We managed to get the 2006 Antique Tractor Show Guide online this year, and in just the nick of time. It's show season! As I mentioned in a previous blog, my sister Cindy entered the show data for us every year since 1999. She died last Thanksgiving after a long illness at the young age of 39. As a result we did not have a tractor show guide for 2005 and many of you missed it.
Thanks to my friend Mary Lutz and her husband Brian, we now have an updated 2006 Show Guide online! They spent many many hours typing in the data and proofing it.
I spent the weekend updating the show guide software so that you can now enter your club's tractor show directly into the guide if you do not see it listed. We're starting out with only 561 shows so I'm hoping if you have a show, or know of a show not listed you will enter it.
Thanks! Hope to see you at a show this year!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Good News: Classified Ads for Antique Tractors
Some of you will be very excited and happy to hear that you can now delete your classified ad! We've always had the capability in the Photo Ads, but the regular classified ads - which we've had online since 1995 - were still running on the original software and never offered the delete option.
This has been a problem for many of you. Especially if you had something for sale at a real good price that many people wanted. The good news is you sold it the first day! The bad news is that the ad continued to run until it was automatically deleted two weeks later. A case in point is the time a gentleman contacted me in a panic. He had sold his tractor to the first caller, but the phone kept ringing off the hook! His wife was getting very angry at him and could I please delete the ad immediately. Of course I did, and have deleted ads for many people when they couldn't wait for it to automatically be deleted after two weeks.
Finally, and long overdue, you can delete your ads.
But there's even more good news! A few years back I got an email from a fellow that said, "I don't know why you call the ads on your website Classified Ads. Normally advertisements are in categories, i.e., they are 'classified' into specific groups. Your ads are all jumbled up in one big list.".
I thought about that for awhile and realized he was right. But people seemed to like our antiquated ad software - it was kind of like reading the bulletin board at the local feed store. You just keep scanning them one by one in hopes that you'll come across something that catches your eye. But it is several years later now and our ads have grown tremendously. In the classified (er, unclassified) Ads page we are seeing between 1800 and 2000 new ads every two weeks. It has to be the largest bulletin board any feedstore has ever seen. It takes a long time to wade through everything that's for sale.
So Chris rolled up his sleeves this weekend at my request and modified the Classified Ad software so that it now has "Categories". You choose a category when you submit your ad, and people can use that when they are searching. For example, you can search for tractors in Kansas and not have to wade through the ads for parts too. Chris also added the delete option for you. He has a regular day job so his time is limited... but I'm sure he can hear the big round of applause from the YT community for making the Classified Ads easier to use!
This has been a problem for many of you. Especially if you had something for sale at a real good price that many people wanted. The good news is you sold it the first day! The bad news is that the ad continued to run until it was automatically deleted two weeks later. A case in point is the time a gentleman contacted me in a panic. He had sold his tractor to the first caller, but the phone kept ringing off the hook! His wife was getting very angry at him and could I please delete the ad immediately. Of course I did, and have deleted ads for many people when they couldn't wait for it to automatically be deleted after two weeks.
Finally, and long overdue, you can delete your ads.
But there's even more good news! A few years back I got an email from a fellow that said, "I don't know why you call the ads on your website Classified Ads. Normally advertisements are in categories, i.e., they are 'classified' into specific groups. Your ads are all jumbled up in one big list.".
I thought about that for awhile and realized he was right. But people seemed to like our antiquated ad software - it was kind of like reading the bulletin board at the local feed store. You just keep scanning them one by one in hopes that you'll come across something that catches your eye. But it is several years later now and our ads have grown tremendously. In the classified (er, unclassified) Ads page we are seeing between 1800 and 2000 new ads every two weeks. It has to be the largest bulletin board any feedstore has ever seen. It takes a long time to wade through everything that's for sale.
So Chris rolled up his sleeves this weekend at my request and modified the Classified Ad software so that it now has "Categories". You choose a category when you submit your ad, and people can use that when they are searching. For example, you can search for tractors in Kansas and not have to wade through the ads for parts too. Chris also added the delete option for you. He has a regular day job so his time is limited... but I'm sure he can hear the big round of applause from the YT community for making the Classified Ads easier to use!
Monday, February 20, 2006
STATUS: Forum Changes (March 4th)
We did a quick trial run today (March 4th) and quickly discovered that the new forum software programs consumed every ounce of CPU on the server. It is a fairly large server with 2 CPUs so this was rather serious. We backed out the new software so we can determine where the CPU is being crunched without disturbing the YT community. We also got some great feedback from those who were online when the new software was crank-started.
Thanks to everyone and stay tuned for next test!
Previously Posted on March 4th:
We will be implementing the new forum software Saturday, March 4th as a trial run. If we find no serious operation problems with the new software, we will leave it in place and begin making changes as required.
Originally we were going to have a single test forum so that the YT community could test the software for bugs... but after much thought it was decided that bugs could only truly be discovered under more active usage. We have backed up the old forum software and will be activating the new version today.
If you have problems using the new software, please use the form provided in the "Helpdesk" link (available at the top of each new forum) or post a message with full details in our Site Comments forum. If you are unable to use either of these methods to contact us, you can also use our regular Feedback Form located by clicking here.
Important: Here is a repeat of some of the information posted back in February. It is important that you know what we are looking for when you test the software, so please read before sending us your questions and concerns:
Initially, the new forum software will still lack many modern features because we want the advanced YT features to be something beyond what you find in other existing modern forums. Most of what this system will provide is improvements in the way the old threaded views work and user profiles. What you won't be able to see is how we have redone the underpinnings so that once these changes are in, we have the ability to move forward with the other very advanced features. In the new software, you will be able to pick Traditional or Advanced as the way you post and view. I won't let the cat out of the bag on all the new features yet, but many are already in this version including a few of the Advanced features.
For those of you who would rather keep the old software - please remember that the new software functions much like the old software at it's basic level. The main point is that all these new bells and whistles we discusss here and there are optional. You will not be forced to use them.
Here are the things that we are looking for while you are testing the software:
1. More than just, "I like it" or "I don't like it", we need to know what you don't like and how you think it should be, because this upgrade is to try and give everyone what they want.
2. When something breaks, either doesn't display right, or simply doesn't work, we want to know all the specifics, your OS and browser, network method (like DSL, dial-up, wireless, etc). We especially want to have people try it out who use unusual computer software. We have Macs and PCs but we can't possibly test everything everyone uses.
3. For people who want the very advanced features, we will be listing what the next steps after this version will be. We need to know what we have forgotten and we expect you to tell us so we can put it on the list.
Thanks to everyone and stay tuned for next test!
Previously Posted on March 4th:
We will be implementing the new forum software Saturday, March 4th as a trial run. If we find no serious operation problems with the new software, we will leave it in place and begin making changes as required.
Originally we were going to have a single test forum so that the YT community could test the software for bugs... but after much thought it was decided that bugs could only truly be discovered under more active usage. We have backed up the old forum software and will be activating the new version today.
If you have problems using the new software, please use the form provided in the "Helpdesk" link (available at the top of each new forum) or post a message with full details in our Site Comments forum. If you are unable to use either of these methods to contact us, you can also use our regular Feedback Form located by clicking here.
Important: Here is a repeat of some of the information posted back in February. It is important that you know what we are looking for when you test the software, so please read before sending us your questions and concerns:
Initially, the new forum software will still lack many modern features because we want the advanced YT features to be something beyond what you find in other existing modern forums. Most of what this system will provide is improvements in the way the old threaded views work and user profiles. What you won't be able to see is how we have redone the underpinnings so that once these changes are in, we have the ability to move forward with the other very advanced features. In the new software, you will be able to pick Traditional or Advanced as the way you post and view. I won't let the cat out of the bag on all the new features yet, but many are already in this version including a few of the Advanced features.
For those of you who would rather keep the old software - please remember that the new software functions much like the old software at it's basic level. The main point is that all these new bells and whistles we discusss here and there are optional. You will not be forced to use them.
Here are the things that we are looking for while you are testing the software:
1. More than just, "I like it" or "I don't like it", we need to know what you don't like and how you think it should be, because this upgrade is to try and give everyone what they want.
2. When something breaks, either doesn't display right, or simply doesn't work, we want to know all the specifics, your OS and browser, network method (like DSL, dial-up, wireless, etc). We especially want to have people try it out who use unusual computer software. We have Macs and PCs but we can't possibly test everything everyone uses.
3. For people who want the very advanced features, we will be listing what the next steps after this version will be. We need to know what we have forgotten and we expect you to tell us so we can put it on the list.
We appreciate your help in bringing our old forum software up to date. Thank you!
Previously Posted on February 20:
Blog Entry Contributed by Chris Pratt
In the 10 years that YT has had it's forums, there have been many new modern versions of forum software hit the internet. The newer forums have a lot of bells and whistles that people really like. While many people have repeatedly asked us to update YT's forums with this modern software, even more have found that YT wasn't as fun with the new software when we attempted to do that. For many, the old style forum views and threading are almost the same thing as using a '48 vintage tractor rather than an '06. It's like not having to deal with fuel injection to not have to deal with too many little icons and layers of screens to see all parts of a discussion thread. And everything is just where you expect it here at YT. The only problem is, those newer forums do have capabilities that make posting and viewing easier and you can personalize more. Still, updating that '48 with a 3-point and hydraulics means you have the best of both worlds.
Twice we've tried to implement modern forums and got as far as converting the site only to find that the overwhelming majority said "What have you done to us? :)". Our dream has always been and always will be, that YT be a family of people who, while not just alike, are focused on the same thing in a positive way. Just like a family, some want the eggs scrambled, some want them over easy. As long as you will eat eggs, Mom never had a problem cooking them they way you wanted them. Since we are computer programmers, we couldn't see why everyone shouldn't have breakfast the way they want it, so we decided to start with the old forum software, keep the viewing methods how people like it and just add in the features of modern forum software. This has been the story of YT from the beginning, we would try to use another companies software only to find if we rolled up our sleeves and did it ourselves, we could please the whole family. Most of you understand this perfectly because that is how you deal with antique tractors. We are a community of do-it-yourselfers.
This was such a big job, that we started around Christmas '05 and went through several versions and numerous bugs as we ripped apart the old programs, modified them and in some cases replaced them. We still aren't quite done but we are at a point where we think we are ready to put them in for general use. Before we can do that though, we want the whole family to have a chance to try them out, try to break them, figure out what they like and what they don't like. Then we can go through another set of changes and bug fixes that will make them everything the family expects. To do that means we will need some volunteers, some who find the old style forums frustrating and others who find the modern forums so much fluff. By doing this, we should find out exactly what works for the family, where the yolk is overcooked or the scrambled eggs are rubbery. This is a little like pulling that rebuilt machine out of the shop and cranking it and running the first time. After that, you take it back in the shop, tweak the tuning, re-torque the heads, and dial it in before you go out and expect it to work in the field.
To do this, we are going to create a forum just for the purpose of testing the new software. Since we want people to try and break it, it probably won't be an on-topic forum. It will have all your handles and passwords pre-loaded as user profiles, so everyone will be able to just go in an use it, no one will have to do anything special to sign up and help. When we are ready to start, we are just going to put a broadcast message on all the forums to let people know it's ready and how they get to it.
Initially, the new forum software will still lack many modern features just because we want the advanced YT features to be something beyond what you find in other existing modern forums. Most of what this system will provide is improvements in the way the old threaded views work and user profiles. What you won't be able to see is how we have redone the underpinnings so that once these changes are in, we have the ability to move forward with the other very advanced features. In the new software, you will be able to pick Traditional or Advanced as the way you post and view. I won't let the cat out of the bag on all the new features yet, but many are already in this version including a few of the Advanced features.
When we are ready to enlist your help in trying out the new software, these are the things that we are looking for:
1. More than just, "I like it" or "I don't like it", we need to know what you don't like and how you think it should be, because this upgrade is to try and give everyone what they want.
2. When something breaks, either doesn't display right, or simply doesn't work, we want to know all the specifics, your OS and browser, network method (like DSL, dial-up, wireless, etc). We especially want to have people try it out who use unusual computer software. We have Macs and PCs but we can't possibly test everything everyone uses.
3. For people who want the very advanced features, we will be listing what the next steps after this version will be. We need to know what we have forgotten and we expect you to tell us so we can put it on the list.
4. You and your regular friends on YT will need to try and move some part of your discussions to the new forums so you can really try using it rather than just a few test posts.
Watch for the announcement of when the test version of this forum software is available. We hope to have it ready very soon!
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