Xara online designer, omg

[cmpan1]

Here's why....

[Rob-Xar]

Hi cmpan1,

Sorry what do you mean by 'here's why...'? Here's why what?

[cmpan1]

Hi cmpan1,

Sorry what do you mean by 'here's why...'? Here's why what?

Rob... let me preface my answer by saying... I am a fairly long-time user... and I obviously love this software. It does for me what NO OTHER software can... OK....

I'm not a fan of of all these online website builders... IMO that lack the freedom the Xara Desktop offers... (understatement) And I can see the Xara online potentially
can, and IS taking this to a different, and better level. I understand that the ability for a shared back-end allowing others and customers to go in and make some changes is important.
So I'm not against this, and would find a need for it myself down the line. I DO want this feature. But... But...

Xara desktop is my MAIN go-to for all and every type of work.... I just become so frustrated when I get these exciting notifications from Xara about some great additions and upgrades to....
and then it reads... XARA online designer. And my immediate reaction is... "damn!"

Now don't get me wrong... I get it. I get the dev on Online Designer. But do YOU understand me? It's an emotional thing. I see the update notification, get that little anticipation tingle thinking
ok, my Xara is gettin' something new, and again, again, again, it's ONLINE DESIGNER.

So, it appears to me that Xara is focusing more on the Online rather than Desktop.... I could be wrong, but just look at the ratio of notices of Online updates to Desktop updates. The online ones
are/seem significant as opposed to the rare Desktop ones.

This.... is why I say "here's why"... it's because I get the impression that this is where Xara's focus is going.... (I think I rambled a too long answer to your question :-/)

Thanks for the interest Rob.

Cliff

[Rob-Xar]

You are correct in saying that the Online Designer is getting more focus than the desktop version, but as mentioned before we're not dumping the desktop versions either.

The Online Designer however hasn't been created with website building in view (and has very limited web capabilities). If anything it's more targeted towards business use - i.e. letterheads, presentation, company social media but this isn't fixed.

I've spent a while talking to our CEO Matt about this and in the end we want to create something that you not only can use but also want to use. One of my (ever increasing lol) roles is gathering this requirement from our customers and getting their feedback. If the majority of our users want a tool for creating websites then we'll work more on those features. If they want more features pertaining to print and publishing then we'll work on that.

If you can let me know what sort of things you create in the desktop version and if you have used the Online Designer, what sort of features you would say are a must have I can forward this feedback straight back to the top and say 'Hey this is what are users want, can we implement something'? It does get discussed how we can do this regularly so all feedback is welcome :)

Thanks
Rob

[cmpan1]

Thanks for clarifying a few things Rob...

Regarding a feature list for print, many users have expressed their desires already ie master pages etc... and others.

Gotta run now for the day, but will be happy to respond this evening with a similar to others...

But in the meantime, I'll bet that a handful of others can easily express exactly what they would like to see implemented regarding print/page design & layout. I hope they see this and respond.


Thank you

Cliff

[mwenz]

You are correct in saying that the Online Designer is getting more focus than the desktop version, but as mentioned before we're not dumping the desktop versions either.

The Online Designer however hasn't been created with website building in view (and has very limited web capabilities). If anything it's more targeted towards business use - i.e. letterheads, presentation, company social media but this isn't fixed.

I've spent a while talking to our CEO Matt about this and in the end we want to create something that you not only can use but also want to use. One of my (ever increasing lol) roles is gathering this requirement from our customers and getting their feedback. If the majority of our users want a tool for creating websites then we'll work more on those features. If they want more features pertaining to print and publishing then we'll work on that.

If you can let me know what sort of things you create in the desktop version and if you have used the Online Designer, what sort of features you would say are a must have I can forward this feedback straight back to the top and say 'Hey this is what are users want, can we implement something'? It does get discussed how we can do this regularly so all feedback is welcome

Thanks
Rob

OK, Rob. How about this...

I don't want an Online Designer. At all. I want efforts pushed into XDP downward into the other applications (of which there are too many).

But. But the decision was made to pursue the Online Designer and now we're all stuck with development efforts (which are stretched too thin) going into that beast. And while XDP had already been falling behind on development on many/several fronts in comparison to the competition, it is only going to slide further back.

Cannot Xara/Magix make up its mind as to what Xara will be when it grows up and pursue that?

[behzad]

Also the lack of meaning full updates now almost one year for webdesigner pro worries me. If Xara kept our hunger for updates happy then we would not be worried. I run a business and need to stay current to what is new and what the client demands. I believe now that business owners like myself are few in your subscribers database?

[Rob-Xar]

Unfortunately I can't control where development time is invested, nor what's included in the updates or their frequency but I can understand your frustration in the recent updates. Don't get me wrong, it's something us in support has often criticised as well but ultimately that's all we can do and forward your comments onto management and those who make the decisions :)

BUT I can provide some influence to the Online Designer in trying to get implemented what you want that would make you use it. I get that some people like you mwenz would rather have development purely focused on the desktop version and I know your not alone in that aspect but as before that's nothing I have any control over unfortunately.

I believe there is something in the pipeline to allow you to lock certain objects from being edited when passed to clients so they can only fill out content and not mess with the layout. If there is something that you would absolutely use then please let me know and we can definitely look at it. This isn't limited to a particular area either, literally anything :)

[hoja]

If you can let me know what sort of things you create in the desktop version and if you have used the Online Designer, what sort of features
you would say are a must have I can forward this feedback straight back to the top and say 'Hey this is what are users want, can we implement
something'? It does get discussed how we can do this regularly so all feedback is welcome

Rob, any browser based software (really absolutely any – from Web-Development to CAD) performs poor for power users due to lack of hotkeys.
Some tools give you a very basic set of shortcuts, but they are way too few for serious work. The same is true for contextual menus. Users are
forced to a purely visual workflow, which is notoriously slow.

[Koko]

OK I tried the online designer, and I must say it is very nice. I made a few changes to the temp page it offered and it operates pretty smooth. It only allowed me to preview a finished website and not actually publish it with its own domain. I also didn't encounter the pop up error codes I sometimes get with the desktop version.

Questions: 1. When its out of beta, will I be able to download the web files to save on my pc and/or cloud storage of my choice?
2. Will it publish to any hosting account I choose?
3. Will slideshows be offered?
4. What kind of pricing will it be?