[zipper]

Hey ERic,

First, thank you for your input to the web site and recognition of what has gone before. As for the concept of lists of courses alphabetically vs. real use, well your poll says it all, with the exception of, who is voting? I've not, and honestly won't. Tea cup in a tempest for me. The reality is that what Larry is proposing is the better solution. Adding an alphabetical sort on top of use, is fine with me.

I don't program, I manage, programmers. My method of operation is to go to the end users at my company and ask them what they need. The idea that the tools they need and want to get to fast would be in a long alphabetical list vs. the tools they need being at the top of the list is a no-brainer in their world. Think about it like this. When I fill out one of those forms that require my address, and I have to go down that list to find TX or even if I type in that T and it takes me to Tennessee, and I still have to go into the menu to get to TX - well, I'm not impressed.

Either method will work, but the alphabetical listing is only preferred in a very logical sense of the word. It is not as useful IMO based on long experience. Will it work, yes. Now in the business world, I would never use alphabetical. If each tool use added three seconds to an end users schedule, and they go into the tools list 50 times a day, and I have 100 end users, well, a small issue becomes a costly one pretty quickly. That's why there are efficiency experts that sit and watch how workers do their jobs.

Granted, this is a fun site and efficiencies aren't as important. On the other hand, take a look at what happens to sites that are hard to navigate. Then think about use of this site on a netbook, or even more so, on a handheld device (the future of computers, that is). That long alphabetical list which looks grand on a 19 or 20 inch monitor looks like a pain on a smaller screen.

Soooo, I still side with Larry, but I greatly appreciate the fact that I don't have to do it, and that incredibly motivated and generous members like you are willing to.

THANKS!