Announcement

**guccij** · 03-Jul-2008, 06:31 AM

What sort of features would you like to see?
All software has limitations, Actinic has fewer limitations than most, yet still allows ordinary people (me) a relatively easy way to get a shop up and running. That more than suits my needs; I guess it doesn't suit yours?

**g11ary** · 04-Jul-2008, 05:25 PM

Actinic is the first and only commerce that Ive used so can comment on others, but it would be nice to have some of the things mentioned above, al doable but only if you want to pay for outside add ons or are clever enough to do yourself.
After being with Actinic for last 4 years, it just seems each update bring new problems, you only have to look round forum but very small add ons or advantages over last release.

**jont** · 04-Jul-2008, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by g11ary View Post

the last couple of Actinic's have not had much of a change

v7 to v8 was a massive leap - dragging Actinic out of a quagmire of nested templates into a truly flexible piece of kit for designers and a fantastic tool for site owners (also boughts, also like, best sellers lists etc).

v8 brought blockifs, PHP integration and editing of layouts within Actinic. Truly awesome (if you are into that sort of thing) ... if you are not a techie then v8/v9 has allowed some great code to be added.. a lot of it is posted on here and the knowledge base (automatic thumbnail generation for example) keeps on growing for everyones benefit.

v8 to v9 was more of a cosmetic makeover with some stability issues resolved, v9.0.3 should bring a greater boost to the system.

**chris ashdown** · 04-Jul-2008, 07:55 PM

It would be nice if you could add modules to Actinic that run with actinic but remain seperate so that upgrading actinic did not effect the modules, this could open up wide area's for the developers

Maybe you can do it now, but there does not appear to be many outside improvements except those like Normans that need upgrading each version that comes out

I am not a programmer so if im talking rubbish just humour me

**g11ary** · 04-Jul-2008, 11:20 PM

Please dont take this thread as a downer on Actinic and I hope something constructive can come out of it.
I can only speak as someone who until he lost his job 4 years ago had never really used a computer, so all the techie advantages of V8 over V9 are wasted on me.
It great if you are a designer and can earn money from Actinics missed opportunities. there might be a lot of guys out there like me that want to stat there own on line business, if your new to Actinic then it probably seems incredible what you can do with the software, but if youve been with Actinic for 4 years Im sure you would like to see more improvements. I have never really had to many issues with Actinic V6, V7 or V8 so stability is something as a none tecchy Im not aware of, but Im sure more new customers or ones that have moved away would be impressed.
If all the developers out there can do these improvements why cant Actinic build them in or buy the improvements to put in.
There is I believe a plug in so that currency is in real time from any currency worldwide, but if I run 5-6 stores then I have to license it 5-6 times, it was out on V6 so why have Actinic built something like this in to V8 or V9.
Actinic could have a help desk that promises to return calls or fix problems within given time period or at least contact customers to say they cant do it, on more then one occasion if its difficult Im asked for a snap shot or screen shot, then thats usually the last I hear.
offer more tuition on varied subjects. i know you may not have the resources of Apple or Microsoft but when I had a problem with Microsoft they called me everyday to see if the update had arrived and the problem fixed. Ive just bought Apple, Actinic and lots of others dont or wont support any help with Actinic in Apple yet Apple sales have grown hugely, and Apple have really gone the extra mile, I can pay �150 a year and pop in once a week for lessons or tips, pay for extra treatment at the genius bar for advise and service. They even refunded money on software that I was having agro with after having for 2 months.

My wish list
Real time currency
Loyalty scheme
Customers to upload there products for sale
auto sizing of pictures and thumbnails
links that open in new tab or window instead of taking customer away from your site.
Workshops
Pod cast type lessons
Support for Apple
Slightly later help line (which I thought Actinic had started)

**Ginnys Attic** · 05-Jul-2008, 08:05 AM

You can manually add link to product descriptions, fragments, section descriptions etc that open in a new window by using !!<<a href="URL" target="_blank">LINK TEXT</a>>!! although it would be nice if there was the option to set the link target within Actinic.

When you say Pod Cast Type lessons and workshops what do you mean? You can add video/audio players within a fragment if required by simply adding the required html required !!< PLAYER HTML CODE HERE >!! so for example if you wanted to use windows media player to stream a video or audio file you can simply use something like:

!!<<embedsrc="VIDEO OR AUDIO FILE URL" width="500" height="400" type="application/x-mplayer2" pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/Downloads/Contents/Products/MediaPlayer/" Name="VIDEO OR AUDIO FILE NAME" ShowControls="1" ShowDisplay="0" ShowStatusBar="1">>!!

The video or audio file name is displayed in the media player status bar so you can use anything here you like or leave blank if required.

**chris ashdown** · 05-Jul-2008, 08:49 AM

They do have a loyalty scheme for Actinic users, just join the support and every year you get a discount

**g11ary** · 07-Jul-2008, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by Ginnys Attic View Post

You can manually add link to product descriptions, fragments, section descriptions etc that open in a new window by using !!<<a href="URL" target="_blank">LINK TEXT</a>>!! although it would be nice if there was the option to set the link target within Actinic.

When you say Pod Cast Type lessons and workshops what do you mean? You can add video/audio players within a fragment if required by simply adding the required html required !!< PLAYER HTML CODE HERE >!! so for example if you wanted to use windows media player to stream a video or audio file you can simply use something like:

!!<<embedsrc="VIDEO OR AUDIO FILE URL" width="500" height="400" type="application/x-mplayer2" pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/Downloads/Contents/Products/MediaPlayer/" Name="VIDEO OR AUDIO FILE NAME" ShowControls="1" ShowDisplay="0" ShowStatusBar="1">>!!

The video or audio file name is displayed in the media player status bar so you can use anything here you like or leave blank if required.

Just my point, there are lots of web designers etc on here that can add there own lines, what guys like me (relative novices want are options in Actinic to do this, it cant be hard for Actinic to add this as an option within Actinic without the answer always being "manually add"

When I say podcast type lessons, since owning a Mac I get small emails with tips and links that if I click go to there site with a small demo on a hint or tip, make using a Mac much easier than trying to learn the hard way.
Apple have bent over backwards to get me running, after just speaking with Actinic support the answer was sorry we cant help. Surely it would be in Actinic interest to have someone there that can use a Mac as they are getting more popular and given there more web/graphics orientated.

**g11ary** · 07-Jul-2008, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by chris ashdown View Post

They do have a loyalty scheme for Actinic users, just join the support and every year you get a discount

I have been subscribing to Actinic for 3-4 years and Im aware of there loyalty scheme but I was enquiring about have a loyalty scheme built in Actinic for users to offer there customers

**RuralWeb** · 07-Jul-2008, 08:48 PM

I think comparing apple support to actinic support is a bit extreme the two companies are very different in terms of resources.

**g11ary** · 08-Jul-2008, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by RuralWeb View Post

I think comparing apple support to actinic support is a bit extreme the two companies are very different in terms of resources.

I understand the difference an appreciate they could never have the budget, but they must be able to do emails with tips etc, even my accountant much smaller company than Actinic do this.
An email type news letter tips of the week would help us lesser tech guys and poss new customers use Actinic better increase sales to new customers that would not have the confidence to try it themselves and might even free up board space

**RuralWeb** · 08-Jul-2008, 01:50 PM

tips of the week

Agreed but most of thier effort is being directed to the knowledge base at the moment which after much forum discussion we mostly agreed that that was the best place to put effort.

Im sat in actinic towers now testing 9.0.3 for them so they are imo doing all they can to sort the software out and support users so well done there. Every company can do more agreed but its down to resources - I could put out emails etc to my clients but i dont.

actinic offer free 30 days telephone support to new users which is more than most other ecommerce software suppliers do so many people use that to the max to get thier site sorted very quickly - now that imo is much better than a video as they will give you detailed advice that relates exactly to your site.

**chris ashdown** · 08-Jul-2008, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by RuralWeb View Post

Im sat in actinic towers now testing 9.0.3 for them .

Mal

Sitting in the great tower, getting paid great bundles of booty, taken out to local bistro's and spending rest of time on forum

Gee what a great life

**RuralWeb** · 08-Jul-2008, 02:12 PM

spending rest of time on forum

Yes - uploads still take time - 0.3 is not that fast yet

Announcement

More features

More features

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment