#25 users to view final program

[Dwight Walker]

There needs to be a button users can click once the papers are finalised that lets them view the final program online. Currently only CD download is available for users via the admin doing it and distributing it via the secretariat and only the admin can view the HTML version generated on the fly from the database. There is no phase such as 'finished program' that would allow this button to be displayed for users to view the program.

So a phase needs to be added that is called 'finished program' that would allow this online version of the program to be accessed via a new toolbar option that is created for this phase. Currently we just create a table of contents by hand in HTML and PHP and match it up with the online version available in admin and insert missing papers and authors and assign them to slots. Many authors do not bother to sign up and email papers directly to the secretariat to avoid doing the online registration and making it central and easy to use and the admin has to chase up the information and collate it into a central repository for creation of the CD.

The 2 formats for abstract distribution (CD and handmade HTML/PHP) are entirely independent - a bit clunky. It would be nice if the paper/abstract distribution and program publication was all online at the final stage. Otherwise there is no incentive to upload the papers or abstracts as only the admin can see them and distribute them. If the users can see the program, abstracts and papers online, there is more incentive to sign up.

[Brian Lovell]

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Various versions of the program in html are available from Build_CD. This allows the website administrator to manually place them where ever they like on the website and add final formatting. The version with abstracts and bio is mainly for distribution to chairs.

Some authors will always be lazy if you let them, but I have generally found that most comply with instructions.

The final program could be made accessible to users live as an alternative to the html distribution. However it is hard to get the formatting absolutely perfect as there are always glitches with upper/lower case, foreign symbols, etc. This generally requires proofing and manual cleaning up.

Rather than an additional phase, I'd suggest adding a button such as "visible to users" on the program pages.