Rajko, 2010/3/1 Rajko M. <rmatov101@charter.net>:
Looking how to document http://wiki.opensuse.org/Template:Article I looked on its functionality again and it seems that we have to rethink current layout and the way we want to present information to visitors.
Currently actual content (6.) that wiki visitor is looking for is moved way below the first loaded screen. The order of page content is"
1. Discover it - solved in Bento theme 2. Navigation bar 3. Introduction to article 4. Knowledge section 4.1. Tested on 4.2. Recommended 4.3. Related 4.4. Used programs 5. TOC (table of contents) - it is too wide on the majority of pages 6. Actual article
I have to scroll down even on 1920x1080 screen, and scrolling down in order to see text can become very fast annoying if it is present on every page.
Not to mention my experience with one web page that should have lists of Linux compatible hardware. It has every page top section common to all articles, occupying whole browser page and a bit more. First I thought that top of the page is whole page and presents index to actual article (table), and after some clicking around, jumping from page to page, looking for actual hardware list, came on idea to check what is below, and surprise, there was a table. Some tables were only few rows, making whole page design funny looking.
You can imagine what is my opinion about importance to present actual article text on the very first page load. All tools, indexes, cross links, tables of content should flow next to the article text, but never push it way below article title.
First and the simplest idea is to compact navigation bar, intro and knowledge bar. The Related column of knowledge bar in this context is redundant as related articles should be listed in navigational bar. Navigational bar should be squeezed as much as possible. TOC should be separate column with fixed size, but not over whole screen, leaving enough room for intro and actual article beginning.
Thanks for your input on this. That said, how should a re-design of the article template work out with the current Reviewing efforts? We promote the use of the Article template (as is) to reviewers right from the beginning and ALL reviewed pages on the English as well as the German Wiki follow that template. Please tell me how you'd like to re-design it without having to do the whole Reviewing again from an template perspective. We have no time for something like this, i.e. we'd have to put the template in question BEFORE starting the Reviewing. But still, if we can adjust the template and it will just work without adjustments to already reviewed pages, OK .. but otherwise .. sorry, this isn't an option as we wouldn't like to throw away work of months. Best, R
Next idea would be to use a method similar to wiki.o.o portals, or template and its documentation, where the main page consists of one or more transcluded pages. This gives possibility to create few views of the same article with very little additional effort. In other words to create modules and then use them in the few articles, or as stand alone units.
How to split article: 1) very short intro in article purpose (problem and offered solution) that can be published (transcluded) in a different content indexes and portals 2) longer intro (Knowledge) that will list mandatory skills and tools to accomplish task (prerequisites) 3) actual procedure or discussion 4) conclusion; what we accomplished and where to proceed 5) article reference index;list of related topics internal and external
This proposal has to be tested with articles about few topics in real setup on a new wiki.
I'm looking for the people that like idea and want to help me with comments, ideas, creation of proposals.
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