Topic: New Feature: X-lines

Hi all,

I wanted to let you know we released version 2 of the in-line review functionality today. There are two features which I think you will find useful:

1. X-lines. Now, when you open an in-line review, you will see another tab called x-line. When you click on this, all of the in-line comments given will show, opened, within the body of the content. This eliminates the need to go through and click on every comment to read the in-line reviews and they responses to those reviews. This page will also allow us to create a print-friendly page which we will be adding in the next couple of days.

2. In-line numbers. On both the in-line tab and the x-line tab you will see numbers next to the highlighted text. This tells you how many comments are attached to that highlighted text. So now if someone adds a new comment you can quickly see where it has been added.

3. Video and images. I don't k now how many people will use this feature, but you can now also attach images or videos to your in-line reviews if you want to refer to another source to make a point or show something from a video.

I hope these features make in-line reviews an even more helpful tool in the reviewing and editing process. We'll continue to listen to your feedback so that we can make TheNextBigWriter the Premium community for helping you improve your work and reach your writing goals.

Thanks,
Sol

Quote Post 1

2 Reply by Norm d'Plume (edited by Norm d'Plume 2015-04-27 16:50:37)

Re: New Feature: X-lines

I just tried x-line and it doesn't work for me. I see the inline review with numbers on both tabs.

Google Chrome, Windows 7.

Dirk

Quote Post 2

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Try it again. Try clicking ctrl-f5 if you still have problems. If it still doesn't work let me know.

Quote Post 3

Re: New Feature: X-lines

There's a cache issue. You can refresh your cache by clicking ctrl-f5 together if you don't see the x-lines. We're also working on fixing this from our end.

Quote Post 4

Re: New Feature: X-lines

No luck. Ctrl-F5 did not nothing.

Does x-line work on inline reviews already received in the past (before x-line functionality was added), or will it only work for inline reviews received from here on?

Thanks
Dirk

Quote Post 5

Re: New Feature: X-lines

I reloaded the page and now it appears to be working.

Thanks.
Dirk

Quote Post 6

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Also, when I add a response comment inline from within the x-line tab, it doesn't show on the page unless I reload it.

Dirk

Quote Post 7

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Also, when I add a response comment inline from within the x-line tab, it doesn't show on the page unless I reload it.

That's correct. You will need to reload the page if you comment on the x-line tab page.

Quote Post 8

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Thanks. This is a great new feature!

On a related note. Is the Leave Inline Review button disabled when we're about to review a non-paying member? I want to ensure they can read the feedback I'm leaving for them.

Thanks.
Dirk

Quote Post 9

Re: New Feature: X-lines

No, we haven't disabled it and I'm not sure we will.

Quote Post 10

Re: New Feature: X-lines

SolN,
Is there some way for you to allow file and photo sharing in the message system?
Thanks, dags:)

Quote Post 11

Re: New Feature: X-lines

dagnee wrote:

SolN,
Is there some way for you to allow file and photo sharing in the message system?
Thanks, dags:)

Boy, would that be handy!

~Tom

Quote Post 12

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Can you at least warn us if we're about to leave an inline review for someone who can't read it? I understand that it might be a draw for someone to start paying if they see a bunch of inline reviews they can't read for free, but I read new authors' works intentionally to get them hooked on the site by giving them as much useful feedback as I can. From what I've seen from other authors, they do the same thing, going the extra mile.

If I get halfway through a detailed inline review before realizing that they might not be able to read it (that's happened to me several times), then I either need to abandon the review, or continue and hope they see it. So far, I've received no reply from the authors, even though I've asked them to let me know if they saw it. Part of the problem is that many of us don't use regular reviews anymore, so I don't even think about using one, especially since there's only the Leave Inline Review button at the top of the posting view.

Either way, thanks for the great new feature!
Dirk

Quote Post 13

14 Reply by njc

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Nice.  'X' for eXpanded?  I think I'll take off my request to others not to inline their reviews.

Have the problems with overlapping comment zones been fixed?

Now, can we have a setting to put the X-display up as a personal default?

Quote Post 14

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Default to X-display makes sense.

Quote Post 15

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Default to X-display makes sense.

If enough members tell me they like the X-line view more than we can make it the default.

Quote Post 16

Re: New Feature: X-lines

SolN wrote:

Default to X-display makes sense.

If enough members tell me they like the X-line view more than we can make it the default.

Seems like a low priority to me; you're talking one click for crying out loud. But hey, if we're trying to alleviate any effort on anyone's part, how about a respirator to breathe for me, and I can probably think of a few more things which could reduce the burning of one-and-a-half calories and save a nanosecond or two. Or maybe just link us all up to a Matrix; don't forget to roll us over so we don't get bedsores, lol. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 17

Re: New Feature: X-lines

vern wrote:

Seems like a low priority to me; you're talking one click for crying out loud. But hey, if we're trying to alleviate any effort on anyone's part, how about a respirator to breathe for me, and I can probably think of a few more things which could reduce the burning of one-and-a-half calories and save a nanosecond or two. Or maybe just link us all up to a Matrix; don't forget to roll us over so we don't get bedsores, lol. Take care. Vern

LOL. Best single piece of advice I ever received from my business counterpart while I was working in IT was, "Count the mouse clicks." I deployed Customer Relationship Management systems for call centers that have to be very efficient/intuitive/self-teaching. I extended his advice to include scrolling and mouse movements. It's a trivial change and will almost certainly be the preferred default. Besides, there's no harm in asking.

Dirk

Quote Post 18

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Norm d'Plume wrote:
vern wrote:

Seems like a low priority to me; you're talking one click for crying out loud. But hey, if we're trying to alleviate any effort on anyone's part, how about a respirator to breathe for me, and I can probably think of a few more things which could reduce the burning of one-and-a-half calories and save a nanosecond or two. Or maybe just link us all up to a Matrix; don't forget to roll us over so we don't get bedsores, lol. Take care. Vern

LOL. Best single piece of advice I ever received from my business counterpart while I was working in IT was, "Count the mouse clicks." I deployed Customer Relationship Management systems for call centers that have to be very efficient/intuitive/self-teaching. I extended his advice to include scrolling and mouse movements. It's a trivial change and will almost certainly be the preferred default. Besides, there's no harm in asking.

Dirk

Amen, brother, no harm at all. Speaking of counting clicks, do you know how many we've spent on this subject. No, I'm not counting them, lol. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 19

Re: New Feature: X-lines

THANKS SOL,

This feature works well and definitely will help the back and forth chatter.

RE: This page will also allow us to create a print-friendly page which we will be adding in the next couple of days.

This feature I really look forward to. A 500 word mikejackson story as it is now - the print out would have been 8 pages.

Quote Post 20

21 Reply by njc

Re: New Feature: X-lines

I just looked at Rosebud Lives by Adrian Langford.  I opened the first inline review (mobile interface).  About the first half of the items showed up with expansions.  The others I had to click on.

Quote Post 21

Re: New Feature: X-lines

X line is a blessing for my iPad use! Thank you Sol and I look forward to the print feature with xline visible within my doc!

Quote Post 22

Re: New Feature: X-lines

At the risk of incurring Vern's wrath twice, I was just using the new feature to read reviews given to another author (as opposed to those received by me). In all those cases, the x-line tab should definitely be the default. I can't imagine a reason why someone would want the other view, having to click on each inline. Unless there's an issue with tablets or phones that requires it to be otherwise... It's more than just one mouse click per review; I open the review and begin to scroll down looking for comments, then when I see them, I realize I have to scroll back up to switch to the x-line tab, then scroll back down to continue where I left off.

Besides, if you change the default, I might shut up for a while and go away. :-)

Dirk

Quote Post 23

24 Reply by Norm d'Plume (edited by Norm d'Plume 2015-04-29 02:02:16)

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Tthe four buttons: add video. add picture, submit, cancel. Submit will be most commonly used. Right now it's in the middle, which requires too much "aiming" with the mouse, so we don't hit the wrong button. I suggest moving Submit it to the far left and making it wider, followed by Cancel, then the others, which I think will be rarely used. You may even want to move those two off to the right side of the comment box.

At a minimum, please widen Submit to make it easier to hit.

Thanks.
Dirk

Quote Post 24

Re: New Feature: X-lines

Norm d'Plume wrote:

At the risk of incurring Vern's wrath twice, I was just using the new feature to read reviews given to another author (as opposed to those received by me). In all those cases, the x-line tab should definitely be the default. I can't imagine a reason why someone would want the other view, having to click on each inline. Unless there's an issue with tablets or phones that requires it to be otherwise... It's more than just one mouse click per review; I open the review and begin to scroll down looking for comments, then when I see them, I realize I have to scroll back up to switch to the x-line tab, then scroll back down to continue where I left off.

Besides, if you change the default, I might shut up for a while and go away. :-)

Dirk

Hell hath no wrath like ... well who knows, but not me, lol. Anyway, logically speaking, it is still only one click if you wish to use the x-line; just click it initially. And just to point out one obvious reason for someone not to use it - moi for instance - is that you get more of the context to set the comment in when they aren't all listed in a row. I've looked at several where you have a word or two and no other context because the text is blocked by a dozen comment boxes. Still, as stated it's only one click and I for one still have the stamina to make it in either direction. Now, if I were Sol, and had to change the programming, it might burn a few more calories, but that's his weight loss to ponder not mine. And besides, who else is going to play the devil's advocate in writers' ever expanding desires for saving a mouse click. How on earth did they ever survive the quill and ink well, lol. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 25