Re: XSIDatabase.com Updates!

[Eric Thivierge <eric(at)xsidatabase.com>]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the suggestions and I'll have to think on this a bit more. 
Through the testing "beta" of the material section we've found that many 
people love the netview. Thus, I am reprogramming the material upload 
process and the individual material page template to allow for use in 
the netview. Please note that while we're still building the structure 
of the site, the pages can be viewed in the netview but will be exactly 
the same as the web version. We'll work on an optimized netview version 
down the line. We are going to be linking directly to .preset files so 
you can click and drag directly onto objects. Also, there will be 
download links to supporting files in the form of .zip files. I'm also 
adding an "In production Preview" picture that you can upload to allow 
for people to see it in a scene that you've created. I have setup the 
new upload form to create thumbnails automatically as well so you only 
have to upload the 512px by 512px and it does the rest for you.

NOTE: Please understand that I'm still working out some bugs on the new 
upload form so it will not be active for a few more days. I'll post when 
it is updated.

In regards to the categorization. The "Tags" part in the material upload 
page is there in order for us to build a Tag Cloud. Basically, if you 
have a material that you think is shiny, metallic, gold, and hard; then 
you will be able to view these materials under any of those keywords. 
Those keywords are going to be what makes up the new categorization 
system. I just want basic categories for now for people to look through 
while we build up the database with tags.

Not sure if it'd be a good idea to get into having a system that 
installed the scripts under an XSIDB menu in XSI for a few reasons. 
Mainly because the XSIDB team didn't write them and won't support them, 
and because other people want them under menus titled with their 
individual name.

I'll give it some more thought and figure out how I am going to move 
forward with it. Hopefully have some updates to the site this weekend.

PS- Thanks Joey Ponthieux for the list of suggested categories.

Thanks,

Eric Thivierge, XSI Database Admin
www.xsidatabase.com
eric(at)xsidatabase.com
Forum Username: EricTRocks


Vincent Fortin wrote:
> > It'd also be nice to split stuff up into Expressions, Scripted Operators
> >     
>
> Is that really necessary?
> Whatever the script does and how it does it, chances are it's going to be packaged in a script file that already handles the port connections and the likes by itself.
>
> Personally I'd stick to the most common categories and add more detailed sub-categories (like Joey wrote) as more scripts arrive, like XSI-BLOG does. That would mean more work for Eric, however, building this thing progressively would ensure everything is kept clean and would reduce the odds of having scripts posted in wrong categories or in places that don't make sense to most people.
>
>   
> > It'd be much better if you could provide a net
> > view compatible webpage that'd call or install these scripts
> > automatically. Maybe install scripts to a custom XSIDatabase menu in XSI?
> >     
>
> This is a great idea! I wonder if this can be done easily.
> Otherwise a simple download link to the script file along with a comprehensive description would be enough for me. A direct execute link à la netview is also nice. Agreed about the copy/paste thing, that's the last thing we want :P
>
> Vincent
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-xsi(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Andy Nicholas
> Sent: Friday, September 07, 2007 1:31 PM
> To: XSI(at)Softimage.COM
> Subject: Re: XSIDatabase.com Updates!
>
> Hi Eric,
>
> It'd also be nice to split stuff up into Expressions, Scripted Operators
> (you'd need some way of specifying the ports, etc. Preferably done by a
> support script to look at current selection), "run-once from script
> editor" type scripts, etc.
>
> I think that whatever you decide, you're going to have fun trying to
> organise this to make them easy to use for everyone. It'd may be be worth
> spending a bit of time planning how you'd like people to be able to
> interface with the site and applythe scripts to their everyday workflow.
>
> As an example, there's nothing worse than having to copy and paste lines
> of code from a webpage into the script editor and having to run it. It's
> too fiddly and error prone. It'd be much better if you could provide a net
> view compatible webpage that'd call or install these scripts
> automatically. Maybe install scripts to a custom XSIDatabase menu in XSI?
>
> I think whatever you plan, you'll probably  have to lay down a set of
> standards for people to conform to when submitting scripts. I guess that
> might make some people think it's more trouble than it's worth submitting
> them, so maybe you could provide some sort of wrapper that'd package the
> scripts to distribute them to people in a tidy way?
>
> Andy
>
>
>
>   
> > XSI Database Scripts Section:
> >
> > I'm about ready to begin opening up the scripts section of the site for
> > people to upload / download custom scripts and I wanted to know what
> > categories I should break them down into?? I've asked on the Base but no
> > replies to that.
> >
> > I'm thinking:
> > -Animation
> > -Modeling
> > -Simulation
> > -General
> >
> > Any ideas on other categories? I'm sure there are more specific ones
> > that I need. Just can't come up with them off the top of my head.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Eric Thivierge, XSI Database Admin
> > www.xsidatabase.com
> > eric(at)xsidatabase.com
> > Forum Username: EricTRocks
> >
> >
> > Eric Thivierge wrote:
> >     
> > > Hey,
> > >
> > > I'll try to keep all these updates in this new thread. Read on...
> > >
> > > Check the site for layout / usability updates:
> > >
> > > - Added about us Page.
> > > - Turned base material into link on material page
> > > - Added tags field on upload / modify material page, will be making a
> > > tag cloud feature soon.
> > > - Fixed CSS on footer, now is consistently small
> > > - Updated navigation buttons to be orange to match link color
> > > - opened up 25 more spots in the beta.
> > >
> > > We're going to have a new default material scene for v5 and v6 up
> > > later tonight. Many improvements within them. Please upload as many
> > > material presets as you can. I'm going to be working on User Profiles
> > > & Plug-ins / Scripts uploads next.
> > >
> > >       
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> >     
>
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