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Release Notes (Website: Help Center) - May 10, 2017


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Release Notes (Website only) - May 10, 2017

 

With this release we updated the Help Center on Geocaching.com. The Help Center now has a new look and improved usability. We’ve made it easier to navigate through improved search functionality to help you get quick answers to your questions.

 

Jayme from HQ’s Product Team is watching the thread to answer questions whenever possible.

 

Any posts in this thread should relate to features in this release. Please direct unrelated comments to other appropriate threads. Thanks!

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The Help Center now has a new look and improved usability.

And again removing functionality for desktop users. :mad:

No print (and read) friendly view anymore of whole chapters.

Edited by Hynz
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The Help Center now has a new look and improved usability.

And again removing functionality for desktop users. :mad:

No print (and read) friendly view anymore of whole chapters.

 

OK, I'll bite. Why are you printing out whole chapters of the Help Center? I struggle to come up with a use case that doesn't involve a cup of hot cocoa and roaring fire. :anicute:

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The Help Center now has a new look and improved usability.

And again removing functionality for desktop users. :mad:

No print (and read) friendly view anymore of whole chapters.

 

As an employee of a major printer manufacturer, I thank you for your support. Please continue printing everything you can ... email, pages from CNN, cache pages, etc ...

 

But I concur with Nate wondering about the use case here. I can't imagine ever wanting to print out the help pages, when now you have "point of need" access at your desktop or your mobile. I'll disagree with Nate on hot cocoa as the beverage of choice.

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The Help Center now has a new look and improved usability.

And again removing functionality for desktop users. :mad:

No print (and read) friendly view anymore of whole chapters.

 

OK, I'll bite. Why are you printing out whole chapters of the Help Center? I struggle to come up with a use case that doesn't involve a cup of hot cocoa and roaring fire. :anicute:

I don't want to print them but I prefer to *read* about a topic or maybe search with ctrl-F given that if I remember correct the search on the old Help Center gave rather weak results.

For example just to read the Trackable Beginners Basic (which is one of 6 sub categories about trackables) you now need 6 selective clicks. Maybe you could provide a link to the next bullet point at the end of each page.

Edited by Hynz
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I agree with Hynz. I get that we've lost the Dead Sea Scrolls version of the Help Center, where entire sections could be read on one very long page. But, in moving to an online book format, please let us turn the pages in the Bible by clicking on "next page" and "last page" buttons at the bottom of each screen.

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It'd be nice if I could find the help centre more easily. There's no direct link on the 'Learn' menu, and the link to 'Help Center' at the bottom of the main page goes to a contact form.

 

I know I can get there via Geocaching 101 but if I'm looking for the help centre i'm already way past the elementary stuff.

 

I can't say I like the new format much, but I'll get used to it, I guess.

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It'd be nice if I could find the help centre more easily. There's no direct link on the 'Learn' menu, and the link to 'Help Center' at the bottom of the main page goes to a contact form.

 

The link is not intended to go to the Contact Us page. We'll be fixing that.

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I quite like it (from a PC). I tend to only visit the Help centre when I have something specific to look up so the search box works well for me, and I think the search results it brings up give a good idea of where to go next. It's pretty easy to zero in to the subject I need help on.

 

I don't go browsing help articles much so I don't miss the previous/next page buttons.

 

There does seem to be some unnecessary nesting of topics though e.g. :-

 

From the Start page clicking Souvenirs takes you to a page with only one link labelled Souvenirs, clicking that takes you to the list of topics.

 

From the Start page clicking "For the new geocacher" takes you to a page with only one link labelled "Start here", clicking that takes you to the list of topics.

 

It seems to me that the two intermediate pages which themselves have only one link, are unnecessary.

 

On the whole I'll give this 8/10.

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So as an experiment, I decided to explore the "hiding a cache" section. I ended up on the "Learn about cache types" page:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277

 

I control-clicked on the Challenge caches, Challenge checkers, and Challenge Cache Subjectivity links to open them in new tabs. Except that it didn't work, because they aren't real links.

 

If you want some fancy whizbang JavaScript behavior, then fine. But don't break basic link behavior in the process.

 

 

BTW, some of your two-column page menus don't divide evenly. For example:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=105

 

The left column has two menu items, and the right column has four.

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So as an experiment, I decided to explore the "hiding a cache" section. I ended up on the "Learn about cache types" page:https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277I control-clicked on the Challenge caches, Challenge checkers, and Challenge Cache Subjectivity links to open them in new tabs. Except that it didn't work, because they aren't real links.If you want some fancy whizbang JavaScript behavior, then fine. But don't break basic link behavior in the process.

 

What browser are you using? I don't see this behavior.

 

BTW, some of your two-column page menus don't divide evenly. For example:https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=105The left column has two menu items, and the right column has four.

 

That is very odd. We'll look into this, thanks.

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I get that we've lost the Dead Sea Scrolls version of the Help Center, where entire sections could be read on one very long page.

A Dead Sea Scrolls version would be handy if you use a service like https://getpocket.com/ to shoot the content into a gadget for offline reading later at beach/campfire/shade-tree/bathtub/wherever. Can be useful when you're all excited about the new hobby and want to read everything there is to know about it.

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So as an experiment, I decided to explore the "hiding a cache" section. I ended up on the "Learn about cache types" page:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277'>https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277

 

I control-clicked on the Challenge caches, Challenge checkers, and Challenge Cache Subjectivity links to open them in new tabs. Except that it didn't work, because they aren't real links.If you want some fancy whizbang JavaScript behavior, then fine. But don't break basic link behavior in the process.

What browser are you using? I don't see this behavior.
I'm using Chrome on MS Windows at work.

 

Edit to add: Are you saying that ctrl-click opens in a new tab for you on these pages?

 

For me, on

https://www.geocaching.com/help/

ctrl-click of "For the new geocacher" opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33

where ctrl-click of "Start here" (a page with only a single link as its only content? that should be fixed too) opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141

where ctrl-click of "Intro to geocaching" changes the current page in the current tab, rather than opening a new tab.

 

I noticed this because I wanted to open three links in three separate tabs, so I could let them load and then read them each in their own tabs. I read web sites (including this forum) like that all the time.

Edited by niraD
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So as an experiment, I decided to explore the "hiding a cache" section. I ended up on the "Learn about cache types" page:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277'>https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277

 

I control-clicked on the Challenge caches, Challenge checkers, and Challenge Cache Subjectivity links to open them in new tabs. Except that it didn't work, because they aren't real links.If you want some fancy whizbang JavaScript behavior, then fine. But don't break basic link behavior in the process.

What browser are you using? I don't see this behavior.
I'm using Chrome on MS Windows at work.

 

Edit to add: Are you saying that ctrl-click opens in a new tab for you on these pages?

 

For me, on

https://www.geocaching.com/help/

ctrl-click of "For the new geocacher" opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33

where ctrl-click of "Start here" (a page with only a single link as its only content? that should be fixed too) opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141

where ctrl-click of "Intro to geocaching" changes the current page in the current tab, rather than opening a new tab.

 

I noticed this because I wanted to open three links in three separate tabs, so I could let them load and then read them each in their own tabs. I read web sites (including this forum) like that all the time.

 

Firefox 53, Windows 10.... right click and open in new tab works for me. I'll have to try it on a Mac later.

 

EDIT... I see you said Cntl - Click. That's not a style I use, so not sure what the old behavior was.

Edited by igator210
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So as an experiment, I decided to explore the "hiding a cache" section. I ended up on the "Learn about cache types" page:

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277'>https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=127&pgid=277

 

I control-clicked on the Challenge caches, Challenge checkers, and Challenge Cache Subjectivity links to open them in new tabs. Except that it didn't work, because they aren't real links.If you want some fancy whizbang JavaScript behavior, then fine. But don't break basic link behavior in the process.

What browser are you using? I don't see this behavior.
I'm using Chrome on MS Windows at work.

 

Edit to add: Are you saying that ctrl-click opens in a new tab for you on these pages?

 

For me, on

https://www.geocaching.com/help/

ctrl-click of "For the new geocacher" opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33

where ctrl-click of "Start here" (a page with only a single link as its only content? that should be fixed too) opens a new tab showing

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141

where ctrl-click of "Intro to geocaching" changes the current page in the current tab, rather than opening a new tab.

 

I noticed this because I wanted to open three links in three separate tabs, so I could let them load and then read them each in their own tabs. I read web sites (including this forum) like that all the time.

 

Firefox 53, Windows 10.... right click and open in new tab works for me. I'll have to try it on a Mac later.

 

EDIT... I see you said Cntl - Click. That's not a style I use, so not sure what the old behavior was.

I just checked.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33 has a right-click menu with the "Open in new tab" option.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141 has a right-click menu with no "Open" options at all.

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https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33 has a right-click menu with the "Open in new tab" option.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141 has a right-click menu with no "Open" options at all.

 

Your first link is a knowledge book, and all the links open up new chapters.

 

The second link is a knowledge chapter, and all the links on that page open up a "page" in the chapter, but each "page" only loads in the content of it via ajax, so a right click doesn't work.

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https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33 has a right-click menu with the "Open in new tab" option.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141 has a right-click menu with no "Open" options at all.

Your first link is a knowledge book, and all the links open up new chapters.

 

The second link is a knowledge chapter, and all the links on that page open up a "page" in the chapter, but each "page" only loads in the content of it via ajax, so a right click doesn't work.

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see this problem.
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There's no direct link on the 'Learn' menu...

We'll be adding access to the Help Center from the profile account dropdown (by your name on the top right) soon. That was the place that most people went to try and find Help on the site during testing.

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https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.book&id=33 has a right-click menu with the "Open in new tab" option.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=141 has a right-click menu with no "Open" options at all.

Your first link is a knowledge book, and all the links open up new chapters.

 

The second link is a knowledge chapter, and all the links on that page open up a "page" in the chapter, but each "page" only loads in the content of it via ajax, so a right click doesn't work.

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one who can see this problem.

 

Not sure I'd say it's a "problem", as it's a fairly common way of loading content in so the entire pages doesn't have to be reloaded. But I will confirm the behavior you are seeing.

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I see a broken link on this page, 1.12. Find a GeoTour

 

under

Search for a GeoTour by GT code

1.

2.

3.Enter a GT code. Complete list of GT codes. <----this link doesn't work.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=796

Fixed!

We appreciate that you found this broken link, palmetto. :wub:

 

Hmm, now it leads to a new page, but not to the right anchor... And when I click on the back button of my (chrome) browser, I stay on the GeoTour page unless I go back for a second time.

 

This new help center looks good, really.

But once again, who the hell tested it ? Don't you have automated tests that simulate clicks on all the links ? Ever heard of Coded UI (or similar) ? It can prove really helpful...

 

BTW, the listbox "Select a language" is too narrow (in french at least), and its style is unique and doesn't look like anything else in the page.

 

Still, this new design is very pleasant :)

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I am OK with the new design but it does seem untested. Just had a look around and there seem to be more than a few links not working even to the forum for extra help on the email page. http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showforum=8. Also some of the manufacturers links are invalid now e.g. Microsoft, Web-DE. I think it is hard trying to keep up with these types of changes.

On the souvenirs page I click on one of the types and the cursor just stays at the top of the screen whereas it should surely navigate down the page.

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There's no direct link on the 'Learn' menu...

We'll be adding access to the Help Center from the profile account dropdown (by your name on the top right) soon. That was the place that most people went to try and find Help on the site during testing.

 

You must have some odd people testing for you. I looked, in order, in plain sight near the top of the page, 'Learn', page footer, right down the links column on the right, profile button (and I only tried this because I'd assumed there must be a link somewhere and this was the only place left.)

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There's no direct link on the 'Learn' menu...

We'll be adding access to the Help Center from the profile account dropdown (by your name on the top right) soon. That was the place that most people went to try and find Help on the site during testing.

You must have some odd people testing for you. I looked, in order, in plain sight near the top of the page, 'Learn', page footer, right down the links column on the right, profile button (and I only tried this because I'd assumed there must be a link somewhere and this was the only place left.)

I agree that by far the most logical spot would be under "Learn". There have been many times I've tried to get to it from there, only to realize over and over that it isn't where you'd expect it to be.

 

If the people being used for this testing are giving this kind of result, that could help explain why we've been seeing so many other odd changes to the site.

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You must have some odd people testing for you. I looked, in order, in plain sight near the top of the page, 'Learn', page footer, right down the links column on the right, profile button (and I only tried this because I'd assumed there must be a link somewhere and this was the only place left.)

Odd? Could be. We don’t typically judge the geocachers we bring in to test though. Every time I'm surprised that somebody else uses things a different way than I do, I try to remind myself that maybe it's my habit that is actually odd. That gets easier and easier when you see patterns repeating with multiple testers.

 

Unfortunately, we have trained you to look in places for help that aren't the standard these days. If you check out other sites you'll usually find a link for help near your user profile settings menu, which is probably why most folks went there to find it. Glad you found the spot it will be located in eventually!

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This is my second favorite section (first is Geocaching 101) for answering questions by new folks, and usually include links from it here, in the forums.

- Though nowhere near the likes of Pup Patrol. :laughing:

 

Finally got a chance to look and was a bit confused, since I memorized (dyslexic old fart) where most things were in the "old" Help.

 

Areas that were maybe long ("the Dead Sea Scrolls version"), but easy to skim through to find the section you needed (trackables is one), now have separate sections.

If what I'm looking for isn't covered in one, I now need to go back and "pick" another to see if it's there.

Tried a couple of "searches", some directed me away from where I was looking, and it just doesn't seem efficient (to me), but guess I'll wing it. :)

Whenever "search" in a section didn't have an answer, it brought me back to the main page, and had to start over again.

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