Freegle Tech Report 16-12-31 - Revision history

Dorothyjeanquinn: a

2017-02-06T12:58:52Z

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	December 2016<BR>		December 2016<BR>

	<br>Back to [[Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30\|Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30]]  Forward to [[Freegle Tech Report 17-01-31~~\|Freegle Tech Report~~]]		<br>Back to [[Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30\|Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30]]  Forward to [[Freegle Tech Report 17-01-31]]

	<br>		<br>

	[[Category:Tech_Group_Reports]]		[[Category:Tech_Group_Reports]]

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Other Stuff. */ a

2017-01-12T16:09:51Z

Other Stuff.: a

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 12 January 2017
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	December 2016<BR>		December 2016<BR>

	Back to [[~~Tech_Group_reports~~		<br>Back to [[Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30\|Freegle Tech Report 16-11-30]]  Forward to [[Freegle Tech Report 17-01-31\|Freegle Tech Report]]

			<br>

	[[Category:Tech_Group_Reports]]		[[Category:Tech_Group_Reports]]

Dorothyjeanquinn: a

2017-01-12T16:08:04Z

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 December 2016<BR>
-== Native ==
+Back to [[Tech_Group_reports
-For those interested, there is a page on how to do this if  you want to see what's involved or do it yourself.  <BR>http://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Removing_Yahoo_from_your_Group
+[[Category:Tech_Group_Reports]]

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Yahoo */ a

2017-01-12T16:03:19Z

Yahoo: a

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 It is probable that there were such long delays in Yahoo registering the posts that Modtools had stopped checking for them. Most of them were three or  four days old. There have been other shorter delays since.
 ==
-Other Stuff. ==
+==Other Stuff. ==
 Business cards were discussed. You can get business cards by emailing media@ilovefreegle.org<BR>
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 Tech Report<BR>
 December 2016<BR>
 == Native ==

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Modtools app. */ a

2017-01-12T16:02:06Z

Modtools app.: a

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	== Modtools app. ==		== Modtools app. ==

	The app is now working and any moderator with a fairly recent Android or Apple device should be able to use it to fully moderate their group. All groups with Direct attached do need to use either the app or a computer daily to keep their group memberships in synch and get any changes they have made carried from one to the other. <BR><		The app is now working and any moderator with a fairly recent Android or Apple device should be able to use it to fully moderate their group. All groups with Direct attached do need to use either the app or a computer daily to keep their group memberships in synch and get any changes they have made carried from one to the other. <BR>

	Moderators will not receive notification by email of every post, but they will soon be showing on the apps. Probably there will be some sort of notification sent to groups periodically with tasks outstanding as well.<BR>		Moderators will not receive notification by email of every post, but they will soon be showing on the apps. Probably there will be some sort of notification sent to groups periodically with tasks outstanding as well.<BR>

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Google ads */ a

2017-01-12T16:01:30Z

Google ads: a

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	*Google ads		*Google ads
	A team of volunteers have been taking advantage of the free Google ads we have been allowed for Freegle. Nearly all groups have now been done, you can check here to see if yours has. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uMFizpf4AEYnQY-aCkXu2GhCNVQCjf6ggVhIDkm4HMk/edit?usp=sharing <br>		A team of volunteers have been taking advantage of the free Google ads we have been allowed for Freegle. Nearly all groups have now been done, you can check here to see if yours has. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uMFizpf4AEYnQY-aCkXu2GhCNVQCjf6ggVhIDkm4HMk/edit?usp=sharing <br>

	~~==Google ads==~~

	A team of volunteers have been taking advantage of the free Google ads we have been allowed for Freegle. Nearly all groups have now been done, you can check here to see if yours has. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uMFizpf4AEYnQY-aCkXu2GhCNVQCjf6ggVhIDkm4HMk/edit?usp=sharing <BR>

	== Mobile. ==		== Mobile. ==

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Facebook */ a

2017-01-12T16:01:02Z

Facebook: a

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	Some group pages still need the old app removing and the new button linking to Direct. Also a lot of pages appear to need relinking to modtools so that the publicity stuff gets published. If you need help with this then email Jean at sueandjean@gmail.com<BR>		Some group pages still need the old app removing and the new button linking to Direct. Also a lot of pages appear to need relinking to modtools so that the publicity stuff gets published. If you need help with this then email Jean at sueandjean@gmail.com<BR>

			*Google ads
			A team of volunteers have been taking advantage of the free Google ads we have been allowed for Freegle. Nearly all groups have now been done, you can check here to see if yours has. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uMFizpf4AEYnQY-aCkXu2GhCNVQCjf6ggVhIDkm4HMk/edit?usp=sharing <br>

	==Google ads==		==Google ads==

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Facebook */ a

2017-01-12T16:00:00Z

Facebook: a

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	~~== Facebook ==~~

	Some group pages still need the old app removing and the new button linking to Direct. Also a lot of pages appear to need relinking to modtools so that the publicity stuff gets published. If you need help with this then email Jean at sueandjean@gmail.com
	~~Google ads~~
	A team of volunteers have been taking advantage of the free Google ads we have been allowed for Freegle. Nearly all groups have now been done, you can check here to see if yours has. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uMFizpf4AEYnQY-aCkXu2GhCNVQCjf6ggVhIDkm4HMk/edit?usp=sharing
	Mobile.		Mobile.
	The website now has a notice at the top of the screen on iOS and Android to promote the Freegle app.		The website now has a notice at the top of the screen on iOS and Android to promote the Freegle app.

Dorothyjeanquinn: /* Direct */ a

2017-01-12T15:58:34Z

Direct: a

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	== Direct ==		== Direct ==

	~~'''~~Changes~~'''~~		*Changes<BR>
	Once you have marked something as taken/received/withdrawn, it disappeared from My Posts. There is now a button to allow you to bring old posts back.<BR>		Once you have marked something as taken/received/withdrawn, it disappeared from My Posts. There is now a button to allow you to bring old posts back.<BR>
	The maximum age of a post we'll display has gone up from 30 to 90 days. You should mark them as taken or withdrawn as appropriate. <BR>		The maximum age of a post we'll display has gone up from 30 to 90 days. You should mark them as taken or withdrawn as appropriate. <BR>
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	‘Any of these take your fancy emails have been introduced’ Members can turn these off, from their settings or using their email address. Moderators can turn them off for their groups.<BR><BR>		‘Any of these take your fancy emails have been introduced’ Members can turn these off, from their settings or using their email address. Moderators can turn them off for their groups.<BR><BR>

	So far, across all groups, 57 people have turned them off, and 1651 people have clicked on a link in them to view a message. That suggests that people are finding them significantly more useful than not. There was a problem with some moderators annoyed at posts seeming to be sent from the group owners email when they are being done centrally. It was decided to make it clear who they are from and send instead from email addresses on FD (groupname-auto@groups.ilovefreegle.org), which may also have the benefit of improving our email delivery further.<BR>		So far, across all groups, 57 people have turned them off, and 1651 people have clicked on a link in them to view a message. That suggests that people are finding them significantly more useful than not. There was a problem with some moderators annoyed at posts seeming to be sent from the group owners email when they are being done centrally. It was decided to make it clear who they are from and send instead from email addresses on FD (groupname-auto@groups.ilovefreegle.org), which may also have the benefit of improving our email delivery further.<BR><BR>
	~~'''~~Mapping~~'''~~		*Mapping<BR>
	The way local groups could map their areas did not work well for all so there is now an option in ModTools/ Group Settings which will suppress the area name in posts from FD. This means posts will just have the first part of the postcode. <BR>		The way local groups could map their areas did not work well for all so there is now an option in ModTools/ Group Settings which will suppress the area name in posts from FD. This means posts will just have the first part of the postcode. <BR>
	Showing the little map thumbnails next to posts was going to cost us a few hundred dollars a month, which we don't want. It’s now been changed so the map only appears when you click to expand a post, this should reduce the cost substantially.<BR>		Showing the little map thumbnails next to posts was going to cost us a few hundred dollars a month, which we don't want. It’s now been changed so the map only appears when you click to expand a post, this should reduce the cost substantially.<BR>
	Regions (which we used to have in the old site) are back. Each group has a region, which mods can change from ModTools->Settings->Group Settings. Please check yours is right. The explore page now has links which take you to a region. The map shrinks to fit - which means that the area of a region is effectively defined by the groups that are in it.<BR>		Regions (which we used to have in the old site) are back. Each group has a region, which mods can change from ModTools->Settings->Group Settings. Please check yours is right. The explore page now has links which take you to a region. The map shrinks to fit - which means that the area of a region is effectively defined by the groups that are in it.<BR>
	This helps people searching for a group in a general area. Some of the regions we had on the old site were wrong; we've corrected the most obvious ones, but if you spot any which are in the wrong area, please Edward know offlist. You can see this on https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore<BR><BR>		This helps people searching for a group in a general area. Some of the regions we had on the old site were wrong; we've corrected the most obvious ones, but if you spot any which are in the wrong area, please Edward know offlist. You can see this on https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore<BR><BR>
			*Search Engine Optimisation<BR>
	~~'''~~Search Engine Optimisation~~'''~~

	There has been quite a lot of work to try to improve our Google search rankings, and therefore the number of people who find us. Most of this is about how we structure our web pages so that Google can understand them better, and isn’t very visible to members. This is showing quite a lot of promise, but there is still work to do, particularly when searching for “placename freegle”. There will be more on this. <BR><BR>		There has been quite a lot of work to try to improve our Google search rankings, and therefore the number of people who find us. Most of this is about how we structure our web pages so that Google can understand them better, and isn’t very visible to members. This is showing quite a lot of promise, but there is still work to do, particularly when searching for “placename freegle”. There will be more on this. <BR><BR>
			*Statistics
	~~'''~~Statistics~~'''~~		<BR>

	Essex County Council's reuse campaign wanted some Stats so he did some work on them. As they aren't very interesting to members, they're not very prominent and they are linked in a fairly subtle "More stats" link from the group description. You can also see them by putting your group shortname (e.g. Yahoo group name) into an URL like this: https://www.ilovefreegle.org/stats/EdinburghFreegle<BR>		Essex County Council's reuse campaign wanted some Stats so he did some work on them. As they aren't very interesting to members, they're not very prominent and they are linked in a fairly subtle "More stats" link from the group description. You can also see them by putting your group shortname (e.g. Yahoo group name) into an URL like this: https://www.ilovefreegle.org/stats/EdinburghFreegle<BR>
	Weight estimation is also back and will use better statistics. <BR>		Weight estimation is also back and will use better statistics. <BR><BR>

	~~'''~~Q & A~~'''~~		*Q & A<BR>
	Q. Sometimes the mapping on my group is putting in individual locations for a member which is incorrect.<BR>		Q. Sometimes the mapping on my group is putting in individual locations for a member which is incorrect.<BR>
	A. Go to ModTools->Settings->Group Settings->Mapping Settings for this Group), and search on the postcode or name delete the triangle with the placename in and any others you don’t want. You can then pull an adjacent triangle to cover it or set up a new one which the correct place name.<BR>		A. Go to ModTools->Settings->Group Settings->Mapping Settings for this Group), and search on the postcode or name delete the triangle with the placename in and any others you don’t want. You can then pull an adjacent triangle to cover it or set up a new one which the correct place name.<BR>
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	Q. I am posting from one Gmail account and my email is on a different membership I have. <BR>		Q. I am posting from one Gmail account and my email is on a different membership I have. <BR>
	A.This is because of a bug in Google's code. When you have multiple Google accounts, and are signed in with one but choose to change to another, Google will not pick up on the change and tells us that you're logged in with the original. This bug is mentioned here, and it looks unlikely to be fixed. https://github.com/google/google-api-javascript-client/issues/13 You need to check your settings before posting and change it if it is showing the wrong account. <BR><BR>		A.This is because of a bug in Google's code. When you have multiple Google accounts, and are signed in with one but choose to change to another, Google will not pick up on the change and tells us that you're logged in with the original. This bug is mentioned here, and it looks unlikely to be fixed. https://github.com/google/google-api-javascript-client/issues/13 You need to check your settings before posting and change it if it is showing the wrong account. <BR><BR>


	== Facebook ==		== Facebook ==

Dorothyjeanquinn: a

2017-01-12T15:54:24Z

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	There is als0 a FAQ at http://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Native_Group_FAQ , which will be added to as necessary		There is als0 a FAQ at http://wiki.ilovefreegle.org/Native_Group_FAQ , which will be added to as necessary

	Q. What is the best way to switch current members from Yahoo to FD		Q. What is the best way to switch current members from Yahoo to FD<BR>
	Tell them to go to www.ilovefreegle.org/groupname and click on the Yahoo login button or you can add them using Modtools		A.Tell them to go to www.ilovefreegle.org/groupname and click on the Yahoo login button or you can add them using Modtools <BR>
	Q. I have been deleting their Yahoo account from Yahoo if they ask to switch so they have to use FD although in the past when I deleted a yahoo Id from FD it also deleted the FD one		Q. I have been deleting their Yahoo account from Yahoo if they ask to switch so they have to use FD although in the past when I deleted a yahoo Id from FD it also deleted the FD one<BR>
	It is unnecessary once you turn off Yahoo support.		A.It is unnecessary once you turn off Yahoo support.<BR>
	Q. Will Modtools still be used to approve/sort out problems with messages. I have Moderators who do not use Modtools, they use Yahoo to moderate. I assume they will need Modtools in the future ?		Q. Will Modtools still be used to approve/sort out problems with messages. I have Moderators who do not use Modtools, they use Yahoo to moderate. I assume they will need Modtools in the future ?<BR>
	Yes there will be no links between Direct and Yahoo so Modtools will be the only way to moderate.		A.Yes there will be no links between Direct and Yahoo so Modtools will be the only way to moderate.<BR>
	Q. How would we promote new moderators? Will we get some sort of control that allows us to set mod or owner privileges?		Q. How would we promote new moderators? Will we get some sort of control that allows us to set mod or owner privileges?<BR>
	You have two levels. but only people with owner status can promote. This is, currently, the only thing which is specific to owners rather than moderators. Stuff will be added , but we don’t want it as complicated as Yahoo as that leads to confusion.		A. You have two levels. but only people with owner status can promote. This is, currently, the only thing which is specific to owners rather than moderators. Stuff will be added , but we don’t want it as complicated as Yahoo as that leads to confusion. <BR>
	Q. Will we get notifications?		Q. Will we get notifications?<BR>
	ModTools has Chrome notifications and the ModTools mobile app also generates notifications.		A. ModTools has Chrome notifications and the ModTools mobile app also generates notifications.
	There will be a general "There's some mod stuff you should look at" type chaseup mail at some point, but not individual messages in the way as Yahoo does.		There will be a general "There's some mod stuff you should look at" type chaseup mail at some point, but not individual messages in the way as Yahoo does. <BR>
	Q. How secure and or reliable is our back up for stuff like this as if we lose our membership lists .		Q. How secure and or reliable is our back up for stuff like this as if we lose our membership lists .
			A. We back up our database to a separate server, where we restore it each day to check that it works.
			We also send it to Google storage to have something entirely separate from Bytemark.<BR>
			For the actual servers themselves (all the installed software, configuration on them, and so on). we have a couple of each type, and instructions on how to install them<BR>

	~~We back up our database to a separate server, where we restore it each day to check that it works.~~
	~~We also send it to Google storage to have something entirely separate from Bytemark.~~
	~~For the actual servers themselves (all the installed software, configuration on them, and so on). we have a couple of each type, and instructions on how to install them~~

	Viable Platforms.		== Viable Platforms. ==

	Lots of discussion was had on what was felt to be a viable platform as requested at the AGM. We ended with a vote and decided that:		Lots of discussion was had on what was felt to be a viable platform as requested at the AGM. We ended with a vote and decided that:
	Norfolk, FD + TN, FD only, Yahoo + FD + TN, Yahoo + FD are now viable because they would be transferrable so still be able to work if Yahoo Groups was to because unusable. The following are not viable platforms:		Norfolk, FD + TN, FD only, Yahoo + FD + TN, Yahoo + FD are now viable because they would be transferrable so still be able to work if Yahoo Groups was to because unusable. The following are not viable platforms:
	Yahoo + TN, Yahoo only,TN only,Google Groups, or Facebook		Yahoo + TN, Yahoo only,TN only,Google Groups, or Facebook
	This issue has now gone to Development for them to create a procedure for contacting groups which are using non viable platforms and encouraging them to add Direct.		This issue has now gone to Development for them to create a procedure for contacting groups which are using non viable platforms and encouraging them to add Direct. <BR>

	Tech also needs to discuss and vote on a preferred platform.		Tech also needs to discuss and vote on a preferred platform.

	~~Yahoo~~
	It was noticed that some days some posts were not getting onto the Yahoo groups but remained in pending. They were all Direct members mails and had been modded and gone on Direct. The moderators had been modding regularly using modtools.
	It is probable that there were such long delays in Yahoo registering the posts that Modtools had stopped checking for them. Most of them were three or four days old. There have been other shorter delays since.

	~~Other Stuff.~~		== Yahoo ==
	~~Business cards were discussed.~~

	~~You can get business cards by emailing media@ilovefreegle~~.~~org~~		It was noticed that some days some posts were not getting onto the Yahoo groups but remained in pending. They were all Direct members mails and had been modded and gone on Direct. The moderators had been modding regularly using modtools. <BR>
			It is probable that there were such long delays in Yahoo registering the posts that Modtools had stopped checking for them. Most of them were three or four days old. There have been other shorter delays since.

	Once Ollie or Paul did some automated magic to produce PDF posters for each group. If anyone has the skills and time to do these for all groups as a nice stand-alone task it would be nice?		==
			Other Stuff. ==

			Business cards were discussed. You can get business cards by emailing media@ilovefreegle.org<BR>
			Once Ollie or Paul did some automated magic to produce PDF posters for each group. If anyone has the skills and time to do these for all groups as a nice stand-alone task it would be nice? <BR>

	Jean		Jean<BR>
	Tech Report		Tech Report<BR>
	December 2016		December 2016<BR>
	Posts 20826-21321		Posts 20826-21321
	Members 113		Members 113