Talk:Talk pages project/Replying/Prototype testing

Not working for me.
I tried to comment following the instructions. First time I tried to save, the message just disappeared. Second attempt the system humg up and I had to close the tab to get out. Firefox/windows 10 desctop. Logged out. Pbsouthwood (talk) 11:14, 20 January 2020 (UTC) If I click on New section, I would expect an edit window much like the one for reply, and consistent behaviour for saving previewing etc. There still needs to be a way to edit sections and the whole page as is now the case. The reply function is useful, but we still need to be able to curate the page. Pbsouthwood (talk) 13:47, 23 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you for attempting to try the prototype, and for letting us know about the issue you encountered (not being able to publish a comment to the talk page and for that comment to disappear when trying to do so). We have been able to reproduce this issue. Are you able to try the prototype on this talk page (en.wikipedia.beta.wmflabs.org/wiki/Talk:Dogs) and reply here whether you were able to successfully publish a comment or not? It seems like this issue is confined to this particular talk page. In the meantime, I've replaced the problematic (en.wikipedia.beta.wmflabs.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Cats) with the one that seems to be working (en.wikipedia.beta.wmflabs.org/wiki/Talk:Dogs).   PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 16:48, 20 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Made a few more logged out tests (IP105...) on Talk:Dogs. (don't worry, I am not worried that my IP address may be connected to my username) Seems to work better, but not entirely as I would expect. New sections drop the new system. Cheers, Pbsouthwood (talk) 06:12, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you for following up – I'm glad to hear the prototype is now working for you!
 * A couple clarifying questions...
 * 1. By saying New sections drop the new system. are you referring to the fact that the new system does not support being able to start a new section (e.g. ) from within the body of a reply?
 * Yes, and if you start a new section in the normal way there is no reply link on the new content and it is not autosigned either when creating or thereafter. I guess these are all tied together. Pbsouthwood (talk) 09:16, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Got it. Thank you for clarifying that. Have you noticed when you typically start a new section in the same edit as replying to a comment in an existing conversation?
 * RE if you start a new section in the normal way there is no reply link on the new content and it is not autosigned either when creating or thereafter. I guess these are all tied together. As I think you discovered in this edit, the reply link appearing depends on a comment [either in an existing conversation or a new one] being signed.
 * Beyond expecting your signature being automatically appended to the comment you post, are there any other parts of the "starting a new discussion" workflow you find difficult/frustrating/inefficient/etc.? I ask because this happens to be the next feature the team will be working on and we are just beginning the design process. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 04:39, 23 January 2020 (UTC)
 * I have been using the old system for 10 years and I guess I am used to it, warts and all. Being able to reply directly to a specific edit is very helpful. Being able to immediately find my last edit would also be very useful, and being able to spot all my edits on the page also useful. I like having the edit preview on by default, and on WP I get my sigs highlighted. Having the whole of my most recent edit highlighted could be a way to make it easy to find.
 * 2. Are there other ways the new system behaved in ways you didn't expect?
 * Not sure what to expect really, other than consistency. Pbsouthwood (talk) 09:16, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * ...the more details you can share the better. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 06:21, 21 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Thank you for following up, Pbsouthwood...A few questions in response:
 * Being able to immediately find my last edit would also be very useful
 * In your experience testing the prototype, has it been difficult for you to see where the comment you just published was posted to the talk page?
 * If I click on New section, I would expect an edit window much like the one for reply, and consistent behaviour for saving previewing
 * You expecting there to be consisting between the new replying and starting new discussion workflows is helpful to hear...thank you for sharing this.
 * There still needs to be a way to edit sections and the whole page as is now the case.
 * Absolutely. We – Editing Team – see full page editing as something that needs to be preserved, no matter what other new features are introduced to the page. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 16:22, 30 January 2020 (UTC)
 * You expecting there to be consisting between the new replying and starting new discussion workflows is helpful to hear...thank you for sharing this.
 * There still needs to be a way to edit sections and the whole page as is now the case.
 * Absolutely. We – Editing Team – see full page editing as something that needs to be preserved, no matter what other new features are introduced to the page. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 16:22, 30 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Absolutely. We – Editing Team – see full page editing as something that needs to be preserved, no matter what other new features are introduced to the page. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 16:22, 30 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Absolutely. We – Editing Team – see full page editing as something that needs to be preserved, no matter what other new features are introduced to the page. PPelberg (WMF) (talk) 16:22, 30 January 2020 (UTC)

No, but they have been small pages. On a large talk page with large sections it is sometimes necessary to search for my username, then go through the several instances that are highlighted. On ENWP I have a script that highlights my signature in yellow, which is a huge help, as not so many users use yellow highlight on their sigs to confuse the issue. Unfortunately when editing this feature is not there, so a search for a key word can help. Pbsouthwood (talk) 10:22, 8 April 2020 (UTC)
 * In your experience testing the prototype, has it been difficult for you to see where the comment you just published was posted to the talk page?
 * It might be useful to default highlight the user's sig on talk pages, or have a button to toggle it on and off.