a wide variety of "link directory type situations."


.

Hi,

Thanks for the additional comment. I would like to approach the project in an incremental manner. It will be primarily a review/rating site. For example, I would like the categories to be in the side column, but not in the main column. I saw some nice themes in Themes4U.net, that would be a very good place to start. I am attempting to make the site user informative with excellent content, in order to increase traffic. If I am successful, I will be able to justify investing more into the site. I have some HTML/CSS, PHP skills (I am a database designer), but I think I would like to work with someone who has excellent knowledge of IndexU and the requisite technical skills.

Thanks again for your assistance.

Rich

[inspireme]

i can do the work, give me a list of the changes you need and i can give a price. See footer for some of the sites i have done in indexU.

[richrf]

i can do the work, give me a list of the changes you need and i can give a price. See footer for some of the sites i have done in indexU.

Hi there,

Thanks for your interest in my project. I listed some of the specs here on the Help Wanted forum. But I can do a better job of specifying my needs once I actually see and touch Version 6 which appears to be imminent. Basically to sum up what I am currently looking at is:

1) Starting off with something like the Metalizesolid Template. Maybe change the color scheme to something that looks like Ovguide.com

2) Getting rid of the web directory part of the code that sits in the middle of the page. I would only need Main Categories in the right hand column.

3) In its stead, I would like the top portion of the page to have the following blocks: Newest Listings, Editors Picks, Most Popular. Maybe four for each, but this should be configurable if I go into the code and change it. These blocks should stretch across the full width of the page, not columnar as with most of the themes.

4) It would be nice, but not essential, to have a Wordpress mod that captures the latest listing from a Wordpress blog, similar to the one that I currently have running on Links.com.

5) I may need to have an anti-spam bot plugin similar to Spam-free. Spam-free is the only thing that works on my site to keep out the spam bots.

6) Space for Adsense or other banner ads at the top and maybe in the columns. Not sure about this yet.

7) Space for Google custom search engine.

I hope this gives you a rough idea of what I want to do, but as I said, I have to touch the product to really nail down the specs. However, some rough guesstimate at this time would help.

Thanks again for your interest.

Rich

[inspireme]

thats all fairly simple to do, including install i would say about $200, i made my own anti spam mod, since install i haven't had a single spam submission, plus indexU has some pretty good spam protection now anyway.

send me a PM if your interested, or wait to see if someone gives you a better quote.

[richrf]

Hi,

Thanks much for getting back to me. I'll be moving ahead once I get a copy of V6. Can I get some more detail about your anti-spam plugin? Is it along the same lines as Spam-Free? Converted to work with V6?

Thanks again for your reply.

Rich

[inspireme]

Hi,

Thanks much for getting back to me. I'll be moving ahead once I get a copy of V6. Can I get some more detail about your anti-spam plugin? Is it along the same lines as Spam-Free? Converted to work with V6?

Thanks again for your reply.

Rich

I can convert it to work with V6... it asks questions instead of using a captcha... you can set up your own questions from the admin panel : eg.

what colour is the sun? (hint : Y----W )

this along with indexUs spam word list you shouldnt need anything else.

[richrf]

I can convert it to work with V6... it asks questions instead of using a captcha... you can set up your own questions from the admin panel : eg.

what colour is the sun? (hint : Y----W )

this along with indexUs spam word list you shouldnt need anything else.

Hi,

Thanks for the additional info. If I decided to do something like Spam-free, would you be able to do it and do you have any idea what it would cost? Thanks again.

Rich