left hand menus - will they return
Quote from: Kelly We are working on an alternative stylesheet right now. Prototypes hopefully by end of week and we'll put them on here. (They've been delayed as we have restricted web design resource at the minute, hence the job ads on the careers site) If anyone out there wants to have a go themselves at creating a new look and feel, feel free!
Given I've commented adversely (here and there) on the new format, I felt perhaps the least I should do was to have a shot at "creating a new look/feel".
Didn't *quite* appreciate how difficult that was going to be
especially given that the comm site index was all in css and I don't create webpages that way.However . I've done my best. The original I worked from was at http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/originalcommsiteindex/communitysiteindex001.htm (I took a copy of the source code so that I could retain the not-logged-in view that a new visitor will see) .. and after I'd laboriously stripped out the css and replaced it with plain old html (well my version of that) I finally came up with a "working version" at http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021.htm .
As far as I know all the links "work" and I've stuck as closely as possible to the PN link conventions . however I *would* comment that purple links are horrendous to work with, and I'm not surprised that so many problems have been experienced with the colour schemes for the Community Site.
After finally "making a page" I created three versions (full-width, 70% width and a full-mixed70% along the lines of how the index appears currently. So as to get
set 21 full 100% width - http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021.htm
set 21 mixed 70 width - http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021midwidth70.htm
set 21 indent 70 width - http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021allwidth70.htm
. and then I did some colour swapping, just to see what might be possible. I hope someone - anyone - here will like the results
I have to say that some I like and some I don't, but I've done my best to find a balance between what PN started with originally, and what I assume people generally want, judging by comments that have been made by visitors here.Gotta go and walk my dog now (it's getting somewhat dark!) but I'll post up the outputs of the colour swaps (as an addition to this post) when I get back.
Regards,
Penny.
(later)
set 22 - colouring of pale grey on forums changed to approximate that of the Info Centre at the foot
set 22 full width
set 22 mixed width
set 22 70% indent
set 23 - pale grey standardization as above and block colour changed from blue to black
set 23 full width
set 23 mixed width
set 23 70% indent
set 24 - original (as per set 21) with all links changed to purple
set 24 full width
set 24 mixed width
set 24 70% indent
set 25 - grey forum backgrounds (set 21) changed to pale green, orange text on these forums changed to dark green (the orange/green contrast looked disgusting)
set 25 full width
set 25 mixed width
set 25 70% indent
set 26 - pale blue substituted for the original grey forum backgrounds
set 26 full width
set 26 mixed width
set 26 70% indent
set 27 - pale blue as per set 26, with all link colours changed to purple
set 27 full width
set 27 mixed width
set 27 70% indent
set 28 - standardised grey backgrounds as per sets 22 and 23, and all links changed to purple
set 28 full width
set 28 mixed width
set 28 70% indent
set 29 - pale green backgrounds and dark green text as per set 25, purple text and links changed to gold
set 29 full width
set 29 mixed width
set 29 70% indent
set 30 - purple text and links changed to gold as per set 29, original grey backgrounds changed to beige and original orange links turned to black
set 30 full width
set 30 mixed width
set 30 70% indent
set 31 - as per set 30 but with blue board backgrounds changed to black
set 31 full width
set 31 mixed width
set 31 70% indent
set 32 - as per set 30 but with blue board backgrounds changed to black and additionally blue text of main forum headings changed to black also.
set 32 full width
set 32 mixed width
set 32 70% indent
Note - changes made were all sourced from set 21, ie 22-32 is not a single progressive sequence, though one lot of colour swaps is followed by another (not always in sequence) at various points.
Obviously the possible colour combinations would be endless but I figured the above would at least offer a moderate selection.
[ edited later to rectify some link issues 😕 and on 06 Aug to add a link to more samples as per thread at http://community.plus.net/forum/index.php?topic=492.0 - the final sample shown (test10) being of a logged-in page with header links added to include a few left-hand-menu-type items.]
Quote from: dave I like this one
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021.htm
If the tabe border was 1 pixel wide I think it would be about perfect.
Thank you Dave
I didn't honestly know if there would be any positive replies.* Penny hands Dave a virtual beer and slaps Liam *
I like this one best:
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set28/communitysiteindex028.htm
In fact, I like most of them
Regards .....
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set28/communitysiteindex028.htm
In fact, I like most of them
Regards .....
I prefer a more modern look where the boundaries are defined by different shading and minimal use of lines. Something like:
http://www.elvin.plus.com/misc/Suggestion.gif
http://www.elvin.plus.com/misc/Suggestion.gif
Quote from: dave If the tabe border was 1 pixel wide I think it would be about perfect.
I've changed the border width to "1" (and then the cellspacing to "1" also as that affected how wide it looked).
For comparison:
(original)
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set21/communitysiteindex021.htm
(reduced border)
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set33/communitysiteindex033.htm
(reduced border and reduced cellpadding)
http://www.happychild.org.uk/ZZZZcommsite/outputs/set34/communitysiteindex034.htm
Quote from: lingbob In fact, I like most of them
Appreciate the comments Martin - really wasn't sure what sort of reception the draft layouts were going to get, so somewhat reassured by two positives
Regards,
Penny.
I still find those lines far too heavy - it makes the page very busy. If you must have lines they should be no heavier than the lines on the PUG forums.
Quote from: Liam
Quote from: jelv I prefer a more modern look where the boundaries are defined by different shading and minimal use of lines. Something like:
http://www.elvin.plus.com/misc/Suggestion.gif
Hmm.. I do like that!
This thread could go on forever
I feel a competition coming on.
So how about we start a new thread with community-created design for the Community site. We set a deadline (say 2 weeks?) for entries then put a vote up, everyone votes on their favourite and we implement it as a choice.
So customers can choose the default style (current one) or the new style (perhaps named after the person who designed it).
In parallel to this we've already started work on another deisng (we'd hoped to have it ready for launch but we're a bit thin on the ground for designers at the moment), so you end up with a choice of 3 styles?
Good idea?
So how about we start a new thread with community-created design for the Community site. We set a deadline (say 2 weeks?) for entries then put a vote up, everyone votes on their favourite and we implement it as a choice.
So customers can choose the default style (current one) or the new style (perhaps named after the person who designed it).
In parallel to this we've already started work on another deisng (we'd hoped to have it ready for launch but we're a bit thin on the ground for designers at the moment), so you end up with a choice of 3 styles?
Good idea?
Fame due to your design being available to use?