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Simple example of why GeoNet is confusing

Question asked by stevel on Jan 14, 2015
Latest reply on Jan 17, 2015 by rastrauch

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I'm trying to post a question about the new Web App Builder. Where should it go?

Which one is official? Presumably one is a Place, and one is a Group, but I don't know the difference between these. Why is there a difference anyway? Why not just have one place for Web AppBuilder?

To compound matters, when you hit the Places menu, the left-hand menu lists "Group Member". Can I be a group member of a place?

Sorry if this sounds grumpy but I've been trying to figure out GeoNet for about 6 months and I'm still confused. Each time I come to the site I sit there bewildered for a few minutes (before often giving up).

rscheitlin

Jan 15, 2015 6:12 AM

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Stephen,

There is a simple explanation for why there there is a Group and a Space for WAB. When WAB was in Beta there was not an official Space for it because it was not a supported product. So Moxie created a Group for us early adopters to ask questions. When the WAB as ready to go final and be officially released there was a need to create a official Space for WAB and thus Tim took all the discussions in the Group and moved them to the new Space, he then changed the group to secret as there was 253 members of this group and members had posted status updates and such to the group. Because you were a member of that group is the main reason you see it. Any person that was not a member of that group will not have the option to post in that group.

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rastrauch Jan 14, 2015 10:37 PM
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I think the best description is What are Places

PLaces are a general term. spaces seem to be official, esri created. groups can be created by anyone, and typically are made to gather items for those with related interests.

everything can be shared in multiple places, or kept within. You can join, which seems to automatically set you to "follow" in a stream...ie when on the geonet site. For those I'm really interested in, I also follow in inbox, but that can get overwhelming if doing too much.

it took me a whike to really like the new platform, but now that I have a group set up, and realize what a great tool that can be for our local user group to start communicating better, I think it's great. We're just in the beginning phase, but I can really see the potential now....at least for me.

i ki know I don't know every aspect of the site, and still get confused by much if it too, but I'm willing to try things out to see. E.g. I set up a project and a task in my group...there is potential there, even if we don't use it.
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rscheitlin Jan 15, 2015 6:12 AM
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Stephen,

There is a simple explanation for why there there is a Group and a Space for WAB. When WAB was in Beta there was not an official Space for it because it was not a supported product. So Moxie created a Group for us early adopters to ask questions. When the WAB as ready to go final and be officially released there was a need to create a official Space for WAB and thus Tim took all the discussions in the Group and moved them to the new Space, he then changed the group to secret as there was 253 members of this group and members had posted status updates and such to the group. Because you were a member of that group is the main reason you see it. Any person that was not a member of that group will not have the option to post in that group.
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timothy_hales-esristaff Jan 15, 2015 6:25 AM
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Robert Scheitlin, GISP is correct. Other than your recent comment a few hours ago, there has not been any activity in that group for the last 4 months. To eliminate any confusion moving forward, I have archive the group so it will not show up in future searches.
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- stevel @ timothy_hales-esristaff on Jan 15, 2015 1:47 PM
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  Thanks Timothy,
  
  I do appreciate your work on this (probably mostly thankless ) task. This is what I was hoping to hear - that the site is actively curated, to avoid the problems of anarchy and disorder that I feared. Thanks for fixing the duplication of the WAB sections.
  
  You mention a UX Improvement project - a suggestion is that you get 5-10 users into the lab (or via WebEx - I'll volunteer) and give them a series of tasks. Then watch them, but (crucially) don't help them. Things like:
  
  - you receive error message XXXX. How would you research it on GeoNext?
  - you want to ask a question about ArcMap 10.2. Would would you post the question?
  - you receive an email from GeoNext with a response to your question. How would you follow it up?
  
  etc. I think you'll be surprised at how clueless many of the users will be as to where things are/go.
  
  Cheers,
  Steve
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alex_jones_rdi Jan 15, 2015 11:02 AM
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Stephen, you should start a place/group for "Geonet Confusion" I assume that it will be extremely popular...
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brESRI Jan 15, 2015 12:04 PM
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What is driving me mad about GeoNet is the 5-7 second delay after you click on a GeoNet link and your request is forwarded to that ESRI security thingy before you get to the page you requested. That is getting really, really tired after about 500 times.
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- timothy_hales-esristaff @ brESRI on Jan 15, 2015 12:14 PM
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  Barnaby Rockwell, I definitely agree that the login/redirect experience can be improved. We have it on our backlog as part of the UX improvement project. Thanks for sharing your feedback!
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  - brESRI @ timothy_hales-esristaff on Jan 15, 2015 12:29 PM
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dbecker88 Jan 16, 2015 12:27 PM
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100% agree with Stephen. Following, liking, and all the other social media aspects need to go. Can't we go back to a discussion board? Please.
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- stevel @ dbecker88 on Jan 16, 2015 11:39 PM
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  FWIW, I'd say that following, like and social media are fine - as long as they don't obscure the real purpose of the site.
  
  So, focus on the technical aspects and make the social aspects accessible but not so in-your-face.
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  - rastrauch @ stevel on Jan 17, 2015 8:32 AM
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    How I view/use the helpful and likes:
    
    Helpfuls:
    Because only the person the originates the question or a moderator can mark an answer correct. Having other users mark responses as "helpful" helps other viewers see what worked for others, faster.
    because sometimes there are multiple responses that have valuable information, but maybe not just one answer. Sometimes there isn't an answer, since every situation may be unique, but multiple things to try, based on what others did.
    Likes:
    i see this as being similar to a user being able to mark "I have the same question" at the top of the thread, but for the responses.
    If I agree with a comment, even if it doesn't fit nicely into a bucket that is necessary classified as "helpful", I may mark it with a like..but I use this sparingly. Unlike a social media, it isn't or shouldn't be used as a popularity vote for a user, or political.
    i Probably would use this more often for a discussion, rather than something classified as a question.
    
    When I'm looking at a topic, I also look at how many have bookmarked a thread, since this is sometime an indication of how any users think it may be something they will want to review again. I use this myself, since I seem to need to repeat a search for the same topic...nice to not have to remember how I got there.
    
    As for the words Helpful and Like... The terms could maybe have been changed to not match those of social media, but, from what I understand, for flexibility, future expansion and reduced maintenance, they chose this platform, vs another home-grown one. (and please don't use this comment as a discussion on the merits of other platforms....this is what they chose, so second guessing really isn't productive anymore...my opinion only.)
    
    so, I see these options as additional tools to help me in my searches. Users use a variety of methods to find solutions to problems they have. How they search, ask questions, follow, etc. vary, but probably falls into several patterns, so I see "tools" like these, if use correctly, as "helpful". I had fear of the social media aspects when first released, but have changed my opinion, seeing that most if not all ARE using it as a professional, and not social site.
    
    So quoting @Stephen Lead
    FWIW, I'd say that following, like and social media are fine - as long as they don't obscure the real purpose of the site.
    
    So, focus on the technical aspects and make the social aspects accessible but not so in-your-face.
    I do like his comment
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