Murex

Join Date 08/2002

+137

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

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.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

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

I have seen some 'incomplete' windowblinds make it through moderation. This is the first I have heard of a DXTheme. As much scripting as is involved and the potential some scripts have for doing things to and with your set-up that can be quite frustrating if not done right or completely, I am surprised.

It would be nice if there was a gallery or specific forum thread for 'work in progress' where people could get help, tips, etc.

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Don't know for the guide lines that's not my work

But for me there are no high mater he clearly said that his DX is in build...
Just few things i think about this:

i think it's possible to upload a skin/theme to show only in your gallery (never try in general it's mod who put my walls here

), thus that's could be better in this kind of case to upload to your gallery and make a post in forum to allow users with experience to help you.

I'm gonna to send him a mail to give him some tips/links.

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It would be nice if there was a gallery or specific forum thread for 'work in progress' where people could get help, tips, etc.

An excellent idea

But for me there are no high mater he clearly said that his DX is in build...

Yes he did. So it should never have been approved for download..

I'm gonna to send him a mail to give him some tips/links.

Always a friend willing to help.. Your a good person my friend.

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There is no "carved in stone" definition of what MUST be contained in a DX Theme. It is widely open to interpretation. Due to the vast, unlimited flexibility of DX, I think it would be impossible to set minimum standards either.

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I realize that they or us can't define what is to be included in the theme. But you have to have some standards as to what constitutes a theme. The skin I am talking about can barley by the stretch of the imagination be called a theme. Wincustomize has a rating for every skin that is uploaded. The rating is suppose to reflect on the quality of the skin. Graphics, over all usability of the skin , workman ship. It is suppose to be an indicator of the quality of the skin no matter if it's a DXtheme or a WB or any other skin. If the same rating is applied to a skin with very little usefulness or aesthetics (yes I know the pretty part of the theme is up to each persons likes and dislikes) what good is the ratings? Where is the incentive for the skinner to make great themes. And now this is where some one is going to tell me downloads don't mean a thing... Well I say bull pucky. If downloads didn't mean any thing then there wouldn't be all the squabbles about what other people do to get more downloads.. Yes I know that skinners skin to share with others but I am not naive enough to believe that's the only reason that they skin. The rating system is in place and it will stay in place. But if your going to have a rating at least let it be uniform and fair What good does it do for a user to look at the rating when the skin could be Great or a skin that doesn't function well because the rating doesn't really reflect the function or usability of the skin?

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The rating is suppose to reflect on the quality of the skin

I wish that in a better world my friend but here it's the customers who set the rating of skins we can't love all the same things all the time. And many of them don't know how made a skin/theme or are beginners thus the rating system is good but don't show really the quality or the less quality of a skin.

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The mods are the one's that give the first ratings before it is available for download. After that the users can give the skin a rating if

they want to. But only if they buy something from stardock or buy a subscription. But IMHO it should be the user who rates the work after all they are the ones who use the skins..

thus the rating system is good but don't show really the quality or the less quality of a skin.

Then I ask again what good is the rating?

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It's been argued over and over in a thousand threads. The ratings are here to stay. Post your work here or don't.

It is what it is.

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It's been argued over and over in a thousand threads. The ratings are here to stay. Post your work here or don't.

Yes I know the ratings are here to stay. I even said that very same thing in reply 5. And thank you for pointing out that I can post my work or not.

The statements I made about the ratings were just part of my post It wasn't intended to be the focal point of my post. It just seems like the mods keep rating the DXthemes the same regardless of the quality of the skin. If some one can upload an unfinished skin and have it pass moderation how long will it be before we have a bunch of new skinners uploading unfinished work asking the users to help fix their skins and tell them if the skin is worth finishing. And what about the user that downloads the unfinished skin. Is it fair to them to download something that might cause problems. Users shouldn't have to deal with that. I know they are getting it for free. But the user should still be able to download a good useable skin.

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It would be nice if there was a gallery or specific forum thread for 'work in progress' where people could get help, tips, etc.

Good idea PO!

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The same thing happens in the logons and probably most of the other libraries. You know the DX library better, I know the Logon library a LOT better.

It's just going to be that way. A logon that only works with one resolution, or none, with default buttons and a wallpaper that looks so pixelated you could use the grain to start a beach with will get the same or close to the same ratings as others with much more work.

Just create work that you are proud of, post it, and leave it alone.

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Murex I agree totally with what you are saying, an admitted unfinished work in my opinion should not have been allowed to be uploaded. The author in question would have been better off asking in forums etc for testers and if anyone was willing to help sort out the stated problems he is having. For a moderator to give an unfinished work the same rating as other finished and more polished skins is a slap in the face for many. Ratings DO matter to people otherwise there wouldn't be so many complaints, arguments, marriage breakups, suicides over them.

Many times on many threads a WIP gallery has been mooted, I guess its falling on deaf ears.

Post your work here or don't.

Not a response I would've expected from you Boss. Passive acceptance is not always the way to go, just ask the sheep.

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Just create work that you are proud of, post it, and leave it alone

I am proud of the work that I upload other wise i wouldn't upload it. I am just stating how I feel about posting an unfinished theme for download and the fact the it was given a high rating. And asked a simple question. What guide lines does a moderator use to rate a DXtheme. So far no one has come up with an answer.

Many times on many threads a WIP gallery has been mooted, I guess its falling on deaf ears.

Well shucks buzz maybe this is the starting of a WIP gallery. Just upload any unfinished work, Out line your problems in the description area and ask for help. And don't forget to ask if it's worth your effort to continue working on it

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WebGizmos

Join Date 09/2003

+735

It would be nice if there was a gallery or specific forum thread for 'work in progress' where people could get help, tips, etc.

I agree with this as well...rather than uploading "works in progress" that could just turn off some unsuspecting visitor from downloading anything else...thinking the standards are poor...having a thread for this kind of stuff is a great idea. Personally....anything that is knowingly unfinished...and is to the point of shutting down someones pc should not be approved to be uploaded to any gallery. First impressions can make or break a website.

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The same thing happens in the logons and probably most of the other libraries. You know the DX library better, I know the Logon library a LOT better

I rate most between 4-6, have rated some 3's and some 7's and a couple 8's, but most are the same, 5-6 as they are average. How many screen captures from games do you want to rate high? How many animies do you rate high? Not much goes into making the pic.

Same with walls, boots. How many houses on the prairie do you rate high? How many squirlies do you rate high? How many clouds over green grass do you rate high? Seen one ya almost seen them all. If they are unique, I rate them higher and feature them. If they are the same old same, well.....

Now, don't think I'am different. Most will tell you the same thing.

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Hi WOM

I understand what you are saying and agree with you. You can't give high rates to every skin that comes in To much of it is the same just in a different package. But seriously now if some one sent in a log on and said well I made this logon but can't get it to work right but thought I would send it in any way would to give it 3 stars and put it up for some one to download? I know you wouldn't.

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Come on Stardock....

WIP it. WIP it good.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

It's very frustrating when we are asked for input and when we offer suggestions they don't happen.

In one of my own threads, I suggested a separate gallery for works by 'non-skinners' featuring fan art, works re-posted with permissions, etc. The only people against the idea were admins and mods. We reached a compromise and since, I get the occasional email and PM asking 'When will it happen?' (as if I had a say. lol)

I'm not the first to suggest a gallery for WIP. This has been brought up before.

Both have received 'positive' feedback from members, artists, people who just download, and others who visit the site.

I've played the corporate game and have 'run' the corporate game. I've run the big meetings, where part of my job was to sell the manager's and employee's on new idea's and changes and make them believe it was 'their' idea. And to 'compromise' when I couldn't. I also had to know when to throw them a bone.

It would be truly nice to see something, like one of these two idea's that the community backs, actually come to pass.

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WOM, you're pretty much made my point. Everything is going to get rated about the same..4-6, unless there is something that really stands out. Whether it's unfinished or pretty good, you don't have time to get into all of that. If people are worried about the ratings, it shouldn't be the initial rating by the mod but the subsequent ratings.
If it's good, it will go up...if not down.

And not necessarily on that particular skin. If it's good, people will watch you or keep an eye out for skins you make and the ratings and downloads will come. They get to know your work, they know it will be better than most, and the ratings and downloads will go up.

The person who uploads garbage or unfinished work will fade away and everything will end up as it should.

And buzz...as far as passive acceptance....hey...it's one site. WC is not my life, they have their way of working things, and it's fine with me. I've had my ups and many downs here but somehow I end up back here. I enjoy helping in the forums when I can, post some of my work, and buy and use the products. Hell, I even broke down and subscribed again..guess this place somehow gets in your blood.

It just seems to me lots of people get way too serious about all of this. The mods do the best they can with it all and 9 times out of 10 have it right.

If you're trying to make a living at this stuff....go ahead and bitch about your ratings if you want.

If you're creating it because you enjoy it, shut up and take what you get. If you're good, people will notice.

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I am assuming you are speaking in general here and not directing this at me..

I agree with you PO a WIP area would be nice for new skinners. Another thing that would help out new skinners would be a bank of PSD files that they could download to see for themselves how the skins are put together.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

Meant to squeeze this in as an edit but couldn't.

I'm discouraged. I understand what I am reading and where it's coming from...and heaven knows I'm not trying to bring any wrath down on myself..

But it's a little discouraging when you see a mod saying things like 'you seen one you seen 'em all' followed by another about how a majority of the work may be rated from the get go.

I realize the mods are 'volunteers' and the submissions just keep coming in a steady flood..and forgive me for not knowing how else to say it...but it sounds like your 'burnt out' and it is discouraging. At the least, it doesn't sound hopeful for noobs or someone who thinks they have found a better way to present 'clouds over grassy fields'.

If you're trying to make a living at this stuff....go ahead and bitch about your ratings if you want.

Everyone seems to have something about ratings at one time or another...good or bad. I think the poster and others have legitimate concerns and questions. I don't understand why these things result in some of the language or tone they do and as much as I respect you and your work and opinion, I'm kinda taken aback and hope I am just reading 'unintended' tone into the quote.

'Periods' coma and go, like impressionists (water lilies, etc), or styles, etc., etc., and 'clouds over grassy fields'. Some are unique, some are not. Some are done better and some done even better. It's discouraging, to even imagine, that a mod might roll their eyes at one such work (be it wall, boot, DXTheme, or whatever) and give it an automatic rating of 4 or 5 just because they are tired of seeing the same old thing.

This is all my humble opinion. I'm really not trying to offend anyone.

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I'm really not trying to offend anyone.

Does anyone else find Po' offensive? I think the turtle needs a bath!

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

what the IS that?! I'm staring and I can't figure out what it is!

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Sorta looks like the face of cow....minus the horns

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shut up and take what you get

Spoken like a true conformist.

If questions aren't asked, answers wont be given.

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