New Questions about Domain Table Layout

[Doan the Nado]

I am currently working on a new table for the Domain front page and other board pages, and I am looking for feedback. If anyone remembers the table we had before the update, this is going to be very similar. Here's what I have so far:

Logged in:

Logged out:

This table will display only on the Main Page, which also includes pages like the PM page, Members page, etc. The table which is currently at the top of every page (with the banner, then "Hey... you have messages") will be removed.

On the forum pages, it will be similar to how it was before: centered at the top of the page will be the banner for that forum, linking back to that forum's list of posts. To its left will be two buttons: "Home" on top and "Search" on bottom. On the right, there will also be two buttons, but they will change depending on if you're logged in or not. If you're logged out, they will say "Login" and "Register". If you're logged in, we need to have "Logout", but I'm not sure what other button to put. Possibilities include "Messages" (to go to your PM page), "Members", or "Profile". Let me know which you would like.

In case you're having trouble visualizing what I'm talking about, here is a sample:

Of course, if you have any ideas for other things I should do, let them be known.

[Rodak]

Looks good.

As for your question, a link to the message area would be OK, but isn't it there anyhow?

Maybe a link to your main site with a reminder to click an ad or three every couple days. (That slipped my mind recently)

With all the times we refer people to your RPGM2 Guides page perhaps a link there is not too sill an idea.

Or you could just put an image of a cow (or not).

What ever happened to "Post of the week"? A link to the chosen post could go up top somewhere if you're reviving the old ways...

The possibilities are limitless!

Peace.

[Doan the Nado]

That table that you see at the top will be deleted. With the smaller, more compact table being implemented, I don't see a reason to keep the huge one at the top. In my experience, I access things like PM, Members, Calendar, Profile, and so on from the main page mostly, almost never clicking them when I'm in the process of reading posts.

That is why I made this post, to see how you guys typically use the top-of-page links. If the table is removed, what links will be missed, if any?

I do like the idea of having a link to the guides page. That may make an ideal 3rd button. If there's demand for a few buttons, I can make the total be 6 or more instead of just 4.

Some other things I can do is make the 3rd button depend on what forum you are in. In this forum, it could link to the Calendar; in Tech Help, to the RPGM2 Guides; in Domain Chatter and Spam, to Members; and so on. This would, of course, be a bit more work, so unless there is a huge demand for such a feature, I don't think it is worth the time to implement, although I must admit it would look pretty cool.

When on the main page, I use the buttons as follows:

Messages (currently not a button) - frequently
Members - occasionally
Home - occasionally (to refresh page)
Profile - rarely
Calendar - rarely
Logout - rarely
Search - rarely
Help - never

When on other pages (browsing/reading messages) it looks like:

Home - frequently
Search - occasionally
Logout - rarely
Messages - rarely
Members - rarely
Profile - rarely
Calendar - never
Help - never

Some features like Help I never use anywhere, and that is why I planned to remove it. If anyone thinks I should keep it, let me know. Other things like Calendar, I should probably update/use more often, but since I don't at this time, I almost never use it. I'm keeping it around just in case. As for the rest, they need to be accessible from somewhere (the Main Page), but when reading messages, there are only a few buttons I really use. If I can get an idea of how you guys use these buttons, it will really help me figure out how to structure the new tables.

In addition, ideas for new buttons are much appreciated. I like Rodak's idea of "RPGM2 Guides" and "Post of the Week". Are there any others?

[NASH7777]

I actually use my profile quite often, to change my sig and/or etc... Actually about = to my mail. But I just click on the (you have one new message) text to access that so I'ld like to see profile.

[Doan the Nado]

The "you have x message..." text will no longer be present on every page; that is what I have been trying to say. You will only be able to see it from the home page.

One option if messages is a button is to show different icons depending on whether or not you have new messages. On the other hand, your profile is accessible by clicking on your name in any post, or from the main page in the new design.

I'm not trying to criticize your opinion, just making sure you have full knowledge of what my current plans are.

[Deleted]

Maybe a link to your site's 'Hosted Materials' (if your demos aren't on that page then nevermind), or a little description near the banner that returns them to your site advertising what can be found there (RPGM2 Guides, Games/Demos/Videos of RPGM2 Creations). Either way, I'm the same as you on how often I use the various tools when I'm at different parts of the site, so I'm good with whatever.

Nevermind. I noticed it already says that.

[Rodak]

This may be off topic, but I put it here anyhow.

A suggestion:

Have the reply link show in all posts even if you are not logged in.

Set it to redirect you to the log in screen if you are not logged in and return you to the reply page after logging in.

If that is unclear, just try to reply to a post at the pavilion or mag while not logged in to see this in action.

I have taken to logging in in that manner on those sites as I often check in and have nothing to say to any posts, so move on.

If I want to reply, I just hit reply, log in, reply, log out, and move on.

This is a more streamlined way to use the site at work! I am not forbidden to do such things at work, but that may be because I never asked!

I just open a tiny window and put it at the bottom of the screen while working on job related stuff in a larger window. Few people ever even see the smaller window!

But it has become habit and I now do that at home too on the other sites, so I may as well suggest it here.

I have no idea how hoopy that would be to code, or if Proboards even supports the concept in general, so it's no big deal if you can't do it (or are preoccupied with school which must always come first!).

Just a thought.

Peace.

[Doan the Nado]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's any code that I can write to do that. The problem is that after logging in, the ProBoards server decides where to redirect you to. I tried throwing some other junk up there hoping that it would refer me back to this page after logging in, but it just sent me to the main page. Good idea, but I don't think it's something that I can do.

I actually find it convenient to be logged in, because then every post that you haven't read yet is marked (and every forum with such a post has a little blue circle next to its folder image), so that I am always sure to read every new post, without reading the same thread over and over just because I don't recognize it. That's just me though...