Admin Facelift. Take 3

rloaderro · 2006-07-17 15:35:16

Ace of Dubs wrote:

Thanks for the offer.. I could really use a hand at making this layout happen. I am at a bit of a loss here since the admin is generated by PHP.. I am not sure how to style all the elements yet, but that will change once I have more free time.

I imagine the pages should be layed out first in static html and then translated to TXP PHP. The hard part will be coming up with a standard naming convention for all sections of the admin interface that will be semantically accurate and allow for sufficient dynamism. But I guess I wouldn’t mind taking a swing at that.

NyteOwl · 2006-07-17 17:47:46

Most pro’s already have big screens so real estate is not an issue.

This is only true if professionals are the only people you want/expect to use your product. I know lots of people (including some I’ve introduced Textpattern to) that have small and/or low resolution (800×600) screens both on desktops and laptops (many lightweight verisons of which have 12” screens). If you make it too unweildy to use you’re going to shut out a lot of people who will get frustratied and use something else.

Last edited by NyteOwl (2006-07-17 21:04:07)

hcgtv · 2006-07-17 17:51:22

NyteOwl wrote:

I know lots of people (including some I’ve introduced Textpattern to) that have small and/or low resolution (800×600) screens both on desktops and laptops (many lightweight verisons of which have 12” screens).

I see your point but the new admin section that is in the stable branch of SVN will not fit on an 800×600 browser width now. The only way that this can be accomplished it to be able to designate what fields to show on the different admin tabs.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-07-17 20:39:07

My thoughts exactly hcgtv,

I just want to clarify that the default admin would not look like the above comps. The plan is to make a 100% accessible version with TXP branding – a more classic and minimal look with zero clutter. (Kind of like a Simple Finder.) This way our small screen folk are not left in the dust.. but let’s not JUST think of a user base whose numbers are dwindling…let’s also think of ourselves and the countless professionals who cant read the text on their 1600×1200 screens too.

@ rloaderro
The html will be tricky, since the systems of navigation are very different. Essentially we will have to build 2 templates: one for Basic (classic tab theme) the other for Pro (side menu) and then leave it up to the geniuses to figure out how to do the actual switching.

NyteOwl · 2006-07-17 21:08:42

…let’s also think of ourselves and the countless professionals who cant read the text on their 1600×1200 screens too.

Hence my reference to the size of laptop screens :)

kemie · 2006-07-19 09:40:41

I’d also vote for the tabs… imo they make for a much much cleaner interface, less cluttered, more organized, and less intimidating. i’m gonna see if i can take a shot at this later this week.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-07-19 13:01:37

I hear ya kemie… In fact I hear all of you! My point is why should any of us have to vote at all? Is it really that impossible to have our cake and eat it too?

Case in point…

IMHO, each user should only have access to the tools relevant to their job. This avoids confusion and also gives you the power to do things your way.

Mary · 2006-07-19 21:48:49

IMHO, each user should only have access to the tools relevant to their job.

With the exception of the last screenie, that’s what the user privileges are for, what they already do.

rloaderro · 2006-07-19 22:17:18

Mary wrote:

With the exception of the last screenie, that’s what the user privileges are for, what they already do.

I don’t know if this is the right place to mention this, but one small change I made to txplib_head.php (the one from the admin facelift) is changing this line of function tabsort():

$out[] = tabber($a,$b,$event,2);

to

$out[] = has_privs($b) ? tabber($a,$b,$event,2) : '';

So rather than have a lot of pages that say “Restricted Area” it just doesn’t output those tabs. It has a tangible effect on the readability of the admin interface – I imagine the effect would be even more substantial on that last screen.

Another useful edit: using the admin facelift where it says “Logged in as mary [ Logout ]” to add the prefs there as well “Logged in as mary [ Logout | Prefs ]” in the function pagetop() change the var $user_info to:

$user_info = ($txp_user) ? gTxt('logged_in_as').' '.tag($txp_user, 'strong').' [ '.tag(gTxt('logout'), 'a', ' href="?logout=1"').' | '.tag(gTxt('prefs'), 'a', ' href="?event=admin"').' ]' : '';

So that the user doesn’t have to dig through the drop-down if they don’t have admin privileges and want to change their password or email.

jakob · 2006-07-19 22:44:41

kemie, I have worked up various css and simple sliding-door rounded-corner tab versions already which work in firefox 1.5, IE 6/7, opera 9 and safari (not attempted IE 5 on either platform) which are pretty much bulletproof. I tried some of the corner scripts but with only limited success, but I still think it’s a good idea.

I have to leave for a few days, so cannot finish them off, but I’ve sent you a mail. Maybe you can use them and develop them further.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-07-29 13:01:28

For all you purists out there, I decided to modify the original just a tad:

Also some food for thought…. I completely liquid layout (including text fields) would be a great option, to have the admin conform perfectly to any resolution screen. We can also set minimum width via CSS so that it never gets too scrunched up.

I killed the tabs cuz, well… I got bored after comping them over and over and was hungry for something a bit more streamlined. My only concern is that the active links might not be apparent enough … what do you think?

Edit: Forgot to upload the alternate version

Last edited by Ace of Dubs (2006-07-29 13:31:36)

hcgtv · 2006-07-29 13:48:21

Ace,

Nice clean look on both mockups, a fluid design would be a welcome change.

Personally, I think I would be quicker using a side menu than top tabs, that’s just from using another CMS for the last couple of years that had a similar interface. Using TxP at first, I would have to remember where I had to go to make a change, after 6 months I know what tab to press but for newbies it takes some getting used to. The only problem with a side menu is the amount of new information being added to the current SVN stable branch, even at 1024, some tabs are a bit scrunched up.

Could we have it either way, an advanced preference to have either top or side navigation?

So when can we install it ;)

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#121 2006-07-17 15:35:16

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#122 2006-07-17 17:47:46

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#123 2006-07-17 17:51:22

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#124 2006-07-17 20:39:07

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#125 2006-07-17 21:08:42

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#126 2006-07-19 09:40:41

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#127 2006-07-19 13:01:37

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#128 2006-07-19 21:48:49

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#129 2006-07-19 22:17:18

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#130 2006-07-19 22:44:41

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#131 2006-07-29 13:01:28

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

#132 2006-07-29 13:48:21

Re: Admin Facelift. Take 3

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