[AlanG]

given the proposed changes to the gig forum I think its only needed because the calendar system isnt being used.

I want to use this thread to highlight some parts of the system that work, that dont and maybe some ways to improve them. Anyone else please add in. Remember this forum isnt just about complaining about UGS its looking at ways to improve UGS.

What is the calendar for?

The calendar is a central store of events affecting the UGS community.

How is the calendar being utilised?

currently anyone who has entered a birthday in their user profile has this added to the calendar. Additionally any user can add in events such as gigs (what it is primarily used for)

How is the data in the calendar being utilised?

Birthdays: peoples birthdays and ages are displayed in a box at the bottom of the main screen where other users can see them.

Gigs: the headline entered in gig details is displayed in a "7 days upcoming events" box at the bottom of the screen in chronological order.

How else can you view the data?

Going into the calendar system itself allows you to see the upcoming events BUT:
if there are a few birthdays it displays "4 birthdays" when on monthly view (the default) and only about 15characters from the start of an event title at the default monthly screen. The only way to access the full data is to click on an event or switch to weekly view.

How much is the system being used?

not very much, wether this is through ignorance of the calendar system or because people dont like the system is unclear. To try and encourage use I will propose some changes to the calendar system, some are complicated, some are easy. Some would have a lot of benefit, others barely any noticable. Because of this like all suggestions to improve UGS prioritisation is the key.

Suggested Improvements/enhancements.

Default View

Either change from monthly to weekly view OR
modify the monthly view panel to show more text, perhaps change monthly so it looks more like weekly? Or just increase the size of the panel boxes similar to YABB default.

Linking to gig forum.

If a system such as the one suggested by smack is implemented try and find a script to rip the original posts from gig threads and automatically add the data to the calendar.

this way post
[10/12/2004][westie][green day]
with text
"green day are playing westie, its 14+ and only costs 3 pounds" can be auto added to the calendar and updated when the details change such as to:

"apologies, green day have pulled its now only going to be metallica, sorry for dissapointment".

Encouragement of use of calendar
even if the previous suggestion was unworkable, bring in a weekly mail out of all the upcoming events (for say next two weeks) ONLY if these are in the calendar. That way people are encouraged to use the calendar to promote their event, or if being added to gig forum auto adds them it will concatonate all events publicised on the site.

Any feedback, suggestions to modify, whinging that these are bad etc, please keep to the thread.

Please keep all suggestions constructive, this is about improving UGS