Static Page Navigation

[Samanna]

Here are some options on how to link to the "Reference Desk" (non-forum) part of the site...

[Saintsaens]

Out of curiosity...

I see you have the tabs along the top of the forums. Is it possible to make the Reference Desk main points into tabs like that? And have each link to a class specific (or General) page with a table of contents? Like how you have a Shammy and Pally and Druid tabs along the top, which limits the forums visible. Instead of limiting the pages visible (since I see you also have one that links to the EQlive main forums), have it link to a class specific ToC page, with the class forum visibility thing as one of the options on the page.

Just thinking of this as a way to get the old navbar ability back from the other version of phpbb. It's not quite the same, but is better than having it the way it is.

[Samanna]

Yeah, any tab can link to any url, so we could have ToCs for General, Progression, Shaman, Paladin, Druid.

I could probably even make two rows, one for Forums and one for RefDesk.

Do you guys use the Forum category links much? I know I don't, but I figure I'm expected to look at all the areas...

[Saintsaens]

That made the vote easier then

[Galelor]

Bleh, I voted that they both suck when I ment to vote to keep it as it is

Damn 7:30 am to hell....

[Samanna]

[Tordail]

I love the Javascript tree menu thingy and would be perfectly happy if it stayed.

If it is voted off by the majority, I like the idea of adding Reference Desk tabs at the top. My only question is, what would it look like once the five tabs (General, Progression, Shaman, Paladin, Druid) were clicked? For example if General was clicked, would you have a page with links to Overview and Gameplay or is there a way for those to appear once the user mouses over the General tab?

I do not use the forum category links at all. I prefer to see the entire forum.

[dindaur]

i enjoyed the old ( pre - hack ) version quite a bit

[WaringMcMarrin]

I really like the new side bar as it stays open allowing me to get to the static pages I use most often faster.

[Samanna]

Each tab could be a link to a particular table of contents page, or we could just have a link to a combined table of contents.

The table(s) of contents could be just links, or the javascript tree, or whatever.

I really tried to get the hover menus to work with this version of phpBB.

[Tordail]

In that case, I would go with one Reference Desk tab that links to a general Table of Contents that has links to each page, divided into sections. Also, perhaps the tabs already at the top could be tweaked some - Forums, Reference Desk, DevTracker, Forum Search, UCP, EQLive Forums.

[haxot]

javascript BUILDING a tree is bad mkay?
Google can't parse it because the index doesn't exist until javascript creates it
Older computers capable of playing EQ have trouble with massive javascript buildlists such as this tree (My homebox specificaly - and I can't even LOOK at the crucible from work where I most often have some slack time to peruse)

The javascript list shouldn't be over 10kb including data(the actual links etc)
right now it's pushing 50kb total - that's huge.

Sure it looks nice, but it makes the crucible unusable and/or slow
Conversely - a properly done UL Menu loads <lightning> fast and is parseable by search engines so that your website shows in searches.

Now, I HATE people who whine and complain about something, but don't offer an alternative.
So I spent some time looking for and doing the legwork for an alternative

http://toxikoala.com/menu.html would achieve a similar result to the current javascript menu.
I'll keep digging a bit - perhaps I'll find a better, less clunky thing than the current tree menu that looks the same; Mea apropos, I don't mean to deride the site or the work - it's just current unusable from my point of view.

[Samanna]

I appreciate the feedback - that's the whole point of this thread.

http://toxikoala.com/menu.html looks fine to me. I'm not set on any particular technology, although I thought people would appreciate the individual retention of which trees were expanded.

[haxot]

Here's a columnar menu layout I threw together since my last post - original code did not support submenus, this one does.
http://toxikoala.com/columnarmenu.html
You'll obviously want to play wiht the colors and CSS - but function-wise it may be work out better as it doesn't play hob with you as your mouse moves around. (some retention on this one instead of none)

Hax

Edit: and I honestly would enjoy the retention in the tree menu - except the tree menu is so bloated it lags my browser not only at work where the computers are ancient, but at home where my computer does an Ok job with EQ and I have a "Loading - please wait" every time I go to samanna's; and the crucible has become core to my everquestin' information lexicon - I forget something, I come to the crucible

[haxot]

Edited http://toxikoala.com/columnarmenu.html to show a secondary and tertiary color for secondary and tertiary submenus.
Added toggling - sorry if it was down while I was doing that

[Samanna]

Only 14 people care so far.

[Khael]

I like haxot's version, but then I'm on a T1 line so I really don't care either way. Having spent many years on a modem in prior days, I can sympathize with those who have lesser connections though. Whatever works best has my vote.

[Brohg]

The Java menu doesn't cause me problems, but I dislike the placement because it narrows the available space significantly. If it floated over the first couple board posts I'd like it much more, but a horizontal placement at the top of the page is much easier.

[Arslayn]

Im gonna come to the site and use it regardless of any changes. This site is by far IMHO one of the best all around EQ resources, and I check/use it atleast 2x a day or more.
However Im in same boat as Brohg, the java-tree only really annoys me in the space it takes away from the Width of the forums and since it doesnt scroll with the screen when your reading the boards esp on a long post the having it along the side and staying open doesnt mean much to me. I do like that it does lock open so if you use a particular menu often its always opened for you, but if it were pinned at the top over the forum it would accomplish the same. Haxot's suggestion works for me just fine and if you could set each of the tabs horizontal side by side it would look the same as the old board version but stay open instead of being hover open drop downs.

[Samanna]

Well, we've been playing with an alternative that Saintsaens suggested, and I think it's working very well.

As soon as we get more of the content migrated, there won't be a need for the sidebar navigation tools.

[Samanna]

With 12 hours left, it's lookin' like it's stayin' like it is.

For now.

When the next enhancement rolls out, we should no longer need that navigation. Although I will see about using Haxot's suggestion in the meantime.

[Samanna]

Well, I was messing with the row of tabs up top, and somehow the navigation menus broke, so I just put a tab up there for the static pages - until they're all on the wiki.

Sorry. Just go to the "REFERENCE DESK" tab, or http://samanna.net/navigation.shtml to navigate to the static pages.