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#37 2005-12-09 21:14:47
- Mary
- Sock Enthusiast
- Registered: 2004-06-27
- Posts: 6,236
Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
The “ok” flag divs for if_comments_allowed and if_comments_disallowed were unclosed. Now the page is normal again. :)
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Good eye, mary. I was pretty lazy.
I think I mentioned somewhere else once that I’ve gotten rid of the flags in TextBook, but left them alone in the tags area. Maybe it’s time to get rid of them there too. I think the tag pages have enough recognition now (Hicks’ article, case in point) that we don’t need to dilly with the flags anymore; people will keep them up to date, no? Besides, I’ve removed the flags dialogue from the collaboration page info. In any case, I leave that call up to Rick.
I might also suggest that if we don’t need that “Attention Authors/Editors” section anymore, we give that the axe too.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Now this is a polished custom MediaWiki skin, Mozilla Wiki. Maybe something to shoot for in the future.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Destry, the Mozilla wiki is very nice looking as are all of Mozilla’s family of sites.
I’ve never worked with MediaWiki, is it hard to style?
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Actually, yes, it’s very complex, I’m still trying to get my head around it. For example, those stupid easy orange divs on the cover of TextBook are done with inline styles because for reasons I can’t figure out you can’t add the styles to the CSS, the rules just don’t render. Yet I can do it for other custom divs in other pages of the wiki. Doesn’t make sense. You can see that the WorkPress Codex does their main page styling the same way, and I guess for the same reason.
Obviously it can be done though, because the guys at Mozilla have it going on nice. I tell you one thing, if a designer spent time with MediaWiki, really getting to know it intimately and be able to do some clean, strong, original skin styling, you could probably use that as a selling tool for design work. Every MediaWiki site I see is some near exact monobook looking shite (that’s the default skin), but if a designer did wizardry work with MediaWiki skins, like Mozilla has done (many people have likely worked on that site), then you would have a skill to advertise and make money with. Believe it. If I ever understand to that level, it’s certainly a skill I’ll be advertising. In the meantime, this is a good place to doink.
Make no mistake though, there’s a reason most designers don’t boast about MediaWiki design skills. It’s a very complex styling hodgepodge…not very inviting at all.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Yeah, most every MediaWiki site I see looks about the same, I don’t even need to look at the footer to see what the site is running. Now I know why, it’s hard to style.
Here’s a very nice wiki comparision site
We Love TXP . TXP Themes . TXP Tags . TXP Planet . TXP Make
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Ah, nice link. Thanks.
Helped to answer the long-standing question, does Instiki provide multi-lingual support? No, it doesn’t. We did right by staying with MediaWiki.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
I’m wondering how many people use their personal tool bar in TextBook…
<img src=“http://wion.com/crap/userTools.gif” />
My impression is not too many people use those links; am I wrong?
The first little thing I had in mind was to drop that personal bar, and move the Search box to the upper-right corner. I would also like to drop either the Go or Search (both?) button, and put it all in horizontal alignment. (It probably is already, just needs to unwrap.)
Also, the logo is only meant to be temporary, in case anyone was worried, but it will stay as long as nothing else remarkable presents itself; and no, I don’t want to get into another logo design contest. Personally, I liked the book design that was offered for the redo of the resources site, and even invited the designer to use it, but I think they don’t have interest. As an alternative, I’m thinking a simple but elegant text logo of some sort is probably in order; i.e., no human figures doing manual labor, just words that read “TextBook” or “Textpattern’s TextBook” or something. Anything that would fit into that upper-left corner nice and neat.
Another thing planned is a slight widening of the left column and styling the lists up better; introducing block functionality, hovers, etc.
Unlike Mozilla Wiki, I like the full-screen liquid layout as it is now; furthermore, it simply works better when pictures are involved in an article; hence, we’ll remain full-screen, I’m pretty sure. What we will try and do though is drop unnecessary box borders and just use more white space for a sense of element positioning.
Anyway, all in time.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
I do use the personal toolbar, but not often. And, like you, Destry, I get the feeling that I’m in the minority. If you decide to move it, I might miss it from time to time—but I’d adapt.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
My impression is not too many people use those links; am I wrong?
I’ve never used it so far.
The first little thing I had in mind was to drop that personal bar, and move the Search box to the upper-right corner. I would also like to drop either the Go or Search (both?) button, and put it all in horizontal alignment. (It probably is already, just needs to unwrap.)
I think that’s a good idea, although I’d like the labels to be clearer. It took me quite a while until I figured out at Wikipedia what the difference between the two was.
Another thing planned is a slight widening of the left column and styling the lists up better; introducing block functionality, hovers, etc.
Good and important idea!
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
Maybe the thing to do is simply drop that bar to the bottom of the page. That way the tools are there, but not eating up good space for how little they’re used overall. We could also fold those links into the left nav somehow too.
With regard to the Search: In MediaWiki, both buttons take you to a “Search Results” output page, so I think it would be prudent to drop the “Go” button and just keep “Search”.
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Re: [wiki] TextBook wiki redesign planning
I personally like the new logo.
I agree that the bottom of the screen is a better place for the personal toolbar.
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