iraf.net

While fun, does there really [i:9147006155]need[/i:9147006155] a Dilbert cartoon on the front? Or support for IRAF "stories"? How many would actually have anyone who wants to read them? I also think the site is confusing to navigate. If going for the 3-column design... the left column for navigation as much as possible. On the main page alone there are four seperate menu lists in four different locations (User function, Topics, Main menu, and other one across top). I suggest there be a "catch-all" forum for random people to report bugs -- no matter how small. I just submitted a very tiny doc error into the Misc forum since there wasn't one that seemed to fit right. A good portion of the traffic I would think would come to the site would also have some minor problem to report but maybe not the time, desire, or know-how to fix.Jason

Hi Jason,Thanks for the feedback.[quote:97abdf7403]While fun, does there really need a Dilbert cartoon on the front?[/quote:97abdf7403]We don't [i:97abdf7403]need[/i:97abdf7403] to have much more that a static web page with links to announcements and an email address, but that wasn't a very popular format for the iraf.noao.edu site either. I like the Dilbert, if you don't you can disable it from the [i:97abdf7403]Preferences[/i:97abdf7403] panel under [i:97abdf7403]User Functions[/i:97abdf7403].[quote:97abdf7403]Or support for IRAF "stories"? How many would actually have anyone who wants to read them?[/quote:97abdf7403]"Stories" is the model of the underlying CMS system used here, I could just as easily call them 'articles' or 'announcements' but the original idea is that a lot more of that content would be coming from outside contributors. As for who would read them, you can see for yourself how many times each 'thing' has been read.[quote:97abdf7403]I also think the site is confusing to navigate. If going for the 3-column design... the left column for navigation as much as possible. On the main page alone there are four seperate menu lists in four different locations (User function, Topics, Main menu, and other one across top).[/quote:97abdf7403]Part personal preference, part "that's how this system does it". I personally hate scrolling down a long navigation bar when most of what I need is the new stuff at the top anyway. Things like the ATel go away off the front page and for things like docs (which still need work, I know) as much of the screen space is available as needed.[quote:97abdf7403]I suggest there be a "catch-all" forum for random people to report bugs -- no matter how small. I just submitted a very tiny doc error into the Misc forum since there wasn't one that seemed to fit right.[/quote:97abdf7403]I've renamed the 'General' forum 'General IRAF', and expanded the summary, since that was the original intent of the group. 'Misc' also works, but having too many groups to start is also not a good thing and we can always add more if needed (e.g. a special-topic Mac or PyRAF forum if there is demand).
The doc change you submitted has been fixed for the next release, thanks.Again, thanks for the feedback.-Mike

This is a small thing, but it caused me to spend a chunk of time hunting around on the site trying to figure out what the story was.Visit: http://iraf.noao.edu/
and observe right there on the front page it says
Current IRAF V2.12 / X11IRAF V1.3 Releases...

But then check the FAQ there at
http://iraf.noao.edu/faq/FAQsec01.html#1010
and it says V2.11.3 is the thingWhat about iraf.net?
Its got V2.13 at the top of its download page!It seems like there is a lot of information at http://iraf.noao.edu/ that is now duplicated _more_ _currently_ at iraf.net and that this information should be removed and users forced to detour to iraf.net as soon as possible. There's actually some friction there, because iraf.net requires a login, (and somehow noao.edu appears more authoritative) so early users tend to spend time trying to work with one set of information first, only to backtrack to iraf.net later.Thanks for listening. -Keith

Thanks for the feedback.[quote:0ea01f42a4]
Visit: http://iraf.noao.edu/
and observe right there on the front page it says
Current IRAF V2.12 / X11IRAF V1.3 Releases...But then check the FAQ there at
http://iraf.noao.edu/faq/FAQsec01.html#1010
and it says V2.11.3 is the thingWhat about iraf.net?
Its got V2.13 at the top of its download page!
[/quote:0ea01f42a4]Starting Jan 1, 2006 NOAO officially dropped support for IRAF and the noao.edu webpage was essentially frozen. [b:0ea01f42a4]This[/b:0ea01f42a4] site however continued development/support and so we've got a newer version and changed the FAQ.As the main story says, IRAF development at NOAO has partially resumed and that will likely mean the web page there will get looked at again and V2.14 will become the 'official' release. While the distributions may soon be coming from iraf.noao.edu again, but this site will likely remain the means of support for the forseeable future. Logins are only required for posting in order to keep the spam out. In any case, sorry you had to hunt around.Cheers,
-Mike[/quote]