New Ning Dashboard (Manage Panel) - What Are Your Thoughts?

First, let me announce: I've added a new Forum Category called "Join The Conversation". This Category will be used for Forum Discussions that may lead to heated discussion and debate. Now there are two Admin Categories on JenSocial Forums - - one for Announcements and one for Conversation. Naturally I have made the Announcements Category for Admin only. And, for now I have set the Join the Conversation for Admin. only. If you think I should open it to all, I will be happy to change it. Just let me know.

So tell me, what do you think about the new Ning Dashboard (Manage Panel)? I've been trying to use it all day, and as much as I hate to complain, I don't like it, at all. Like I've already stated on Ning's Creator site, maybe I'm just set in my ways. Is it that I use the dashboard so much that the new orientation (side links) has me all off-balance? It really throws me.
This is what I just wrote on Creators in this Discussion:
Sorry Ning. The new manage panel is maddening. It took me 10 minutes to find out how to add a new Category to a Forum - - good grief. And, it may not be that far off from the old. But since the orientation is totally different, it is completely discombobulating - - for me at least.

I hope you all hear me. I'm the kind of person who can catch on quickly, and don't mind change for the most part. If I'm confused, not good.

For anyone who needs to add a Forum Category: Manage/Settings/Features/Forum

I'm trying to decipher if the links are the same. Are they? If so, I'll just go by URL, instead of this panel.

I've been designing software for 20+ years. I just don't get this. Why go from a lovely Web2.0 look with easy icons, to a "smushed" up side panel with old fashioned links that you have to drill down over and over to get to where you want to go?

Best Regards,
Jen

UPDATE - GREAT NEWS!
Ning has made the statement that they are working on giving us an option to use the old Manage Panel!


What are your thoughts? Join the Conversation!


Tags: dashboard, feature panel, manage panel, new manage panel, new ning, settings

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Drilling Ahead on July 21, 2010 at 10:56am
I am also disappointed. I suppose in time I will be able to navigate it better. The old layout was much better with the icons.
Ning seems to really struggle with simple decisions like this and I worry with Ning making bad decision after bad decision-then having to cut staff in half...I worry they won't be around much longer-then we will all lose our networks-or lose a big part of it in migrating.

I had to remove the "Rate a member" thing as soon as it came out as ning decided it needed to be active on my network as soon as they updated. Maybe I am missing something ,but with over 6000 members-how are my members supposed to find the member they want to rate? i mean it starts in alphabetical order and makes you move 7 members at a time or something like that with no search option?

It's really been all anti-climatic. I am pleased as a pro user I will be paying less each year now- & I like the fact I can now limit the number of photo uploads per member per day-but that's about all the good I can see from the update.

getting off topic I know-So i will agree that i do not like the new "Manage: section as much as I did the old.
Permalink Reply by Magic Happens on July 22, 2010 at 9:24pm
l never notice a rate your member thing, where would this be located? Or may be l be better not knowing, lol
Permalink Reply by Administrator JenSocial on July 22, 2010 at 9:41pm
click on My Network, Settings, Features Layout and presto there you are
Permalink Reply by Magic Happens on July 22, 2010 at 9:42pm
Thanks,
Permalink Reply by Administrator JenSocial on July 22, 2010 at 9:52pm
@ Fantasyland Your Welcome
Permalink Reply by funflowingmusik on July 21, 2010 at 12:23pm
im kinda gettng used to it,, since i was a beta tester., i like it
Permalink Reply by Administrator JenSocial on July 22, 2010 at 9:43pm
click on My Network, Settings, Features Layout (text boxes) and underneath it is TAB
Permalink Reply by RAD-Rede AmadosdeDeus-Pr.Dilson on July 22, 2010 at 9:04pm
Ok, obrigado....creio que será uma boa termos mais opções.
Permalink Reply by rivrain philippe on July 23, 2010 at 8:42am
Pour moi Ning a choisi de laisser le travail qui a été fait et de le mettre à la poubelle sans considérer les administrateurs qui ont "fait" ce travail...maintenant, si toutes les plateformes sont produites par un groupe majeure qui ne se "révèle pas ", il est certain que monter et prendre en charge des sites juste pour convenir à des principes commerciaux récupérés de la façon de Ning tôt ou tard, montre bien qu'il est inutile de s'attacher et de s'investir dans la création de sites de cette façon...je suis un artiste expérimental, et tous ces systèmes de site ne sont rien de vrai finalement, et je vais les prendre comme ils sont pour ce qu'ils sont...
Permalink Reply by Merry Meet Wicca on July 23, 2010 at 8:52am
I have two things that are not working since the changes. I've lost the ability to search the groups on my network. No matter what I type in the search box, it says "no results were found for..."
The other thing is in the Feature Layout area, it gives me an option to add the "created by" box. It will let me drag and drop it to any position, then I hit save and it tells me it was saved. But, it is not there, neither on the main page nor in the layout area. It is back on the left in the items to choose and not where I put it. lol I have tried this on three different networks and get the same result on all three. Anyone have any ideas on this one?
Permalink Reply by Administrator JenSocial on July 23, 2010 at 1:34pm
Have you sent a ticket into ning and they can help you
Permalink Reply by Merry Meet Wicca on July 23, 2010 at 1:50pm
No, I haven't yet, I was waiting to see if there were any more issues so I could put them all together, since on the Plus Plan I only get 5 per month. lol My luck, I would have more things popping up one by one. I will go ahead and send one now. Thank you! :)

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