Admin Facelift. Take 3

Ace of Dubs · 2006-07-29 14:52:44

LOL, I want to install it myself!

Just havent had the time to dip in the code. Luckily, the latest comps would require a lot less CSS hacking and the code would be beautiful and semantic.

Right now the biggest obstacle is the switch between side and top navigation. Since more options are listed on the side this becomes more than a simple matter of switching CSS docs. Instead we have to deal with the issue of calling up different html (or php) templates dynamically from the prefs page. If any of you are smart enough to figure out how to do this, feel free to enlighten me.

Edit: Could someone post screenshots of Crockery?

Last edited by Ace of Dubs (2006-07-29 14:55:18)

jameslomax · 2006-08-19 18:10:53

Check this out guys

We already have a good, efficient way of modifying the interface with css.
Now all we need is an elegant style…

Logoleptic · 2006-08-20 04:04:54

Just found this thread, and I’m astounded at the brilliant efforts that are being made toward a revised admin interface for Txp. Ace, the stuff you’re showing in #131 is brilliant. I also think that the active tabs might not be marked clearly enough, however. Highlighting them in a manner similar to the second version might solve this problem. I love the new look, though, and appreciate the return of subtle gradients that add dimension to the interface. The only other criticism or suggestion I can think of is that there isn’t enough contrast in the non-active tabs/links in both versions. Low-vision users (or web developers who’ve been staring at their monitor for hours on end) might have trouble making those out. Same for the “log out” and “view site” links. Other than those two things this is hot, hot stuff.

James: The plugin you’re referencing only changes the admin bar at the top of the screen. As I understand it, what we’re looking at doing in this thread involves far more extensive changes to the underlying code. It would have to go in the core.

In reference to some earlier posts about a standard-issue JavaScript library for Textpattern, I could see it being a good idea in theory. There are a lot of excellent plugins out there that are bloated with inline JavaScript, which makes them more difficult to create and maintain for plugin developers. As long as it doesn’t try to be all things to all people (a whole different kind of bloat), a useful set of JS building blocks that could be connected to do more complex stuff might be a boon to the whole Txp enhancement scene.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-08-20 16:54:07

jameslomax wrote:

Check this out guys

Very interesting indeed, James. While this plugin does not have the more advanced skinning features we have discussed, it is a smart step in the right direction. Unfortunately the hardest part of this project remains to be touched… and that’s the restructuring of the admin’s features so they are more semantic and easily read. It seems this facelift has evolved into full on liposuction! :p

Logoleptic wrote:

Just found this thread, and I’m astounded at the brilliant efforts that are being made toward a revised admin interface for Txp.

Cheers! :)

I also think that the active tabs might not be marked clearly enough, however. Highlighting them in a manner similar to the second version might solve this problem. The only other criticism or suggestion I can think of is that there isn’t enough contrast in the non-active tabs/links in both versions. Low-vision users (or web developers who’ve been staring at their monitor for hours on end) might have trouble making those out. Same for the “log out” and “view site” links.

Good call, LL. I’ve updated the design a bit to address these issues…

I tried coloring the background of the active tabs, but it really mucked up the cleanliness of the original. Hence the above revision..I think the indicators are much easier to read now, without being too over the top. I’ve also bumped up the contrast on the link colors a notch. Feedback, as always, is welcome.

To: Mary
Have you guys reworked all the html for Crockery yet? Do you have any raw html templates you could post? I could probably get some working demos up pretty quickly if you guys have already gone through the trouble of 86ing the table, inline styles, etc.

Let me know

Last edited by Ace of Dubs (2006-08-20 16:55:07)

Mary · 2006-08-20 18:48:18

Have you guys reworked all the html for Crockery yet? Do you have any raw html templates you could post?

No. Crockery is subject to drastic change.

Logoleptic · 2006-08-20 20:17:59

Mary wrote:

<blockquote><blockquote><p>Have you guys reworked all the html for Crockery yet? Do you have any raw html templates you could post?</p></blockquote><p>No. Crockery is subject to drastic change.</p></blockquote>

Just out of curiosity, does that mean “No we haven’t reworked the html” or “No I can’t post templates, because they might be completely different by tomorrow morning”?

Last edited by Logoleptic (2006-08-20 20:18:42)

xjosie729 · 2006-08-20 20:55:00

Ace of Dubs wrote:

I dunno if the current admin will allow javascript, but I like the idea of dropdown navigation.
If this design gets enough votes, I will go ahead and code up the CSS / JS to make it functional.

I’m pretty sure A list apart has an article on making a drop down menu with css.

jameslomax · 2006-08-21 11:07:18

Ace etc: yes, I realise that plug in is merely liposuction. Added with an enthusiastic use of botox.
I mentioned it, in the interests of so-you-know-whats-going-on and to indicate that its a simple and clever piece of code. My problem with the ideas of this thread, as it is with the other thread on image management, is it concerns core-level change which is a lot of work, that takes a long time to manifest. Meanwhile, plug ins can be built relatively quickly that work just as well. Which is not to discredit these ideas, which are great, but to point to the reality of development cycles as they impact on txp development.

I like the last image of Ace – clean, simple, and soft. I think the default txp style is clean and simple, but it’s a little ‘hard’ – it needs softening….

Apart from that: ack, I’ll withdraw, because this is a dev thread ;)

Last edited by jameslomax (2006-08-22 19:15:42)

Mary · 2006-08-22 00:07:28

Adam:

The first question was (emphasis mine):

Have you guys reworked all the html for Crockery yet?

The answer is no.

The second question was:

Do you have any raw html templates you could post?

No, I can’t post templates, because they may be completely different by tomorrow morning.

Crockery is publicly available in svn.

Last edited by Mary (2006-08-22 00:09:37)

Ace of Dubs · 2006-08-22 12:50:48

Hmm…

Suppose my best bet is to simply download Crockery and view source on the admin pages.

I just downloaded subversion, but having a heck of a time figuring out how to use it. The docs it comes with are long and vague. I have also checked out http://textpattern.com/faq/103/how-do-i-fetch-the-current-development-version but that page assumes you know how to install and use svn.

My experience with the command line is pretty much limited to chmodding folders, so if anyone here can explain how to get this working on Mac OS X in three sentences or less, I’m all ears.

Mary · 2006-08-22 14:27:07

http://textpattern.net/wiki/index.php?title=Subversion_Installation_for_Macintosh

rloaderro · 2006-08-22 15:59:41

Ace of Dubs wrote:

Good call, LL. I’ve updated the design a bit to address these issues…

Hi Ace! Checking out this latest design, I think I liked where you were going earlier. This one seems to suffer from the same problem as the current design – there are 2 levels of navigation but the weight of the tabs looks the same – ie. there is little indication that “write” is inside “content” for example. Also, I see you have eliminated the popup navigation menu – I don’t think I have ever used it personally, but I can see where it could be useful for some users if we are sticking with this multi-level tab layout. I would also recommend putting a “prefs” next to the “logout” since the only other way for a non-admin-priv user to change their pass or email would be via the missing popup menu (which is already awkward because the prefs are inside the admin section which they don’t have access to otherwise and are called “site admin” and not “preferences” which are in fact the txp prefs natch).

cheers!

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#133 2006-07-29 14:52:44

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#134 2006-08-19 18:10:53

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#135 2006-08-20 04:04:54

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#136 2006-08-20 16:54:07

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#137 2006-08-20 18:48:18

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#138 2006-08-20 20:17:59

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#139 2006-08-20 20:55:00

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#140 2006-08-21 11:07:18

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#141 2006-08-22 00:07:28

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#142 2006-08-22 12:50:48

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#143 2006-08-22 14:27:07

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#144 2006-08-22 15:59:41

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

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