New view page layout

[Obscure_Trash]

If it ain't broke...for the love of Mike don't fix it!!!

As I've said elsewhere - I really dislike this phrase. Something doesn't have to be broken to improve it. (And I do personally think the layout is an improvement. Been using it for quite a while now and love it.) You're allowed to not like the update, but how about suggesting some changes or listing why you don't like it?

 

Quoting this so it doesn't get lost:

 

This is the issue I am facing too. I use the darker layout and now some of the text is harder to read.

I'm quoting this because a lot got said while I was gone.

 

A lot, including my own opinions, are just personal opinions, but hard to read text makes the site harder to use, and it is something I think should be messed first with so it's easier to read.

[MadameZ]

I got the new layout this morning. Looks like somebody needs to get used to it.

[Shokomon]

What happened to all the posts about the updated mobile layout?

 

Were they removed? Why?

 

Should I make a separate thread for the mobile layout updates?

 

Were they not appropriate for this thread?

[Imzadi]

Add me to the I don't like it camp! Why is it we are doing this? I don't remember ever seeing a reason.

[Carmelita-Fox]

Just got the new layout. I'll add my cry to the do not like it camp. It's so messy and confusing. The sprite gets lost. Not happy...

[Obscure_Trash]

What happened to all the posts about the updated mobile layout?

 

Were they removed? Why?

 

Should I make a separate thread for the mobile layout updates?

 

Were they not appropriate for this thread?

I don't know, but I would say a different thread is a good idea until/unless we're told otherwise.

[NotBambi]

I don't know, but I would say a different thread is a good idea until/unless we're told otherwise.

OK but where is the new thread with the mobile-related posts???

 

Replying here so we don't create more posts that are seemingly off topic - It... doesn't exist until someone creates it?

Edited April 27, 2016 by SockPuppet Strangler

[Cinnamin Draconna]

There 'was' a thread in the Help subforum about the mobile layout. But it's been locked as answered.

[NotBambi]

There 'was' a thread in the Help subforum about the mobile layout. But it's been locked as answered.

And it was about a glitch, due to obsolete Firefox, not the same subject.

[Amavelos]

Regarding the new layout, I actually like the ordering of the information, but I dislike the gaps. I feel like I may the only one who doesn't like the spacing. The links are fine, the columns are fine; actually, I think it's a great idea to make the information a different text. I think I understand the thought process for aligning information. In due time, I believe I will get used to it. I can see the ordering in the new layout clearly.

[silver_tiger]

Actually if there was only one thing I would change, it would be to get rid of one of the 'dragon name' lines. I actually don't care which--I think having the name on top is nice and eye-catching, personally--but having two lines for it on the page is redundant and unnecessary.

[lanette]

I wish this new layout was optional, with keeping the old layout being the alternate.

 

 

[brisingrrider1]

I'm all right with the new layout, although I agree it looks cluttered and off somehow- my left column seems to be awkwardly far away. I suggest possibly moving the new links above the dragon sprite? Maybe just below the name? That way if you already know which dragon you're looking at you can easily just hit the new links.

 

I usually click directly to Actions from "Manage" on my scroll, so the new Actions link on the page seems a little redundant. Maybe we could get rid of the new actions link and put it back just between location and last bred in the right column and just have the HTML/BBCode links separate?

[Daydreamer09]

I'd also put View Lineage back under Mother/Father (as that's the beginning of the lineage) and Children back under Last bred (as that's what's being bred, the children.) I think the placement of these links make sense in the new layout TJ made.

The problem I have with how TJ has those links set up is that that whole column describes what's being listed off to the right. With those links they're not describing anything in the list. As well, they leave a really awkward empty space off to the right that visually breaks the pattern.

 

The 'View Lineage' hyperlink would get mixed up with the mother's lineage link if it simply got moved over to the right where I feel it more belongs. When I stuck it with 'View Children' I felt that helped balance the rows/columns. As well, it separated it from any above hyperlinks by having the last breeding date above.

 

I'm looking at the layouts from a visual design perspective and what I feel works.

[HeatherMarie]

I just got the new layout today and, just as I feared, it sucks. Seriously, can someone please explain to me why we need the name there *twice*? It's redundant and doesn't look good.

 

And the actions/links links are way too close together. I keep accidentally clicking on links instead of actions. Why can't they be a little farther apart?

 

This is what I'm seeing right now:

 

 

The sprite is way too close to the top dragon name, it looks cluttered and unsightly. I personally think the "owner" line should go on the other side, where all the other linked-to things are, but I can deal with it.

 

The thing that gets me the most is the stupid redundancy of the names. It just isn't needed. It's not adding anything by being there twice, it's just making the left side longer, which it really doesn't need. I personally would rather do away with the top, large name and keep the name on the left-column, but that is probably too much to ask.

[Fuzzbucket]

I'm looking at the layouts from a visual design perspective and what I feel works.

So was I, when I posted my alternative:

 

 

I think it's neater - I don't MIND the huge name but whatever - it should only be there once. Yes, too, the sprite should move down a bit but I'm too lazy to redo it again. I used to design page layouts for a living.... (as well as having to make sure they could be understood at a reading age of 12, as that is the adult average - which I found worrying...)

 

I actually went to an egg page today and was VERY confused; looking for how long it has to go was actually quite hard work. And the hidden hatchling stuff is just unnecessary clutter - we can see the fog.

 

And yes to Marie - those links ARE too close together. I'm just glad neither does anything - like abandon

 

 

[Cireth]

You asked for it...

 

This is what is wrong with the new layout:

 

- The massive name at the top of the page. It attracts all the attention and is too big; completely overshadowing any sprite except the non-pygmy adult sprites.

 

- The code in place of a name if a dragon is not named. We don't need it. It's in the URL and looks ugly quite frankly.

 

- The icons for the actions and links. They completely break the medieval theme and look totally out of place.

 

- The links are far too close together.

 

- The sprites are crammed in between the name and the rest of the text making them seem and feel like an afterthought. They need more space.

 

- I don't need to be told my hatchling/egg is hidden by a great big blue icon. I'm not five years old. I can clearly see the fog sprite.

 

- The fact that the name is given again in the columns. We got it from the freaking massive text at the top. This is redundant and annoying.

 

- The gaps. They're massive and ugly. There is nothing wrong with left align (the way it was before) and it looks better.

 

- The light brown font that fades into the background.

 

- All of the above overshadows the time remaining on eggs and hatchlings and that is irritating.

 

- The new "User Description" tag. Everyone knows what a user description is. It's redundant and it breaks up the flow of the dragon's description.

 

- The crammed off to one side "Bitten" list on my Vampires pages/progeny list on my other dragon's pages.

 

So yeah. Everything is wrong with the new layout. The old one was fine and it didn't need this improvement (so called) which is not an improvement at all.

Edited April 27, 2016 by Cireth

[Eos]

So was I, when I posted my alternative:

 

 

I think it's neater - I don't MIND the huge name but whatever - it should only be there once. Yes, too, the sprite should move down a bit but I'm too lazy to redo it again.

I'm okay with this version too. Anything that gets the Actions and HTML/BBCode links out from beneath the sprite so that it isn't sandwiching the dragon between two lines of text. I'm not wild about the huge name, but I do like that the redundant name column has been removed.

[Fuzzbucket]

- The new "User Description" tag. Everyone knows what a user description is. It's redundant and it breaks up the flow of the dragon's description.

Actually that's the one thing I am OK with as I HOPE it is a precursor to auto approve, which would be FABULOUS ! It does need to be very clear that user descriptions are NOTHING to do with TJ, for when the terminally illiterate, or, worse, tasteless, descriptions appear; they can be reported - but not always dealt with before they have brought down the reputation of the site.

[Daydreamer09]

- I don't need to be told my hatchling/egg is hidden by a great big blue icon. I'm not five years old. I can clearly see the fog sprite.

I actually think that the new Hidden Egg/Hatchling warning is a good thing. It looks ugly and I agree needs reworked. But having at least a message there saying no one can see the egg or hatchling's page is informative to new players.

 

When you go to use the Hide actions the message reads, "Hide the egg, preventing it from receiving views or clicks." It doesn't mention that the egg/hatchling's webpage would be completely unviewable. Just that clicks and views won't accumulate.

Edited April 27, 2016 by Daydreamer09

[Saika]

I personally actually rather like the new layout. It's different, but not neccesarily in a bad way. All the information I'm looking for is there, and if I still go to the far left instead of the middle when I want to access the actions page, that's something I'll get used to.

 

If there were two things I'd like a little changed, it's that the name is mentioned two times and the way the columns are a little unbalanced in a CB dragon (though I suppose I'll get used to that too).

 

What I really like is the different colours in the colums - it makes it easy to see where the information is. I also like the 'User Description' label - if I want to read the user description I can jump right there, instead of spending a few short seconds locating the paragraph.

[purplehaze]

For the most part I am okay with the new layout. It is new and different, but I will get used to it. The actions link seems to be in an awkward place and I really think those two links right under the dragon make the look really crowded.

 

I personally like the code for the egg or hatchling appearing where the name would go above the dragon. It is much easier for me to read the code there than in the URL.

[catmosphere]

i like the feel of the new layout, but i'd personally center the two columns. it feels off-balance otherwise, especially since the dragon image and links themselves are both centered.

[Saami]

meh, it's not to my tastes, but I'll get used to it.

[Dracaena]

I'm not a fan of the new layout. It gives the feeling the text is more important than the dragon it's about. Dragon feels very scrunched up sandwiched between all the text.

 

The placement of actions and show html/bbcode links just feels like a wonky run on sentence that doesn't need icons + text.

 

The picture when hiding and unhiding seems wrong. When it says you hid the dragon egg/hatchling it is still pictured visible. When you unhide the egg/hatchling it says you dispel the fog but what you see is still a fog ball. The big tutorial warning on view page about the creature is hidden is just that, a tutorial. We should have an option in settings to turn tutorials off.

 

The mouse over tutorial tooltips on over all views and unique views also need a setting to turn off. I can see how these things would be helpful to a new player but an experienced player doesn't need them.