Index Rework

1. Index Rework

   #1

   First quick try at a design. Don't concentrate on the graphics so much as the format.
   
   Index needs to be simple but have enough taste of what is available. We will have another pseudo-index that can have much more information in a similiar format that is set up by the user.

2. Re: Index Rework

   #2

   And another

3. Re: Index Rework

   #3

   So the front page is being redesigned again?
   
   I like the first one better.

4. Index / Newish Design Comments wanted

   #4

   I tried to use as little formatting as possible to concentrate on the setup. Everything is skinnable so the look can be completely changed through stylesheets.
   
   I am looking for comments on implementation.
   What is available.
   How much detail to provide.
   Do you like the top menu setup?
   Do you like the tabbed "recent" menu?
   The login will be at the top still, just didn't put it in.
   
   Any browser issues? graphic issues? what version of what browser are you using?
   Load times? (Yes 160KB in support files for the first download, then cache should take over)
   http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/  compare it to the current homepage and notice that there is NO compression yet until php is used. This will decrease it quite a bit. So ignore the page size for now, tomorrow I will get the gzip working for size comparison. Concentrate on DESIGN.
   
   NONE OF THE LINKS WORK. You can try, they won't do anything. It is all hand coded with example data.
   
   http://www.strolen.com/test3/index_new.php
   
   Let me know, even if it is just "Bleh"

5. Re: Index / Newish Design Comments wanted

   #5

   Lessee, on my work comp, which is IE on a cable connection, it took about thirty seconds, the first time; I'll check Opera and IE on dailup at home.
   
   The tabbed recent thing is a nifty idea, I think.  I also like the drop downs for the top menu.  There is an awful lot of dead space at the bottom of the recent tabs, on the side of the expanded recent box.  Are you going to put something there? 
   
   I don't know if the "Read, Post, Play" boxes should go on the top side like that or not; might work better across the top of the page instead of in a stack.  Alternatively, you might move them, bump the Hall of Honor box up, and put Read Post Play in the righthand column either on top of the quest box, or under the tabs box.  Might even things out.
   
   Edit: In IE, the list on the tabs is truncated to five entries per tab, and clicking the tabs shifts it to whatever tab it is.  In Opera, the tab boxes have a list of thirty or so entries, and it seems to be all the entries for all the categories on the tabs.  Clicking a tab apparently shifts the page down to the first entry of the type.  I like the IE way better.
   
   
   Does any of that help?

6. Re: Index / Newish Design Comments wanted

   #6

   The Opera thing - what version are you using? The IE way is what both of them should be doing...but at least all the content is still visible and available I suppose. ;)
   
   The Read Post Play is going to have actual text in there. That will be the intro vs. the paragraph we had before. Each one will link to other stuff so just pretend that those three things are informative. The move is fine though as they will still be prominant.
   
   We can fill the dead space with something, any ideas on what?
   
   Thanks Ria!
   
   I added a gzip version http://www.strolen.com/test3/index_new.php and it is still big. I can break down all the CSS files and reduce them all 20% to 50% once I have finalized them but there will be graphics to deal with too. Might have to get rid of those right tabbed listing to cut down on file size and since they have issues with backwards compatibility they may not be worth the extra file load times to bring them up only in the newer browsers.

7. Re: Index / Newish Design Comments wanted

   #7

   I don't even know what version I'm using any more.  Almost certainly, not the most recent.

8. Re: Index Rework

   #8

   I love the clickable "Read", "Post", "Play" boxes.
   
   Just put your mouse over them, click and a brave new world awaits!
   
   Yahooo! All bow for Strolen!

9. Re: Index Rework

   #9

   I was looking at Strolen’s vision of the Citadel of the future:
   http://www.strolen.com/test3/index_new.php
   
   His prophetic vision had some future subs that we’d better get onto right away.  I see that I’m the author of :  The Once and Future Troll, about the legendary horror that once seized the crown of the Empire and is prophesied to do so again…
   
   My writing will similarly be up to the challenge of the Umbrella Tree, a carnivorous plant that is found near the front door of many wizards’ towers, and Gorky Park, which is probably a dystopian Cyberpunk meeting place where Russian history meets an ugly future.
   
   Scrasamax will bring us the Upside Down Head, most likely an isolated culture that takes self-mutilation to a whole new level.  Before that, he will bring us Sesame Street II, a neighborhood where lurking monstrosities have terrified the human population for so long that they have become accepted as an inevitable part of life.
   
   Corinth gets to write Walking with Grass, no doubt a system for including Druidic companions that are actually sentient plants.  If that isn’t enough, the dreaded Carrot Tribe awaits, their bright orange hair towering ominously into the sky.
   
   Manfred has The Enemy Dice.  That sounds like a plot about a corrupt gambling hall…
   
   Valadaar has the Sorcery of Lemons and Oops, I Did It Again.  I don’t envy him THOSE writing challenges.

10. Re: Index Rework

    #10

    Crap! My To do list is already too long!
    
    :P
    
    Where the heck did THOSE come from :)
    

11. Re: Index Rework

    #11

    R'leyh

12. Re: Index Rework

    #12

    Val, if you look on the side of the page, there are some tabs for the different categories of subs.  Some of the subs showing are ones that we recognize, but if you tab to the ones behind them, you'll see some Unusual subs, such as Corinth's dungeon, Who Ate My Peanut Butter?, and the impressive Holy Cow.

13. Re: Index Rework

    #13

    I see them :)
    
    I wonder where Strolen came up with the titles!
    
    

14. Re: Index Rework

    #14

    I second Ria's Rleyh hypothesis.

15. Re: Index Rework

    #15

    You lost me on that one.... :what:

16. Re: Index Rework

    #16

    It's probably best for your continued sanity that you don't know.

17. Re: Index Rework

    #17

    Continued sanity? :what: Little late I'm afraid....

18. Re: Index Rework

    #18

    I copied and pasted the same 5 submissions but when you clicked on the tabs you couldn't tell they were different. It was easier to type new names than copy and paste real ones with the author, so there ya go. :)
    
    Suggestions on the page would be nice too. ;)

19. Re: Index Rework

    #19

    Sorry I sidetracked things there.  I appreciated the whimsy of your suggested subs.
    
    Getting back to the point of the thread:  I liked the layout.  The blank space could be filled with art or a cool quote.
    
    Did you have a particular font in mind?

20. Re: Index Rework

    #20

    I like the layout as well, but please retain the ability to display a plain, low graphics mode.  I have my reasons.... :shock:
    
    

21. Re: Index Rework

    #21

    Dailup?

22. Re: Index Rework

    #22

    Would the current count as low graphics mode? It sort of looks businessy...something I could safely browse and post to at work. :)
    
    The initial design is going to be completely (well, mostly) utilitarian. It is about as fancy as it is going to get the way it is. I just need placeholders for everything to make sure it works. Once we get it working, then we can start creating graphics for it and replacing what is currently there.
    
    As far as dialup, that will depend on the features you like and want to keep. The index is going to be the biggest, at least on the first load. Once the javascript is cached you won't incur that download again. After that, it should be pretty light really. If it is too big, it is too big and I will do something about it though. The biggest eater is the top menu with the drop-downs, but I like that and it will be consistant over all the pages...I think that is worth a little time to get the first time.
    
    You will have to tell me your limits with waiting on dial-up and if you were a visitor if it would be worth it. I don't intend to have dial-up evaaaar again. I could maybe figure out a loading type thing to let them know it is working?

23. Re: Index Rework

    #23

    It took a good three or four minutes to load on my dailup, but I'm okay with that.  A load bar might be nice, tho.

24. Re: Index Rework

    #24

    I have lots of thoughts (mostly of the non-technical variety). I will share them at the Con!
    
    I'll second AG's comment for now. Read, Post, Play...yea!!

25. Re: Index Rework

    #25

    3 minutes is insane!
    
    I would never wait that long. hmmm

26. Re: Index Rework

    #26

    Too big, working on something smaller with same effectiveness. I wanted to use Yahoo's UI library but it is too big for what I need it to do. We don't need all the bells and whistles, just the convenience stuff that will make everything cleaner and easier to use. Going to try jQuery now and see how that library works out.

27. Re: Index Rework

    #27

    I'm on dial up as well, and it only took me about 45 seconds to load.

28. Re: Index Rework

    #28

    Another library, another try. Trimmed it down huge. The menu dropdowns seem to be misaligned a little...are they on yours too?
    
    http://www.strolen.com/test3/index_new.php

29. Re: Index Rework

    #29

    I'm on very, very bad dailup... probably a worst-case scenario.
    
    Much, much better load time on the second version.  Looks fine in Opera, haven't checked IE.  And right now, I'm too fried to actually convey useful information.

30. Re: Index Rework

    #30

    With Maxthon/IE the menus are terribly mis-aligned - they are very difficult to select.  I liked the prior settings better.
    
    
    

31. Re: Index Rework

    #31

    Fixed the pretty factor, now will work on the format a little bit.

32. Re: Index Rework

    #32

    Menus seem to be working well with FF; though very slow at popping up, maybe a time-out should be decreased.
    
    The Latest 5 by Type effect looks better than the Random 5 by Type. Not sure how to make it look better... the tabs had it all in one place, but were too many, this one keeps jumping around.
    
    
    Would also like to see some of the heavy duty pages, like a single submission, or some of the summaries.

33. Re: Index Rework

    #33

    http://www.strolen.com/index3.php
    
    Moving it over very slowly. Trying to keep it very generic. Stuff is now pulled from the database and the links should work. I will probably place a couple different summary formats here for experimentation before building the other pages. We can compare and decide what we like with them side by side, then take our choice and put it on the summary pages.
    
    Either of the Latest or Random by 5 can duplicate their action. The Latest I have instant where the Random I have the delayed animation thing on. On purpose just to see the different options for it those lists. We will pick a way (or dump it altogether) depending on our tastes. I didn't like the tabs either, too busy, thought this accordian thing might be better.
    
    I may work on some design ideas for the other pages while on vacation and will upload them when I get back. No guarantees on that though.
    
    Thanks for taking a look at it.
    
    

34. Re: Index Rework

    #34

    Can we get a listing/ preview of the top index page contenders?

35. Re: Index Rework

    #35

    Too confusing working on the same server so moved it to http://www.readpostplay.com and started from scratch.
    
    Succeeded with initial goal, content first using css to organize the sections.
    
    Also got rid of a crapload of javascript code in the top menu. Needs some beautifying but works everywhere (firefox, IE, Opera) and is TONS smaller.

36. Re: Index Rework

    #36

    Lorem Ipsum, wow. I am impressed. Using http://www.lipsum.com/ ?  (Manfred it has a generator).
    
    I was under the impression there was going to be a right column bar that was going to mimic in function (but not form or exact content) our existing right bar. Is that going by the wayside?

37. Re: Index Rework

    #37

    I think I like the idea of the right menu adapting to what you are viewing. Opens up some options. Having all the navigation under the single heading on top really frees a lot of area. There will also be a page dedicated to listing all the different ways you can view information (I think you suggested that) and in the future we can make a section that allows each user to customize the links they use often to show up on the right menu for easy access. That will be easy once the pages are put together.
    
    Working on it a bit tonight. I have to get the dang index finished so I can move on to the other pages and then on to the code. It is worth the time to convert it! I keep finding better ways to do it. Overall, it will make it much easier to change formats/themes in the future.

38. Re: Index Rework

    #38

    This is why I like Task Pages.  You only need to list seven to eight links, one to each page. Each page takes on the 5-18 things that would need to be on that bar otherwise (and adds some more). That way you have less things to confuse people on that side bar.

39. Re: Index Rework

    #39

    I am back to this page: http://www.strolen.com/index3.php

40. Re: Index Rework

    #40

    Not done with the index, but it works so I move on. Fix details later and any comments are welcome.
    
    Started on the submission viewing pages today
    
    http://www.strolen.com/content3.php?node=3798
    
    You can pop any sub in there. No replies/codices/scrolls yet, just the barebones. Still messing with formatting but everything is fluid so can change locations on a whim so not too worried about it, but if you have ideas, let me know.
    
    I tried a left column and a right column, but I didn't like it. I can put it up again eventually if you think it might be better, but will continue on in this format for now.

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