Imports data from CSV but meta handling is messy

  • This plugin uses a lot of code that I cannot write myself, and therefore I must give credit to the developers. It does import users from CSV and auto-generates passwords (an EXTREMELY nice feature!), but the handling of meta data is very messy.

    The plugin does not check to see if a metadata field exists already; if it is not one of the stock profile fields, it is created within a plugin-prefixed array in the options table. This means that unless one wants the field created at the time of user import, this plugin is useless for updating metadata. (The option to handle empty fields in the CSV– update existing to empty or leave alone–gave me hope that it was updating existing metadata, but this is not the case.)

    UPDATE: The plugin does seem to update both the existing field and the extra ‘acui_columns’ field with the metadata. When the plugin is deactivated, it will delete the extra acui_columns array containing the added fields, but the data remained in the fields added to the usermeta table. Still, it should be noted that I had to get rid of the plugin in order for it to clean up a mess that it made. (If I didn’t already have the extra metadata fields in the usermeta table, I’m guessing that all of the imported metadata would have been lost.)

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Plugin Author Javier Carazo

    (@carazo)

    Robert,

    This is the first “bad review” I receive. I have answered you and we are here to solve all your problems.

    You don’t understand how the plugin works.

    It is really annoying that someone that doesn’t understand the goal and the way of works of this plugin give you a bad review.

    This is free price and free software so please, try to be more kindly with developers and his work.

    Thread Starter Robert.Vidrine

    (@robertvidrine)

    Javier,
    I am very sorry if you feel that my review was too harsh. I recognize that this plugin does many things that I myself cannot program, and I respect the fact that I am leaning on the knowledge that you and your colleagues have which I lack. I appreciate the fact that you are giving your plugin away for free.

    The fact is that this plugin only approximately did what it’s supposed to do. It did accomplish something that saved me time, importing my users, creating passwords, and importing metadata. Unfortunately, it also cost me time trying to figure out what went wrong, as it created an entirely new set of fields in my user profiles, which destroys the functionality of having well-labeled, easy-to-use input fields which I had created.

    As soon as I removed the plugin, it cleaned up the extra columns it had added, which effectively got rid of the problem. After this point, I attempted to raise my rating to three stars. I’m afraid I cannot agree with your other users and give you five stars. This plugin is somewhat useful (and I thoroughly appreciate you responding so immediately to my other post and adding documentation to the plugin), but it is not perfect. To me, five stars means “perfect”; Three stars means “pretty good, but look at the details to deal with the blemishes”.

    I will attempt again to raise my review to 3 stars.
    You seem to be a very conscientious, responsive developer, and if I can figure out any more direct suggestions for improving your plugin, I will submit them. Please continue your work; this plugin has the potential to be something great!

    Plugin Author Javier Carazo

    (@carazo)

    Robert.Vidrine,

    Definitely you don’t know how it works. Five stars is not perfect, five stars is:

    • This plugin is the best importing users, this is prepared for this, the profile functionality is only an “addon” not well worked
    • In this sector of “Importing users” you have very few plugins, all of them are not supported or discontinued, this is supported every day and have new version once at month regularly
    • Five stars is for the very fast support we do, you haven’t paid for this and I have invested some hours in you and you haven’t payed or donated anything

    With reviews like it, I am starting thinking in leaving this kind of plugin. In CodeCanyon for example, you can review with 2 or 3 stars but yes, we would have received anything.

    Fortunately, much of users are not ungrateful like you.

    Please, understand how WordPress Community works, we help each other who hard work and we are supported by community encouragement.

    Thread Starter Robert.Vidrine

    (@robertvidrine)

    Javier,
    I have obviously hurt your feelings with my review. I am very sorry for this. I do respect that you have put in a lot of time on this plugin, and have been very responsive. I noted that in each of my posts.

    However, there are issues with the functionality of your plugin. This is not personal. I have tried to offer constructive criticism of your plugin. It is quite true that I do not understand everything about your plugin and how it works, and it is also true that the plugin did perform some functionality that was useful to me. However, it is also true that it made a mess, which it then cleaned up when I deactivated it.

    I sincerely hope that you continue to develop this plugin. I have deep respect for those who are brave enough to share their work publicly, and there is a great deal of value in this plugin. It is not in my eyes a five star plugin.
    The star rating system is not just to rate the amount of time you have put into a plugin, nor the quality of the developers making the plugins; it is an objective measure of the performance of the plugin.

    I have followed the Donate To This Plugin link from www.ads-software.com, with the intent of donating to your continued development. This goes to codection.com but I don’t see anywhere to make a donation.

    I am simply trying to point out areas where your plugin needs a little work. I have shared my opinions about your plugin so that others can see my perspective and know what is good and what is not so good about your plugin. My review and rating reflect that your plugin does very well some of what it sets out to do, but some parts not so well.
    It is my sincere hope that it will improve even more and become a five star plugin, showing the hard work and expertise you are clearly putting forward.

    I have clearly offended you, though I honestly don’t know why. If I can come up with specific code changes to suggest, I will submit them to you personally, at the email address you have provided in other posts.
    Please keeup up the good work!

    Plugin Author Javier Carazo

    (@carazo)

    Robert.Vidrine,

    If you want to make a donation you can do it to info AT codection DOT com (our PayPal address).

    The stars rating is a way to say thanks to the developer when the plugin is being improved oftenly (today there will be a new version with more improvements) and also a way to compare the plugin with the rest of his sector.

    This plugin is not perfect, but with 5 stars we will fight to make it perfect. With 2 or 3 stars… we think in start doing other things…

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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