STEX 7.0 development

[Dirktator 2,320]

I have heard you loud and clear about the visual presentation of the STEX and I am in total agreement with you. What we're using is basically a "default" template that was part of the new platform. We are still working on the "final" STEX template which will bring it closer in line with how the previous STEX's have been, ie. larger images, detailed listings, etc... -- so please don't panic! I understand your alarm, but we wouldn't totally regress away from how the STEX was presented since ST4, 5 and 6.

So, having said that, I want this discussion to focus more on how we can improve the actual STEX listings themselves.

A suggestion was made to add some fields such as how buildings or lots affect certain stats in the game, e.g. pollution, jobs, money generation, etc... It's a good suggestion in that it make each item uploaded to the STEX have more detail, and it becomes easier to search for the kind of files you want. We would make these fields optional for the uploader, as not every file would be applicable.

What kind of additional fields do you suggest?

Another suggestion was to add a field to list Dependencies packs. We could do this as a BB code, too... for example "[stex id=138] Get this file [/stex]" which will generate a link to the stex file automatically. Or we could have a field where the uploader just puts the ID of the file in question. Both would and could work.

Let me know your thoughts on how we can improve the way the STEX stores information.

Some of the features of the new STEX you may not be aware of:

1. Enhanced versioning system. Authors can now upload a new version, list the details or changes in that version, and the STEX will store a version history for the file (right now it stores only the latest 10 versions) so you could post a new version and call it version 1.02 and people can still download 1.01 or 1.00 if they wish. Or the uploader can simply replace (edit) the current version to make sure the latest is always downloaded and used.

2. STEX "Like" system. When you "Like" a STEX item (or a city journal for that matter) you have the option to be notified when that item is updated, or if new comments are added, etc.

3. Larger images in STEX. I know the thumbnails are small right now, but improved over ST6, authors can now include larger images. When a thumbnail is clicked, the larger image is shown in an overlay. I think this is a pretty good enhancement.

[Slashback 136]

I suggest adding more categories, that would also make it remarkably easier to find what you're looking for.

The other new features sounds good!

EDIT: I'd also like to see the Details in a seperate window.

  Edited February 28, 2011 by ImVhOzzi  

[GlobexCo 33]

Well, CitiesXL area needs to be redesigned, talking about categories.

At the moment we're using SC4 categories to describe mods, but new things should be added and other things should be removed.

If it's ok for you, I can write a new list of descriptions.

[hadtoeffingreg 0]

Better searching or category break downs.

The categories just kind of, well, sucked in the last version.

Better linking to be able to search by creator. If I recall, in the last version a link to the creator was on the page for the lot/bat, but it was targeted to itself. Great for a page reload I suppose.

A Fantastical category for lots that are, well, fantastical. Some super lots are just out there, my opinion anyway.

A category for CAM, so the models used in in those lots are quickly findable.

The last version was pretty good, other than the things mentioned above.

I think the versioning as you mentioned will also help with dependency linking, as some of the files I am using link to dead pages. Now to have all the creators fix their files for the new links that are going to be needed for the Cleanitol....

[ILL Tonkso 1,236]

Fair enough, keep me posted for the completion so I can proceed to break it flood it bombard it upload some stuff.

[elavery 1,013]

Is it a known issue that the search feature for the STEX is currently not working?

[Pod61 5]

Might just be me, but sometimes i can't remember if I've downloaded a certain dependency file or not, so maybe some feature whereby I'm notified if I have downloaded something before?? Just a thought...

[rjamesp 138]

Fair enough, keep me posted for the completion so I can proceed to break it flood it bombard it upload some stuff.

hello! im like your biggest fan since the simcity 4 started your bats have helped my city to look more realistic, especially the mid-rise commercial buildings

i hope you make some luxury shops like those at 5th avenue in new york just to add more mid-rise buildings in the stex. just a thought *_*

Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!

[warrior 169]

With the dependancies I think it would best if they were fields, where you entered the id of the STEX upload. The advantage of this being that the dependancies will be in the same place for every download.

Also it would be great if had a tick, cross or question mark next to the dependancy depending of whether you've previously downloaded a dependancy or not (the question mark being for if the dependancy is a link not on the STEX).

As the STEX hasn't always tracked downloads, I think it's important that there is the possibility of manually adding items to your Downloaded List. Eventually it may be possible for a small program to scan the plugins folder and see what dependancies have been downloaded and add them to the list, though I expect that will either not be possible or happen in the not-so-near future.

Also allowing external downloads to be listed is important, because if only STEX available dependancies are listed in the description fields then users will miss non STEX downloads which would have to be listed in the description.

The thing I like about previous STEXs is that the images didn't have to be clicked on, the images on this STEX should be at least as big as STEX6 (maybe a little smaller as a compromise) without having to click on them. Maybe having a strip of images along the top of the description a little bigger than the image on the NAM download

The fields about lot stats would be very useful, especially if they were integrated into the search. A "Search For Similar" button would be incredibly useful.

Also under the file information there could be More By This User section (I know there's already a link to their other files but the less clicks the better, and theres quite a bit of empty space).

One last thing, if users remove their downloads please make them link to where it has moved to, it was incredibly frustrating to click a dependancy link and find the file no longer existed. For example when dependancy's are merged into megapacks, the removed download must redirect to the megapack.

[fabiencornu 4]

Hey Dirk,

First I'd like to salute the tremendous task you have undertaken. I have been fuming and raging in front of my browser these past days, but I understand it is a lot of work. Thanks for your efforts!

I am anxious to know if others experience the same as I do: when trying to DL content from the STEX, I get the cryptic message "your files are available below"... and that's it. Below where? No link or object or even a picture appears "below." Nuthin'. Zip. Nada.

Is this part of the bugs that remain to be tweaked?

Fabien

EDIT: I realize I may be a little off topic if we are to suggest what could be improved in the STEX. Sorry about that. The dependency linking certainly is an excellent suggestion, I entirely second that. I would not be in favour of more categories, though, as the search engine seems precise enough to me.

Good luck on your spline reticulating! Keep an eye on the llamas!

Fabien

  Edited February 28, 2011 by fabiencornu  

[x493x 446]

How about a "Users who downloaded this also downloaded.........." section or a " Similar BATs" section at the bottum of the details window.

[Follarch 326]

The feature's you've added already sound great improvements for the STEX! I didn't really have a problem with the ST6 STEX, so I don't have any ideas for improvements. I'm sure you've also done some work on the rating system, what with the whole downrating problem we had. So yeah, I'm useless. But not entirely since I've become a STEX contributor! I'm even working on a new one as we speak. (Grocery Store)

[Waterclaw 80]

Hmmm. Better category searches, smaller box-o-text for looking at the descriptions... I found it a bit wide on my screen. Um, Larger "popular" and "new" and such images with that little bit of description like last time. *reads* Gah, I should read first more often... *scribbles opinion 3 out)... hmm. It's pretty good! Can't wait till it's fully out!

[Sniper296 83]

Allowed: ace, aiff, bmp, css, dat, doc, exe, gif, gz, hqx, htm, html, ico, jpeg, jpg, mov, mp3, mpg, pdf, php, png, ppt, ps, ram, rar, rtf, sc4, SC4Desc, SC4Lot, SC4M, skp, swf, tar, tif, tiff, txt, viv, wav, wmv, xml, z01, z02, zip

You should only allow compressed files to keep your file sizes down, and why can we upload videos/audio, webpages and other irrelevant file types.

I think the allowed files should be "7z, bmp, exe, gif, jpeg, jpg, png, rar, sc4m, tif, tiff, zip"

sc4m, compressed archives, installers & images only.

[warrior 169]

Definitely need dat files, and I'd say the only compressed archives should be .zip. 7z is not widespread enough. I don't see the need to upload image files, if textures are uploaded then they should be in zips.

Another feature it would be great if the STEX had is built links between Mac and PC versions. And it would be great if teams/projects, such as SimMars and NAM got their own categories.

[polock1 19]

I found it frustrating when looking at possible items to download, there would be a large list of dependencies, but they were not set up as a link to open a window to load it. You would have to write them down and then hunt for them one by one, which was extremely tedious, and then sometimes you might not even find the dependency, as it has been updated . I do recall some would have the dependency list set up as links. Is this something done by the author when they upload the file? Is there a way to be able to work this into the STEX so any dependencies a lot or BAT designer posts would have that capability?

[Vlasky 1,803]

New categories are needed and re-sorting files as well. SO I second that suggestion. Also a little tutorial on how to upload, because I've seen some upload appointed to wrong categories.

Separate windows (simmilar to s6) is good idea. Also, whatever happened to 'tracking a file'? That was great option as it would give you the list of files you wanted to download but you didn't got around to. That's what saved me when my computer broke, so I had a list for what I want to download once I get my computer back. That is all lost now, unfortunately.

Also, you might have noticed a certain trend that is picking up DarkNite mod that is. SO maybe you can provide Download MaxisNite & Download DarkNite options in the same dialog box so you won't have 'double uploads on STEX.

If I come up with anything else I'll post some more Thanks for doing a great job on ST 7 and congrats!

[tSlater 134]

I think one of the greatest things to add would be fields involving architectural style and time period. Not Chicago/New York/Houston/Euro, but actual architectural styles.

Often when I start a new project, I scour the STEX for buildings matching a certain theme and style I want. Say I want to recreate a victorian-era city. Very few victorian buildings added to the STEX actually contain "Victorian" anywhere in the description. I have to do repeated searches on numerous different words and names in an attempt to try to find what I want, and then just browse the entire collection page-by-page until I go crazy.

I've done this so far with '20s-style cities, and medieval cities. Granted, there would be the issue of applying such definitions to files that are already submitted, but being able to search by architectural style (which could also include things like 'fantastical' or 'magical' as was suggested above.

The 'users who downloaded this also downloaded..' idea above would also help in this matter.

Other suggestions I have (but aren't as high on my list as the above) would be better handling of the multiple types of uploads of the same core file. Not version history, but rather to cover HD, DarkNite, HD&DarkNite, and MaxisNight without having to make up to 4 different submissions. An ability to limit search criteria to buildings with HD or DarkNite would also be exceptional.

To add to that, also the option of flagging a building as a corner building, wall-to-wall, overhanging diagonal, overhanging FAR-facing, overhanding diagonal corner, and a lot size field -- all searchable, to help easily find stex submissions to fill a needed spot in our cities.

  Edited February 28, 2011 by tSlater  

[cesarisaias95 58]

One suggestion, is that I would like to be able to see the last time I downloaded something, like if I think Im missing a dependency, I want to see if I've already downloaded it, like in BSC Lex.

[Spinmaster 75]

Might just be me, but sometimes i can't remember if I've downloaded a certain dependency file or not, so maybe some feature whereby I'm notified if I have downloaded something before?? Just a thought...

I'd second this one! Not just "if" though, but the actual last time I downloaded it. Perhaps highlighted in red if it was since updated. In fact, I would think an "updated" list (similar to Favorites) would be useful, showing a list of all content that a) you have downloaded and b) has been updated after the last time you downloaded it.

Frankly I suspect I have a large number of such things, but I have no idea which ones they are. Only way I find out now is if I download something new that depends on it, then I might look at it, most likely try to re-download it, only to discover I already have it, then try to figure out if it's newer, and often give up and just re-download and reinstall it anyway "just to be sure." Finally, after all that, I then discover... I'm not in the mood to play the game now!! Well at least it'll be there next time... if I remember it.

[Sniper296 83]

I agree with the suggestions for a dependencys field, something like this maybe:

The button behind the dropdown list is "Add dependency" by the way.

  Edited March 1, 2011 by Sniper296  

[deanva 70]

How about if the lots that contain a building if they contain any jobs.

[don34 0]

Ok don't know if I am just missing it or what, but didn't we have the ability to track a specific file. I know I had about 5 pages I was tracking to down load when I re-installed SimCity.

Just so happens I re-installed while the site was being converted, didn't realize it was going to happen. lol

[Halen Of Dania 350]

what i would like to see is complete pic's of the bats right up infront of me including the full descripition .

for the search i would be fine with a basic advanced searh regualr search sort of thing

that you would pick the catagory of creation and search eg . bat , map

[Tysons4 68]

maybe have catigories for working (if they grow or influence the city) and eye-candy (if they are decoration, terrain color, water color, trees that dont grow, ect). and maybe another for complete and incomplete, as ive seen files uploaded that are for testing.

and separate weath and density seaches.. so if i was looking for some r$$ low density homes i could go right to them... or some r$$$ medium density or c$ high density

and even add a cam button, and if you do it changes to search for buildings by stage

and add a random button the ""your city needs a... " button and when you click it takes you to a random file on the stex

and of course working links to every dependency needed

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Hey, Dirk

About the Pictures STEX: I believe that the STEX pictures should stay that same size and when it come to uploading a file we should be able upload two images one day and one night and be able to see both of the image of the new upload.

About the searching on STEX: I believe that every one will agree that when it comes to searching for maps, buildings and ect there should be a picture so we will know what the upload looks like before we download them.

[SHADD0W09 2]

nice update on sight )

STEX need a search function

CITYS XL section should have 2 bits Citys xl stuff and seprate section for 2011 only

[Dirktator 2,320]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. So, I've heard in favour of:

Better Categories

Does someone want to take a stab at what the categories should be or how the current ones could be better defined? Keep in mind we have some 15,000 legacy files we need to respect.

Better Dependency Indication

The uploader can put IDs of any dependencies, and the listing will output them in standardized links.

Descriptive Tagging

A way for authors to tag their file with descriptive text so that it's easier to find files that follow a common "theme", e.g. "1920s, Japanese, sci fi, fantasy, etc..."

Random Files

We do have random listings, they are disabled right now due to performance issues, but they will return.

Similar

Possibly something that makes suggestions or recommendations -- this will require more thought, but a good idea to put on the table.

(Of course, as I mentioned, the STEX's presentation will vastly improve from what it is now.)

Thanks, folks!

[DCMetro34 576]

nice update on sight )

STEX need a search function

CITYS XL section should have 2 bits Citys xl stuff and seprate section for 2011 only

To answer the first question.....

There is a search in the right hand corner that you can use for now.....and I would guess that a search feature like the one in ST6 is on the way.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I think having fields is a great idea.

Something important to keep in mind, is that for each upload is that there are multiple files and versions, so only having one form for the entire upload isn't enough. For example, you might have a CO$ version and a CO$$ version, or a reward lot and a CO$$, or a a growable and a ploppable, and a landmark.

Here's part of a potential form:

The three radio buttons to the left would be: "Use and Display", "Use" (without displaying. It would be searchable but wouldn't show up in the STEX description page. This is good for stats that people might want to search for, but which might clutter up the STEX description page), "Don't Use" (the default selection)

( ) ( ) ( ) File Name: [text area] File type: [drop down box, this would load a form profile]

+ Another File?

.SC4Model:

( ) ( ) ( ) Nitelites: ( ) Standard Nitelites ( ) MaxisNite TruNite ( ) DarkNite TruNite

( ) ( ) ( ) Definition: ( ) Standard Definition ( ) High Definition (just for mightygoose )

( ) ( ) ( ) Notes: [text area]

.SC4Lot:

( ) ( ) ( ) Jobs Provided (Capacity Satisfied): [text area] (Occupant Type:) [drop down box, R$, CO$$, etc.]

( ) ( ) ( ) Lot Size: [text area] x [text area]

( ) ( ) ( ) Plop Cost: [text area]

( ) ( ) ( ) Tileset: [drop down box]

( ) ( ) ( ) Pollution (intensity/radius): Air: [text area]/[text area] Water: [text area]/[text area] Garbage: [text area]/[text area] Radiation: [text area]/[text area]

( ) ( ) ( ) Power/Water Consumed: Power: [text area] Water: [text area]

( ) ( ) ( ) Notes: [text area (I think all entries need "notes" in case there's a nuance in need of description)]

The list of potential stats about lots could be really big, and it would probably be broken down or organized based on the function of the lot somehow. It would be easy to look at the plugin manager or plugin manager x and derive a list of properties, and how to organize them.

Not ALL of the properties would need to be included (for example, i don't think anyone would ever search for "Building Value" or "Bulldoze Cost"), just the ones that someone might want to search for. For example, maybe the pollution generated isn't always an important thing to know, but it is if it's something like an air filter. Then you could search for lots that fall within a number range (say, 0 to -1000) for that, and you could find all air filters, or all air filters with a certain strength, even if they're called "air cleanser" or "pollution reducers" or some other name that you wouldn't normally search for (using the text search). There's even a property on lots that defines the size of the building on it (for the in-game construction cranes and other things) which could be used to search for buildings based on their size, so you could search for CO$$ skyscrapers or you could exclude them by searching for buildings within a certain dimension range! These would all have to be entered in manually. The plugin manager actually generates an xml file which the EA site reads to automatically fill out the stats but i don't think something like that would work well for ST.

Knowing what some of these stats are is slightly advanced, so not everyone would know what to do with it, and even still some people probably wouldn't want to bother filling out the forms, but it's optional. In general uploaders would be inclined to fill out relevant fields to make their content as accessible as possible.

For dependencies, having a form for listing/linking dependencies would be great. But I think the form should also have required/optional/no radio buttons, since sometimes dependencies are optional. I think dependencies should also have a "note" text area, so that uploaders can include a short note about what the dependency is for and what is needed for it, since not all dependencies are straightforward.