Version 9 Multisite & Addins

[twmltd]

Hi,

We are using v9 Multisite with drillpine Dynamic Choice Images patch. All was ok adding images to choices untill we set up a drop down list with 200 choices. This has resulted in v9 crashing out during Backups, navigating away from the layouts using the patch and working on the sections using the patch has become impossible due to the time taking even navigating between design & content views.

We have disabled page preview and can only work in standalone mode as when working in multisite mode Actinic bombs out with a cannot connect to synchronisation server.

Is anyone experiencing issues with multisite and the drillpine patch or suggest any ways to improve performance?

TIA

[leehack]

Sounds like your 200 options is the problem to me, not the addon. 200 choices in a drop down list is not sensible whether or not the software can handle it. I have experienced very slow performance on multiple components on a page, something like 17 or 18 from memory, so i'd expect your problems are the choices alone.

[jont]

Behavioural testing has shown lists longer than 7 start to confuse people - 200 on a drop down is never going to work from a usability point of view (technical considerations aside).

[pinbrook]

I'd never wade through 200 choices - for usability its not usable as i bet 99% of choices selected would be wrong due to keyboard invervention

[twmltd]

200 Choices

Hi,

Ok I have taken note of the comments on the number of choices but in the clients business it is required. I need people to have an option with some of the products to choose your tartan.

In this case 6 different suppliers offering anything between 200 and 500 weaves of cloth with a preview image attached to the choice is required. We have tried offering a tartan finder section in the standard site and it was never used. The drop down choices are however used and found to be far more effective for sales.

Cummon I have been using Actinic all versions since version 4 and if a software company can make great claims about how many products it's cart can accommodate why can it not get the issue with choices/components sorted. The majority of companies in our business use this same drop & choose options some even odopting to use the same solutions. So if it can work in v6 and v7 why not v9?

It always amazes me that when we shell out for a new version with so many good new features Actinic never seems to resolve outstanding limitations and always seems to adds to its problems ie the "synchronisation server" which so far has been nothing but a complete nightmare to get operational under Vista and XP for that matter.

The issue I have in this case is not the choices or Actinic for that matter as they have worked but the drillpine addon. Again this works ok for limited numbers of choices and no problem in v6 or v7 for 200 choices. But when asking for support of this addon we just bought under v9 all I have got from the Drillpine chap is it may be an Actinic problem? or I can only support my patch if it is using a standard template aaaagh... I suppose better than Actinic as they could not offer a solution other than refer me to his patch even though a similar solution was in the advanced guide for radio buttons.

Whatever happened to the testing phase of development prior to releasing or selling software are those day gone forever????

Leehack yes I have the same problems with components also. A kilt package has a number of components to build a package and I do tend to leave them till last as the performance of Actinic is shocking once these products are added.

To finish my rant Actinic have been good in the past as any limitation or faults found in the software have been addressed and repaired in future builds.

The only thing that Actinic have chosen to ignore is the component limitations not only on this topic but on the issue of product references. Lets face it if a blue cup and a red cup need to be seperate products if they have different stock reference codes what hope is there for me and my 200 choices. A bit less time on new versions please and more time working on the components please...

[twmltd]

Correction

Apologies correction to my previous post. A red and blue cup can have different product references by creating 2 hidden products and linking the permutations to them. Still 1 product and 2 hidden products is a bit excessive sitewide.