Medium is at it Again
Publications and Sections
So I just launched a new publication. ALFEW.
This is to be a virtual art display publications and having different sections is important so that different types of art can be featured in different sections. Great idea, right?
So I launch into setting this publication up, just yesterday (March 2). I get all the sections set up the way I want them, then I notice that Medium is offering a beta trial (opt in) of new page design. They say that you will be able to opt out at any time. I opt in.
Immediately all my previously organized and linked sections (Feature Pages) are screwed up, and no longer work.
I investigate the “new” way to set up Feature pages, and after 3 hours of trying to make them work, I conclude this is NOT going to work, and I Opt out of the Beta trial.
They gave the option of giving feedback. I attempt to do this, but am thwarted by the way they have it set up. Instead I send general feedback on the subject.
I return to setting up the Feature pages the OLD way. Get everything working, get the appropriate stories in the appropriate sections.
This morning I am adding new writers and new content, and suddenly the whole thing reverts to the beta version, which I am now thinking is not so beta, and my whole thing on sections is
T O T A L L Y F U C K E D U P
None of the stories are pointing at the appropriate Feature pages and because the UI is so bloody horrible, I cannot find a way to get them pointed.
AND TO MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE — THERE IS NO LONGER AN OPT OUT CHOICE.
Your choice WITH THE NEW VERSION is to set the Feature pages up with Tags or Links. Neither system works.
Tags for Feature pages: If your story HAPPENS to have a tag that the new version likes, it will possibly point it to the appropriate section. If not, it will be parked randomly — somewhere, and the appropriate section will say stupidly “there are no stories here” .
Links for Feature pages: Working out links the system wants to see for Feature pages is, unfortunately, beyond, even my brilliant software engineer partner. So that tells you it is bound to be beyond a mere mortal, like me.
This is so much like how stupid Facebook works — they SAY the change is Beta and you can switch back, but then they just install the new thing and you are screwed.
It looks like ALFEW will have to run without Feature pages unless some improvement is made.
Sorry ALFEW members. Ev Williams
