HOME | DD
parallellogic — Groups: Correspondence Items
Published: 2009-08-26 09:08:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 19330; Favourites: 143; Downloads: 147
Redirect to original
Description
Next This is an inside look at how groups function, mostly to answer questions by users who don't know what features will be included or how they will function.
-.- There are probably some pretty gruesome typos in here, I haven't proof-read this just yet, please feel free to point out any you see.
I implore you to ask questions, the more you ask, the more detailed and the more useful I can make this
FAQ:
>> The number of users who can participate in a group (submit art, blogs, favs, etc) is unlimited, even for unsubscribed groups. You do not have to join the group (become a groupie) in order to participate. There is currently a limit of 100 groupies for any unsubscribed group.
>> Correspondence Items, when closed, are removed from the group message center. The system tries to reduce clutter, thus the messages can be seen in the group log if needed for reference purposes
>> Only 2 groups appear in the collections drop down at this time
>> Tips and tricks for changing the search results while searching for artwork to submit to a group can be found here: [link] , "gallery:username" for normal stuff and "gallery:username/*" for everything including scraps =Pyritie
>> There is nowhere where you can currently get a group during this alpha testing phase, you have to be hand chosen by an admin to receive one
Questions and Comments greatly encouraged
Related content
Comments: 239
Thanks for answering, I have been wondering that for awhile!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
is you joined a group that is in approval stage,how long will it take?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
If you get a Correspondence Item and it says it's in the approval stage, then that means the group has set up membership applications to only be accepted once the group approves them. Groups approve membership applications by vote, but that may be one vote or five... it varies from group to group (most groups have automatic acceptance for membership applications, so you're normally a member of the group the moment you apply). The admins in the group need to vote for your membership to be approved or denied. If not enough mods in the group vote, then your membership request will eventually expire without being decided one way or another. The maximum time that a membership request can go unanswered is one month. Thus within one month you will know whether your membership request was approved, denied or was not finalized and thus expired. Other than that, it just depends on the group. The group may list on their blogs how long it will take, but that's fairly uncommon.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh okay I get it now and thanks for the info ;D
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
These tutorials of yours are pretty helpful.
I am not sure if you want us to ask questions in the comments or not, but...
Are the 'sub-folders' only for the super groups (paying groups)?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
To the best of my knowledge, that is correct. I don't own any subbed groups, and I don't see a way to add sub folders in the groups I'm in that are subbed (where I'm a lower admin and likely don't have those privs)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I see. Thank you anyway!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
maybe it's my screen but i doubt it because it's HD.
donno' can't read it very well..
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Have you tried Downloading the image? You may be getting some kind of artifacting if the image isn't full-viewing correctly.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh, silly me.
yes, it was that!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Is there a german version of this excellent walkthrough?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Not that I'm aware of, no. If you find on/make one, please let me know so that I may link to it, thank you
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ok.
I think about it and contact you if something changes.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
So I've been trying to work with my group, and I can't enable some features. I am trying to allow people to join my group, but when someone tries to join they only have the option to join as a co-founder or contributor. How would I be able to allow people to join as a member? Also, how to I allow all my members to submit artwork to the group?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
K Thanks a bunch. I couldn't find it. XD now it works right. :]
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
You seem to be in charge of groups
I had a DA for my dolling magazine but I didn't know I could turn it into a group. Actually I don't know if I could, it wasn't an actual club. So I created an actual group I've got the group set up perfectly but everyone's links are set to . Also, all the magazine's watchers are on there. Is there a way to merge to 2, or rather overwrite with but keep the watchers. Ya know? If this isn't the right place to ask, can you direct me? ^_^
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
~You seem to be in charge of groups
There is no way to merge accounts at this time, the two accounts are distinct entities. Personally, I would suggest letting the #PxT-Magazine account go inactive and convert the ~PxTMagazine when you have the opportunity. In any case, that would allow you to keep the watchers and submissions from the club when you begin using the groups systems. I believe the development staff will eventually look into designing a deactivation function for group accounts much like for personal accounts at which time I would suggest you deactivate the #PxT-Magazine account to avoid confusion. Until then, I would suggest upgrading the club to a group and maintaining the group's operations through the same account as before
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
hi =]
this has helped me alot =]
how do you change the groups avatar?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
XD i figured it out about two minutes ater i asked, i didnt realise it at first because normally i go through 'edit settings' to change my avi.
thank you anyway =]
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Could you tell me please how to add the Groups section at the top of the userpage?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ooh, I see
Thank you for explaining
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm still trying to understand what this group thing is. As I have a club I'd like to convert. But I need to figure out how and what it is.
I've no idea how they're run, lol.
There's so much info about them that you can't gain any.
Pardon the intentional oxi-moron.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I dunno, I jsut woke up and all the info has run together in a big sticky memory-mess in my head.
I'll see if I can sort it out for an actual question. lol
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I know you had mentioned of a application process for starting a group. Do we have to create a separate account to start this group, and who do we submit the application to in order to start a group.
I just started a poll not too long ago asking my watchers if they'd want me to start a Collaboration Group, but appearently I'm fairly new to creating groups or clubs.
All gallery posts who be revolved around art collaborations in which I'd be participating with other DeviantArts or art collaborations in my local community. My group would be based somewhat like what one of DeviantArt's gallery moderator's is trying to do (can't think of the account name at the moment). Before I could tell my watchers any further news I need to figure out all the details myself. Any kind of information regarding this subject would be very much appriciated, thanks 
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
~Do we have to create a separate account to start this group
To the best of my knowledge, you do not need to create a new account in order to apply for a group. There are two application processes: one for clubs that have existed for some time and wish to be converted from normal accounts into group accounts, and the other process is for groups to be created from scratch (there was no account, and then suddenly there is a group account, no club account in-between).
~and who do we submit the application to in order to start a group.
There will be a "super group" that the site admins will moderate and accept group applications through.
~I just started a poll not too long ago asking my watchers if they'd want me to start a Collaboration Group
I would suggest looking at [link] for some good group/club starting tips. I've been thinking for some time now about making a "good practices" tutorial for clubs (and now groups) for some time now, I'll see if I can make that over the next couple weeks; that'll cover what I believe is good structure within a club and what aspects can make or break a club.
~but appearently I'm fairly new to creating groups or clubs.
~Any kind of information regarding this subject would be very much appriciated
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Wow, that was a lot of info to review 
I think I'm going to go on and take your advice and wait for the groups to be released, and avoid further complication of having everything converted
Ok, now onto the group planning (this is still in the brainstorming stages)
Naming Group: I've thought about calling my group name Fusion Star. To me it sounds catchy for a group that will be focused on collaborations 
Hype For Group In my poll the results turned out thus far 85% for starting the group , and the last 15% didn't know what would be the point of creating the group 
About Submissions, Affiliations, Members & Such Since I'll be the founder of this group, I would choose to have all deviants bring their submissions to me to be approved for posting (that way the club doesn't have posts that are not relating to what the group is focused on). And I've put some heavy thought into how the affiliation ranks would work. I figured the best way way to climb the ranks in the group would be through the number of collaborations they're involved in (haven't made a set amount yet). The only question I would have with this idea is how to plan out the waiting list for collaborations 
I know this barely scratches the surface of the things I needed to look into, but at least I have some ideas out there to work with. If you have anything I could add to improve this idea, I'm always accepting ideas (and I know of anyone better to ask anyways 
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
~Is DeviantArt still going to release the groups in early next year, or is there going to be some sort of delay
~fusionstar has already been taken, and groups exist in the same set as users, so any name taken by a user account can't be used for a group and vice-versa (and you can't make a chat room with the name of a user or group that currently exists).
~To me it sounds catchy for a group that will be focused on collaborations
This may not apply to your group as much, but if you can choose a name that people will randomly guess (like ~teentitans for example) you may have an easier time of establishing your club.group on dA.
~I think that when artist do collaborations and mix up different medias of art, the possibilities really are endless
~Hype For Group In my poll the results turned out thus far 85% for starting the group
~disabling
~I would choose to have all deviants bring their submissions to me to be approved for posting
If a submission is sent to your group once it is created, you can have it set so that you, as the founder, will be the only user who can approve it before it is sent to (or rejected from) the group's submissions.
~And I've put some heavy thought into how the affiliation ranks would work.
~And I've put some heavy thought into how the affiliation ranks would work
There will be a new search engine released sometime after groups are released, the search engine will allow you to search for users as well as groups. There will also likely be a widget specifically for groups that allow groups to affiliate with other groups. I wouldn't suggest going too in-depth on affiliate ranks, keeping it simple allows for easy up-keep (so you aren't editing the same journal every day to make sure every group is active or something).
~The only question I would have with this idea is how to plan out the waiting list for collaborations
I would strongly urge you to remove any bottle-necks in your group's processes, the more deviations you can accept from more sources, the better. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by a waiting list, but I can tell you it's a hassle trying to contact one user at a time to tel them to start collaborating with another user. As a group founder, you should let the users come to you with projects and your job will be to post them in a central location where they can be easily found, I really don't think you should be directing people on what they can and can't work on. Perhaps it might be a good idea to provide a service to hook collaborators up with one another, but I wouldn't discourage people from working together if they desire to.
~how would you mind if I added you as a reference
~I've looked over other messages you've answered, and you're pretty quick on that
~I hope I would be able to list these things under group members
~I know this barely scratches the surface of the things I needed to look into, but at least I have some ideas out there to work with.
~If you have anything I could add to improve this idea, I'm always accepting ideas
If I may direct the conversation here, may I ask what your core concepts are behind your group? I presume your group will run based on submissions? So users will watch the group, hook up with other users through the listing your provide in the blog(s) and then collaborate with the other user until a finished product is made, at which point they will be able to submit the artwork through the group (which will entail you, the founder, approving it personally). What other services will you provide? Affiliates? That may be something as simple as a blog with a bunch of avatars that you accept all groups that apply (initially I would suggest searching out popular groups and affiliating with them, but in time people will likely find you and your group will acquire affiliates that way -- given that the old club affiliates system is maintained in the new group system). What will your group do with the favs? I would suggesting using the group feature and allow your watchers to suggest them from other users' galleries (subject to your approval)
I would strongly suggest making a very clear & precise rules blog (and I would direct you to ~VarietyClub as my prime example, that club incorporates pretty much all the suggestions I would ever say about clubs), and in the blog I would explain how you hook up users to make collabs and how to submit collabs. Also, you should explain that membership entails simply watching the group in the rules blog. Here you could also explain your procedure for accepting favs: you only want to see works suggested that were worked on by two or more users.
To me, that would be the core of your group based on what I've gatehred from what you've said thus far
~(darn, this took over 2 hrs. to type but oh well 
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I know I really need to do better proof reading of these messages before I hit send (found way too many mistakes for the record
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I don't know if this have been asked before, but you mention that the founder have the say over all the controls. But! 
So, will I end up being the offical founder for the group once it's converted - and can that be changed?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I'm not entirely sure how the conversions will occur. I know that the title of 'founder' is not fixed to the person who created the club, it's supposed to be for the person who created the group (the person who converted the club into a group, not the person who created the club).
I believe you will be able to take the position of founder if you are the person who converts the club into a group. I also believe there will be a method by which you can pass ownership of the group on to other users, but that is rather low on the programmer's priority list and likely won't be implemented for a while
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks
By the way, do you know anything about the pricing issue? I've heard some rumors (claiming to be heard from $spyed himself) that the premium groups could cost as much as $1000 dollars per year. That's insane!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
[link] & [link] are the only rumors I know about, so the $1K seems to be the prevalent belief that the Pro groups will be priced at. Personally, I don't believe anyone (even companies with cash to burn) would go for that when Super groups are so close in functionality to Pro groups currently. Either dA is going to have to blow the doors out with some really stellar apps or they're going to need to lower the cost for Pro groups if they want anyone to go for it
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
Wow, them's some insane prices.
Im happy to pay for a subscription, but that, its just too much.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I agree, unless there are some really excellent features, the prices will change, because noone in their right mind will pay that much for something they consider to be sub-par. I know I sure as heck wouldn't and I certainly wouldn't impose the costs onto my members.
Nah nothing to do with groups as such. The best bet for group info is #devBUG but even then, its not really technical. I really wish they would come out with some more info on everything, even if it is only a basic guideline of what to expect.
Having already converted my club to a group, I would be sorely disappoint if it didn't live up to my expectations and as we know, once you convert theres no going back. If I was stuck paying insane prices id be most upset. My group is all about pimping stock and resources, we used to rely heavily on features in journals. Being a basic group renders us unable to do this, so Im eager to upgrade should the cost be lowered
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
~some more info on everything, even if it is only a basic guideline of what to expect.
Yeah, I wouldn't mind seeing all the options they plan on exploring, or have explored and tossed aside. I really get the impression we haven't seen the last of groupies, and the fact you can't run a private group (one where contributors are hand approved rather than all approved via the watchers area) properly under this system makes me think they have some large changes remaining.
~I would be sorely disappoint if it didn't live up to my expectations
~My group is all about pimping stock and resources
~we used to rely heavily on features in journals
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
~But the journals just changed to Blogs, can't it still be used more-or-less in the same way?
Well they can, if we were more then a basic account, being basic we cant use thumbs in the blogs, so the point of a journal feature is void. We're now relying on news articles as a way of featuring and promoting. I also miss the absence of CSS, it was useful for creating boxes for the info we needed, specific features and links to other important stuff. In order to get these functions back we'd have to upgrade, and right now thats looking like a costly venture. I also really miss the inclusion of groupies, searching thru 500+ watchers to find stock accounts is troublesome, so we've had to revert back to "note us to get on the list" :sigh:
Ohh yes, the idea of making it separate for stock would be neat, and I agree smaller projects tend to get finished faster, at least I know thats how I work
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
~being basic we cant use thumbs in the blogs
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
| Next =>