topic Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question in Q Talk

@Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Mon, 23 May 2016 20:53:50 GMT

@Beth-QVC I was wondering why a notification to someone else doesn't work sometimes.

For instance, I am trying to notify LisaB about a post I did where I mention her. But when I put the @ in front of LisaB, it doesn't work.

She posted something in the Today's Special Value that I thought was funny and I referred to it in post #163 in the Travel Chat thread in Among Friends. When I notify/respond to her in the initial thread about LUG's TSV, it works fine; but when I try to use her nickname in another thread, it not only doesn't pop up as a possibility, it doesn't let me use it at all.

What am I doing incorrectly?

Thanks for any help you can give in this regard.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

Melvin-QVC — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:17:47 GMT

@World Traveler you are doing it the correct way. I'm not showing LisaB as a user. Is that the correct spelling? If you will go to a post that she wrote and @ me I can see her name and the correct spelling. That will help me out a lot.

Melvin, QVC

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:29:21 GMT

@Melvin-QVC Yes, I got it right, but I will go over to that post and notify you.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Mon, 23 May 2016 21:32:37 GMT

@Melvin-QVC Oh, I just thought....she might wonder why I am posting to a Moderator. Don't want anyone to think I am notifying a moderator because of something they have said, wanting their post to be deleted.

Can you please just go over to the forum for Today's Special Value and check the recent posting about today's special on LUG. She is the one who started the thread.....LisaB.

I don't want to alarm her or the other posters.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Sat, 28 May 2016 19:48:07 GMT

@Melvin-QVC Still waiting.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Sun, 29 May 2016 04:51:04 GMT

Greetings, @World Traveler! I think I can try to explain what the problem appears to be. The "@ + nickname" system has some limitations.

One known limitation is the problem with any name containing a space. (As an example, yours still inactivates itself if I type any characters after it -- it switches from an active notification to plain text... so you're missing notifications because of the space.)

The next limitation involves multiple "hits" in the user file. If the person isn't posting on the current thread, I believe the notification software tries to scan the usernames. Then, the pop-up menu of a few choices represents the first ones with close matches from that user file.

If you'll go up to the search box in the forums and type in "LisaB," and then change the search area from "Community" to "Users," you'll see the list as the software sees it.

Here's a link to the search results, to save time:

http://community.qvc.com/t5/forums/searchpage/tab/user?q=LisaB

There are so many potential matches... I have a feeling unless @LisaB is posting on the current thread there's no way the system is going to provide the correct name to you. (I had to do a search of the "Community" for a post containing her name, go to one of the threads, and copy/paste the nickname here to add it to this conversation.)

If that was clear as mud, let me know! I'm not sure I explained it well. The notifications are a great addition to the forums, but I doubt they'll ever work out these glitches.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Sun, 29 May 2016 17:35:36 GMT

@dooBdoo LOL! Well, the mud is still a little murky for me but I really appreciate you taking the time to post. I will check out the link you gave. Thanks!

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Sun, 29 May 2016 17:42:13 GMT

@dooBdoo What seems really strange to me on this is that I have been able to bring up other people's nicknames in threads where they have not posted, without any problems, especially in the Travel Chat thread in Among Friends. And since hers does not have a space or two in her nickname like mine does, that is what confuses me as to why it wouldn't work.

Oh, well......

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Mon, 30 May 2016 00:24:38 GMT

@World Traveler wrote:
@dooBdoo What seems really strange to me on this is that I have been able to bring up other people's nicknames in threads where they have not posted, without any problems, especially in the Travel Chat thread in Among Friends. And since hers does not have a space or two in her nickname like mine does, that is what confuses me as to why it wouldn't work.

Oh, well......

@ @World Traveler, As I said, the limitations don't just involve a space in the nickname -- another big problem is those names with so many similar ones in the user file. There are 4 pages of nicknames with the character string "LisaB." When we type the "@" and a few letters, all the software can to is try to find some kind of match in the user file... and in this case, there are too many.

If you'll provide the nickname you have been able to choose, even when they're not posting on the thread, we could look and see if we can figure out the difference.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Mon, 30 May 2016 13:55:48 GMT

@dooBdoo For instance, in the first post I did in Travel Chat, a few of the names that I entered to notify them of the new thread were: NAES, Juniebugz, and itsmagic. (I purposely didn't put the @ in this thread so they don't get notified now.)

But when I put the @ sign in Travel Chat, every one of their nicknames were highlighted the way they should be. Since mine was the first post, none of these three people were from a dropdown, but they were still notified.

So I would think that I would be able to put anyone's name in and them receive the notification, at least those without any space in their nickname.

I appreciate your efforts to help me, and so sorry if I'm not understanding what you are trying to make me understand. LOL!!!

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

stevieb — Mon, 30 May 2016 16:26:20 GMT

No drop down notification list has been coming up for me in IE for weeks. I emailed QVC using the feedback link and heard nothing... Clearly, they've been 'enhancing'... our web experience yet again... The product side of the website has also undergone a number of recent changes, none of which are improvmements. It's really too bad that website transitions around here are never seamless. Far from it.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Mon, 30 May 2016 22:50:03 GMT

@World Traveler, The easiest way to explain it: When we type the "@" sign the software says -- "Aha! They want to find a user nickname!"

Then, when we start typing letters the software goes over to the user file and tries to do a search. The same way we can search "Users" in the search box at the top of the page.

I think if there's only one user that matches what we type, the software can find it. Or if there are just a few that seem to match, the software can find it. But if there are many nicknames that even seem to match, the software isn't sophisticated enough to look for exact matches. So, the end result is: sometimes it will work, other times it will not. That's a terrible answer, right?

@stevieb, I've seen other reports of the "@" not providing a pop-up. It's been evident for a long time that IE is not really compatible with this site. I don't think that will change, since IE is being phased out and very little support provided (resources going to development and support of its replacement, Microsoft Edge). I agree, the software here was modified on or about 5/19/16 and there's been a mess since then. Even more of a mess than the usual one...

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

wildcat fan — Mon, 30 May 2016 22:55:46 GMT

I think the Notifications function has always been wonky. I find that the number of notifications usually doesn't match my actual number of unchecked notifications even though my screen has been refreshed.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

stevieb — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:04:21 GMT

@dooBdoo wrote:

@          @World Traveler, The easiest way to explain it:   When we type the "@" sign the software says -- "Aha! They want to find a user nickname!"

          Then, when we start typing letters the software goes over to the user file and tries to do a search.    The same way we can search "Users" in the search box at the top of the page.

          I think if there's only one user that matches what we type, the software can find it.   Or if there are just a few that seem to match, the software can find it.    But if there are many nicknames that even seem to match, the software isn't sophisticated enough to look for exact matches.   So, the end result is:   sometimes it will work, other times it will not.   That's a terrible answer, right?

          @stevieb, I've seen other reports of the "@" not providing a pop-up.   It's been evident for a long time that IE is not really compatible with this site. I don't think that will change, since IE is being phased out and very little support provided (resources going to development and support of its replacement, Microsoft Edge).   I agree, the software here was modified on or about 5/19/16 and there's been a mess since then.   Even more of a mess than the usual one...

@dooBdoo Hi and hope all is good with you... I had switched to IE because at the time I was having Chrome issues... And for weeks, both the retail side of the site and the forums worked quite well using IE but then, as you note, they did something... and kaput... So I'm back to Chrome, but it never ceases to strike me as ludicrous that we so often have to match browsers to this ridiculous excuse for a website !!

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:16:23 GMT

@wildcat fan wrote:
I think the Notifications function has always been wonky. I find that the number of notifications usually doesn't match my actual number of unchecked notifications even though my screen has been refreshed.

@wildcat fan, Yes, it's always been wonky, hasn't it. I'm glad it's offered as a feature, though. It's really useful.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:19:00 GMT

@stevieb wrote:

@dooBdoo Hi and hope all is good with you... I had switched to IE because at the time I was having Chrome issues... And for weeks, both the retail side of the site and the forums worked quite well using IE but then, as you note, they did something... and kaput... So I'm back to Chrome, but it never ceases to strike me as ludicrous that we so often have to match browsers to this ridiculous excuse for a website !!

Hi, @stevieb! Things are okay... thanks for asking! I so agree with you! The hoops we have to jump through just to use this website are pretty outrageous, but after all these years I think we know there will be little improvement. This site limps along. Hope all is well with you. Have a great evening!

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

World Traveler — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:38:07 GMT

@dooBdoo Oh, I see. Sometimes it takes me a while to understand what someone is saying. LOL! But the way you put it this time, I know what you are saying. Pardon me, but sometimes it takes a few times of hitting my head with something before the information sinks in.

Thanks for sticking to it and FINALLY making me see the light. ha! You should be paid by QVC for helping people like me out.

Re: @Beth-QVC - Notification Question

dooBdoo — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:41:10 GMT

@World Traveler wrote:
@dooBdoo Oh, I see. Sometimes it takes me a while to understand what someone is saying. LOL! But the way you put it this time, I know what you are saying. Pardon me, but sometimes it takes a few times of hitting my head with something before the information sinks in.

Thanks for sticking to it and FINALLY making me see the light. ha!

Oh, it's okay, World Traveler. I've had years of programming, systems design/analysis, IT support, and all that jazz... so sometimes I can try to think the way the software thinks. My pleasure to try and make sense of this wonky website! Take care, and have a nice evening!