[DEV] Nord User Sample Library Development Thread

[spookycookie]

Haha dmamfmgm ... you certainly have some good ideas when you want to geek-out! So since you appear interested .....

Most of the patch data is loaded/updated in on big json blob when you land on the page (in the background)
The search is all client-side with different algorithms on each column, so there's no need to send the search query back to the server (when user enters search terms) and therfore no database query required.... (yet) but your suggestion is quite a creative idea for DB driven searches - but perhaps overkill at this stage. However, I just need to extend each column's search function a little bit in javascript, probably a few lines of additional code on each column, without having to think about database design..

If you are interested in the table component I used, have a look at https://material-table.com/#/docs/features/filtering which extends the UI framework https://material-ui.com/ which runs in a React.js app (Single page app). You can check the code here https://github.com/spookycookie27/NordPatches

Anyway, basically it's better the browser does as much of the processing as possible (like searches) rather than the backend server or database server .... the main concept behind 'cloud' computing .... get the client's PC, browser, backend server and database server all working in harmony, and use the client's PC processor as much as possible

If the library gets too big, like maybe in 10 years, I might have to move the search logic onto the server/database (more traditional) and use SQL search like you suggest... or if i can't nail it with javascript

[spookycookie]

Search logic
Ok I have greatly improved the search logic on each column/data type, it's wayyy better now.
Exact matching on IDs only, Name+Description matches on all search terms, tags matched on all search terms, all in real time as you type, so incomplete/partial words/patterns are all checked as you type.
Theres no way to order the results, its not as complex as a search engine - BUT... I think its more than sufficient.
If you want to search across multiple columns please use the advanced column search filters by clicking the button on the top right side. This allows sorting by column also
What we really need, is the data to be improved by users/admins... i.e. Descriptions, Tags, better Names etc... then the search will improve because the data being search is better

Uploader
I also fixed the Uploader to accept multiple batches, but theres no way to remove specific files from the upload batch after they were added. If a file is added to the batch by mistake you would need to close the window and start over.
Main thing is you can drag and drop multiple files, and then drag additional files in before updating/saving the patch.

I hope this is OK..

[Spider]

Search logic
Ok I have greatly improved the search logic [...]

Wow, I find this a major improvement, it's really easy to navigate the database now! Thanks SO MUCH!!!

What we really need, is the data to be improved by users/admins... i.e. Descriptions, Tags, better Names etc... then the search will improve because the data being search is better

Yes now that will be the main challenge...of course if a sample doesn't have tags, or is missing a coherent description, or the name is misleading...there's no way one can find it inside the database. But that's up to the patch creators, in the meantime having a good search function is essential. Thanks again!!!

[Berretje]

I guess we have to make a plan for improving all patches.
For start, everyone could start checking their "Own samples / MY PATCHES" and add the proper MP3 demo files.

@Steve: is it possible for this maintenance period to assign a specific amount of patches (for example 50) to a certain userID so it becomes visible in MY PATCHES and those can be checked/corrected.
I'll plan a day for this to upload the patch/sample to my NS2 and create proper demo files.

Maybe someone has a different thought for this.

Gr
Bart

PS: you are awesome btw! Keep up the good work

[spookycookie]

It would be easier to make these selected guys admins so they can edit every patch,
or I could tweak the database a bit, to make them the owner of the patch, and then revert it afterwards

[Spider]

First my big round of applause to all the members behind the scene that got this web site available !
This is clearly a HUGE enhancement from the norduserforum sound searching and I'm happy to help improve, clean and update the data.

Navigating on the web site, I would like to share some thoughts that may or may not be interesting/technically feasible/good-to-have :
* If I create a new thread with a sample in the NordUserForum (NUF), will it automatically appear in the NordSamples (NS) ? I assume the NS contains all the links to the NUF + its own database for the addition using the "Add New" feature (as well as the information added on existing patch IDs) ?
* As a simple user, I don't see any interest in having the ID number. I'd rather replace this column with the file size
* Even though I understand the idea behind the "FILES" feature, I doubt it would be useful for a simple user.
* Smart to have the possibility to have only your patches. I would simplify and remove the link and add a toggle button "My patches on/off" in a unique "PATCHES" feature
* Thanks for displaying more than 20 lines, much appreciated !
* Would it be possible to have the Name be a direct download to the file (ex : http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=549) ?
* Filtering = Toggling on/off on the MP3 column would be a plus
* I understand the column filters, but at least for "Category", would be nice to have the values in a dropdown list (had to fetch the Category info values via the edit)
* Possible to sort the Category names alphabetically and I would suggest to keep the list short, maybe the ones used on the Stage (see Nord Sound Manager) ?
* The filtering is not kept : ex : filter name on "moog", if you click on edit or view, the filtering gets resetted
* I have yet to find the way to use the ParentID value. Would maybe make sense in a patch tree view where you have the main patches and below all the patches created from this parent ?
* The name NordSamples is in fact NordSounds or NordPatches

Hope the above does make some sense with always the idea of improving the customer experience !

Fred

[spookycookie]

Great feedback Cookie. A lot of what you have said has been whirring around in my head, so its good to see other peoples thoughts.

* If I create a new thread with a sample in the NordUserForum (NUF), will it automatically appear in the NordSamples (NS) ? I assume the NS contains all the links to the NUF + its own database for the addition using the "Add New" feature (as well as the information added on existing patch IDs) ?
* As a simple user, I don't see any interest in having the ID number. I'd rather replace this column with the file size
* Even though I understand the idea behind the "FILES" feature, I doubt it would be useful for a simple user.
* Smart to have the possibility to have only your patches. I would simplify and remove the link and add a toggle button "My patches on/off" in a unique "PATCHES" feature
* Thanks for displaying more than 20 lines, much appreciated !
* Would it be possible to have the Name be a direct download to the file (ex : http://www.norduserforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=549) ?
* Filtering = Toggling on/off on the MP3 column would be a plus
* I understand the column filters, but at least for "Category", would be nice to have the values in a dropdown list (had to fetch the Category info values via the edit)
* Possible to sort the Category names alphabetically and I would suggest to keep the list short, maybe the ones used on the Stage (see Nord Sound Manager) ?
* The filtering is not kept : ex : filter name on "moog", if you click on edit or view, the filtering gets resetted
* I have yet to find the way to use the ParentID value. Would maybe make sense in a patch tree view where you have the main patches and below all the patches created from this parent ?
* The name NordSamples is in fact NordSounds or NordPatches

Fred

Ill respond in the same order

1. No... It wont automatically appear in NS database, and visa versa. Its unfortunate - but I cannot see how we could ever make this work. I will probably create a page view for each patch/sound (with its own URL) so it will be easy to link to it in the forum post. At the moment this is not possible because I wanted to create a quick pop-up view first. So I think the flow would be, user adds entry to NS, user posts thread in NUF with a link to the NS page.
2. Yes... The ID number can be hidden for normal users and kept for admins, its certainly useful for the time being while we sort out the collection. Ill think about the file size, although problem here is there might more than 1 file (see 5 below).
3. Yes...I'll remove the files view for non-admins. I have plans for this view. I think I can use it to add currently unused MP3s to the correct patches quickly as part of sorting the existing sounds out. Theres loads of mp3s not attached to the sound/sample/patch.. But certainly not needed for normal users.
4. Maybe... My Patches removal.... you mean just have a toggle button on the main patches view? I have thought of that... but at the moment it helps me to give edit access to non-admin users (who dont see edit buttons in the main view), so its helping me solve another problem. If I merge these 2 views, it will create me another problem - conditional edit buttons on the main view.. But doable.. aye.
5. Maybe... The problem with linking to file in the patch name, is that (although we dont see this yet) a patch item might have a number of different files. i.e. a program file and 2 different samples and an mp3 or two, or more. The patch is meant represent a collection of files. It's just not apparent yet, becasue we have a one to one relationship on the old data... the new data could be more like a patch with say... 5 files. so which one gets downloaded if you click the name?
6. Yes... Ill think about a filter on MP3 column, it might jst be a checkbox or something.
7. Yes... Totally possible to have a multi-select dropdown for category and intstrument types! I started this but ran out of time, and rolled it back before deploying last week.
8. Yes... Easy to sort the category list alphabetically... Im not sure its correct though.. I started with the nord ones from memory, and then added another user's suggestions... Can we decide on the most useful list? And the default order of the items?
9. Yes... Persisting the filter after you close the edit/view/popup... - should be possible.. might be challenging, might be easy... let me look at that. I'm operating within the limits of a 3rd party component library! I need to check the docs.
10. Hmmm.. parent ID is something that the admins need to understand while we try to sort the data out a bit, look at Uptown Funk 656 (it's the parent). In the future, there will be no visibility of this to users - it will be automatic... like user clicks on a button called 'create a variation' when looking at a patch . It's something to help us relate variations on a theme (parent). Actually I could create a tree view, but I dont think it will help much Anyway... Its meant to be an admin only function.
11. Yes... After some discussions with Johannes and Pablo I think we are agreed on NordUserSounds.com... Probably I will drop the word patch in favour of 'sound' throughout the site.

phew... Ill make some of the changes above asap

[spookycookie]

I was considering also starting on user comments in a patch... so when viewing a patch/sound/whatever... you have the option to add a comment, and read previous comments.
Similar to user star ratings, you might see the number of comments on each patch in the main view.

Is this still worth the effort do you think?

[spookycookie]

Made some changes.

Hidden the Files page completely for regular users
Hidden the Patch IDs column for regular users, disabled search on it. (we have a column filter if we need to filter on a patch ID)
Filters on Category, and instrument type, and MP3s - disabled main keyword search from looking at these columns and replaced with multi select dropdown
Name, Description, Tags - I dont think I can persist the column specific filter/search value, it keeps resetting when you open a view, and I cannot control it (limitations of the table component)! However the main search persists correctly.
So, Maybe we can turn off the column filter-search off on these 3 columns , since the main search operates on these columns effectively and persists when you open an edit/view.. What do you think Cookie?

[cookie]

So, Maybe we can turn off the column filter-search off on these 3 columns , since the main search operates on these columns effectively and persists when you open an edit/view.. What do you think Cookie?

Thanks for the feedback and reactivity Spooky !
Glad you found some of my queries of interest

Big OK to remove the filter search on the 3 columns as will use the global search (that I believe will return the string in ANY of the records ?).

Will play again later this week with this update but this is very usable and sooooo useful !

Fred