Changes to the Changes Required feature within the Moderation Queue

[Delphy]

Hi All,

The staff regularly have brainstorming sessions where ideas get suggested and (possibly) implemented, and we talk about a lot of different things. One of the topics today turned towards the moderation queue - specifically, how can we make it easier for creators to both see what needs updating, how we can help the moderators to see what has been updated, and also how can we have two-way communication between creators and staff outside of the Creator Issues forum.

To that end, we have made the following changes to items in the moderation queue:


On the thread screen, you now see a list of the Changes Required reasons appearing above the download text. This mirrors the list that you would have recieved in your PM inbox, but as it's on the thread it's a lot easier to remember what to fix without having to keep another window open.
Additionally, lets say you fix the text and maybe a couple of other things, but you don't have time to fix the screenshots today and will do it tommorow. Previously when moderators looked at a thread they had no idea what the status was or when the creator would update it. Now, a creator can say "Okay I've fixed the description" and tick the box, then click Update. This acts much like a to-do list.
There is a new tickbox "I'm ready for this to be reviewed by a moderator". What does this mean? Well, it's basically to say "I'm done with my changes". This then activates a special flag in the moderation queue so that the staff can easily see which threads have been deemed "Changed" by the creators.
Finally, underneath the tickbox there is a box. What is this box for? Well, part of the issue has always been communication - staff can communicate with creators with the Other box, but often Creators cannot ask for help, or give us input without using Creator Issues, which is a bit unweildy. Using this new text box, Creators can now send feedback to the staff about particular questions or changes directly on the thread.


That sums it up, essentially. But I'm sure you have some questions, so here is an FAQ:

Q: I've made as many changes as I could, but I haven't done them all - can I still tick the box to get it reviewed?

A: Yes, you can - but please try and indicate why you didn't fix everything using the textbox. Maybe you are confused, or didn't understand something. Please tell us. :)

Q: I entered text in the box and clicked Update and it went away!

A: This happens if you enter text but don't tick the "I'm ready for this to be reviewed by a moderator" box. Please enter text and tick the box - the reviewing bit can mean "read my text!" too.

(Any more FAQ questions will get put here)

Please note that although we have given you, the creators, a way to communicate more easily back with us, if you abuse this by swearing, calling us names, or generally attacking the site and it's staff, then that's a quick trip to upload restriction. :) We are doing this for you - which will help us to get through things quicker.

If there are any points in this that are confusing, please let me know. :)

Regards
Delphy

[kopple36]

Well this will mke it much easier for me! Thanks!

[Alisar]

Delphy, this will help a lot. thanks to you and all the staff :)

[ash3sandgh0sts]

Fantastic! This makes uploading a much less cumbersome affair. Thanks! :anime:

[aelflaed]

This looks like a very useful change. Thankyou!

[Christine11778]

This is wonderful, I was hoping for something like this. :)

[Pixelhate]

After all it's all about boxes.. Thank you for the improvement.

[devagirl2]

Outstanding! *applause*

[Rapsheba555]

this is great for me, since something is ALWAYS forgotten or wrong when I upload. :D I guess i'm just talented. :lol: Nice, this'll make uploading better and easier.

[Nymphy]

Oh much easier - for uploads and the staff :) Some good changes!

[Equation]

Great and effective changes, Delphy. Much ease all around. thank you!

[Deluxe Designs]

This is a really good idea, i think you should make another change and tell us what the formula for getting picked is :rofl: Just joking, anyway, thanks for this i am sure it will come in extremely handy!

[larsson1970]

This is really a good idea and will help a lot :up:

[Petchy]

*Gooo Changes!*

This should no only speed up things, but add a great more depth and remove the "Issues" that we talked about/Raised/all of the other stuff we said in Stephanie's Journal Entry.

This new system is great Delphy, Well done and Great thanks!

[swampcandy]

Thank you, that's wonderful :)

[jasonduskey]

It's a handy addition to have added. This, along with the update to the bit that "remembers" which CC belongs to which creator, makes uploading a whole lot easier.

[9b8ll]

All right this will make uploads easier, thanks :)

[fway]

Thanks Delphy! This is a great improvement to the site.

[ganguro]

this is a great improvement!!! i like that discussion with the moderators is possible now!!! thank u, delphy!!!! :up:

[Delphy]

ganguro, Discussion with the moderators has always been possible, via the Creator Issues forum - this just streamlines that process to make it easier.

[Crazyfoolgaf]

Thanks, this will really be better than the usual "change ***** and *****" Or "Screenshots must be *****" This should clarify a whole lot of things for when an upload is rejected.

[groovilicious]

Sounds wonderful! Thank you much!

[Abbey12388]

Okay, so will you get a PM saying you need to change something or will you just have to keep checking your suscribed threads? I'm kinda confused.

[porkypine]

That's a great idea. Now there should not be mysteries as to why things got rejected when you thought you'd followed all the instructions. :0)

[Delphy]

HappySim, you have always gotten a PM when you need to change something - that hasn't, well, changed.

[Abbey12388]

Ohhhhhhhhh*had blonde moment* I thought you ment you had to look in the thread..hehe. thanks!

[Delphy]

Nope, the stuff in the thread is in addition to the PMs that you get. :)

[Nymphy]

Am guessing the "Additional notes for this upload" that comes with PMs about approval/rejection is part of these new changes? Had those in PMs regarding the recent stuff I submitted here

[Dan Fixx]

Great, communication is good. I'm sure this will help us all while improving our uploaded creations, and with a lot less frustration. Thanks 'Staff'!!!

[Delphy]

xnymphetaminex, yes, thats the "Other" checkbox and reason. It's all included, don't worrk. :)

[Angelsways1]

Sounds like good stuff to me... especially the part where you can fix somethings and come back later and fix the rest...personally that part is the best as sometimes the real life schedule is hectic, then someone throws a wrench at you while you're attempting to fix your submission and you can't get back to it til the next day.

Bravo Delphy and the gang here :)

Angel

[M3g7e]

Delphy, This looks like a great update to the moderation queue--thanks for all of your hard work to make simming even *more* fun!

[bienchen83]

Thanks for the improvement, even though it´s a bit late for me now that I will only have one last update here on MTS2.

Anyway, this will make things easier for many.

[squeam]

Just got a chance to try this out. It's more comforting and satisfying. Thank you for this change. :duck:

[AllHeartAnne]

Thank's, this is great!

[CatOfEvilGenius]

Thanks Delphy! The "I'm ready for review" checkbox is something I really wanted because I do change stuff incrementally.

[patronus-light]

This seems like it will be very useful, but I tried it on one of older ones awaiting moderation and ticked all required boxes but when I click update, I see no changes and have no indication of any sort that it went through. I am using Mozilla 3.0 on a Mac.

[Delphy]

patronus light, you have nothing in the moderation queue whatsoever, so you shouldn't even be seeing those boxes on normal threads.

[patronus-light]

patronus light, you have nothing in the moderation queue whatsoever, so you shouldn't even be seeing those boxes on normal threads.

Well, the last one I submitted needed changes which I didn't get done in the allotted time and I figured the thread would be deleted but it wasn't... I don't see a way for me to delete it otherwise I would have just started over. This is the thread http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=283014 .

[kuja.girl]

awesome changes. Streamlines the process even more than before! Kudos.

[Vampire_of_Death]

This is such a great idea, Thank You!

[NightlyEMP]

I needed to change the links in a thread I submitted (Didn't realize the link I had no longer redirected). I fixed them, checked the boxes, and clicked Update. It reloaded, but it loaded the same page (with the ticked boxes and my text in the additional comments). So.. I don't know if it's been updated or not...

The thread was submitted last night and I received the 'Changes Required' message this afternoon.

Should I just delete it and re-upload and make sure everything's right?

[ooga booga]

um, it's nice you changed it but, I don't know what's wrong but, i'm getting even less information on what was wrong than before.

[Delphy]

ooga_booga, You still get the PM sent to your inbox with the required changes. You do not currently have any uploads in the queue, so you would not have noticed this change - therefore, I fail to see just why you are complaining about getting less information when in fact you have not used the new system yet.

Nightly, if the boxes are ticked, then thats updated. It also adds a special hidden flag for our moderators to check. Do not go and delete and and reupload please. :)

[ooga booga]

I have used the new system, they just left the queue before I posted, I got no changes required PM, and in the rejection PM it said nothing.

[Delphy]

Well you wouldn't get a changes required if you got rejected. Additionally the rejection PM didn't say nothing, it listed 2 reasons - I suggest you go back and read them. Not every rejection or changes required has moderator comments.

[longdaysend]

very nice idea. for someone as forgetful as i am this will be a big bonus should i get an upload kicked back to me for changing :)

good to see you keeping busy during your retirement, Delphy *wink*

[Delphy]

These changes - as indicated by the thread title and the first post - apply only to the changes required part of the moderation queue.

It does not apply to rejections - those happen as normal - in other words, you fix whatever it is, and upload again.

[Simonut]

Delphy, I thank you so much for your quick reply, and time spend during so. Thank you so now I do not have to pay money and see a "Therapist" :) :) A mind is a funny thing when you think you are confused it is because you are, or is it because you are not? Or maybe it is because oh well now I do not know if I should turn my computer off with my right hand or left hahaaaaa :) Thanks "Delphy"

[Delphy]

Turning your PC off with your... hands?! :blink: I use my nose, like a civilised person!

[Xtian]

As a first-time submitter only just yesterday, I wanted you & your peeps to know I found the entire process very straightforward, very detailed, and fairly simple. I did end up making a slight goof with my submission, but received prompt and pleasant feedback alerting me and found the step I needed to take to correct my goof exceedingly simple and painless. Although I have no experience with the old process, the new process rocks IMHO. Thanks for making things better and making this site a great place to be!

[Delphy]

Just a heads up to everybody - I've adjusted the showthread page so that when you tick the "I have finished changes and await a review" box, it now hides the checkboxes and displays a message that it will be reviewed.

[animera]

Thanks for the update :) This will make the process easier.

[CatOfEvilGenius]

I noticed that now when I hit "I'm ready for review", I get an acknowledgement screen saying someone will review my stuff. Yay! That's exactly what I wanted. Much better than it was before, thank you!

[dcd15]

can i downlode some thing that says sims 2 to sims 2 pets?

[Delphy]

dcd15, what has your posts got to do with the context and content of this thread? I'll tell you - absolutely nothing. In future, please read the thread before replying and go to the Game Help section.

[Delphy]

dabrooklynboi, thats becuase you have "Use old-style thread view for downloads" ticked in User Tools -> Edit Options.

This is outdated now - especially with all the new changes to the moderation screen. You also miss out on things like EP markers, recolour lists, mesh lists, thanks filtering and a bunch of other stuff.

[Simonut]

Hello Delphy, Hope all is good :) Ok here what I would like to know please, when the staff send you a link to edit your upload for approval or that you need more work, and to tick the box for I am ready for you to review again. When I go into Manage Attachments to remove and add what is new for ( pictures ) I had to do my Rar files over like new pictures and some touches within the inside of the lot. The problem is I could not find "Add Full Image Inline To Post." so that I could remove the old one and add the new one since I did a whole new rar file. Not there in Manage Attachments.

Right now the old one is still there within the write up link Althose it still look the same as the new one I wanted to add the change. I have already tick the box for review again. But I would like for the lot picture to show up above my text first. When I finish the editing everything was there, but where the picture should go that I wanted above the text it was empty with a Red X in the box.

What should I do to add the new Add Full Image Inline to post, so that I can remove the old one or will it matter since they both look the same? Or will the numbers for it be different? What should I do ? Thanks for your time I hope I am making sense here.

[plasticbox]

Simonut,

you can always add pictures manually: copy the URL of the pic you want (e.g. "http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/img/1/7/8/2/8/2/MTS2_plasticbox_788639_NewbieRoad_134_TopDown-1.jpg" -- the one that starts with "MTS2_$username", NOT the one that goes "MTS2_thumb_etc"), then add an IMG tag with Insert Image (the little postcard icon above the text field when you edit your post) and paste that URL.

[Delphy]

Add Full Inline Image is something that is only within the Upload Wizard - it's nowhere else on the site. Hence why you couldn't find it. So you'll need to follow the instructions given by pb :)

[hrekkjavaka astarkort]

dabrooklynboi, thats becuase you have "Use old-style thread view for downloads" ticked in User Tools -> Edit Options.

This is outdated now - especially with all the new changes to the moderation screen. You also miss out on things like EP markers, recolour lists, mesh lists, thanks filtering and a bunch of other stuff.

I had mine on old style... >_< doh, thanks for clearing that up... And by the way, things look a lot better now i've taken that off! Thanks! :giggler:

[sinniti]

''On the thread screen, you now see a list of the Changes Required reasons appearing above the download text.''

Ok im well confused. Normally if the thing im uploading gets rejected my initial responce is to just resubmit that thing through the normal 'Upload your creations here' . So basicly from step 1 again.

I dont get this whole being able to review it as Ive never been able to look back on something if you have denyed it, so in theory it just gets deleted and i am told about changed that need to be made then do the changes that resubit it again like its a new project.

So I dont really know where any of these changes take place in the moderation queue.

[Delphy]

sinniti, this entire thing is talking about the changes required part of moderation, not the rejection part - hence the title and the first post. :)

In other news, we've added a "Suggestions" box that allows moderators to seperate out "helpful hints and suggestions" from actual mandatory changes, and reworded things somewhat.

[pacotacoplayer]

Hmmm...I did go through this when uploading a set recently, I had to fix my snapshots, which I did, and then I ticked off that it's ready to be reviewed by a moderator and everything, and I haven't heard anything after that for 5 days now...is this normal?

[summersong86]

I'm completely confused as well, but that's nothing new for me! I just hope the new changes mean I can talk to somebody through PM if dealing with a Changes Required sim. I got so confused during one submission about what exactly I needed to fix that I gave up in mental exhaustiong! LOL! Anyway, thanks for always trying to make communication better here. I do appreciate it how you folks are always trying to make this place more efficient and organized.

[Delphy]

summersong, no, the new changes mean you can talk to somebody via the Other box - I think you'll find it's much more streamlined now.

[Simonut]

Hello, I have a simple question please, Why is it I am showing so much more downloads, but it is not showing up in the the Graph chart? for July 31 and August 1 thank for your time and quick reply. :) Sorry to bother you Delphy, I found out I should have posted this in the section for "Site Issues" and so I did, after going there I see other members are having the same problems. Lol One day I will learn where to get around at on this site :) Here is hoping it will be fix soon. thank again.

[bolongo1992]

Like much people who has post in this thread I want to thank you for this update.

[ead425]

I like the idea, however, what happens if you don't make it to moderation queue? Like my sets that were rejected because they wanted them to go into creator feedback. (The sets were Modern Orient Bedroom-chalet breeze, Modern Orient Livingroom - chalet breeze and Modern Orient bath-chalet breeze) I combine them into one creator feedback posting, waiting 19 days before getting anytype of response, finally contactor Hysterical Paroxysm and she looked into them and approved them. I uploaded the living room and bath the same day she approved them, but due to a glitch on my end I had to redo the screenshots for the bedroom which I then upload the sets the following day. The next day they were rejected again because they had to go thru creator feedback. Meanwhile I had already put another set (New Haven Bedroom-Sping into creator feedback, which I am still waiting for feedback or approval to upload, it has now been 9 days. No I won't complain frustratingly...but I really don't think this system is working???????/

[Delphy]

The system itself works fine - Creator Feedback is totally seperate from the moderation queue and there are no guarantees or limits on the amount of time that you can wait for responses there - it's not part of the queue.

[ead425]

Thank you for your response Delphy.

[Sylvie_Liliea]

Yay! now I can upload recolors of MTS2 downloaded meshes and not have to worry too much about "please indicate what Maxis item this is a recolor of! (which is why I have not uploaded anything yet.) :rolleyes:

[Ailias]

Better innovate something to speed up moderators.

[Delphy]

Thats... not very helpful Ailias. (And off topic, too). This system is designed to help feedback between creators and staff, hence will actually speed up the system in some ways. You can't just "speed" people up - we already have guidelines on how long things take. Be patient.

[SimsShine]

This is so much better!
Thanks!