Issue 15551

Add help text to download email explaining what can be done

15551
Reporter: trobertson
Assignee: atalavan
Type: Improvement
Summary: Add help text to download email explaining what can be done
Priority: Blocker
Resolution: Fixed
Status: Closed
Created: 2014-04-24 09:46:28.509
Updated: 2014-11-18 10:59:27.395
Resolved: 2014-07-24 10:20:56.743
TimeEstimate: 0
TimeSpent: 21600
        
Description: From GBIF ES, paraphrased by me:

"During this week I have been interacting with two groups of  colleagues, both seasoned taxonomists (they are  top world experts in their groups: Geraniaceae and  Bathynellacea), but relatively unfamiliar with GBIF , both facing the same problems: they did not have a clue about what to do with the zip file they got  when they requested a download.  We have heated but productive discussions,  ...  they  have a point:
It is really difficult for those that have not acquaintance with DwC-As to use them when they get one. And we (GBIF) do not make things any easier.

The solution is unglamorously simple: adding a link in the “download email messages”  pointing to a web page explaining what it is in the zip file they got, including an indication that they can open the data files ( .txt) with MS-Excel."

While we have issues to explore options for simplified downloads, this is a pragmatic and simple proposal that will help users and we should do it.  We could either put text in the email, or link to a portal help page.]]>
    


Author: ahahn@gbif.org
Comment: It might (in addition?) be an idea to include a "ReadMe" file in the downloaded archive, explaining the basics or pointing at the same web page. It may be the only point that every user of the download comes across, e.g. when downloads are shared or handed on.
Created: 2014-04-24 09:53:55.896
Updated: 2014-04-24 09:53:55.896


Author: kbraak@gbif.org
Created: 2014-05-27 13:50:49.142
Updated: 2014-05-27 13:50:49.142
        
An FAQ page has been created http://www.gbif-dev.org/faq/datause

A link to this page is included in downloads now (at present from the dev portal only).

Further testing needed on UAT before going to production.
    


Author: atalavan
Created: 2014-07-24 10:20:56.779
Updated: 2014-07-24 10:20:56.779
        
The FAQ is now available in the production site

http://www.gbif.org/faq/datause