New FAAB Page And Old FAAB Page

[Greg Ambrosius]

As most of you know, we have two ways that you can bid on Free Agents in the NFBC: Free Agents New and Free Agents. Both are listed under Transactions on your team pages. We have two different Free Agent pages and both are currently active.

The New Free Agent page was designed last year with recommendations from our customers and went live during the season in 2014. Since we unveiled a new process during the season, we knew it would take folks a while to get used to it and that's why we left it live for the whole season. We also felt it was the right thing to do to keep it live in 2015 since we knew several customers didn't feel comfortable with the new setup.

Recently we checked the logs of our Free Agent moves and it looks like right now about 60 percent of NFBC owners are using the New Free Agent Page and 40% are using the old Free Agent Page.

Unfortunately, it's not the best use of our programming time to have two different setups for any part of our software and thus all new additions and changes are being done only on the New Free Agent Page. Some items that have been added recently (like Export to Excel) are only available on the New Free Agent Page and won't be added to the old one. And this will continue with all additional upgrades and changes. That being said, we should be able to have the Date Activated column showing dates on the old Free Agent page and I've asked IT to activate that column. Sorry about that.

We know that it's not easy to learn a new system and that's why we've kept both FAAB pages on our site, but I don't know if we'll do that beyond this year. It's possible, but again the new features are only going on the New Free Agent page. At the very least, take the time to try both systems out to get more familiar with the new setup and if you have any questions feel free to contact me. I'll gladly call anyone and walk through the process.

Is it possible to keep both Free Agent pages on the site beyond this year? Sure, but it's not feasible to upgrade both. The upgrades are going to be done on the New Free Agent page and at some point we will have just one Free Agent page. We'll work it through together so that there are no surprises, but it's best to stay in front of this and let you know how we're handling this. Hope this makes sense. Good luck all the rest of this season and contact me or Tom if you have any questions. Thanks.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

I find that there are certain features that work better on each. One concern I have found with the new page is that if a bid group is low enough down on the page I cannot even move the guys. It is blocked by the stuff on the left side of page. For example if I have an injured shortstop, catcher and outfielder so I have to get one of each. I have a long bid group of shortstops, another of catchers, and another of outfielders. So you are pretty far down the page already. Then I make a long list of players in general for my fourth drop. Cannot move them if too low on the page.

Side note, the website has been way too slow way too many times of late. It is great to have a million slow drafts. But make sure your severs have the capacity to keep up.

Another side note. Sometimes, but not all, the site moves a little faster on safari than firefox by the way. I don't care for safari so I wish this was not the case.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I find that there are certain features that work better on each. One concern I have found with the new page is that if a bid group is low enough down on the page I cannot even move the guys. It is blocked by the stuff on the left side of page. For example if I have an injured shortstop, catcher and outfielder so I have to get one of each. I have a long bid group of shortstops, another of catchers, and another of outfielders. So you are pretty far down the page already. Then I make a long list of players in general for my fourth drop. Cannot move them if too low on the page.

Side note, the website has been way too slow way too many times of late. It is great to have a million slow drafts. But make sure your severs have the capacity to keep up.

Another side note. Sometimes, but not all, the site moves a little faster on safari than firefox by the way. I don't care for safari so I wish this was not the case.

I will forward to IT your concerns in the first paragraph. We definitely have the server capacity, but I'll have IT watch this on Sundays as well.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

My bad, I should have checked before the post again. My bid groups were not as long this week so it did not come into play. I just tested a team and it doesn't appear to be an issue any longer.

[COZ]

40% are still using the old FAAB? Wow. And I thought I struggled adapting to change. The Friday pitching rule stands no chance with this group.

COZ

[Rainiers]

I can't remember what I disliked so much about the new FAAB Page, other than it reminded me of the new Coke. And just like the original Coke, I was really glad you brought back the original FAAB. Haven't even thought about going back to the new FAAB until now.

I will try the new and really really really improved FAAB page this week and report in next week. Always trying to get along.

[Oaktown]

I don't think it is struggling to adapt to change, I just think the old page is SO much easier to look at and pick things out. The colors and the layout is so much easier on my eyes and numbers really pop off the screen so much better while researching and scanning. So for me, it's a strong preference for the layout on the old screen, nothing to do with change.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

I don't think it is struggling to adapt to change, I just think the old page is SO much easier to look at and pick things out. The colors and the layout is so much easier on my eyes and numbers really pop off the screen so much better while researching and scanning. So for me, it's a strong preference for the layout on the old screen, nothing to do with change.

Yeah I agree. If only one were able to easily move the players up and down on that system, and especially replace the top guy easily.

[Gekko]

I don't think it is struggling to adapt to change, I just think the old page is SO much easier to look at and pick things out. The colors and the layout is so much easier on my eyes and numbers really pop off the screen so much better while researching and scanning. So for me, it's a strong preference for the layout on the old screen, nothing to do with change.

Same here

[Tcohan]

I also agree the old faab easier to use and navigate.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I don't think it is struggling to adapt to change, I just think the old page is SO much easier to look at and pick things out. The colors and the layout is so much easier on my eyes and numbers really pop off the screen so much better while researching and scanning. So for me, it's a strong preference for the layout on the old screen, nothing to do with change.

Understood Scott, but we built this with bids next to the free agent lists as requested by your peers and if you put them side-by-side the font size has to change to get all of that in. We also needed to upgrade the software there and hopefully one day we'll have FAAB moves on the app. All new upgrades will be done on the new FAAB software.

We are letting folks know this in advance because we can't support both FAAB pages forever. Little by little, we hope you try the new FAAB page and get used to it. Nothing will change this year, but going forward I can't promise that both will be available, so hopefully you can try it out.

If we need a few more tweaks to the new FAAB, we can certainly list those and prioritize them this off-season so that everyone feels comfortable with the setup. But this is what was requested, there are some time-saving features there and again hopefully we can fine-tune it to make it the best free agent page out there. Thanks for trying it.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I use the new one.
When first coming out, it was clunky and tough to use. Understandable why a lot of folks clung to the old layout.
But a few improvements have been made and a computer know-nothing like me can even easily navigate it.

[Quahogs]

I like the NEW format. The ability to move the 2nd guy up a spot is MINT. Having the list of FA's and string next to each other helps too. It maneuvers nicely: creating new strings, copying then deleting(moving). IT did a nice job here.

[Captain Hook]

I like the NEW format. The ability to move the 2nd guy up a spot is MINT. Having the list of FA's and string next to each other helps too. It maneuvers nicely: creating new strings, copying then deleting(moving). IT did a nice job here.

+1

[Yah Mule]

My complaint is when I win a bid and I'm all happy and then I insert the guy into my lineup and he blows.

[Chthroop]

Hi. I use an iPhone and the new page is very difficult to use on a mobile device. The data should tell u something: if 40% is still using a page when it clearly has issues that means the new one isn't very much better..... Understand the issue about it resources but there have been almost no changes to th old faab page in years. Doesn't take much to keep old code going

Also the fact that many pages still don't work on iPhone safari is pretty amazing to me (ie you can't see many tables properly)

[Rainiers]

OK, I'm a 40%er who tried out the New FAAB page this weekend. Lots to like there, including things other folks have mentioned like top guy replacement, etc.

One very cool feature I had not heard about is the search icon, that when applied to any free agent, you can easily and quickly see if he is available in any of your other leagues. That's a very nice upgrade for me.

The New FAAB page works great on all my devices: my work PC, my home Mac, my IPad and my iPhone.

Not sure why poster above was having issues with his iPhone, I wonder what version he has. Really only issue I had with the IPhone and the New Page is that the DL cross is almost too tiny to see, maybe if you could bold it up a bit, that would be good.

The only feature on the Old Page that I found myself sneaking back to use was the ability to sort FA stats on a time period basis. Here's hoping you can bring that forward to the New Page....

Otherwise the New Page works great for me now. A nice improvement.

[Greg Ambrosius]

OK, I'm a 40%er who tried out the New FAAB page this weekend. Lots to like there, including things other folks have mentioned like top guy replacement, etc.

One very cool feature I had not heard about is the search icon, that when applied to any free agent, you can easily and quickly see if he is available in any of your other leagues. That's a very nice upgrade for me.

The New FAAB page works great on all my devices: my work PC, my home Mac, my IPad and my iPhone.

Not sure why poster above was having issues with his iPhone, I wonder what version he has. Really only issue I had with the IPhone and the New Page is that the DL cross is almost too tiny to see, maybe if you could bold it up a bit, that would be good.

The only feature on the Old Page that I found myself sneaking back to use was the ability to sort FA stats on a time period basis. Here's hoping you can bring that forward to the New Page....

Otherwise the New Page works great for me now. A nice improvement.

Thanks for the feedback Robert. By the way, you can sort FA stats on a time period in the new FAAB. At the top under Free Agent Rankings it says Period and there are two pulldown boxes. In the second one you can change it to Last 7 Days, Last 2 Weeks, Last 3 Weeks, or by any of the Periods. It's all there for ya.

I hope this helps and thanks for trying it out.

[Rog]

My only problem with the new faab page (and this happens often).
When I am doing multi add and drops with a handful of names.Once my list gets about 3/4 of a page long(it can be the same list or 2 or 3 separate bids) I lose the ability to move the players up and down with the drag and drop option. I can only use the arrows thus moving the players 1 at a time. Also when I get a long list of adds and drops and I click on the roster part to drop a player it loses the last 5 names on the page or blends them all green and very difficult to work with. This is where I would just click over the old page and click the player dropped, or put the dropped player in my starting lineup so he would move out of the bottom mess.
This doesnt happen all the time just mostly when I am in a hurry.
I use mozilla/firefox

[Cocktails and Dreams]

My only problem with the new faab page (and this happens often).
When I am doing multi add and drops with a handful of names.Once my list gets about 3/4 of a page long(it can be the same list or 2 or 3 separate bids) I lose the ability to move the players up and down with the drag and drop option. I can only use the arrows thus moving the players 1 at a time. Also when I get a long list of adds and drops and I click on the roster part to drop a player it loses the last 5 names on the page or blends them all green and very difficult to work with. This is where I would just click over the old page and click the player dropped, or put the dropped player in my starting lineup so he would move out of the bottom mess.
This doesnt happen all the time just mostly when I am in a hurry.
I use mozilla/firefox

This was the problem I mentioned. It doesn't seem to happen all the time, like that day I went and tested after I posted. But it certainly has happened a lot in the past. My bid groups haven't been as long the last couple weeks to know if the issue remains. Hopefully this can be cleaned up if it is still a problem.

[Greg Ambrosius]

I have sent this issue to IT to see if we can test/fix it. Thanks guys.