User:Hollowness/UCP Wishlist

''For my reference an A to Z Wishlist for UCP and beyond. Some suggestions and criticisms.''

'Bugs, issues and loading times need to get under control first. But after I hope staff consider the following to UCP.'

Update Dec 8, 2020. ''Migrated today. Spent most of the day fixing little things that were incompatible but most was manageable or I was assisted by CS and helpful users on CC. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be but I was among some of the last to migrate so many many fixes have already happened. I have 3 major things that I will always dislike and would love to be fixed/changed:''


 * Double editing choices at each header. I only edit in source and always accidentally click the wrong one.
 * Double scrolling in Source Mode. Scrolling to find the publish or preview buttons is hella annoying.
 * Missing MultipleUploads. The drop file in the editor is unhelpful for changing names easily, adding categories to images is impossible when dropping in editor, and when uploading for multiple articles it's just inconvenient and tedious. Edit: MultiUpload Script Available.

Update Dec 21, 2020. Some more noted issues, not ready to ticket because they are probably being worked on plus holidays I'll wait till 2021:
 * In creating a new blog even with Source Editor as preferred editor it defaults to Visual - Source (you can change it but only after it has loaded Visual - Source). On top of that you cannot preview Blogs when creating them.
 * When longer headers TOC Right it will run off page.
 * Cannot see categories in preview mode.
 * Weird infobox behavior, not showing random fields that are filled out, takes work-a-round re-edits to finally show and it is not user error.

Articles
Adding more ways for article participation— even if it is mostly just with viewers.
 * Add favorites/bookmarks similar to following but on a visible list for other users to see (star or heart Icon, this article is followed by ## users displayed)
 * Re-add Following for non-article pages but not visible to other users (templates, etc.) helpful for actual editors (Special:WatchList is apparently the new Following but I haven't had a chance to experience it much yet).
 * Edit: Ok, WatchList is horrible there is no filtering after 30 days, I need of ALL TIME!
 * Add ranking option to articles (5 star rating preferred, this article is ranked _ out of 5 or 10 by ##users), no login required.

Blogs
Although Wikia/Fandom wasn't meant to be a blog site if Blogs were improved enough to compete with blog sites under a wiki of the topic it could encourage new editors and community member growth.
 * Better url/page Names (User blog:UserName/Title Here) looks sloppy in categories (even if it was UserName Blog:Title Here would be and improvement).
 * Displayed better in categories (Title Here by UserName), separate from articles.
 * Blog pages with a profile summary displayed so you know/find out some details on the User (like in a right or left column).
 * Other blogs from user displayed in left/right side bar or bottom of the page (categorized by date or category tag).
 * Admin announcement/news blogs. Different from User blogs no profile summary would be needed. Option to announce (in Notifications) to users on news and updates on the Wiki.

Customization
This already has been promised but to elaborate.
 * More themes, skins, etc. to desktop view.
 * Mobile view customizations.
 * Option to force desktop view on wiki or select pages in mobile view (let's face it some pages will never be the blanketed mobile view friendly- so lets not let that be a blank/broken page).
 * Hide from mobile view wikitext, some things just do not translate at all the same way to mobile view but are ideal if not crucial for desktop view and simply no way to mimic in mobile view. Or something like a spoiler banner if you have a section that forces desktop view instead of having to view the whole page in desktop view.

Discussions
A horrible attempt to be like reddit. First as long as discussions are random numbers we will be more likely to be bypassed and omitted by web crawlers and never compete with reddit type threads. It lacks search, organization is laughable and I cannot simply navigate easily like I once did in a forum environment.
 * Bring back thread titles in url addresses (remove #url addresses).
 * Bring back some sort of forum top navigation, recent posts and popular posts feeds.
 * Bring back Search!? how does one search anymore... ✓
 * Have search within the Discussions page.

Extensions
More platform extensions (referred as Wiki Features, you took away polls... what are we getting instead?).
 * Tag Feature, I remember asking for tags on top of Categories and was told it wouldn't happen because it is pretty much the same thing. But tags for a filtering search option without being a category would be great for a larger database wiki (example: filter- ✓male, ✓villain, ✓deceased or ✓vegan, ✓gluten free, ✓Mexican food). Having tags invisible to the viewer might be best to stop the confusion or over lap between categories and tags.
 * Turn off the Double Editing options on article headings. Besides it is ugly as sin and takes up more space (and that should be ENOUGH reason), one would think most edits have their preferred editing chosen because they prefer to edit in 1 mode and not change it up once in a while (unless one who usually doesn't edit in source mode has to- to do the editing required? Even then that is why articles have the drop down menu...).

Featured Content
It would be nice if Editors or Admins could have a dashboard for Featuring a Video, Article, Image, etc. to show in fan feed or it's own rail section.

Get Us More Editors
Some topics do not need help but other's do- on getting the word out and advertising. On less obvious topics (ex. Lifestyle wikis) that have millions who are fans of the topic itself but Wikis aren't on their radar (maybe being overlooked for blog platforms, other platforms or Youtube instead) this could be something to try to get in the market for. Many wikis need the support of Fandom to convince and show people Wikis are not just for popular games, tv series and movies. This might mean collaborations (with brands, other planforms, etc.) and/or improving wiki blogs and wiki community tools. Make Wikis a one stop place of a fan topic or a profound compliment to another platform to pair with.

Helpers
There are a lot of helpful and friendly volunteers but most do not help beyond CC. If there could be some sort of incentive program for cross-wiki helper volunteers (from proof reading to template or CSS help). Showing that being an All Star Helper Volunteer is worth going beyond CC and could be paramount. Like having points or ranking to start and maybe similar to what was Editor of the Month- Helper of the Month.

Image Uploading ✓
I'd love to be able to drop 10-100 files to be uploaded instead of selecting each individually. Or at least bring back Special:MultipleUpload without having to be editing in an article. Sometimes in Wikis they have an official rep from the company and they provide official media (official images usually), they have ZERO interest editing but want to help provide official images MAKE THIS EASY FOR THEM! If there is to be continued relationships or starting a relationships with official sources make it easy.

This is almost stupid I want to throw things I can't stand the only in editor uploading. I can't use the Image Category script so after uploading I have to manually add categories to these images. The MultipleUpload use to automatically capitalize the first letter when uploading so I am fixing that to keep my consistency. And worst I drop the files do my edits and save forgetting to upload them- I could almost hurt the person who created this feature if I ever met them...

I have to have MultipleUpload back for my sanity.

Edit: MultiUpload Script Available.

Java Script
It would be great if this was improved and allowed more.

Scripts are having so many issues in UCP, I can't even get the WikiActivity scrip to work, which I cant stand recent changes when I just want an overview snapshot.

Kick The Bad Habits
One thing that seems to very much upset people is the feeling of not being heard or not to be asked first. Taking away and changing things without even getting our feedback first. It is like you are doing whatever you want then hoping for forgiveness later. It may not be the case, but many people feel that way and that is a trend with Fandom and I think is a habit fandom should kick.

Lifestyle Expanse
This was suppose to be team that is working on brand strategy and organization for Lifestyle in 2020 but covid put it on ice. I'd love this to resume.

Messaging

 * Notifications to include Zendesk responses (for some reason I only can manually check Zendesk or my email to see if I get a response but why? I am on Wiki more than my email).
 * Staff and/or Admin PM system, PMs for admins and/or staff can be very helpful to some communities. PM's through third party platforms is annoying IMO.

Notifications

 * Notifications should have it's own page with the top right corner as a quick preview of notifications.

Organization
I feel this can't be stressed enough UCP just seems less organized and not User friendly. Edit: Better feeds for example, for discussions, blogs, comment activity and not as RecentChanges tab. Either rss feeds or wiki rails.

Profiles
Profiles have been dumbed down when it should have been expanded IMO. No, it is not important to know one's gender nor location but sometimes people don't like to be called the opposite gender they are. Make optional of course: And for fun to make profiles more personable and show us what we are FANS of:
 * Keep gender, location, date of birth, favourite wikis, etc.
 * Add languages spoken, including primary language (some people are cruelly rude to people who have English as a second language maybe this will show some much needed patience and tolerance).
 * Save 2-4 avatars you commonly use and change to, instead of reuploading each time especially when you get error messages. Or assign different avatars to different Wikis (or even up to 3 different avatars for 3 different wikis?).
 * Avatar size on comments sections 26x26 is really too small 40x40 to 50x50, is more ideal.
 * A mood field, one of my favourite little things I use in a blog site over 15 years ago.
 * Favourite colour or colours.
 * Favourite book.
 * Favourite movie.
 * I am listening to... music field.
 * I am watching... tv series field. (linking to that tv series Wiki option)
 * I am playing... game field. (linking to that games Wiki option)

Quality
If one thing a lot of people at least feel, there isn't quality in UCP, there seems to be a quantity and status quo theme and Fandom has been lacking in quality to it's users. If this is not true or not your intent- don't tell us; show us.

Ranking Reports Improved ✓
WAM (MisterWoodhouse confirmed this will be reworked), Wiki Analytics Admin Dashboard (Kirkburn confirmed this will be reworked), Insights, etc. all could be improved and expanded.

Show Who's Online
Show who's online with an option to show one's self offline of course.

Top Navigation
This really needs to be expanded and improved. Some Wiki topics are a Parent Topic or Theme with possible ever-expansions. If you think of a Gaming Wiki and suddenly another instalment makes it a gaming series or expands further with App versions of the game or gaming series. Easily, these could be stand alone Wikis with the minimal Navigation we currently have but we want a Parent Wiki but current Navigation does not properly reflect this.
 * Add more rows, columns or an expand option when navigating Navigation.
 * Add Discussions categories to the drop down Navigation.

Uploads

 * Bring back Special:MultipleUpload, I pretty much use it 99% of the time and it is almost never for just 1 article and with my one wiki that is 20,000+ images, imagine how upset you'd be to have to upload 1-5 images per article- instead of when you were use to do up to 20x Special:MultipleUpload for 5-100 articles at a time. ✓ (with Script)
 * Have multiple video upload option.

Video Galleries
I current make my own but they aren't great, I'd really like to see this.

Watch or Silence Users
Some sort of friending or more watching Users who you want to keep an eye on or avoid by silencing (auto hiding their responses from you but you can see if you want to).
 * A feed to watch activity of Users you want to see.
 * A way to avoid toxic users by auto hiding their responses and keeping them on an admin or staff list to see toxic users in a community.
 * Admins able to have an admin watchlist for troublesome users or IP addresses that can be cross-referenced with other Wikis. To find troublesome users who migrate Wikis.

X-Rated Content, Vandals and Spam Reporting
I really wish we could flag images and posts instead of having to find and link to SOAP/VSTF. The first time I saw X-Rated content and didn't know how to report it sat there for quite some time and it plagued the WikiActivity and Images on CC, it was an escort advertisement (a naked woman) with no knowledge on how to report it- I felt Fandom was failing Users. The first time I reported something I saw that SOAP/VSTF member complained that spamming gibberish isn't spam; it is harassment but it was still cleaned up. If that is how you respond to flagging/reporting, why should I report. Make Reporting easier: click post/image -> report -> select reason -> send.

You Are Staff and Not The Typical Editor
This is something that gets my goat. Staff has been accused "Do you even edit the wikis?" and when they say they do and their best example is basically a light or slowburn editor (Quote from here "One of the people making decisions in this project has over 36 thousand edits on their primary community, where they have been an admin for nearly 15 years."), some of us got upset. I did about 10k+ edits on my first Wiki in about a 2 month span, and the best example was about 36k in 15 years, I have done about 200k+ in 10 years with years breaks (and over 100k+ edits in one year on my main wiki) and I think I am just a light to medium high-edit count/mass Editor (and there are more active and better editors than me).

I do not think staff properly conveys nor transcends between staff position and editor position to bypass all other editor type groups. And I have seen staff abandoned wikis (old wiki projects that didn't take off) and staff didn't stay cause they are also wiki editors- they left when the project didn't come to fruition. But that is ok staff should not be required to be editors; not all people go to their work places on days off. I just do not think staff understands editors enough and that is why UCP backlash is as volatile as it has been.

Zendesk Link/Button on Staff Profiles
Staff usually cannot stress enough their Walls are not where to post problems and feedback so maybe just have a direct Zendesk button to link to it on all Staff profiles/walls.