A simple improvement suggestion - what you think?

[lpc]

Hi everyone

 

I applied to become an editor almost a month ago. I strongly believe that the whole process (completing the form) could have been easier.

 

One thing that I believe could get improved as well is the auto response emails that are sent after the form completion.

 

It would have been nice if any of the emails mentioned the username selected and the category chosen for the application.

 

I'm not sure if the people in charge of the software behind odp are listening but it would be nice to see some improvements, just make things looks "better".

 

Regards

Panos

[john.carroll]

As a whole I think ODP could be improved a 1000 times better.

I don't think AOL have fully utilized it's capabilties. It's not change since I first started using it and over the past few years has been experiencing technical issues on a regular basis.

[shadow575]

I applied to become an editor almost a month ago. I strongly believe that the whole process (completing the form) could have been easier.

It could have been made easier, but being able to complete an application with the requested information is part of the evaluation process. Being able to read and follow the instructions as well as the sample sites offered, help to show an applicants potential to learn to be a good, productive editor.

 

One thing that I believe could get improved as well is the auto response emails that are sent after the form completion.

 

It would have been nice if any of the emails mentioned the username selected and the category chosen for the application.

On an accepted application that information is supplied within the acceptance letter. If you are referring to the the confirmation email, that information is not needed by the system so its not likely to be included. I would suggest always keeping a copy of the application before you submit it just in case an error occurs during the submission and the whole application is lost.

 

As a whole I think ODP could be improved a 1000 times better.

What project couldn't use 1000 times improvement? The ODP is always changing and striving to improve itself. Some improvements are imeediate while others are slowly being implemented.

 

I don't think AOL have fully utilized it's capabilties. It's not change since I first started using it and over the past few years has been experiencing technical issues on a regular basis.

I don't think you will find many arguing that AOL has done everything it could/should have to support the project. The technical difficulties are part of the problem However' date=' since the crash last fall the input and support from staff has greatly increased and many functions have been updated and improved. Not all improvements are visible on the public side but things are getting much more attention now. The launching of the Official DMOZ Blog is just one of the publicly visible improvements (in communication) that has been implemented.

[lpc]

It could have been made easier, but being able to complete an application with the requested information is part of the evaluation process. Being able to read and follow the instructions as well as the sample sites offered, help to show an applicants potential to learn to be a good, productive editor.

 

This intention is obvious during the application process and probably it is a good idea. What I disagree with is the way that it is implemented. I believe that there is space for improvement there and I would enjoy discussing this on further detail with other volunteers.

 

On an accepted application that information is supplied within the acceptance letter. If you are referring to the the confirmation email, that information is not needed by the system so its not likely to be included. I would suggest always keeping a copy of the application before you submit it just in case an error occurs during the submission and the whole application is lost.

 

Well, I believe that it should have been in the confirmation email because it is not easy to keep a copy of a form with all the inserted data (I had to print mine). As an example, this is what happened to me:

- I filled in the application

- I printed it before submitting

- I probably had to change my username (or something) after that and I didn't print than. Now I'm not sure what my username is.

 

Of course, this is not important as long as I'm not an editor. But I believe that it points out the need for usability improvements.

 

The launching of the Official DMOZ Blog is just one of the publicly visible improvements (in communication) that has been implemented.

 

the Official DMOZ blog is a great thing, thanks!

[motsa]

The suggestion to include a copy of the application contents in the confirmation email has been made before, both internally and externally. Unfortunately, it isn't something that editors (even meta editors) have any control over. It would requires changes by AOL. It might be implemented at some point in the future but we really can't say when--or even whether--that might be.

[lpc]

It would requires changes by AOL. It might be implemented at some point in the future but we really can't say when--or even whether--that might be.

 

It makes sense. Thanks for listening, anyway

[shadow575]

I strongly believe that the whole process (completing the form) could have been easier.

The basis of my response was directed at this comment. Exactly what in regards to completing the application form could be made easier? You tell us who you are, what you are interested in, the sites you are affiliated with, the reason you want to help the project, and provide us 3 sample sites that you think would qualify for a listing in the category you are applying for with what you believe to be guideline compliant titles and descriptions. This is all information that is necessary for an editor to be able to provide in order to remain a productive contributor to the project.

 

Sorry if the jist of your post was about post application submission problems. I read the second section of your post, not as the main focus but rather as an additional problem to the first part.

[lpc]

The basis of my response was directed at this comment. Exactly what in regards to completing the application form could be made easier? You tell us who you are, what you are interested in, the sites you are affiliated with, the reason you want to help the project, and provide us 3 sample sites that you think would qualify for a listing in the category you are applying for with what you believe to be guideline compliant titles and descriptions. This is all information that is necessary for an editor to be able to provide in order to remain a productive contributor to the project.

 

Sorry if the jist of your post was about post application submission problems. I read the second section of your post, not as the main focus but rather as an additional problem to the first part.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Shadow

 

I can't blame you for being confused, obviously my post wasnt clear. My true intention for the post was for the username & section in the email not for the application process.

 

The application process makes sense to me and I agree with all the requested information. What I disagree with, is the way that it verifies and announces any kind of mistakes. The problem is that you have to submit the form before any kind of "quality check" happens. If you have ANY errors, it takes you to the "Become an Editor at the Open Directory Project" entry page and then you lose all of the data that you typed before and start all over again.

 

After some testing, this happens A LOT when I try to apply as an editor in the following category (it is a Greek one): World: Greek: Κατά Περιοχή: Ευρώπη: Ελλάδα: Επιχειρήσεις και Οικονομία: Απασχόληση

 

It might just be because there is no clear information on what kind of input is expected from the form. It might just be me or my firefox or something else. The thing is that at the time that I did the application, I had to figure out by myself and the "trial and error" method what kind of input gets past validation. And that is annoying

 

 

 

I'll do some more testing and I'll get back to you on this.

 

Kind Regards,

Panos

[chaos127]

happens. If you have ANY errors, it takes you to the "Become an Editor at the Open Directory Project" entry page and then you lose all of the data that you typed before and start all over again.

If the submitting the form fails and sends you to a page that doesn't indicate that fact, let alone tells you why, then I think that is something we should definitely look into. I'm not aware of there being any specific validation, other than on the answer to the "have you been an editor before" question (if you say yes, you end up at the reinstatement page, since multiple accounts are not allowed).

 

It would be most helpful if you could find a repeatable set of circumstances to generate the behaviour you describe. Let us have a link to the category you apply for, exactly what you do/don't enter in the form, and also the exact URL of the page you end up at.

 

Also, does pressing the "back" button in your browser not return you to the form in the state it was when you hit submit?

[chaos127]

Ok, I've had a play. I think there is a check made on the password field. Applying for an English category, I can generate the error message:

Please choose a password that is at least 7 characters and contains both letters and non-letters. Do not use your login name as part of your password.

Making the same error in the greek category gets you at http://www.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/apply.cgi -- which is clearly not what should be happening. I've now reported this internally.

[lpc]

Ok, I've had a play. I think there is a check made on the password field. Applying for an English category, I can generate the error message:

 

Making the same error in the greek category gets you at http://www.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/apply.cgi -- which is clearly not what should be happening. I've now reported this internally.

 

You're faster and better than I could ask for! I do have the feeling that it is more than the password but not sure yet.

 

Anyway, thanks for looking into this

 

Regards,

Panos

[lpc]

I suppose I posted this here just because it had to do with the application process. Probably it is the wrong Discussion Category, "Bugs and Features" seems more appropriate.

 

Apologies.

Panos

[john.carroll]

I'm unsure how much Dmoz has actually improved over the past few years.

 

I cannot comment on the backend mechanics, however from my perspective. Dmoz hasn't been improved much with regards to feedback and resolving end user annoyances since I've used Dmoz for over 7 years. That's just my personal opinion. The whole process for the end user could be streamlined for better efficiency e.g. editor applicants needn't register on a forum to check the status of their application. Also the status of a website submission.

 

The whole 'communication' thing seems dispersed and segregated. The ODP is a project worthy of revival/reinvigoration. I'd love to see AOL to make a sincere effort to diagnose and fix the weaknesses of dmoz (no need to repeat that debate/list). There's a huge opportunity for changes that are win-win-win solutions for dmoz volunteers, aol shareholders, and quality-oriented webmasters.

 

Long live Dmoz.

[chaos127]

@lpc: thanks to you bringing he problem with the editor application form to our attention, it's now been fixed. You should now always get an appropriate error message if there's a problem with the form that means you can't proceed.

[lpc]

@lpc: You should now always get an appropriate error message if there's a problem with the form that means you can't proceed.

 

Thanks for always giving me an appropriate error message from now on