Ignite

Based on feedback provided by our auctioneers and other recent events, we upgraded Ignite early this morning to introduce new functions and changes.

1. Faster image gallery uploads

2. Grid-style gallery organizer

3. Property Information Package Tracker module improvements

4. Removal of Scribd iPaper

Faster image gallery uploads

We received feedback from auctioneers who explained that the image gallery uploads were taking too long. The process was originally set up as follows:

• Upload image 1
• Create thumbnails for image 1
• Store image 1 and its thumbnails
• Upload image 2
• Create thumbnails for image 2
• Store image 2 and its thumbnails
• etc.

Compared with the old AuctionServices.com auction calendar (which only created one thumbnail for each image), this process of resizing and creating multiple thumbnails for each image was more time consuming, especially for large galleries. The workaround was previously to let the upload continue in one browser window (or tab) and continue working in another. While this workaround does still apply, we changed the process to expedite image uploads as follows

• Upload image 1
• Upload image 2 AND start creating the image 1 thumbnails in the background
• Upload image 3 AND continue creating image thumbnails for images 1 and 2
• etc.

This should provide a much quicker upload process for the auctioneer as all images are now thumbnailed and resized in the background.

Grid-style gallery organizer

The existing ability to re-arrange (or re-order) image galleries via drag-and-drop actions on the edit screen still exists; however, there is now an additional choice for “Order Images Only”. This new choice shows the entire image gallery in a thumbnail grid instead of a vertically stacked list. It does not allow image deletion or caption editing; but based on feedback from auctioneers, this style of re-arranging the order of images in galleries will allow for much faster re-sorting of images. This especially applies for batches of images that are uploaded as additions to existing galleries.

Property Information Package Tracker module improvements

The Property Information Package tracking system used by our auctioneers also received some great feedback! In addition to its existing funcationality, it  now includes additional capabilities. Using the new features, you can elect to turn on an approval system for document viewing. This will allow auctioneers to pre-approve who is able to view the documents prior to allowing them access to the documents.

Removal of Scribd iPaper

Due to a policy enforcement change at Scribd, we are discontinuing the inclusion of Scribd’s digital paper service with Ignite.

1. Uploaded documents will continue to be available to your sites’ visitors in the original format they were uploaded in. For example, if you upload a Microsoft Word document, the original Word document will be downloaded.
2. We do encourage all customers to use platform- and software-neutral file formats, such as PDF, for document uploads.
3. We understand that some auctioneers liked the digital paper preview, so we are actively evaluating alternative digital paper solutions as replacements.

More information will be forthcoming as we research various other options as a replacement

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With the exception of the Scribd iPaper change, these features and changes were brought about by feedback from auctioneers, so please keep the feedback coming (whether it be positive or negative) and know that we are listening! Thank you for providing us the vital information we need to improve our products to serve you better.

Best regards,

– The AuctionServices.com Team

P.S. As a token of our appreciation for taking the time to review this update, please accept our offer of 50% off of your next NAL Newsletter Ad. Click here to place your order and use the following coupon code at checkout: HALFNAL (offer expires 11/3/2009. Limit of ten discounted ads total and one discounted ad per customer). Please bookmark this site to stay current on Ignite updates and other information.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm and is filed under Ignite Auction Suite, Product Updates, new features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.