Comments for Zoho Blogs http://blogs.zoho.com Online Office Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:08:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Arvind http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-148645 Arvind Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:31:09 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-148645 Tim : Thanks a lot for your suggestions and appreciation! We'll sure have your points in mind when we rework on the Tasks module. Tim : Thanks a lot for your suggestions and appreciation! We’ll sure have your points in mind when we rework on the Tasks module.

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Tim K http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-148315 Tim K Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:32:32 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-148315 Arvind, I agree with David that the option of entering comments on a task should be automatic - you shouldn't have to save then go back to enter comments. Usually, the tasker cannot express a task completely with only a title. You almost always have to give extra detail to the taskee. I'm very glad you at least added the capability - I almost considered finding another product because of the lack of the ability to attach notes. I think the current implementation of having to mouseover the "doc" icon to see the note is good, but I also agree that it's not very clear when there is a note attached. I suggest the following: On the left you already have a list of icons that appear when the task is moused over - one to edit the task, one to move it, and one to delete it. You could move the "doc" icon here too. If a task has a note attached to it, you could display a note-like icon on the right of the task. If there is a document attached, show the usual paper clip icon. If a forum is associated, show a unique icon for that. These icons would be always visible - not only when moused over. The note would display when mousing over the note icon, the title of the document would display when mousing over the document icon (and a link to download) and the title of the forum and a link to it would display when mousing over the forum icon. Alternatively, you could combine the "doc" icon into the pencil icon. When the user clicks the pencil icon to edit the task, they're shown the main tab which has the task name, task comment, and the advanced options below. There would be separate tabs to attach a document or a forum. I'd be happy to discuss the improvements over the phone if you'd like. I'm building a very visual product myself and find it fun to think through UI. I've just started to use Zoho projects - I'm sure I'll have more comments :) But, by and large, you have a great product at a great price. Thanks! Tim Arvind,

I agree with David that the option of entering comments on a task should be automatic - you shouldn’t have to save then go back to enter comments. Usually, the tasker cannot express a task completely with only a title. You almost always have to give extra detail to the taskee. I’m very glad you at least added the capability - I almost considered finding another product because of the lack of the ability to attach notes.

I think the current implementation of having to mouseover the “doc” icon to see the note is good, but I also agree that it’s not very clear when there is a note attached.

I suggest the following:

On the left you already have a list of icons that appear when the task is moused over - one to edit the task, one to move it, and one to delete it. You could move the “doc” icon here too.

If a task has a note attached to it, you could display a note-like icon on the right of the task. If there is a document attached, show the usual paper clip icon. If a forum is associated, show a unique icon for that. These icons would be always visible - not only when moused over. The note would display when mousing over the note icon, the title of the document would display when mousing over the document icon (and a link to download) and the title of the forum and a link to it would display when mousing over the forum icon.

Alternatively, you could combine the “doc” icon into the pencil icon. When the user clicks the pencil icon to edit the task, they’re shown the main tab which has the task name, task comment, and the advanced options below. There would be separate tabs to attach a document or a forum.

I’d be happy to discuss the improvements over the phone if you’d like. I’m building a very visual product myself and find it fun to think through UI. I’ve just started to use Zoho projects - I’m sure I’ll have more comments :) But, by and large, you have a great product at a great price. Thanks!

Tim

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Arvind http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-147845 Arvind Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:13:28 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-147845 Naor : Thanks for the feedback. We'll check the GCal issue here & find out if something's wrong on our side. Regarding documents in tasks, nice suggestions which we'll try to implement. We'll have a new category 'Other Documents' where you can associate documents outside your Zoho Projects account. For now, you can use the 'Notes' area for giving the external document details. David : Each task has an 'Advanced Options' area which should ideally have the Notes, Documents & Discussions. We tried this first but couldn't get the UI to our satisfaction as there were already so many options listed there (Start/End Dates, Duration, Priority, % Completed, Send Email Notification). However, we will try once again in having all the details shown in the task drill down. Thanks for your suggestion! Naor : Thanks for the feedback. We’ll check the GCal issue here & find out if something’s wrong on our side. Regarding documents in tasks, nice suggestions which we’ll try to implement. We’ll have a new category ‘Other Documents’ where you can associate documents outside your Zoho Projects account. For now, you can use the ‘Notes’ area for giving the external document details.

David : Each task has an ‘Advanced Options’ area which should ideally have the Notes, Documents & Discussions. We tried this first but couldn’t get the UI to our satisfaction as there were already so many options listed there (Start/End Dates, Duration, Priority, % Completed, Send Email Notification). However, we will try once again in having all the details shown in the task drill down. Thanks for your suggestion!

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by David http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-147781 David Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:49:27 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-147781 I do not think the current task management in projects is up to snuff usability wise, in fact to be honest it is not good and is a far cry from the good task management in Zoho CRM. For so many reasons. Intuitively, one wants to click on a task to drill down into it. Not possible. When you create a task you want to add notes to is. Not possible. Instead I have to create and save the task. Only THEN can I click on an obscure little icon that allows me to add documents or notes. Many users won't even realize there are notes or documents associated with the task. All a user should have to do is click on a task and they should then see notes, documents etc. I could go on, but I hope to see huge improvements in Zoho Projects usability, to bring it in line with the usability of Zoho CRM. Thank You I do not think the current task management in projects is up to snuff usability wise, in fact to be honest it is not good and is a far cry from the good task management in Zoho CRM. For so many reasons. Intuitively, one wants to click on a task to drill down into it. Not possible. When you create a task you want to add notes to is. Not possible. Instead I have to create and save the task. Only THEN can I click on an obscure little icon that allows me to add documents or notes. Many users won’t even realize there are notes or documents associated with the task. All a user should have to do is click on a task and they should then see notes, documents etc.

I could go on, but I hope to see huge improvements in Zoho Projects usability, to bring it in line with the usability of Zoho CRM.

Thank You

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Naor http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-147726 Naor Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:23:49 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-147726 Great additions, i'm just in a process of transforming a small design firm to work with web based tools and zoho is one of my first choices. several things though : 1. I've used the gcal like and for some reason it put a whole day event titled "busy" on my gcal - is it a bug? or this is the new feature? 2. Using the documents in tasks etc. is very useful, but they have several issues which I would love to know how to overcome: a. a design company which works with very large files, simply can't handle a web based file storage for daily use b. they are little bit concerned re. having the documents stored outside of the company c. many of their outside/outsourcing partners use gdocs, so the documents actually reside on another web based file system is there a way where instead of uploading the files into Zoho projects, to create a link to the local file store, or to gdocs document? i know they can always craft the url by hand (file://.. or cut&paste the gdocs url) but i really would love to have in the upload file dialog the ability to just "create a link" or to put a URL there for external docs, while keeping all the rest of the functionality (task->docs assignment etc.) in place. (yes, they know that in this way, they will not have external access to the files, but that's ok with them) thnx, Naor Great additions, i’m just in a process of transforming a small design firm to work with web based tools and zoho is one of my first choices.
several things though :
1. I’ve used the gcal like and for some reason it put a whole day event titled “busy” on my gcal - is it a bug? or this is the new feature?
2. Using the documents in tasks etc. is very useful, but they have several issues which I would love to know how to overcome:
a. a design company which works with very large files, simply can’t handle a web based file storage for daily use
b. they are little bit concerned re. having the documents stored outside of the company
c. many of their outside/outsourcing partners use gdocs, so the documents actually reside on another web based file system

is there a way where instead of uploading the files into Zoho projects, to create a link to the local file store, or to gdocs document? i know they can always craft the url by hand (file://.. or cut&paste the gdocs url) but i really would love to have in the upload file dialog the ability to just “create a link” or to put a URL there for external docs, while keeping all the rest of the functionality (task->docs assignment etc.) in place.
(yes, they know that in this way, they will not have external access to the files, but that’s ok with them)

thnx,
Naor

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Arvind http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-147555 Arvind Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:05:23 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-147555 Dusty : Click on the 'Task Actions' icon that's to the right of any task. You will get a pop-up with three tabs - 'Add Notes', 'Associate Forums' & 'Associate Documents'. Choose the appropriate tab & associate tasks or forums to a task. Dusty : Click on the ‘Task Actions’ icon that’s to the right of any task. You will get a pop-up with three tabs - ‘Add Notes’, ‘Associate Forums’ & ‘Associate Documents’. Choose the appropriate tab & associate tasks or forums to a task.

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Dusty http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-147413 Dusty Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:06:36 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-147413 Would love to try associating docs with tasks- but I'm not seeing how to do it? Would love to try associating docs with tasks- but I’m not seeing how to do it?

]]> Comment on How We Recruit - On Formal Credentials vs Experience-based Education by Himanshu Sheth http://blogs.zoho.com/general/how-we-recruit-on-formal-credentials-vs-experience-based-education/#comment-147140 Himanshu Sheth Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:38:34 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/general/how-we-recruit-on-formal-credentials-vs-experience-based-education/#comment-147140 Sridhar, Excellent post.I had seen your interview on Fox News and it went on spreading like a fire on Twitter.As you have mentioned, many people in India[especially startups] feel that having an IITian or IIM'an guy helps.And guess what the reason is "VC's in India still believe that guys who can do something are just these people" :) I have personally experienced this same situation where we talks that if a guy does not fall in that category than HE IS NOT EDUCATED AT ALL :) In fact, for any company [be it startup or a large company]; we just need people are willing to take responsibilities and try something new.At the end of the day, if a person just has a great degree but does not have the FIRE/PASSION in him/her, than (s)he should not be hired just like as Steve Jobs has told "This rotten apple will make the other better apples rotten" :) Waiting for your next article. -Himanshu Sheth [http://thoughtsprevail.blogspot.com] Sridhar,
Excellent post.I had seen your interview on Fox News and it went on spreading like a fire on Twitter.As you have mentioned, many people in India[especially startups] feel that having an IITian or IIM’an guy helps.And guess what the reason is “VC’s in India still believe that guys who can do something are just these people” :) I have personally experienced this same situation where we talks that if a guy does not fall in that category than HE IS NOT EDUCATED AT ALL :)

In fact, for any company [be it startup or a large company]; we just need people are willing to take responsibilities and try something new.At the end of the day, if a person just has a great degree but does not have the FIRE/PASSION in him/her, than (s)he should not be hired just like as Steve Jobs has told “This rotten apple will make the other better apples rotten” :)

Waiting for your next article.

-Himanshu Sheth
[http://thoughtsprevail.blogspot.com]

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Arvind http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-146987 Arvind Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:26:08 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-146987 Tim : Thanks for the nice suggestion! We will try having this in a future update. Tim : Thanks for the nice suggestion! We will try having this in a future update.

]]> Comment on Zoho Projects Update : Multiple Admins, Task - Documents/Forums Mapping etc by Tim http://blogs.zoho.com/general/zoho-projects-update-multiple-admins-task-documentsforums-mapping-etc/#comment-146935 Tim Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:11:25 +0000 http://blogs.zoho.com/?p=2578#comment-146935 Automatically syncing to Google Calendar would be even nicer! Automatically syncing to Google Calendar would be even nicer!

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