Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 21, 2008 at 9:08 AM
The forums have now been updated with the new header. We have added a Log-in/Register link that appears on the Front Page and all forums and galleries - this link should be functional in about a week.
I am debating on whether to eliminate the old "Select Forum" drop-down menu that appears in the upper right corner of the page just above the green bar - it seems redundant, yet doesn't really occupy much screen real estate. Any opinions on whether it goes or stays is appreciated.
Next up are the IC galleries and the misc. forum/gallery screens which we hope to have done this week. As always, thanks for your patience!
Jim, I would leave it for a bit till we can train ourselves to go the the header. Love all the work you have done towards making the site so user friendly. It wasn't bad before, but now it is just better... once I remember to look in the right place
Barb
I just used the old drop down for the last time. On my slow connection the new way of doing business is much better. Leaving it for a while is a good idea, but I won't need it now.
Thanks!
Posted by Carol Hyman on September 21, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Hi Jim, Our fingers are used to the Select Forum but once the style sheets are completed for all pages, including Regional Forums, I would suggest letting it go. BTW, since the Forum Index brings up a separate page, it's a bit more time and I think, band-width consuming.
Carol
Posted by Ed Cordes on September 21, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I like the changes so far. I would eliminate the drop down menu. As long as it stays there people will not get used to the new system. Unfortunately, this means you may have to field a few emails asking where it went.
Posted by Kenn Leonhardt on September 21, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Nice work on the changes, Jim.
I say get rid of the dropdown box everywhere once the IC galleries are updated.
On a related note, if I may offer one simple suggestion to apply to the forums/galleries:
Add a "My Posts" link beside "My Topics" and "My Photos"
It's annoying to hunt down a topic/photo that I've commented on just to find that link, and since I frequently go back to check on topics/photos I've posted on, it's a link I'd use far more often than any that are currently in that green bar. Just an idea...
Posted by Lon Overacker on September 22, 2008 at 2:35 AM
Jim,
Thanks for all your work! I like the header/nav changes. I too have begun to use the new menu to go between forums. The pull-down worked fine, but as you mentioned, is now redundant. Although it's irrelevant now, I had always wanted to mention to you that the old pull down menu didn't have the same list order in various forums.
Any word on any other enhancements/changes? You had talked earlier in the year about the max dimension of posted images. Just curious.
Lon
Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 22, 2008 at 6:02 AM
Lon asked:
Any word on any other enhancements/changes? You had talked earlier in the year about the max dimension of posted images.
The current header/navigation update is just the first phase. In the coming months there are other updates planned intended for Network members, including the following more "notable" improvements;
1. The Preferences page will be updated with new fields specific for listing personal websites on the Links page. Members will be able to provide more info about their websites in the listing.
2. When posting a photo, there will be a separate (optional) upload function for a file larger than 720 pixels/200kb that will open the larger photo in a separate window. I haven't settled on the final max size for this larger photo, but I'm thinking 1000 pixels/300kb. There will be a "View Larger Photo" icon under the main photo.
There will be numerous other "minor" forum software tweaks including no deletion of photos by user after a comment has been posted and no Portfolio or WWW icons for non-members.
BTW, the order on the old pull-down menu is intentional - when in an IC gallery, other galleries are listed first; when in the discussion forums, other forums are listed first. No matter now, the new menus are much easier to use and it's only a matter of time before the old drop-down is removed.
Thanks to all for your feedback!
Posted by Brad Mangas on September 22, 2008 at 10:21 AM
The old select forum drop down is somewhat redundant but doesn't bother me and actually at times I use it. But it's just a matter of a different approach if you delete it. No biggie.
I'm liking it so fare Jim, it's always nice to put on a new face.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 23, 2008 at 5:00 AM
Thanks to all for taking the time to comment!
The old drop-down will be retained in the regional forums only. We will be getting "under the hood" this week to install the new navigation in the IC galleries and clean up some other page aesthetic issues. By the end of the week, the "skin" on the forums and galleries should be pretty much set.
The next phase of forum software updates will begin in October (see my previous post).
A finger (voice) in the wilderness asks that you leave the old drop down available!
With the wonders of modern technology, I can (and do) now browse NPN when I'm in the field using Apple's iPhone mobile - what has that to do with the drop-down...? Well, devices like the iPhone have small screens and don't have mice - you have to use your fingers to scroll, zoom, and select options! Both those things mean that on a mobile such as the iPhone, the new NPN navigation is a lot slower and more awkward as it requires panning and zooming to use - you can't see all the options in some of the pop-out lists on a single screen. The pop-out lists are also too small and cramped to use without having to zoom the screen - if you don't, then you end up picking the wrong option and having to go back and try again.... it all begins to become very slow and frustrating to use instead of a pleasure .
The old drop down combo works well on the iPhone as the browser knows what a combo drop down does and displays a large scroll-wheel/rolling list of the options available at the bottom of the iPhone screen - this is quick and easy (and accurate!) to use. So, please.... for all those who follow NPN from the field or on the road... leave the combo where it is - or make a special version of the page for mobiles that shows it!!! (It is possible to detect the iPhone and other moblie devices using javascript/php etc .)
Posted by Jim Erhardt on September 24, 2008 at 5:11 AM
Nick, we are certainly leaving the old drop-down in the regional forums so there is a convenient way to navigate to the main NPN site. For hand helds, I find using the Site Map even easier. Let me know what you think of that approach!
The problem with site map pages is that you have to navigate backwards in order to go forwards .
If you really want to remove the drop down for normal browsers, then you should be able to do so while leaving the drop down visible for browsers like the iPhone... take a look here for one way of doing it - might be of use to DTP. I've a couple of other similar sites bookmarked if he needs any other ideas.
Discussion
14 repliesI am debating on whether to eliminate the old "Select Forum" drop-down menu that appears in the upper right corner of the page just above the green bar - it seems redundant, yet doesn't really occupy much screen real estate. Any opinions on whether it goes or stays is appreciated.
Next up are the IC galleries and the misc. forum/gallery screens which we hope to have done this week. As always, thanks for your patience!
Barb
Paul, thanks - these updates were so long over due I'm embarassed by it. We'll stick with it until the job is done!
I just used the old drop down for the last time. On my slow connection the new way of doing business is much better. Leaving it for a while is a good idea, but I won't need it now.
Thanks!
Carol
I say get rid of the dropdown box everywhere once the IC galleries are updated.
On a related note, if I may offer one simple suggestion to apply to the forums/galleries:
Add a "My Posts" link beside "My Topics" and "My Photos"
It's annoying to hunt down a topic/photo that I've commented on just to find that link, and since I frequently go back to check on topics/photos I've posted on, it's a link I'd use far more often than any that are currently in that green bar. Just an idea...
Thanks for all your work! I like the header/nav changes. I too have begun to use the new menu to go between forums. The pull-down worked fine, but as you mentioned, is now redundant. Although it's irrelevant now, I had always wanted to mention to you that the old pull down menu didn't have the same list order in various forums.
Any word on any other enhancements/changes? You had talked earlier in the year about the max dimension of posted images. Just curious.
Lon
The current header/navigation update is just the first phase. In the coming months there are other updates planned intended for Network members, including the following more "notable" improvements;
1. The Preferences page will be updated with new fields specific for listing personal websites on the Links page. Members will be able to provide more info about their websites in the listing.
2. When posting a photo, there will be a separate (optional) upload function for a file larger than 720 pixels/200kb that will open the larger photo in a separate window. I haven't settled on the final max size for this larger photo, but I'm thinking 1000 pixels/300kb. There will be a "View Larger Photo" icon under the main photo.
There will be numerous other "minor" forum software tweaks including no deletion of photos by user after a comment has been posted and no Portfolio or WWW icons for non-members.
BTW, the order on the old pull-down menu is intentional - when in an IC gallery, other galleries are listed first; when in the discussion forums, other forums are listed first. No matter now, the new menus are much easier to use and it's only a matter of time before the old drop-down is removed.
Thanks to all for your feedback!
I'm liking it so fare Jim, it's always nice to put on a new face.
The old drop-down will be retained in the regional forums only. We will be getting "under the hood" this week to install the new navigation in the IC galleries and clean up some other page aesthetic issues. By the end of the week, the "skin" on the forums and galleries should be pretty much set.
The next phase of forum software updates will begin in October (see my previous post).
A finger (voice) in the wilderness asks that you leave the old drop down available!
With the wonders of modern technology, I can (and do) now browse NPN when I'm in the field using Apple's iPhone mobile - what has that to do with the drop-down...? Well, devices like the iPhone have small screens and don't have mice - you have to use your fingers to scroll, zoom, and select options! Both those things mean that on a mobile such as the iPhone, the new NPN navigation is a lot slower and more awkward as it requires panning and zooming to use - you can't see all the options in some of the pop-out lists on a single screen. The pop-out lists are also too small and cramped to use without having to zoom the screen - if you don't, then you end up picking the wrong option and having to go back and try again.... it all begins to become very slow and frustrating to use instead of a pleasure
The old drop down combo works well on the iPhone as the browser knows what a combo drop down does and displays a large scroll-wheel/rolling list of the options available at the bottom of the iPhone screen - this is quick and easy (and accurate!) to use. So, please.... for all those who follow NPN from the field or on the road... leave the combo where it is - or make a special version of the page for mobiles that shows it!!! (It is possible to detect the iPhone and other moblie devices using javascript/php etc
The problem with site map pages is that you have to navigate backwards in order to go forwards
If you really want to remove the drop down for normal browsers, then you should be able to do so while leaving the drop down visible for browsers like the iPhone... take a look here for one way of doing it - might be of use to DTP. I've a couple of other similar sites bookmarked if he needs any other ideas.