IndexU Tips PDF

[inspireme]

Im getting kinda fed up with this forum it seems anybody that comes here as a regular ends up having to help in ways the helpdesk should be - I get about 10 PMs a day asking for help, and although i really dont mind helping people, i think my time is better spent actually doing something that benefits me.

I will probably still come on this forum, just not as often, I will reply to job offers and stuff in the PM (which i dont mind) but, I wont be posting as much, or indeed helping people out as much, or offering any more mods.

I thought, before i stepped down as a forum regular, i would write a tips PDF. It has most of the questions people have been asking me and a lot of other neat stuff I have learned using indexU. Maybe some of you will find it useful, please read the note at the start though. Not much of the code is my own, but I have collated it and given credit where possible.

the pdf includes :

- automatic thumbnails, automatic keywording, SEO, Smarty template tips, Adding promotional messages to contact form emails, integrating scriptaculous, Automatically collecting an image using the Yahoo API, IF and ELSE in templates, Some common questions on the forum, and some links to other mods...

have a read of it here
http://afterdirectory.com/indexutips.pdf

good luck with your site, see you around.

[Bruceper]

The help desk is helping, as I am part of the helpdesk.

It's unfortunate that you get so many PM's asking for help. The only solutions I can provide are to

a) ignore users
b) delete help requests
c) disable PM's

None of them really offer what you want, but those are the limitations of vbulletin.

I haven't taken a look at the tips sheet yet, but the idea is sound and I'm sure users will appreciate it.

It's always better to answer questions publicly so users can search for their issue and get a response rather than wait for an answer. This isn't your issue at all, but the users issues in wanting personal help and assuming that they will only take a minute of your time. Well one minute doesn't happen, it's more like five. Then multiply that ten per day and that's nearly an hour of your time lost.

If they want personal help then they should be using the help desk. If they're taking up your time then perhaps you should be charging them a fee, it is fair to be paid for your time. Or perhaps a trade.

But that's the nature of a forum, you can only set some ground rules and go from there.

Good luck and hope we'll see you soon.

[Antony]

Nice job Inspireme
Just one thing

A tip for the thumb . iF YOU DON5T HAVE IMAGE....
Use

<%if $pictures|file_exists%>
<%thumb file="$pictures" width="150" height="100" window="true" sharpen="true" link="true" hint="true" html='border="0"'%> <%/if%>

Work find.

[FSGDAG]

I will probably still come on this forum, just not as often, I will reply to job offers and stuff in the PM (which i dont mind) but, I wont be posting as much, or indeed helping people out as much, or offering any more mods.

In my opinion... This is a BIG loss for the community! I wish you would reconsider!

I can truely understand though... All that time spent is not good, especially when its not your primary job.

I wish you would reconsider too on the MODs. You have a good knowledge that others can benifit from greatly. I know I have!

What ever you decide... Good luck! I hope to see you back here soon.

[esm]

Im getting kinda fed up with this forum it seems anybody that comes here as a regular ends up having to help in ways the helpdesk should be - I get about 10 PMs a day asking for help, and although i really dont mind helping people, i think my time is better spent actually doing something that benefits me.

I will probably still come on this forum, just not as often, I will reply to job offers and stuff in the PM (which i dont mind) but, I wont be posting as much, or indeed helping people out as much, or offering any more mods.
good luck with your site, see you around.

Well, I remember passing the torch to you ( see My final INDEXU review ), so to speak, a little over a year ago with the hope that you would not become another in the list of those who tried to help INDEXU. When you get to the point where you feel like you are being taken advantage of by the owners of INDEXU, frustration takes over and you just decide to move on.

I moved on and have no desire to come back. Maybe forever, even if the owners return, which I doubt will happen. Personally, I think you have about as much chance making a living running a links directory site as you have of winning the lottery. And the lottery pays better.

Like me, I'm sure that you did what you did because by helping others, you learned INDEXU and could therefore customize you own sites.

So, now comes the latest, Bruceper. But maybe he is smarter than all the rest of us since he is officially part of the helpdesk. Time will tell.


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[esm]

The help desk is helping, as I am part of the helpdesk.

Well, I don't visit the forums like I used to. Guess I missed that announcement.

Congratulations and Best Wishes...!



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[Bruceper]

Actually there hasn't been an announcement, but there's been an agreement so that's the important part. I guess I should make an announcement about it.

[inspireme]

Nice job Inspireme
Just one thing

A tip for the thumb . iF YOU DON5T HAVE IMAGE....
Use

<%if $pictures|file_exists%>
<%thumb file="$pictures" width="150" height="100" window="true" sharpen="true" link="true" hint="true" html='border="0"'%> <%/if%>

Work find.

thats cool

[inspireme]

don't get me wrong, its nothing against indexU, Its a fine line between doing something because you want to - and then helping people in such a way it seems like a job that you just dont get paid for.

Im sure Bruceper will carry on being a forum regular, especially as you are part of the helpdesk now, so it seems a good time to leave and concentrate on other things.

I have 6 sites i run using indexU so im sure i will stay around on the forums, but i think my time is now better spent working on my own sites. Im a webdesigner and im happy to do paid work for people still if they cant find anybody else, but working on mods really isnt worth it for me.

[esm]

don't get me wrong, its nothing against indexU, Its a fine line between doing something because you want to - and then helping people in such a way it seems like a job that you just dont get paid for.

Been there; done that; got the t-shirt to prove it.

I'm down to one links site and I will eventually do away with it. Unless I convert it to the latest version of INDEXU and sell it. I validate links about every 60 days or so on it (about 50 new links for that time period) so I'm not very active with it.

I don't even do paid work anymore with INDEXU. Too much work for too little money. I quote folks USD $100 per hour with a minimum of 4 hours. If folks are serious about their site, that is nothing. If they are not serious about their site, they say that is too much. So far, I've had no takers. It certainly cuts down on the requests for work/help.

Best wishes for the future.



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