Patrick Hughes Posted June 30, 2011 Author Posted June 30, 2011 OK, I can certainly make that an option so that it will show up only if the value has been entered in the users profile. Do you think it should be a drop-down list of pre-defined options or should the user be able to enter their own text? I think a pre-defined drop down would be a more consistent and more focused. I can see a sub category being useful and Dave idea of having that as a user entered value would save you a lot of work. Maybe a combined effort here can help you develop a list: I also like Dave's field name: Machinery as a sub-cat I personally would likely add something along the lines of custom build or automation blah blah Thanks for giving this some consideration. You run the most excellent site around. Quote
Patrick Hughes Posted June 30, 2011 Author Posted June 30, 2011 Oh, by the way Dave, I've been struggling with my latest "flanged sproggle brackets" design. Since you mentioned it are you in the industry and can you help? Quote
CADTutor Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 OK, would someone like to have a shot at compiling a list of discipline areas to include in a drop-down? Also, I do recall we had decided to include additional software information - I think it was around the time we got hacked and it clean went out of my mind. So let's do both. Quote
CADTutor Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 So, my idea for the discipline information is this: there will be 2 new fields in the user profile, Discipline, chosen from a drop-down list, to include "other". Then a further information field where the user can enter some text. The way it displays in the post area is that if a discipline is selected, it will show below the "Using:" field. If there is further information, the discipline field will be a link and clicking the link will display in a pop-up window just like the Computer Details. We could do a similar thing with the software. What do you think? Oh, one further thing. Should Discipline be a mandatory field? Quote
dbroada Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 as far as I'm concerned, Electrical, Mechanical and Electro/Mech just about covers everything but I guess some would like civil & others too. Given free form I would probably chose Electro/Mech - system panel design or light equipment design to differentiate me from heavy machinery. I guess you could include "student" (or similar) in the list to pick up those without discipline. Should it be mandatory? I personally think location should be mandatory as we often get "give me symbols" with no idea of what countries symbols they want. Again, the answers given can depend on the discipline of the questioner but getting people to fill it in accurately is still the problem. Quote
dbroada Posted July 1, 2011 Posted July 1, 2011 Oh, by the way Dave, I've been struggling with my latest "flanged sproggle brackets" design. Since you mentioned it are you in the industry and can you help? left handed or right handed? We've had a lot of problems with left handed ones recently for no apparent reason. Quote
Patrick Hughes Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 My suggestions: Architectural Mechanical Electrical Civil HVAC P&ID Maybe a generic Industrial or Product Design I can see where the list could get long but the sub cats are helpful there. I imagine you may have a request down the road for additions. I don't know if mandatory needs to be a requirement but I was thinking that if people see this information while looking at posts it may encourage more participation because they may feel more in their comfort zone in their field. Quote
Patrick Hughes Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 left handed or right handed? We've had a lot of problems with left handed ones recently for no apparent reason. Actually a rear, but I've since discovered the flange is not needed. Quote
CADTutor Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 My suggestions: Architectural Mechanical Electrical Civil HVAC P&ID Maybe a generic Industrial or Product Design I can see where the list could get long but the sub cats are helpful there. I imagine you may have a request down the road for additions. I would add: Environmental Education Facilities Management I'm sure there are others - please add to the list. Quote
dbroada Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 as above, I am more electro-mech than either one so I would like that added. Quote
CADTutor Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 OK, I've completed the first stage of this. You will see 2 new profile fields in your settings: Discipline and Discipline details. If you select an option for Discipline, this will display in the postbit next to your posts. Could you check out this new feature and let me know if it works as you expected? I'm particularly keen on compiling a full list of disciplines, so let me know if there is something missing e.g. do we need "automotive" or other more specialised disciplines? Phase 2 of this change will involve making a pop-up box, displaying the Discipline details information, if that is entered. I also plan to so a similar thing for the additional software information that was requested a while back. Quote
Tyke Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 OK, I've completed the first stage of this. You will see 2 new profile fields in your settings: Discipline and Discipline details. If you select an option for Discipline, this will display in the postbit next to your posts. Could you check out this new feature and let me know if it works as you expected? I'm particularly keen on compiling a full list of disciplines, so let me know if there is something missing e.g. do we need "automotive" or other more specialised disciplines? Phase 2 of this change will involve making a pop-up box, displaying the Discipline details information, if that is entered. I also plan to so a similar thing for the additional software information that was requested a while back. How about adding "Surveying", "Utilities", "Transport", for a start? Quote
CADTutor Posted July 28, 2011 Posted July 28, 2011 How about adding "Surveying", "Utilities", "Transport", for a start? OK, good suggestions, now added to the list. Any others? Quote
CADTutor Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 So I've finished the implementation for the Discipline pop-up. Let's say it's now in beta. If you have any suggestions for improvements, let me know. Essentially, it works like this: If the member has not added any discipline information, nothing will appear in the postbit. If they have selected a discipline area from the drop-down menu, that will appear in the postbit. If they have also added discipline details, there will be a small down arrow to indicate that they can be viewed in a pop-up window. The one final question I have is whether this information should be compulsory? Currently, it's optional. Quote
ReMark Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 I think it should remain optional. If it were compulsory it might prove vexing for "newbies" or students who have yet to settle into a niche. Quote
CADTutor Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 I think it should remain optional. If it were compulsory it might prove vexing for "newbies" or students who have yet to settle into a niche. I tend to agree with that opinion. I'm just making a slight improvement to the logic. Your discipline currently reads as "other" because that's what you selected but it would be better if is read "See details" or something similar. Working on that now. Quote
ReMark Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 My discipline says Other because I never know what's going to land on my desk overnight. LOL Maybe there should be an option for "Varies". LOL Quote
CADTutor Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 OK, the Discipline hack is now feature complete. I added one extra thread to the logic: if a member selects "Other" but does not add any further details, the postbit will show nothing. Comments welcome. Quote
Tyke Posted July 29, 2011 Posted July 29, 2011 The one final question I have is whether this information should be compulsory? Currently, it's optional. I agree with Mark and David, it should definitely remain optional. Nice one David . Four people in this thread have already updated their profile and it looks very good. What does the OP think? Quote
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