[TRIPLE] Technic Triple Build Contest Information

[Jim]

Thank you

[Doc_Brown]

I just noticed that the links to some photos do not always work, and sometimes this may cause voters to pick the wrong entry, especially entries 22/23.

I have noticed this too! and there are a few other entries that don't work as well!@ like #24

Please fix!!

[DrJB]

I did tally up the 20 or so initial votes, and it seems 22/23 are leading, which suggests many people are mistakenly voting for one ipo the other. Not wanting to create 'issues' here but, in all fairness this needs to be looked at. The main root-cause again is because some of the pics are not showing.

[Jim]

The headers are clearly visible, so why would people be voting for the wrong entry? It might happen hat a picture doesn't show up, but that does depend on the site where the image is hosted, combined with lack of patience. The image are loaded async, so you need to wait until all images have been loaded. It might occur that number 32 has been loaded before number 20. That's the way things work. Since this is a forum using 3rd party software, it's hard for me to do something about it.

By the way; I have been looking at the votes and in my opinion there's no strange outcome. 22 and 23 are two of the best entries, so it makes sense that they are leading. What's strange in that?

If there is really an issue, I will obviously try to address it, but I don't want to act on the occasional missing picture. If there's a picture missing all the time, let me know!

And to all future participants I would suggest to use Flickr for hosting your images!

[Jim]

I have noticed this too! and there are a few other entries that don't work as well!@ like #24

Please fix!!

What's wrong with #24? I see the picture and when I click it, I see the proper topic.

However, I did notice, that sometimes clicking an image on my iPad the proper topic will be shown initially, but after a second or two, it scrolls to/shows another topic (in this case number 23, yours Doc-brown, so it scrolls up a bit). Is this what you mean? I can't replicate this behavior on my computer by the way.

To make it perfectly clear; I will do anything to host a fair competition, but some factors are not within my reach to control. So if any of the contestants really feel that they are not judged fairly, let me know. But looking at the preliminary voting results, I don't see a strange outcome. And I haven't been able to replicate the missing pictures issues, although I do know that Brickshelf was offline for some time the other other day.

[Doc_Brown]

What's wrong with #24? I see the picture and when I click it, I see the proper topic.

However, I did notice, that sometimes clicking an image on my iPad the proper topic will be shown initially, but after a second or two, it scrolls to/shows another topic (in this case number 23, yours Doc-brown, so it scrolls up a bit). Is this what you mean? I can't replicate this behavior on my computer by the way.

To make it perfectly clear; I will do anything to host a fair competition, but some factors are not within my reach to control. So if any of the contestants really feel that they are not judged fairly, let me know. But looking at the preliminary voting results, I don't see a strange outcome. And I haven't been able to replicate the missing pictures issues, although I do know that Brickshelf was offline for some time the other other day.

Hey that's cool! Most likely just individuals pc, devices.

But I did try 2 different browsers and the results are the same.

clicking #22 sends me to the sod farm

clicking #23 sends me to the top of page 2

clicking #24 sends me to the top of page 2 as well

Everyone else's that I tested seems fine.

But no worries if no-one else is affected, just could be a random thing then all good.

Thanks for looking into it.

[Jim]

Hey that's cool! Most likely just individuals pc, devices.

But I did try 2 different browsers and the results are the same.

clicking #22 sends me to the sod farm

clicking #23 sends me to the top of page 2

clicking #24 sends me to the top of page 2 as well

Everyone else's that I tested seems fine.

But no worries if no-one else is affected, just could be a random thing then all good.

Thanks for looking into it.

That's so weird, because when I click these entries, I don't have any issues. Which browser(s) are you using? I'm using Chrome.

22. Lifeguard Vehicles

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&#entry1751911

23. Lifestyle Machines!

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&st=25#entry1752077

24. Swingwing Trailer and Truck

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&st=25#entry1752210

I really think it's a browser issue, because whatever I try, the links take me to the right entry.

Let me try Safari....just a sec.

I think I have found it!!

Safari is screwing things up

That's why I had issues on my iPad as well.

Strange thing is, that it's not occurring with every entry. Only the ones mentioned are affected.

[Merlin]

That's so weird, because when I click these entries, I don't have any issues. Which browser(s) are you using? I'm using Chrome.

22. Lifeguard Vehicles

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&#entry1751911

23. Lifestyle Machines!

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&st=25#entry1752077

24. Swingwing Trailer and Truck

...forum/index.php?showtopic=87611&st=25#entry1752210

I really think it's a browser issue, because whatever I try, the links take me to the right entry.

Let me try Safari....just a sec.

I think I have found it!!

Safari is screwing things up

That's why I had issues on my iPad as well.

Strange thing is, that it's not occurring with every entry. Only the ones mentioned are affected.

I'm seeing same issue in FireFox 25.0.1

Sollution I have found is to remove st=25 from the url of the broken links.

Edit: Typo...

Edited December 6, 2013 by Merlin

[Jim]

I'm seeing same issue in FireFox 25.0.1

Sollution I have found is to remove st=25 from the url of the broken links.

I tried to remove the st=25, but that means you will be stuck on the first page. That's not working for me either. I will do some further testing.

Why o why do browsers behave so differently. It's annoying!

[Seasider]

surely people will work out if they click on an image and get send to another one that its the wrong one, especially as the images in the vote thread are taken from the entry thread

it then doesn't take too much intelligence to find the right post

[Jim]

surely people will work out if they click on an image and get send to another one that its the wrong one, especially as the images in the vote thread are taken from the entry thread

it then doesn't take too much intelligence to find the right post

Very true! I don't think it will influence the contest a lot. The best entries will still win, but it's strange nonetheless.

I need to evaluate this for next contest.

[DrJB]

Glad others were able to reproduce it .... as I initially though it was my computer only, but I did try it from 4 computers: 2 at home (Chrome+Exporer) + iPad + 1 at work, and all show the same behavior. WhiIe I agree that 22/23 are very good entries, it seemed a bit 'odd' that the two best entries lie next to each other. Odd but not impossible. In any event, voters will just have to be careful.

Edited December 6, 2013 by DrJB

[Doc_Brown]

I'm using the newest firefox and IE. kinda glad I'm not the only one as well.

YES very frustrating! But browsers will be browsers. Intelligence shall prevail.

[Milan]

Noticed this, too, on my Mozilla, when clicked on my entry link, that day when voting topic was created . Now seems to work.

[dr_spock]

The headers are clearly visible, so why would people be voting for the wrong entry? It might happen hat a picture doesn't show up, but that does depend on the site where the image is hosted, combined with lack of patience. The image are loaded async, so you need to wait until all images have been loaded. It might occur that number 32 has been loaded before number 20. That's the way things work. Since this is a forum using 3rd party software, it's hard for me to do something about it.

By the way; I have been looking at the votes and in my opinion there's no strange outcome. 22 and 23 are two of the best entries, so it makes sense that they are leading. What's strange in that?

If there is really an issue, I will obviously try to address it, but I don't want to act on the occasional missing picture. If there's a picture missing all the time, let me know!

And to all future participants I would suggest to use Flickr for hosting your images!

Another way is to put the voting thread images into the EuroBricks gallery. I've seen that done with the contests in the other themes. I think as Moderator you have access to load up the EB gallery space all you want. This way we are not dependent on an image hosting site being up. Flickr does go down from time to time, not as much as some others. Also it prevents contestants from modifying their pictures. I can change the pictures on, for example, Brickshelf and still keep the same URLs. It is handy when I write reviews and decide to update a nicer image. I don't have to go back to modify every site where I posted the picture with the new link if I kept the same picture file name.

[piterx]

lol i don't even noticed that images were actually a link XD

[Jim]

Another way is to put the voting thread images into the EuroBricks gallery. I've seen that done with the contests in the other themes. I think as Moderator you have access to load up the EB gallery space all you want. This way we are not dependent on an image hosting site being up. Flickr does go down from time to time, not as much as some others. Also it prevents contestants from modifying their pictures. I can change the pictures on, for example, Brickshelf and still keep the same URLs. It is handy when I write reviews and decide to update a nicer image. I don't have to go back to modify every site where I posted the picture with the new link if I kept the same picture file name.

Funny you mention it, because I was thinking about the possibility of changing the images by using the same URL.

And for archiving purpose it will also be better to have a copy in the EB storage. At least for the main image!

For next contest I will see what I can do. Thanks for bringing this up

lol i don't even noticed that images were actually a link XD

My bad!!

I forgot to mention this in the introduction. I was planning on writing a note, but somehow I missed it.

Maybe a bit late, but I have included it.

Next time I will also add a clickable link to make sure it's clear.

[legomuppet9]

I feel sorry for you Jim, for having to work out who's won Lots of great entries here, but presentation and creativity was what won my votes

[Jim]

I feel sorry for you Jim, for having to work out who's won Lots of great entries here, but presentation and creativity was what won my votes

Actually I have written a tool for this. I have collected the contestants and their entries, and now I only need to copy and paste the votes, which is about 10 minutes of work. The software does the rest. So you will get a full list presented with all contestants, not only the first three. There's also some statistics on number of voters, most votes, etc.

Seemed like a nice investment for future contests

[dr_spock]

Does the tool also check for voters eligibility, points allocations, and that contestants aren't voting for themselves? I think that may be more work than the tallying.

[Jim]

Does the tool also check for voters eligibility, points allocations, and that contestants aren't voting for themselves? I think that may be more work than the tallying.

Not yet, but I am planning to implement that. I might take a look at this tomorrow or next week.

So I can check the "joined date", voting for oneself, voting a total of 10 points.

[piterx]

when will the voting session be over?

[Jim]

Voting will be open for about a week. So till Wednesday I suppose.

Want me to make a clear deadline?

[piterx]

nah :P just simple curiosity

[Jim]

I have closed the Voting Topic!

Tonight I will announce the winners!