New inventory system sucks!

I am just glad the Lindens see it as a bug and not a feature

There is this thing called "testing" that software developers have been known to do. Given that the last release consisted of nothing (documented) but changes to the inventory window, it appears that no testing was done at all.

What got changed? The inventory window - a stupid dialog on a simple database table, this stuff was old hat in the 3270 days (yeah look that one up, whippersnapper). A developer makes a new feature, this was not deep DirectDraw crap, this was a only a dialog. It isn't platform dependent.

In a real software firm, the developer would have created a functional model which would have implied a test plan. The developer would write the code, and then test the code to see that it behaves mostly like expected. Then QA bangs on the new feature to look for obscure cases that the developer would have missed.

If you were really clever, someone would have written an automated test rig that checked that the simple database queries were handled properly.

It was on the preview grid, eh, so it is the customers' fault that no one tested it. Surely, you are joking.

Actually, most of LL is joking most of the time. More newbie friendly UIs? Yep, got that in the new untested inventory junk. Phil says you'll be profitable Real Soon Now? Ok, I believe it. SL has 240,000 players? So does my bunghole.

We are not amused.

I'm reposting my comment from a related thread because I'm not sure which is the better thread to get this seen.

This one absolutely drives me crazy. I use the search function...a lot. I also have a lot of folders set up...a lot. What this means is that EVERY time I do a search (see second sentence) I either have to scroll through a long list of empty folders that have nothing to do with my search....or....I can go to Filters, select Modify Current, and uncheck the Show All Folders box. Every time I search. Why this box does not save it's checked or unchecked status between searches is completely beyond me. For that matter, if you're doing a search, why would you EVER want to see folders that DON'T have what you're looking for?

In any case, it sure seems to me that showing only the folders that contain matches should be the default setting. Either that, or save the status of the Show All Folders box between sessions.


Does this drive anyone else crazy?

I usually refrain from slamming the updates till the kinks get worked out. BUT. The organization of this new inventory system is about the most user Unfriendly thing I can imagine. A few new nice features in it granted, but the overall ability to find the items I'm looking for has dramatically taken a turn for the worse. I'm so disappointed in this revision I think a poll should be taken on whether or not to roll it back to the previous version. Its far more than just "getting used to it". This was a huge mistake the way its working now from my point of view.

ok I have been trying several formulas to try and reproduce this bug in various way... it's random near as I can tell


Here was a head scratcher for me :

unchecked everything in the filter

I sat there....

Nobody logged on or off (but cards were unchecked so shouldnt matter)

About 5 minutes of just sitting there (with a scripted drink in hand, and a non-scripted one in RL)

POP all windows opened.... I was at the top


I really dont get it, I just dont... there seems to be so many (too many) ways to get this to bork including doing nothing =\

I have read these threads today about this useless inventory system, and everybody is complaining that it is absolutely useless. I use the search feature a hell of a lot, now i cant find a thing.

Isn't it time now by reading all the bad vibes in this thread that SL now sits up and listems to what people are saying, instead of going ahead and putting ridiculous add ons into sl that totally annoy people and do not work.

Ask the ciommunity what tjhey want, get beta testers to test some of the ideas before implementing them. Thats what the preview grid is for, but that dont work either and it lags terribly. Dont put somthing into the main grid until your absolutely sure it works and has been tested correctly.

SL is not working correctly now, and its getting slower and slower by the day

I was going to reply here, but ended up making it its own thread:

/108/05/112605/1.html

Just offering my personal feedback.....though I think it's been expressed. This inventory system is frustrating. Though I'm a shopping fiend, I can't bring myself to bother at the moment, as I won't be able to find much of what i've purchased.

Thanx for additional insights--reading these. Just posting to confirm I did.

Mirrored:

Lotsa Resis asked that more info be given... so YES! The following are known inventory bugs we wanna fix ASAP:

1. Receiving or moving inventory expands all folders when "Show All Folders" is not checked
   
2. Deleting any inworld object you own expands Trash folder and obscures Recent Items tab view
   
3. During inventory streaming, every single folder expands when alternating clicks on All items and Recent Items tabs
   
4. Focus is lost on a selected folder when search query is deleted--all folders expand instead
   

As well as similar "folders expanded unwantedly" bugs.

Please help spread the word and send in new bug reports inworld with your step-by-step instructions from HELP menu > REPORT BUG.

We're hot on the trail.

.. all the major bugs in the inventory system! So far. Thanks Torley for following up on these.

Any idea on when we can expect a fix? =)

As always you're welcome, Bethanee--I hate it when we're left out in the dark.

BTW, you have awesome analogies.

Fixes will be announced when we have a target date in Announcements & News, but historically (looking at previous problems like this which arose and were addressed rapidly), I am counting on s-o-o-n. As soon as I know for sure I will be communicating it widely.

I've been told I am metaphor rich. Sometimes to a fault. =) It helps put things into perspective for people however. [Thanks for the blog fame! haha]

I'll be looking for the fix soon so I can get back to the game and not have to quit it. =) Maybe by the weekend. I can be much more patient now that I know you Lindens have isolated the issues w/inventory.

And the Mac issue too, apparently (thanks Brent!) though I must confirm that tonight.

-Beth

P.S. Torley, I read your awesome long linked post mentioned above and it really was well done and reassuring. I tried to tell you that there but for some reason I couldn't reply. Thanks for being a great resident ambassador. If it weren't for yours (and frankly, Brent's) posts I would have probably given up on SL.

I apologize for not having the time to read in detail all the previous posts since this may have already been mentioned, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents worth in on the current search feature within the new inventory system. I loved the feature (prior to v1.10) that hid all other folders that did not have the searchable word - it allowed me to easily move inventory items into different folders since all search results appeared next to one another -- now if I try to search for all items related to say a particular build, I may be scrolling for minutes trying to locate them all, and moving them into one folder now requires a second instance of my inventory again since they are so far apart in my inventory. Please, please give back the ability to hide folders that don't contain the key word in the search.

That is there, in the Modify filter in your inventory you can uncheck Show All Folder and if nothing in it from your search, or just nothing in it, it will not show.

Is this a new bug:

When I try to type in a number into the search bar for the inventory, it won't let me. Anyone else not able to search for numbers?

Hmm... now I can. I don't know what the difference was, but it wasn't letting me search for numbers.

it saves alot of money since show all is gone I cane click on a folder I am intrested and get it opend if that is not back I dont have to buy anything anymore

It doesn't stay that way though, I've learned. You can't keep it unchecked, you have to do it before every search.

Also, about the numbers thingie, I'm new so can someone tell me if naming a folder a number (digit) is verboten? Because I tried and it wouldn't let me make it anything but a subfolder. (don't ask why I tried this, long story... heh)

I haven't noticed this yet--I have a set of numeric folders. I'll be watching for it tho, thx.



What happens if you drag the subfolder out into a higher level? I have a folder named "2086"... and it worked fine but there may be a quirk here.

UPDATE: The following inventory bug fixes--and more!--should be included in the next new version of Second Life:

1. "Show all folders" filter should be off by default for "All items" tab (this is the "every single damn folder is appearing when I search!" problem)
   
   
   
2. During inventory streaming, every single folder expands when alternating clicks on All items and Recent Items tabs
   
   
   
3. Focus is lost on a selected folder when search query is deleted--all folders expand instead
   
   
   
4. Items in folders given via llGiveInventoryList have inaccurate acquired dates
   
   
   
5. Receiving or moving inventory expands all folders when "Show All Folders" is not checked
   
   
   
6. Deleting any inworld object you own expands Trash folder and obscures Recent Items tab view
   

CONTEXT: /3/e8/112891/1.html

Please share this with your loved ones and friends who are also affected. There are more bugs we know of too... like the "Scrollbar repeatedly resets to position of first search match when it's streaming or when a Friend comes online" which has to do with focus not switching as expected. These will be fixed ASAP too.

Any other bugs that aren't nailed down to the floor and squished (in a gory Stephen Kingesque fashion), please use HELP menu > REPORT BUG to send a solid reproduction of the steps you did to make it happen.

I know what a hunger there is for information so I wanted to share this right away; I'd feel so guilty if you guys didn't know relief was on the way soon. :/

Hello
I'd like to know if there is any way I could go back to the download of SL i had before this last upgrade. My inventory is nuts. I can't open folders at times and when I do it takes a rocket scientist to figure it out. Or maybe someone whose just inventory savvy. LOL. thanks

I don`t like this new inventory feature much. If just caused more confusion. I getting use to it now. But its taking time.

No, you have to put up with it until Wednesday. Fun, huh?

Torley & bugsquashers,

Thank you, and a extra special thank you for going out of your way to keep us in the loop.. right up to specific bug fixes and dates of release.

Wed. can't come fast enough, but as I have said before if it means a well tested set of bugfixes instead of more problems, then we can wait. (Hopefully you can get that scrollbar fix in there too!)

Thanks for working on this with us. And while there will always be bugs in complex software, let's hope we (yes, Linden and the previewers) catch them before release next time.

Maybe I'll catch up on some sleep with SL being effective down for me until Wed.

-Beth

Now... onto the age verification mess...

I have to add my post so the lindens know this isnt a good thing. I have almost 17K (17000) items in my inventory. For someone who searches for items thru folders that have over 100 (usually more) items in folder I am panicd as to how Im supposed to find clothing now...or sounds....or textures..etc.
EXAMPLE: I'm getting ready to use "sounds" from a folder named "Porn sounds". The folder consists of maybe 10 different sounds..(all named different things and they're no mod) I* type in porn in the search engine and approx 5 different folders pop up with the name "porn" in them.
I highlight the folder and go back to show all because (none of the sounds themselves have the word "porn" in them..(so they dont show up). Afetr usually hitting show all the folder I found soo easily and effortlessly remains highlighted at the bottom of the inventory window...I go to the folder..open it and use my sounds.
(that example represents everything...clothing...textures...objects...etc. I search for items via the (folder name)..I depend on the search engine to quickly show me the folder and keep it so i can click and open..I use this to get dressed quickly etc.
The only thing I can see now is to make seperate folders for all items and name the folder something that the item is named as well...which certainly is a daunting task considering my 17k items...PLEASE FIX THIS!...PPPPPPLLLLLLEEEEEase!
I can find the folder fine with this new system...but theres no "show all" button anymore and nothing to keep my search intact...so whats the point?..I dont see one...this "new" system is a step backwards...NOT forwards.

-Lana Tomba