Contest Entries Now Display Randomly In Gallery

Decorating By Heath Updated 27 Feb 2014 , 9:30am by rex00

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Heath Posted 28 Mar 2006 , 7:38pm
post #1 of 39

Jackie and I decided to implement a randomizer on the cake contest gallery display.

We decided to do this because we noticed that the first page always seemed to get the most votes, so it became an unfair advantage to be displayed on page one.

So what happens now is that when you go to the gallery, the server generates a random order. The pictures will stay in place as long as you remain in the gallery.

If you only vote on part of the cakes, and then leave cake central, there will be a different order when you return.

We have noticed that this change has dramatically improved the voting distribution resulting in a more fair opportunity for all the entries to be judged.

38 replies
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mmdd Posted 28 Mar 2006 , 7:39pm
post #2 of 39

This is a great idea! I'm glad to hear it.

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Karate Posted 28 Mar 2006 , 7:46pm
post #3 of 39

OK, this explains what was happening at 3:30 this morning when I went in to finish voting. I think it is a great idea, was just a bit confused, while being frustrated that I couldn't sleep.

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m0use Posted 28 Mar 2006 , 8:25pm
post #4 of 39

Thanks Jackie and Heath! thumbs_up.gif

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meghan89 Posted 28 Mar 2006 , 8:30pm
post #5 of 39

That makes sense!

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sweetsuccess Posted 31 Mar 2006 , 12:30am
post #6 of 39

BRAVO!!

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Florimbio Posted 31 Mar 2006 , 2:59am
post #7 of 39

Good idea!

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cakemommy Posted 4 Apr 2006 , 3:26pm
post #8 of 39

I would have never thought of that being an issue but I can see it now! Great idea!!!!!! Thank you for all your hard work!

Amy

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bfelt Posted 4 Apr 2006 , 3:29pm
post #9 of 39

Thanks for staying on top of things Jackie and Heath. Great job.

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KittisKakes Posted 4 Apr 2006 , 3:30pm
post #10 of 39

Excellent idea! I always wondered when would be the best time to enter a pic to get a lot of people to look at it. You guys are so smart!!!

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adven68 Posted 22 Jun 2006 , 3:54am
post #11 of 39

Hey there...I noticed the father's day contest cakes are coming up in the same order each time you look at them...

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Heath Posted 22 Jun 2006 , 4:03am
post #12 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by adven68

Hey there...I noticed the father's day contest cakes are coming up in the same order each time you look at them...




they should only randomize for each user once per 24 hours.

So if you come back multiple times in the same day, the order will stay the same.

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adven68 Posted 22 Jun 2006 , 12:36pm
post #13 of 39

Gotcha icon_wink.gif

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springlakecake Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 9:46pm
post #14 of 39

Is this still the case? It seemed like they werent randomized during the holiday contest. I could be wrong though!

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Steady2Hands Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 9:52pm
post #15 of 39

You all are great! You think of everything!

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becky27 Posted 28 Feb 2007 , 9:34pm
post #16 of 39

i just want to say how impressed i am with every single person on this website not only are you all so helpful but you guys are so nice and fair to everyone!!! i appreciate all that you do and for all those members who have made me feel so welcomed!!! i think the randomizer is a great way to be fair!!!

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ntertayneme Posted 28 Feb 2007 , 9:39pm
post #17 of 39

Awesome ... that's Jackie and Heath .. always working so hard in the background to make this place even better!! Thanks Jackie and Heath!!!!

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pmaucher Posted 3 Nov 2008 , 4:56pm
post #18 of 39

jackie,

I was just in the contest gallery going from page to page (but staying in the gallery). A few pics I saw three times, just going from page 1 to 10 (and I never left the gallery). Then I left the gallery, went back in and went from page 1 to 10, same problem. Though the second time, I never came across my own pic. Are the pics suppost to move while your in the gallery going from page to page.

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pmaucher Posted 3 Nov 2008 , 5:05pm
post #19 of 39

Jackie,

I just went back into the gallery to make sure I'm not crazy. I went to page 2, looked at pics. Then went to page 3, looked at pics. Went back to page 2, and they were different. Some of the memorable pics I liked on the original page 2 were gone, then when I went back to page 3, they had moved also, and one of the pics that was on page 2, was now on page 3.

I stayed in the gallery, just going back and forth on pages 2 and 3. They kept changing. Just wanted to give you the heads up. Some people's pics may not get noticed.

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alanaj Posted 3 Nov 2008 , 5:07pm
post #20 of 39

I had the same problem as pmaucher. I stayed in the gallery but the pics were moving. I thought I was going crazy!

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Jackie Posted 3 Nov 2008 , 6:22pm
post #21 of 39

Yikes, thanks for letting me know.

For those of you that had this problem:

From this point forward, it should be fixed.

For example, try looking at page 6 of the contest:
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&aid=166&pageID=6
Make a note of the very first photo you see

Then look at page 8
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&aid=166&pageID=8

Then go back to page 6
http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&aid=166&pageID=6
Is the very first photo the same? if so, its fixed


Page six should have the same photos as the first time you visited it.

If not, please let me know

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xstitcher Posted 18 Mar 2009 , 9:08pm
post #22 of 39

Can I ask how this works if you use the next arrow to go through the pics? I was voting through the pics using the next button but had to stop so I clicked on back to thumbnail link so I could see which page I had left off at. I wasn't able to find this out because the next arrow appears to give you pics in random order so you cannot keep track of where you left off at. If I come back later today and use the next arrow key will there be any way I can continue with where I left off?

TIA icon_smile.gif

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Jackie Posted 18 Mar 2009 , 11:47pm
post #23 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by xstitcher

Can I ask how this works if you use the next arrow to go through the pics? I was voting through the pics using the next button but had to stop so I clicked on back to thumbnail link so I could see which page I had left off at. I wasn't able to find this out because the next arrow appears to give you pics in random order so you cannot keep track of where you left off at. If I come back later today and use the next arrow key will there be any way I can continue with where I left off?

TIA icon_smile.gif




The next / previous buttons use the exact order they are shown to you on the thumbnails page. It may be that you start on thumbnail page "2" the click "next" a number of times, clicking "back to thumbnail list" will take you back to page "2"

If you have clicked "next" through many photos, you many need to go to the next thumbnail page "3" or "4" to start again where you left off.

But no matter what, the thumbnails will be in the same order for you.

They may be in a different order for your friend, but they will stay in that order for you.

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MacsMom Posted 18 Mar 2009 , 11:56pm
post #24 of 39

Yay!! I had thought about that a while back...

OT, but will you be updating the pics in "Previous Contest Winners"?

Thanks for your hard work and dedication ~ Hope the wedding planning has been going well!!

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xstitcher Posted 19 Mar 2009 , 2:21am
post #25 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackie


The next / previous buttons use the exact order they are shown to you on the thumbnails page. It may be that you start on thumbnail page "2" the click "next" a number of times, clicking "back to thumbnail list" will take you back to page "2"

If you have clicked "next" through many photos, you many need to go to the next thumbnail page "3" or "4" to start again where you left off.

But no matter what, the thumbnails will be in the same order for you.

They may be in a different order for your friend, but they will stay in that order for you.




Hi Jackie,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I just got on again after putting the kiddos to bed.

Maybe what i went through was a fluke. This is basically what I did:

After looking at the first 10 or so pics by the thumbnail view I went through another approx 2 pages worth of photos by clicking on the next arrow before I went back to the thumbnail to check where I was at. That is when I noticed that the last pic I voted on was on page 10. I know that I did not go through that many pages (unless I'm faster than I think icon_lol.gif ) because as I was searching for the last pic I voted on I saw so many pics that I know that I had not seen already.

I'll go back and see if it is still the case. icon_confused.gif

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SueB Posted 21 Mar 2009 , 11:33pm
post #26 of 39

I'm not sure why but everytime I go into the baby shower contest pictures they are in the same order for me. I have been looking at them since the day the voting started and they haven't changed for me. I guess the reason I've noticed this is because my entry is always on page 13 in the same exact spot. Oh well.

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xstitcher Posted 22 Mar 2009 , 3:05am
post #27 of 39

Hey Jackie,

Looks like tonight I did not have the same problem thumbs_up.gif. I did however notice the same thing as SueB mentioned above. The pics did not change (at least for the pages I had already voted on)and even if you click on the next arrow if you go back to the thumbnail view it takes you back to the last page that you viewed it in that mode (thumbnail).
Is that how you guys coded it (not to randomize pics we've already voted on that is)?

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bennett5 Posted 26 Mar 2009 , 5:28am
post #28 of 39

can anyone tell me who won? havent been able to find anything about the winners....

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xstitcher Posted 26 Mar 2009 , 5:38am
post #29 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by bennett5

can anyone tell me who won? havent been able to find anything about the winners....




They sent out the newsletter today with the winners. Here are the results.

1st place - $25 gift certificate

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1331341

2nd Place:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=82923

3rd Place:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1274622


If you are not currently receiving the newsletter and would like to, you can click on Newsletter (under my account on the left side of the screen) and select yes to receive it).

icon_smile.gif

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bennett5 Posted 26 Mar 2009 , 11:13pm
post #30 of 39

Thank you xstitcher! The winners are awsome!!!!!!!!!

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