Usability -- Getting Real

We might really think about toning down the preference settins as much as possible. Here’s a great post on that subject as well. http://37signals.com/svn/archives2/getting_real_the_problem_with_preferences_interface_design_and_the_customer_experience.php

A perfect example: why do we give people the option to turn off SEF URLs? If the server will support it, and they’ve renamed the ht.access file to .htaccess (on the BSD/Linux side, anyway), we should just turn it on and let them enjoy the benefits of it. Probably a bit of an extreme example, but it’s a valid example.

Can we prune back any of the install preferences? Perhaps we might think about moving them to an "advanced" configuration pane that shouldn’t be tinkered with by most folks. Other thoughts?

The more simple and direct we can make this to use, the larger the market will be for it. An oxymoron, I know, given how flexible and robust it is in the first place!

([b]NOTE:[b] This thread was split from the original thread and some posts slightly edited for clarity)

The option to turn on/off SEF URLs can probably be extended to work without the need for .htaccess files, publish the proper rewrite rules if you want to use .htaccess, and I believe it adds additional processing time to the parser if the option is on...  But I do agree that most of the options could be segragated into simple, every-user options, with more granular control given in an advanced options drop down area, like the Additional Options... or Quick Reply... links in these forums, that fold and unfold the ’advanced’ controls.

I agree with the need to simplify properties and such also.

Honestly I see a lot more room for improvement in the document editor than anywhere. Here’s a few of my ideas (I’ll try not to go crazy or I may never stop ).

• One thing that’s always seemed strange to me is why the Content Type is attached to each document? Shouldn’t this be a property of the template?
  
  


• Also, I think that the long list of titles, descriptions and summaries is a bit confusing. I’d like to see us get it down to title and description and leave longtitle, summary and menu title for TVs. Default TVs maybe, but TVs still.
  
  


• Also, I don’t understand why we need a Folder checkbox at all. Isn’t this something that we could handle internally? If a document has children it’s a folder, if not it isn’t.
  
  


• Also I think it would be good to get rid of the richtext option. Personally I’d like to see the content area be a default TV anyway, which would take care of this.
  
  


• Then, why can’t Empty Cache be automatic. Is there any time that you would want to edit a page and not empty the cache?
  
  

Ideally I’d like to see the process of getting content online as simple as possible. The tabs have been a big improvent in making the process not look so daunting but I think we could make things even better. I think in the mane tab/page we should have Title, Descripton, Parent, and TVs, and maybe Template. I want people to be blown over by how simple it is to get their content online. Other things like Log Visit, Cacheable, Searchable, etc should be moved into an advanced tab.

P.S. (And this is the last thing, I promise ) I’ve never liked the word document for webpages. When you say document people thing Word. I’d rather see us call them pages.

I’ll throw a few more thnigs out before I crack down and get to some actual coding.

• 
  I think it would be good to employ some javascript when it comes to options. Some options are dependent on others being set and should be hidden otherwise. For example, if Show in Menu is unchecked, Menu Title and Menu Index could be hidden. The same is true of Published and Unpublish date and other options.
  
  


• 
  I really like having the option Continue editing or Close after saving but I think we should consider going with the well-known Apply/OK buttons. This would also make the saving process one click only. I don’t know how much use the Save and Add option get’s but I don’t think I’ve ever used it. We could always have Save & Add button too.
  
  


• 
  Another simple usability fix is we really need to alphebetize all the lists throughout the manager. On our bryan.edu site we have over 75 user groups and sorting through them when they aren’t alphebetized is a real pain.
  
  


• 
  I like having the help button next to each field, but Javascript alert boxes are so limited. I think we should consider some other solution where we could use formatting, images or whatever. A CSS roll-over "div" could work pretty well.
  
  


• 
  Having the snippets list it very helpfull. I think we should ditch the listbox though and have a normal HTML list with descriptions and links to copy in [[Snippet]] or [!Snippet!] format and then we might as well include a list of Chunks while we’re at it.
  
  

Along with the suggestions that have already been made about the manager like getting rid of the frames and improving the menu I think we could have a really great manager going for us.

I do use the "save and continue editing" a lot, but I’ve never used the "save and add another" option.

Indeed, alphabetization is necessary. When I moved the web users to their own page (before MODx went independent) and added paging, I alphabetized the list; the client has 80 or more users in that list.

I would like to see the snippets list modified to at least display a usage summary on mouseover or something.

I do use the "save and continue editing" a lot, but I’ve never used the "save and add another" option.
...
I really like having the option Continue editing or Close after saving but I think we should consider going with the well-known Apply/OK buttons. This would also make the saving process one click only. I don’t know how much use the Save and Add option get’s but I don’t think I’ve ever used it. We could always have Save & Add button too.

Perhaps the buttons for saving documents should say what they do, exactly:
"Save & Cont."    "Save & Close"

Ideally I’d like to see the process of getting content online as simple as possible. The tabs have been a big improvent in making the process not look so daunting but I think we could make things even better. I think in the mane tab/page we should have Title, Descripton, Parent, and TVs, and maybe Template. I want people to be blown over by how simple it is to get their content online. Other things like Log Visit, Cacheable, Searchable, etc should be moved into an advanced tab.

I love the thought of an advanced tab, with a much more simple primary content tab.

I REALLY love the thought of content being just another default TV. Have never gotten my head around why that’s such a big deal. We should be able to apply widgets to content just like any other TV, too. Could someone please explain again why it’s such a huge deal.

One thing that’s always seemed strange to me is why the Content Type is attached to each document? Shouldn’t this be a property of the template?

Actually, a blank template can have the content type associated with it to force file downloads or mime types to css or js files for linking those within the manager, instead of using "real" external files. But it should go on the advanced tab.

Also, I don’t understand why we need a Folder checkbox at all. Isn’t this something that we could handle internally? If a document has children it’s a folder, if not it isn’t.
...
Then, why can’t Empty Cache be automatic. Is there any time that you would want to edit a page and not empty the cache?
...
I think it would be good to employ some javascript when it comes to options. Some options are dependent on others being set and should be hidden otherwise. For example, if Show in Menu is unchecked, Menu Title and Menu Index could be hidden. The same is true of Published and Unpublish date and other options.

TOTAL agreement here. Less checks/visible = less potential confusion. The same applies to the different widget types when setting up TVs.

Another simple usability fix is we really need to alphebetize all the lists throughout the manager. On our bryan.edu site we have over 75 user groups and sorting through them when they aren’t alphebetized is a real pain.

I like having the help button next to each field, but Javascript alert boxes are so limited. I think we should consider some other solution where we could use formatting, images or whatever. A CSS roll-over "div" could work pretty well.

Having the snippets list it very helpfull. I think we should ditch the listbox though and have a normal HTML list with descriptions and links to copy in [[Snippet]] or [!Snippet!] format and then we might as well include a list of Chunks while we’re at it.
...
Indeed, alphabetization is necessary.  When I moved the web users to their own page (before MODx went independent) and added paging, I alphabetized the list; the client has 80 or more users in that list.

I would like to see the snippets list modified to at least display a usage summary on mouseover or something.

Again, total agreement here.

These are some relatively simple manager tweaks that could bring major usability improvements... I don’t see any reason not to start getting them in ASAP.

OK, folks

This is going great! Now what I was thinking that we should actually just tear apart the manager and work from scratch. ughhhhh yep that’s what I’m suggesting!

Reason being:
It’s like remodling your house. (I was thinking Steve Jobs house in the valley actually) You start off in the bathroom, then spread to the kitchen, while you’re at it -- all hell -- let’s change the kids room a bit -- oh sheeet, the wife needs more space in the laundry room (errr -- this is an example not an opinion!!!) ect ...

You see where I’m going here? It’s not "thrasherized!!" hehe, meaning the manager should actually be story boarded out. Each and every component being scrutinized from top to bottom running "userability" checks on everything. With the group that we have here now this really shouldn’t take that long.

I really want to see Apple put to shame here

I do believe and think that many things are good here but something is missing from the mission that we’re trying to accomplish. I do realize that this might blow up the intended schedule but looking at it from the bright side there has been talk of making more things modular and plugins. Looks like this would be a perfect time.

Also, the clamoring for TP4 is already going -- well, what is TP4 or TP5,6,7
Why couldn’t take this chance just to "do it" and avoid the problems that a majority of other communities are facing and even major software houses -- the "inability" to bite the bullet. Apple did it with buying NEXT. They sort of cheated but close enough. Longwait (errr, sorry -- wasn’t it LongHaul? opps nope Vista aka Longhorn -- M$ is stuck in a hard place which I actually feel sorry for them for --- hehe, want to through a "not" here but they really must be having it hard)


Let’s just "do it" !


So, did I get anybody’s attention?

Carsten,

The manager overhaul for frame-free is a ground-up rewrite basically. Every little jot and tiddle is being thoroughly evaluated. Discussions like these are essentially cosmetic decisions that are very simple to implement in the new framework.

I’m not following what you’re saying???

oops, ok, forget about me

Looks like you guys are already on it.

I was basically trying to say -- rip the manager apart enough that it’s not just like slapping up some new wallpaper but more like moving the bathroom from one corner of the house to the other side.

ugh, I shouldn’t be PWI here. Posting While Intoxicated
Had a great time tonight out on town -- hick

ugh, I shouldn’t be PWI here. Posting While Intoxicated
Had a great time tonight out on town -- hick

LOL ... now it’s starting to make sense!