Too much work for me, I need help.

[buzz456]

To continue in my jerk mode. it doesn't take a rocket scientist to size a picture properly or name the thing like the instructions. It only takes the simple task of following the instructions. Oh yeah and can you fill out four lines of the form before you upload? Bob should make it so if you don't it just fails.

[jpetersjr]

To continue in my jerk mode. it doesn't take a rocket scientist to size a picture properly or name the thing like the instructions. It only takes the simple task of following the instructions. Oh yeah and can you fill out four lines of the form before you upload? Bob should make it so if you don't it just fails.

Yes, I agree with you Buzz, it's very simple doing everything to specs and when I package up an asset, I don't have a hard time doing it. Packaging the asset correctly is easy and doesn't take much work to do so. Also, filling out your information is also simple, it's not like everytime I fill out the information I have to recite every word in the dictionary, or fill out a complex mathematical equization.

The hardest part is in making the asset itself, packaging and releasing is simple, not hard at all.

[GSkid]

Hey... I agree 100% with what the "jerk" said! j/k

Buzz is right....reject them. You should start rejecting them with a PM or email as to why they were rejected, along with a copy of the guidelines. That all their uploads will be rejected automatically out of hand in the future if they show a pattern of not abiding by the rules.

As for routes being tested by others to make sure they work? I'd either put some kind of temporary "use at own risk" red BETA name on it in the section with a default warning on them.....or.... make a temporary BETA section with such warnings. Once enough other people have tested it and given the route enough positive feedback in terms of it installing/functioning as advertised, then remove the red BETA name...or.. in the case of a BETA section, move the file to the regular sections. Similar to the staging process with computer software where BETA or Release Candidates are different and kept separate from the final stable release versions.

Remind them that considering how much work they put into the files, what''s a little more work to them to get it right, get it posted and make everybody happy (including users) as a result!

As for the suggestion of someone else helping you screen these? That's a good idea. Find a person or persons you trust and give them just the minimum website functions/access privileges they need to carry out the job of helping you do this job.

[Chacal]

Bob has been clear about one point: he doesn't want to reject submissions and I agree . I think must be very frustrating for an author to go through all the production work and get rejected because of a technicality.
It would be better to make changes to the file uploader module so that fields in the submission form are required, to automatically resize pictures and to add a common prefix to all files in a submission .
I 'll have to take a look at the php code.

[buzz456]

Bob has been clear about one point: he doesn't want to reject submissions and I agree . I think must be very frustrating for an author to go through all the production work and get rejected because of a technicality.
It would be better to make changes to the file uploader module so that fields in the submission form are required, to automatically resize pictures and to add a common prefix to all files in a submission .
I 'll have to take a look at the php code.

Now there's a good idea. Make the thing kinda idiot proof like a lot of the online forms we all put up with. If your format isn't right or you leave something out it just rejects your submission and tells you what you did wrong or the really annoying ones that just go blank and you have to start over.

[CPRailfan34]

While I do agree with Buzz's And Bob's plea's, another thing that could be done is to update the person of errors in your upload and report them as you fix them, then they know that a new upload will be on it's way as I had to upload my pack three times the last time being the third and final version and I made sure every thing is correct before it went live, these bug reports helped keep Bob updated and then I notified him when everything was corrected and he was finally able to release it. Thanks for putting up with my bug reports Bob. I am very critical of any work I test or release. Luckily I was able to correct my bugs as they were minor things like forgetting to apply an XML file to the Bin file it was derived from, and something as simple as misnaming a texture can cause problems. So using my uploading experience, I have learned to either get help with testers or make sure that your work is flawless. But if you do forget something, don't be afraid to upload it anyways, as people in the community will likely pick up the errors you missed and post about them in the Problems and Peculiarities forum section.

That's my on this!

Andrew

[Bananarama]

Rejecting submissions invites questions from the author as to why. Rejecting and sending a PM is no different, and in both cases, can be just as much of a hassle as going through the files and straightening them out, not to mention possibly having to restart the process if the resubmitted file fails. It's a lot of tedious work and a PIA, and IMHO, should be assigned to someone willing to take on that roll. It also has to be someone Bob trusts. If giving server access is part of the trust issue, then it can be limited to a particular directory, and then if the upload passes muster, any of the admins can move the file to where it belongs.

To continue in my jerk mode.

Stop doing that - you'll go blind.

[Ericmopar]

Rejecting submissions invites questions from the author as to why. Rejecting and sending a PM is no different, and in both cases, can be just as much of a hassle as going through the files and straightening them out, not to mention possibly having to restart the process if the resubmitted file fails. It's a lot of tedious work and a PIA, and IMHO, should be assigned to someone willing to take on that roll. It also has to be someone Bob trusts. If giving server access is part of the trust issue, then it can be limited to a particular directory, and then if the upload passes muster, any of the admins can move the file to where it belongs.

To continue in my jerk mode.

Stop doing that - you'll go blind.

At Buzz's age he's more likely to grow hair on his palms, then he'll have trouble with the keyboard...

[buzz456]

Jeez. Those are way older than me.

[Bananarama]

Jeez. Those are way older than me.

Not much else is tho'.

[BillPeck]

I suppose I should shut up and stay on the side lines. Ya as if. I am for rejecting with reason giving.
I for one would prefer a rejection with a given reason than just a rejection.

If a rejection angers them then I feel they are not willing to comply with the minimum rules posted here. And therefore their work should be ignored.

During my many years of enjoying the Train Sim world both here and with MSTS I have been awed by Bobs dedication to fronting the various cites. The amount of talent out here in the ether world is amazing. I have tested here and at MSTS and while testing there where always times that I had to reject a product because it just didn't do what it was supposed do. Only once did I offend a scenario writer when I said the product didn't do what they said it would.

The blunt truth, imho, a person doesn't learn if they aren't shown they are F***King up. And if they still are unwilling to conform them dump it if doesn't meet standards. Oh well so much for letting my 2 cents worth hit the air. Thanks for reading

[artimrj]

Well I appreciate all the comments, but the bottom line is I hate to waste someone's work. I would appreciate the guidelines being followed, but I am not going to throw anything away.

[GSkid]

Well I appreciate all the comments, but the bottom line is I hate to waste someone's work. I would appreciate the guidelines being followed, but I am not going to throw anything away.

There is a show for that problem... it's called hoarders!

I don't quite understand your position on this. On one hand you are complaining (and rightfully so) about all the extra time this is consuming for you because people are not following upload rules, yet on the other hand you aren't willing to impose the consequences (upload rejections) to help curb the behavior.

Don't want to throw anything away?!? Bob... it's just data on a magnetic hard disk that can replaced later with the author's fixed file re-upload. You work 40-60 work weeks, have a wife that might like a little of your time and you want a little rest & leisure time for your own interests too. You shouldn't have to be the clean up man or "fixer" of people's uploads.

If they had all that time, passion and ambition to make the DLC in the first place.... is it really that hard or asking much of them to put in just a little more effort to carry their project that few extra feet across the finish line? They wanted the work available to as many people as possible. If they want their uploads available bad enough and don't want continuous rejection, they'll shape up.

No need to be overly diplomatic here to spare people's feelings. It's not personal, it's just business. If you don't realize that, then you are back at square one on this issue.

[artimrj]

I wasn't complaining I was giving a plea for help. If I was complaining I would say pee off and shut the place down. But that is not going to happen just like I am not going to waste anyone's work even if they can not follow instructions. I just hope that they will. This thread has brought it out in the open and if people still upload files incomplete or undocumented, well so be it. I will deal with it as I get time just like I have been doing. That way all of you will still have fresh files to download. Which is what this is all about, getting new stuff for free.

[GaryG]

Bob,

the key thing is not getting stressed out because of the forum tasks and eventually your needing to use one of your job products because of it!

It sounds like you are doing ok...

for all you do!!!!

GaryG