Murex Murex

NOW we can upload UNFINISHED WORK for approval ??????

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NOW we can upload UNFINISHED WORK for approval ??????

from WinCustomize Forums
I sure would like to know what guide lines moderators use to accept DXthemes. When I make a theme I try to upload a working theme. And to me a working theme is one that requires very little modification by the user to have a working desktop. I go to the trouble to name all objects so if the user ever has to find it in the objects list they can find it easily. I list all the most popular programs in the menus. If it's a text list I always put some text on the menu so the user can just clone the text and choose the program .exe and chance the name to the desired program. I include DXplayer, meters. time, weather and calendar. The themes usually received a rating of 2 .5 from the mods. a couple received a rating of 3. Well I accept the rating mainly because there is nothing I can do about it. Here lately it seems skinners are doing less and less all the time and still receiving 2.5 to 3 rating. But today I saw a DXtheme that was approved with a rating of 3 and all the skin had was task bar, system tray, clock and a few lines of text. And most of them didn't even bring up any programs. Oh it also had a couple of blank menus. Even the author of the skin stated it was an unfinished skin and wanted people to tell him if it was worth finishing and even listed 2 know problems with it. And the text is in a different language which is ok except there isn't any tool tips to let you know what will happen when clicking on the object. So you have to click on it to see what it does.... BIG surprise it shuts the computer down.

Are we now able to upload unfinished work and ask the users. Do you like my work, should I finish it..

It is not fair to the customers of Wincustomize to approve unfinished work to be downloaded.


So I ask you JUST WHAT do you use as a guide line when you approve a skin. I really would like to know because I have spent the last 3 years trying to figure it out.
community
29,403 views 64 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh by the way it has a couple of problems.


Mods can't test everything. Thank goodness we only set an initial rating and the community takes it from there.

Also, as you pointed out, the artist stated it *is* a work in progress ("I'm still working in this theme but i wanted to upload it for u and know your opinion and if it will be worth i effort to make better this desktopx theme.") and a first attempt at a DX theme so I would expect it to not be complete.

In regards to your question to Jafo:
Would you consider this to be a finished theme?
See response above
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok I have my answer Thank you Jafo

Whether you agreed with me or not my thanks to every one for listening to me and commenting. Most of all thank you for keeping it civil. If nothing else came of this post I hope at least now a WIP will be implemented.

Well I must go now an open Photoshop. So many different styles of start buttons to make. Clocks nope I don't like making clocks. A list, That's it I can make a list of clocks that might go with my start button themes. Well at least I can skin the taskbar and system tray. I hope Wincustomize doesn't have a limit as to how many skins can be uploaded in a day. I should be able to make at least 5 of them a day if I concentrate real hard. Just think of all the downloads I will get.

Thanks All by now...
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I should be able to make at least 5 of them a day if I concentrate real hard.


Oh, hell, I have twice that sittin' in folders for months. I stopped msakin' 'em cause I get stuck.
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here is the problem I am having with this, and I'll try hard to be brief.

Granted the mods cannot test the skin or every skin, but I assume you read the description.

If you do, how can or do you rate something that states it is not finished or a work in progress? Do you rate it on what is done so far? And (as mentioned) take off for it's lack of completion? How can you possibly rate something half done (assuming it states in the description it is incomplete or a WIP) ? On it's potential? On wether the graphics you see so far are cool? How can you rate it at all if you don't know how the rest will look, work, or behave on a computer? If the finished product will even be functional?

With some of the works, take DX, one wrong code could send your system crashing, or shutting off, or whatever. I have downloaded at least 2 WB's that sent my system into a spin and I had to reboot to remove them.

What would the 'average' rating be for a WIP? How could you possibly give it enough points/stars to keep it from going to the author's personal gallery, when there are 'complete' works in the main gallery that may be rated lower for whatever reason, be it the mods rating or the member's rating?

This is why we need a gallery just for WIP's. The other reason is for all the people (Like me) who may be sitting on projects they are stuck in and would like to have just such a gallery to upload them to and have them dissected and critiqued or get help and pointers.

Such a gallery would be helpful to folks on countless levels. To learn how to tame a project that has gotten to big, to understand why this is this way and not that, that there is an easier way, etc. I could go on and I think there are a lot of people here who could add to my list even if I thought it was complete. It would, overall, also help to improve the QUALITY of skins that finally make it to the main gallery and dare I say, insure that MORE skins did make it, whatever they are, boots, walls, WB's, etc.

IMVERYHO and personally...All these little changes being made around the site are nice, good, great, etc. But what about addressing the skinners needs and not just their wants. My head hurts from looking at a WB tutorial's that are outdated, too technical, or written by people who asume or want you to have a pre-understanding of code (No offense intended towards some very noble efforts).

We need this gallery.
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and I'll try hard to be brief.
First time for everything . . 
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Po' Smedley, you got a right idea. After all, one can't really rate a work on progress. Also, its downloads and ratings shouldn't count towards skinners stats.
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, don't want to inflate people's stats with original work in progress vs. 100 fan art bootskin or logon uploads....
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
After all, one can't really rate a work on progress. Also, its downloads and ratings shouldn't count towards skinners stats.

I agree.

Yeah, don't want to inflate people's stats with original work in progress vs. 100 fan art bootskin or logon uploads....


I think it should be the same for both..and the same gallery if they are WIP...and dare I say...no ratings for WIP's. That is, if I'm understanding you right, boss.
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why can't people just concern themselves with their own work and not worry about somebody else's ratings or download count is what I'm saying.

I'm the first one to call out somebody if I see a rip or something without obvious permission, but if people are playing by the rules, why worry about a special gallery for this or that?

It's more work for WC and the mods. If it passes moderation, it's done. If you download it and it screws up your computer, say something, but other than that, it's the mods who decide what gets posted.

Make sure your own skins work, report a rip if you see one, and leave everybody else's ratings and downloads along.
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Its almost scary how many times my machine has crashed because of the things I've modded.  Did a screensaver that took me 3 days to recover from(didn't want to have to reformat)  and a logon that took a few also.  So now I cringe when I load something.
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Its almost scary how many times my machine has crashed because of the things I've modded. Did a screensaver that took me 3 days to recover from(didn't want to have to reformat) and a logon that took a few also. So now I cringe when I load something.


Which is why a gallery for WIp would be beneficial. A gallery with a clear understnading that these would be WIP's and may not function as expected, etc.
Granted, you take a chance with anything you download...but..especially for the noobs and such..this would alleviate some of the problems and guesswork.

Am I the only one who gets tired of seeing noobs (don't mean to use this word in a negative way) start threads because this or that screwed up something on their PC. Yes, I know, it's not always because of a WIP.

I think it would be helpful and actually save time in the long wrong, like with threads like this, for example. And all the other reasons I mentioned in post #54.
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Am I the only one who gets tired of seeing noobs (don't mean to use this word in a negative way) start threads because this or that screwed up something on their PC. Yes, I know, it's not always because of a WIP.


Haven't seen many of those, it's the "i downloaded this file but wut do i do wit it?!!?" that annoys me, seeing as how a quick search would answer most of those questions.
Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
C'mon Po, a WIP gallery is way too difficult to set up. The poor moderators , as Boss keeps telling us, are overloaded as it is, I mean just looking after those far more necessary galleries like Coolplayer, Colorpad, Beatnik, Objectbar, etc etc, can send the moderators to the brink of exhaustion.

A WIP gallery, nah, wont happen. Makes too much sense.
Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Makes too much sense.


yup.