INSISTANCE on DETAILED STOCK LISTS

[petethetim]

Hi

I just thought I would post this through sheer frustrations of downloading Activities & then being hampered from using them because of None or inadequate stock listings , I think this could be overcome by making it compulsory to supplly a detailed list of required stock or even series of links to the required items as I see some uploaders do.

This is not intended as a criticism or a pop at any one but merely an idea for improvement , I really do appreciate the time these guys take to do these things & I admire them & Lets face it MSTS would have died a death a long time ago only for them, but this lack of attention to detail can be off putting especially to some beginners & of course the time to do it is at the time of composing as I have written to Uploaders maybe a few years after & understandably they can't recall .

I love the way Lad491 does his activities they are a gift to Install even for a thicko like myself

Cheers

PETE

[Lad491]

Ive sympathy with you Pete. Part of the reason i quickly gave up downloading other peoples activities was the time I had to spend hunting around for stock to make it work.

I use Route-Riter to package my activities which provides a stock list. An excellent utility which does far more then the Microsoft APK package utility ever could. But even that doesn't give you the ukts file numbers, so you might still have problems.

Matt got around this by creating a "Related File" link for every uploaded file so that authors could link their upload with anything else needed. Although I rarely use non CD stock, on the odd occasion I have I have always tried to make use of this facility. I think maybe it should be compulsory as it would certainly save the likes of you and I a huge amount of time in locating stock.

[saddletank]

As Laurie says the related files system was put in place at some effort by Matt largely to help activity writers make it easier for downlaoders to find their stock. But few use it.

If it were my personal choice I would not allow activities to be uploaded without a correct and working stock list but that is hard to enforce by UKTS because they would have to d/l and test the activity themselves which means in some cases they'd need to d/l and install the route first; all of which uses up their limited time so UKTS rely on the good faith of activity uploaders to give the correct stock lists.

Sadly relying on good faith isn't enough.

Like Laurie I used to d/l activities from here but haven't done so for years because I find most of the time the stock list is a pain to fill. This is another reason why Atomic began the Community CD method of distribution - all activities and stock are there for the user.

Martin

[DarwinS]

Martin says:

the related files system was put in place at some effort by Matt largely to help activity writers make it easier for downlaoders to find their stock. But few use it.

Perhaps the reason that few people use it is because uploaders need to go back and add the link after their upload has been approved. It would be more convenient if links could be added at the time the file is uploaded.

(I have just uploaded an activity that requires a link, so I will try to make sure that I insert the link after approval, before too many people have already downloaded it... the item and its file number are included on the stock list anyway.)

[petethetim]

Well I'm glad that you all agree with me I thought I may have been viewed as a bit of a crank or a nit-picker

[saddletank]

Perhaps the reason that few people use it is because uploaders need to go back and add the link after their upload has been approved. It would be more convenient if links could be added at the time the file is uploaded.

I've never heard a complaint raised about that problem. I wonder how many activity uploaders have asked Matt if it can be fixed?

Or, how difficult is it to revisit the upload once approved? Surely all uploaders go to their files and d/l them anyway to check they are OK?

Martin

[Anonymizeruk]

I think it's just a matter of 'housekeeping' really.

I only ever uploaded a handfull of files, but always used the related files function. For example, I did a Class 159 reskin, so added related file links to 158 Sounds, and a 158 Cabview that were used.

Activities need more links because of the diversity of files, but one great feature is that if you like an activity to a bit of stock, the link works both ways (owner of Item A adds link to Item B, which in turn means if you view Item B, there is a link to Item A)

If we all try our best to add the related file links, it will gradually create a nice cross-referenced file listing

Cheers

Gary

[saddletank]

You are one of the veterans though Gary. Matts reminder about the related links facility was yonks ago and many activity writers must have joined our ranks since then and just not be aware of it?

Martin

[ArthurC]

Hi Folks

I agree with what has been said as I have said it in another of my threads.
If activity writers would like to see how it is done go to http://www.bb9004.net

I am downloading activities for LGV med & LGVA and with every activity there is a full stock list and a link to sites where the items can be downloaded OK most of the wording is in French.
I second what Pete has said where would we be without these good people who write the activities, "Up the creek without a paddle" So please, please do the good thing for everybody. Happy Simming, Best Regards Arthur in Thailand

[Anonymizeruk]

...... activity writers must have joined our ranks since then and just not be aware of it?

Martin

Indeed Perhaps now would be a good time for another 'conspicuous' (if thats the right word!) reminder?

Could be in the form of a news item on the UKTS front page, or perhaps an announcment in the forums?

Cheers

Gary

P.S - I'm doing an activity at the moment. Who wants to bet that after saying all this, I'll miss something from the related files list?

[mjspeed]

What I've found is that some of activities, although using the related files options, will still suffer, as some files have been removed from UKTS. I expect this will be the case for quite a few older activities that use download files rather than those on commercial/community CDs.

With my own activities, I intend in the near future to revisit them where possible and revise the readmes etc so that users know where to download the files that are missing, as the files are now available elsewhere.

[simont]

It's always a dilemma, really - generally I want my activities to be as good as possible, and a large part of that is having stock that is as accurate as possible, and that uses the best models that are reasonably available. And I think using non-default stock is a large part of why I want to make activities - to use the new stuff I've downloaded, and to expand a route's possibilities beyond the ones provided with it. You have to be reasonable, though, of course - it would be possible, now, to have a different numbered 47 pass you every time, but that's not really appropriate for distribution. I've uploaded some activities that use a restricted amount of stock, particularly with German routes, where downloads are not easy to find, harder still for people who don't speak the language. But generally I don't like to be too constrained.

I guess the ideal solution is to provide "deluxe" versions of the activities, with a large download list, and a "lite" one, with the list stripped down to the essentials. Not always easy, though.

[petethetim]

Just another Idea on this thread the creation of a sub section with in the activities could list activities that use ONLY default items in a separate section , I understand that this would be difficult to do with the existing but say even do it now from 2006 That would not involve too much backward research ... Just an Idea
--
Regards

Pete

[petethetim]

I feel it would make life a lot easier for new kids on the block.

[NeutronIC]

Perhaps the reason that few people use it is because uploaders need to go back and add the link after their upload has been approved. It would be more convenient if links could be added at the time the file is uploaded.

Actually that one was fixed quite a while ago if memory serves, you should now be able to add links to a file before it's approved.

I also added the ability to add links in bulk so you could just type all the file id's in one hit rather than doing it by repeatedly having to click the relate button over and over.

I'll sort out a gentle reminder post

Matt.