Ron Cox
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| 10/14/2006 10:51 AM |
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Hi,
I know how much hard work it takes to put up even a very modest static website, to say nothing of a database driven website. Responding to requested changes coming in during the beta testing cycle is even harder work in some respects. Implimenting changes often means dynamiting the kitchen and living room before you can make add a new room to the house. Your developers are doing a great job. Keep up the good work.
Just a few thoughts:
1. Test the speed of web page and ZIP file delivery by using a slow dial up modem based system. Some end users like me still live in the stone age. I suspect you are currently running your website on a hand me down server like we all have to do when we begin developing a new application. That will change over time as you demonstrate the importance of this new website to your management. Think satisfied customers!
2. Consider re-organizing the SSG ZIP file structure. For example, the A.ZIP file currently contains 771 SSG files. This is great for folks that want to get everything known to man, but it might be helpful to create additional ZIP file grouped by "Sector and Subsector" or prehaps by "Value Line Industries". The roughly 3400 companies grouped into 100 industries on the Value Line website, might be a little small too. Your Investor's Toolkit 5 and Stock Prospector databases list about 140 industries. I think that would be a pretty good starting point. Judging from the content of the A.ZIP file and the sizes of the remaining ZIP files, you might be looking at 10,000 SSGs. That is a lot of data to be split across only 26 A-Z categories. I am sure you are planning to serve up one company at a time on demand to applications like Toolkit, and etc.
3. Most of the web pages I have seen are very readable. Once in a while, there is some light gray text on a white background. The contrast of this combination is difficult for many people to read. Perhaps the display defaults for this class of web objects can be set to something with a little more contrast.
Thanks for all the hard work,
Ron Cox
Triad Investors Club |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/14/2006 12:11 PM |
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Thank you for the comments, Ron.
No, we aren't developing on a "hand me down" server. We've made a couple of changes to improve speed. I assume that you see speed issues mostly in loading the forum pages. If that isn't the case, please let me know.
As for SSG file delivery, please note that the files are early in the beta process and that we don't yet have a user interface for them. The ZIP file method is a standby approach -- it let's us get the files into your hands. If you look in the Town Crier section, you'll se a more detailed method about the files. Eventually (and sooner rather than later) we'll be delivering files one at a time with a ticker and company search facility. And, ICLUBcentral will be updating software to handle the new files.
As for the color on some of the forum screens, I will be working on that, too!
Please keep the comments and questions coming! |
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Joe |
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Danny Matthews
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| 10/18/2006 12:04 PM |
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| Typo in the stock forums list FAST is spelled as Fastemal |
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Danny Matthews
Tuscola IL |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/18/2006 11:06 PM |
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| Thanks, Danny! It's fixed now. |
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Joe |
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Judith Leon
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| 10/23/2006 10:01 PM |
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Thanks for adding Prev/Next at the top of the page. How about adding it to the bottom of the page as well? Readers will find it convenient at the bottom of the page after they've scrolled through the messages.
~Judith
Judith Russ Leon |
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Judith Leon
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| 10/23/2006 10:05 PM |
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I just realized the time stamp on the messages is incorrect. It's reporting 10/24 at 3 AM when it is 10/23 at 10 PM ET.
~Judith |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/23/2006 11:28 PM |
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I'll see if I can do that!
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Joe |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/23/2006 11:29 PM |
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That's a time zone issue that's been vexing me. 10 PM EDT on 10/23 is 3 AM GMT on 10/24
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Joe |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/24/2006 11:45 AM |
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Thanks for adding Prev/Next at the top of the page. How about adding it to the bottom of the page as well?
This one turned out to be relatively easy. I also removed the "Thread Rating" stars ...
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Joe |
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Robert Mann
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| 10/24/2006 12:30 PM |
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Joe, the message, "You are not authorized to post a reply" appears on the main page yet, obviously, I'm able to reply if I try. This is confusing.
What do the green boxes next to a person's name represent? I didn't see an explanation anywhere.
Bob Mann |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 10/24/2006 3:03 PM |
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"You are not authorized to post a reply" appears on the main page yet, obviously, I'm able to reply if I try. This is confusing.
What do the green boxes next to a person's name represent? I didn't see an explanation anywhere.
On which "main page" do you see that? I'm assuming it's the forum main page. If you could find this again and give me the URL, it would help.
The green boxes indicate the number of messages you've posted to our forums. Your first post earns one green dot. Progression through the dots is based on the total number of messages.
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Joe |
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StockCentral Administrator
Cambridge, MA
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| 10/26/2006 12:39 PM |
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>That's a time zone issue that's been vexing me.
I just added a faq on how to fix this ...
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Danny Matthews
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| 11/09/2006 8:40 PM |
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As time permits can links be put in the place of words like "Village Green" in the left hand column.Hopefully this may be incorprated wherever there is a reference to go to a certain address. The article by Dan Abrahms on training materials might be a nice place to put links where references are made for available materials or information. Thanks, this is coming along very nicely.
Another possible thought is to tier subscriptions. Basic vs Intermediate vs Gonzo Investors. Each level would offer another upgrade and subscribers only buy what they want. Just an idea for the future.
Thirdly will we be able to download the Gerlach excel sheet with data similar to what was available from the SDS? Kind of nice just to have a printout of data, and not that Doug doesn't have anything else going on right now!
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Danny Matthews
Tuscola IL |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 11/09/2006 8:51 PM |
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| Perhaps its the cabernet, but I need a better explanation of what you'd like to see! |
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Joe |
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Danny Matthews
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| 11/09/2006 9:07 PM |
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In the left hand column the word village green is typed, put a hyperlink in its place to take the subscriber to the referenced page. Use hyperlinks anywhere there is a reference to locate information or travel to another site.
The tiered subscription would start at say $33 then subscribers could add services or programs on as they felt the need. An example would be like the tab that I "didn't see" the other day. This may be doable as the site expands the available materials. I think this would be more efficient than keeping track of a Take Stock, STKCTRL or multiple. subscriptions. Possible bundling for clubs later on.? Registered TK or NOCA users could buy a club subscription for up to ten members for $??? annually.
I don't know if you remember the excel worksheet Doug made up years agao and shared on the i-club list. That worksheet is what I am referencing. |
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Danny Matthews
Tuscola IL |
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Per Ostman
Boston, MA
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| 11/10/2006 11:02 AM |
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Hi Danny,
Thanks for the good suggestions. We have several different plans in the works, and since StockCentral is still in "Beta" form, we'll be adding new features constantly, such as "tabs that weren't there before."
Be sure to keep an eye out for our new stuff, and keep up with the feedback. We've built the framework of a really cool site, but it's the users that are going to craft it into what they need it to be. |
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ICLUBcentral Inc.
invest well. |
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EUGENE BROWN
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| 12/24/2006 10:22 PM |
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1. Had a heck of a time finding a place to make some comments... not clear at all where to go. Finally found a ref to "Infirmary", still had to search?
2. Thought I read some time ago this was a site (in part) to share SSGs. One of my favorite stocks, EGY, is correcting so thought I would share SSG. Don't see there's a way to do this.
3. Based on what I see now this is not a site I would pay to use.
Gene |
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EUGENE BROWN
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| 12/24/2006 10:23 PM |
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| Another suggestion... the send box needs to say something! |
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Danny Matthews
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| 12/25/2006 6:40 PM |
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Gene, click on the community tab, and then click on the alpha forum you want to access. After making your pick add comments. Next go to the bottom of message window and click on the browse button attach an SSG from wherever you keep you files on your computer. I just keep a separate foler for data files on my desktop. Click submit and you should see your post shortly.
Since you are here you don't have a thing to pay for the next year. From what I have seen over the past three months things are progressing nicely and I hope to see this as a one stop shop for investor information.
PS I am not affiliated with ICLUB, just an individual/club investor. |
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Danny Matthews
Tuscola IL |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 12/25/2006 8:20 PM |
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Gene,
>1. Had a heck of a time finding a place to make some comments... not clear at all where to go. Finally found a ref to "Infirmary", still had to search?
The place to discuss stocks, leave messages, etc. is our "community" page. You'll find several different sets of links on that page to help you find discussion forums of interest. Start by clicking on "all forums" in the left column to see the totality of the forums. THen you can use the other links to narrow things down.
>2. Thought I read some time ago this was a site (in part) to share SSGs. One of my favorite stocks, EGY, is correcting so thought I would share SSG. Don't see there's a way to do this.
The "ticker forums" are places where you can discuss specific stocks. Danny has described how you can attach an SSG file, or other files, to a message.
If there is a company of interest to you, leave a note in the Suggestion Box forum and we'll create that forum for you. You can always leave a note in the general "Investing" discussion, and we'll move it once the specific forum is created.
>3. Based on what I see now this is not a site I would pay to use.
I hope that you'll visit us a few times, get to know the site, and maybe change your mind.
Don't forget, too, that your StockCentral membership gets you access to our data service (company reports and SSG files) and Take Stock, a stock analysis program.
Best wishes, happy holidays, and Happy New Year!
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Joe |
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Joe Craig
Ellicott City, MD
StockCentral Administrator
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| 12/25/2006 8:24 PM |
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> Another suggestion... the send box needs to say something!
I'm not quite sure what this means. Can you elaborate? |
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Joe |
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