David:

The format they use on SMC is pretty good.

I can't figure out why somebody who wants to be listed doesn't fill out their contact info.

Thanks, Mike. :-) I'm a little far from Ottawa. They'd wind up paying for shipping anyway.

You should post a note on the SMC forum as well. Let Abdul know how close he was to getting a referral. ;-)

Having a directory of available engravers would be different than a member list. Not all members would want to offer their services to the public. A suggestion for the forum authors might be to have a feature where a checkbox could be checked while setting your profile if you want your profile available in a directory rather than only when somebody clicks on your name in a post. Or maybe multiple checkboxes for multiple directories. (ie: in this case one for services offered to anybody vs services offered only to the trade)

Another method would be a fairly basic database, with one form to fill in if you want a listing in the directory, and another page to view and sort the directory. A third page for an admin to delete or edit entries. A couple of php pages and a single table database and you've got an instant directory. Sounds like a feature for the subscription version of the site. ;-)

In the test we did I am fairly sure it did. It was a long time ago, over a year that we ran it through its paces. I do not even remember the name of the software, but it is buried somewhere in the forum.

I found our discussions BOD2374.1 and BOD3796.1

When I have some time I will review them again.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

David will have to answer that question. He is the one working with the programmer/integrator for the site.

There are a lot of little things that must be done to get it just right, things that do not get thought of until you hit that point.

It is amazing the mass of integration necessary to set it up. Features will appear as we get them integrated.

It is good that it has taken so long, new ideas cropped up that are important to the members. We have looked around and have seen that one or two original ideas so not seem to fly elsewhere, so we have even modified some of our basic concepts. The members should like the changes, even though they did not know the original ideas.

I always thought that it was taking tooooooo long. But as we are working on it I realized that it is right to take this long, it will be better without having to make changes later.

The only problem I see in the length of the setup is the burden on David's pocketbook. How he can be as comfortable with that as he is, is beyond me.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Mick,

I fully expected to "be there" by now.

As Harvey pointed out, we've reached the early stages of integrating the subscription software.

I won't personally be comfortable with accepting payments, until I "kick the tires" of that process, to see that it works as it should.

My wish is to launch the subscription site, by the end of the month. Since some of the work is beyond my personal area of expertise, and therefore, beyond my control, that timeline isn't set in stone.

As far as what to expect, it will be a continuation of what we've arguably established as the most diverse, active, and informative online forum, for the awards and engraving industry, along with features that we've advertised in the past, i.e. TeleSeminars, more of the ever-popular PicTutorials and getting to know our members through Member Spotlights.

Realizing that our ability to implement some of the more "ambitious" features, such as videotaped "how to" tutorials and live online training, will be incremental, we've abandoned the concept of a multi-level site.

Instead, everyone will be in on one level, at one price, for one year = $36

That breaks down to much less per month than it takes to support a low-level Starbuck's habit. :-)

I've maintained that this site will always be a work in progress, but we have to start somewhere.

That's where we'll turn the next page in Engraving Etc. history.

Carl,

Unless I can find a way to abbreviate many of my posts, the theme song may be Seger's, "Ramblin' Man." :-)