# of Text Boxes changed again? 5 is not enough!

[John]

When was the limit changed from 10 to 5? My first network has 8 and I have setup many other duplicates where I need 8. Can we work together to have this reverted back asap?

I understand the need to minimize the boxes to increase speed, but I need that flexibility on my homepage and can not function without it. Please help!

[Jen]

5 is difficult to work with - - and that's coming from someone who can add HTML in just about any way, possible. So for me and my networks, I can work around this. However, if I'm designing a client's site, I can't put a lot of HTML in one text box. 9 times out of 10, they don't know how to edit the HTML, completely.

Case in point (in reference to some limitations): had a client last week, who wanted to move his biz from existing platform to Ning. We were discussing via phone. The minute he found out 2 limitations: 5 text boxes and 10 profile questions, I am not kidding, he terminated the call within 10 seconds. Didn't bother me, it's his decision. But, this is a good example of why some of the limitations may be too much.

My thoughts,
Jen

[John]

I agree... NIng, we need your help and cooporation with this one asap.

[Jen]

Hi John,
I would think asap is not possible. This is most likely a major platform consideration.
:-)
Best,
Jen

[The PL Team (d&e)]

We agree with you John, we don't view textboxes as places to fill up with embeddable code, but rather a way to separate content and place it exactly where we want it.

Please ning, give us that flexibility back. There must be a better way to limit the number of embedded items people are piling into a site.

e

[Barry Bakin]

I don't know much about embedding code but the text boxes do aid in visual organization of information. Surely there must be some features that could be given up in order to select one more text box. Does it follow that not using a chat feature or forgoing a video feature would make up for the extra text box? What if any boxes over the limit of 5 were limited to text only?

And why aren't the limits even mentioned on the "add features" page? Why is it necessary to figure out by deduction or by coming to the creator forum that there even is a limit?

[Laura]

Hi!

Gina touched on this in her most recent blog post:
"For example, the limits to the number of text boxes and types of content you could add to your Main Page this summer weren’t designed to limit your creativity, but to ensure that you could grow your Ning Network into everything you wanted it to become. Speed is the secret component to making this a reality. Any great product needs to be fast or it is not great. And we want your Ning Network to be great."

The news that Google will likely use speed as a factor in search rankings supports the improvements to performance we've been working on.

Thanks!
Laura

[MAXX]

We should decide how speedy our site should be, not ning..........

[Felipe]

I totally agree with this.

[Laura]

Right, but slowness on lots of Ning Networks means slowness across the platform - aka, the speed on your Ning Networks affects others! This is why we're looking at offering this as a premium service, which would help offset any costs we'd have to devote to working on minimizing the effect of slower Ning Networks on the others.
Thanks,
Laura

[Felipe]

A premium service?!?! NO, that;'s completely unfair. Instead of taking Textboxes away why not delete networks that have no inactivity at all. I can name a few on the top of my head. I'm sure they are making the Platform SLOW. Ning changes loads of stuff without asking their members if they think its a good idea.

[Zohra]

Right... i found it ridiculous in the first place from the beginning.

Why first delete it because it 'would slow down our networks' and then offer it as a premiumservice?

This just doesn't make sense to me... and AGAIN no answer from NING because i feel no one dares to answer my criticism..

This seems like 'shady business' me!

[AnitaC]

I agree. If it's Ning's intention to remove certain features and then offering them as PREMIUM Features and charge for them... then don't give us these "smoke up the ****" excuses as to why you are removing them. Just say, we will have to pay more money for better features. I personally am getting tired of having to come up with all kinds of creative ways to make my site unique only to have some door shut afterward preventing them from working. I still think Ning should offer us a way to export our data from our sites besides the member information. If we want to go to another platform... we should have the right to take our information with us. No where in the TOS does it state that if you want stop to using Ning, that you can't have your information. They are probably getting ready to go the route of Kickapps. Kickapps went from a Free Product to No Free Product - you MUST pay to use them now.