Challenge Yourself discussion

(Sorry if you didn't want this topic; I can move it or delete it no hard feelings.)

Ok, I read my first book for my challenge. The "goodreads elf" didn't recognize my effort here on the challenge in this group until I clicked "update my entry" but then it did. So, happiness already!

Happiness here, too. I have got myself signed up for 3 different challenges, and find myself thinking up more. (No, brain! Three is sufficient!)

Um, yes, three is sufficient!

Is it January yet?

Darkpool wrote: "Is it January yet?"

I'm with you Darkpool! For a while I didn't want 2011 to end, because I had so many books that I wanted to finish. Now I can't wait for 2012 to start.

Only one four challenge s started earlier: 50 United Nations, 50 US States, Climb Every Mountain (home library) and Challege Yourself to read from one of your Special Shelves. (In my case that is Stephen King recommended books).

I joined the Climb Every Mountain challenge for 2012. Why is the start date November 1, 2011? It looks like this challenge started before this GR group was formed. And I hate being behind before I've even begun! Can you set up one that begins on Jan 1st?

Nell, I've asked for that as well, for the same reason.

Maybe a '2012 from Your Home Library' or some such - but some of us have already succumbed to temptation and started in on the existing Climb Every Mountain. :)

Here's hoping Almeta is just happily busy with family events this holiday week and will figure out something for you two when she gets a chance!

I'm not suggesting changing a challenge that's already underway.

Nell wrote: "I joined the Climb Every Mountain challenge for 2012. Why is the start date November 1, 2011? It looks like this challenge started before this GR group was formed. And I hate being behind before I've even begun! Can you set up one that begins on Jan 1st?..."

Sho wrote: "Nell, I've asked for that as well, for the same reason."

A few of the challenges were set up before this group was begun.

Many of us just could not wait to test out this new "Challenge Ticker" feature, so we took the plunge early!

If you like the yearly challenge better, using the same bookshelf that you have already created, you can move yourself over to Home Alone which runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st of 2012.

Thanks for your comments and suggesting this challenge time frame. I think I'll set up the others for a yearly challenge as well.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "... The "goodreads elf" didn't recognize my effort here on the challenge in this group until I clicked "update my entry" but then it did. ..."

I've noticed this as well. Also when you do "force" a personal update, the group stats don't reflect the change.

I reported this in Feedback.

Apparently the update will occur, with timed cycles, we just need to exercise patience!

Almeta wrote: "If you like the yearly challenge better, using the same bookshelf that you have already created, you can move yourself over to Home Alone which runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st of 2012..."

Thanks I moved to the Home Alone challenge.

Nell wrote: "Almeta wrote: "If you like the yearly challenge better, using the same bookshelf that you have already created, you can move yourself over to Home Alone which runs from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st of 2012..."

That's great. I'll bet you'll have company shortly!

Oooh, quandary. I've already got a book in credit in Climb Every Mountain.... to change, or not to change....

Darkpool wrote: "Oooh, quandary. I've already got a book in credit in Climb Every Mountain.... to change, or not to change...."

I joined both!

Just used the same shelf. I can track the books I read since I started the effort (Climb) and I can track the number I read within the one year (Home).

You too, can have it all!☺

Almeta, thank you for the giggles and joy!

I've read 13 of the 300 I set for myself in Climb Every Mountain. I can see from the progress report that I really need to do better. That's Awesome! I love the nudge!

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I've read 13 of the 300 I set for myself in Climb Every Mountain. I can see from the progress report that I really need to do better. That's Awesome! I love the nudge!"

You're progressing better than I. I still have a bunch of library books to get through. After February, I hope to step up the pace!

I never thought I'd have reason to grouch about the library, but I do have to go for picture-books, and every time I'm there I'm tempted by too much other stuff.

Almeta: Is there any easy way to view which challenges I've joined? I joined several of them and what an easy way to keep track.

No there is not an easy way that I know of, that is why I created the topic My Challenge is.

I put all of my challenges there and links to some of them, even the ones that are sponsored by some other group. That way, I don't have to hunt all over in each group discussion that I belong to. I can find them all from one spot.

Almeta's Challenges

Debra wrote: "Almeta: Is there any easy way to view which challenges I've joined? I joined several of them and what an easy way to keep track."

Debra, I made a bookmark, for each of my challenges, when I complete a book I just click on the appropriate bookmark and update that challenge. Hope this helps.

Kevin wrote: "...I made a bookmark, for each of my challenges, when I complete a book I just click on the appropriate bookmark and update that challenge. Hope this helps...."

Great idea Kevin!

Kevin wrote: "Debra wrote: "Almeta: Is there any easy way to view which challenges I've joined? I joined several of them and what an easy way to keep track."

Debra, I made a bookmark, for each of my challen..."

I like that idea.

The challenges don't seem to be updating unless I click on them. Today I still showed only 2 audiobooks read until I clicked to update, which then increased to my accurate total. Some of those books were added early in January ago and all the data were correct--it just didn't auto-update. Same for the TBR challenge.

I've never found that they do so. I have heard said 'they have a 24 hour' cache - but that isn't what you're experiencing. Let's keep an eye on it, and report it in the feedback group if it continues.

Sounds good--but let's let the staff crawl out of Amazgeddon.

right

bookmark????....... how do you do that????

I created a link for each challenge in "my profile" (using the comment area).

Linda wrote: "bookmark????....... how do you do that????"


I do it right in my browser, I have a folder Books with a sub folder Goodreads and put all my important Goodreads bookmarks in there. Firefox Bookmarks are the same thing as Internet Explorer Favorites. You could also use a site like Delicious to bookmark and share.

Luisa wrote: "I created a link for each challenge in "my profile" (using the comment area)."

That's a great idea, I'm going to give that a try. It's better then bookmarking because then it'll work no matter what computer or browser I use.

Kevin wrote: "Linda wrote: "bookmark????....... how do you do that????"


I do it right in my browser, I have a folder Books with a sub folder Goodreads and put all my important Goodreads bookmarks in there. Fir..."

sounds pretty cool - so I guess it makes it easier to find your challenges that way???

Linda wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Linda wrote: "bookmark????....... how do you do that????"

sounds pretty cool - so I guess it makes it easier to find your challenges that way??? ."

Yes it does especially if you always use the same computer, but if you you use multiple computers, Luisa's way is even better, because the link is available across all computers on your profile page. see message 30 above

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I've never found that they do so. I have heard said 'they have a 24 hour' cache - but that isn't what you're experiencing. Let's keep an eye on it, and report it in the feedback group if it conti..."
My challenge for the Around the World group does update without me having to do anything: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/5...

Osho wrote: "My challenge for the Around the World group does update without me having to do anything: ..."

Hey there Osho, I found your group with your offered link, but I did not find your challenge. Can you provide that as well?

I wonder what is different with your created challenge that loads updates more quickly than the ones that we are creating here at Challenge Yourself?

I have no idea. It's the group's main page challenge: http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/1... . As far as I know, it's the group's only challenge. It seems to update automatically and immediately. It's puzzling that it's different.

Osho wrote: "I have no idea. It's the group's main page challenge: http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/1... . As far as I know, it's the group's only challenge. It seems to..."

Interesting!!! I couldn't see the challenge itself until I joined the group. It did update immediately. Hmmmmm.

I made a little experiment and created the first challenge for a small group. The rusults updated immediatly, but when I added a read book in the shelf, I needed to use the "update" button. I used as a shelf an existing one with some books. Maybe is the presence of books to make the difference?

Luisa wrote: "I made a little experiment and created the first challenge for a small group. The rusults updated immediatly, but when I added a read book in the shelf, I needed to use the "update" button. I used ..."

Good point. My shelves are already pre-loaded with the books that I will read for the challange. when marked "read", they do not update, until I click into the challenge.

Osho, do you add a book to the shelf after you have marked it read; or do you already have the book shelved on the challenge shelf before you mark it?

How about you Cheryl. which method do you use?

I have a pre-loaded shelf, but I also have added a few books as I've read them. I'll have to keep an eye on it, to see if it updates immediately if I read a book that had been pre-loaded.

I will be reading a book from that shelf today or tomorrow so I'll be able to check soon. I'll read another after that and I'll make sure it's not on the shelf so I only add it as I mark it read, and then I can check from that angle, too.

Osho, do you add a book to the shelf after you have marked it read; or do you already have the book shelved on the challenge shelf before you mark it?

I enter the book after I've read it, at the same time that I enter the date read.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I will be reading a book from that shelf today or tomorrow so I'll be able to check soon. I'll read another after that and I'll make sure it's not on the shelf so I only add it as I mark it read, and then I can check from that angle, too. ..."

Thanks Cheryl. I will do the same thing.

I think this may be the key difference, and if so I'd like to report it to the feedback group and the Beta testing people.

Let's see if we can play the detectives!

I should say, I enter the book after I've read it, at the same time that I enter the date read, in all of my challenges, both the one that's updating automatically and the ones in this group.

Osho wrote: "I should say, I enter the book after I've read it, at the same time that I enter the date read, in all of my challenges, both the one that's updating automatically and the ones in this group."

So you are saying that your behavior is identical for both group challenges, but that the results are different between the two?

One is immediate and automatic, and the other takes manual intervention to force an update?

Luisa wrote: "I made a little experiment and created the first challenge for a small group. The rusults updated immediatly, but when I added a read book in the shelf, I needed to use the "update" button. I used as a shelf an existing one with some books. Maybe is the presence of books to make the difference? ..."

We have a mystery to solve!!!

Almeta wrote: "We have a mystery to solve!!! "

Yes! We could ask Lord Peter Wimsey or Philo Vance, as book lovers, to solve it :D

Luisa wrote: "Almeta wrote: "We have a mystery to solve!!! "

Yes! We could ask Lord Peter Wimsey or Philo Vance, as book lovers, to solve it :D"

Er....Watson, the Game's Afoot!

o you are saying that your behavior is identical for both group challenges, but that the results are different between the two?

One is immediate and automatic, and the other takes manual intervention to force an update?

Indubitably, my dear Watson.

Ok. I read two books for my challenge.

The first I had *not* pre-loaded onto my (non-exclusive) challenge shelf. At the same time I reviewed it, I added it to that shelf. When I looked at my challenge, it was already there (by count, and by 'view books') - meaning that the update was automatic and immediate.

The second was *already* pre-loaded. After I reviewed it and marked it read, I looked at my challenge, and it was *not* there. I clicked "update my entry"* and *then* the book was there.

*'Update my entry' is odd. It's the only way I know to update my tally - but what it reveals is the chance to modify my goal, which I actually don't want.