Update!

[popkin16]

I've attempted to generate the matches. Ao3 keeps insisting that several people don't have a match, even though I've looked at the offers/requests and people clearly match. I'm trying to figure out why Ao3 won't let me force-match people lol. It might be another day or two before assignments go out as I fight with ao3.

Comments

[rivulet027]

It does that. It could be what you've clicked for people to match for...and they don't completely line up or it could be the way a form is filled out. I've had that problem too. Hope it's easy to work through why it's giving you problems!

[popkin16]

I might just click "regenerate matches" wholesale and see what it spits out. But I worry that I'll just be shuffle around who is matched and who has "no matches" or whatever. I just wish ao3 had an override lol.

[sjh2009]

Technology isn't always better than doing it by hand, lol!

[dragonflower1]

I wish I could offer assistance, but I know nothing about the administrative side of gift exchanges. I did find this Fanlore article about matching, though. Don't know if it will help.

https://fanlore.org/wiki/Matching

[popkin16]

Thanks for offering assistance :) I've looked over the link and I understand different types of matching now, but I'm not sure I can change HOW ao3 does the matching...

[respoftw]

Oh noes. I hope you manage to figure it out without too much hassle.

[popkin16]

It has not been going well.

[sjh2009]

Just thinking here, but does it have anything to do with one person submitting three requests, whereas everyone else has only submitted one? I note that the sign up summary states 20 requests and 21 offers, whereas there are actually only 18 participants! I just wonder if that's what's confused it.

[popkin16]

Very possibly? Honestly, I'm not sure how this stupid system works. I'm going to see if I can combine all three requests into one, see where that gets me...

[popkin16]

According to the sign-up form, you can list up to 3 requests and/or offers. You'd think that would help, rather than hinder, since they're requesting/offering more. But IDK. I've gotten it down to just 2 people being an issue, but they're 100% incompatible and ao3 is still not letting me hand match anyone.

[respoftw]

If the two are completely incompatible could you put these out to pinch hitters?

[popkin16]

Honestly, that's what I'm thinking of doing. I'm spending 2 hours a night fighting with ao3 as;kjfa;s

[respoftw]

It might be the easiest solution. I would definitely sign up to pick one of them up x

[popkin16]

I have enlisted some help for this problem, because even typing the names in under "write-in" didn't work.

[respoftw]

😕 sorry hun.

[jhako]

Could you edit the requests/contact the requesters so that they edit the tags to make matching easier?
Sucks thought hat Ao3 won't let you handmatch. According to the tutorial they put up it looks so easy, but I guess some hiccups are to be expected :/

[popkin16]

I've edited the requests, but even with doing so, ao3 keeps insisting they're not compatible. I even tried writing the names under "write-in" (like, as a pinch hitter) but it still refuses to save it. But I've enlisted some help for this problem as;kjfa Hopefully they can figure something out.

[sjh2009]

Good luck, I hope you can get it sorted without too much more trauma. AO3 sounds like more trouble that it’s worth for this!

[dragonflower1]

I know it's late in the game to start changing things up, but if you can't get AO3 to cooperate, might you consider closing the gift exchange and hand-matching everyone? You could open an SGA Secret Santa Collection instead, and everyone could manually post their fics to the collection, gifting it to their recipient?

I'm just spit-balling. As a professional end-user, I don't know how or if that would work, and if you'd have the control in a collection to keep the writers anonymous until a specific date. It's just a thought.