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Community and *.tiki.org site organization

Community and *.tiki.org site organization


TWo Design

posts: 3665 United States

I'd like to propose a rework/redesign of the main tikiwiki.org/tiki-index.php page. I like to consider myself a fairly advanced Tiki users, and I'm very confused by the page. I think we need to give potential Tiki-ers a much cleaner first impression. For example, compare Tiki's "home" page with:


I ask you to take a honest look... based on each home page, which software looks:

  1. More inviting
  2. Easier to use
  3. "Cooler"


tw.o/tiki-index.php should be the place, not only to discuss and develop TikiWiki, but to SELL it, too. My specific comments/suggestions:

  • Need to activate the site identity module, by default. At a minimum, the Tiki logo should be in the top-bar.
  • Why are there two MENU modules?
  • Why are there two SEARCH modules? I suggest removing the Search Wiki PageName module — it is not needed. Using the Search module with the Wiki Pages option peforms the same function. Additionally, by activating the Site Identity, the Search function can be moved to to the top-bar as well.
  • The LOGIN module is hidden (it is listed 3rd) in the right column. Let's move it to the top of the right column.


Top-Bar

  • Include site identity
  • Include search
  • Somewhere in the header, we need a bright, obvious button: GET TIKI NOW!


Left Column

  • Create a new START HERE module that includes:
    • Download link
    • Installation instructions
    • Link to FAQ
    • Link to Features
    • Link to demo installation
  • Menu Module (suggestions on what to include in the menu to follow...)
  • Random Tiki-site of the day. I, for one, would be very interested in visiting other Tiki-powered sites.


Right Column

  • Login Module
  • Since Your Last Visit (after logging in)
  • Messages (after Logging in)
  • Who Is There
  • Last Changes Module
  • Shoutbox (should be on for anonymous users)


Center Column

  • Need to rewrite the introduction. This should be short, simple, and to the point. Something like:
TikiWiki is "a web-based Groupware and Content Management System (CMS) can be used to create all sorts of web applications, sites, portals, intranets and extranets.
  • Learn more about Tiki (link to list of features)
  • See Tiki in action (link to demos, videos, etc)
  • Get Started Now (link to dowload)
  • Customize your Tiki (link to themes)
  • Join the Tiki Community (link to forums)


That's it. Short. Simple. To the point. Maybe a few graphics/screen shots thrown in for good mesure. This front page should also use the SPLIT plugin to include three columns:

  • Last Articles
  • Last Comments
  • Upcoming Events



I also have additional ideas/comments/suggestion regarding the "Portal Page", default theme, etc., but I think I'll let the dust settle first.... wink

posts: 1630 Canada

> I'd like to propose a rework/redesign of the main tikiwiki.org/tiki-index.php page. I like to consider myself a fairly advanced Tiki users, and I'm very confused by the page. I think we need to give potential Tiki-ers a much cleaner first impression. For example, compare Tiki's "home" page with:
> *Drupal
> *Plone
> *Joomla
> *phpNuke
> *etc.
>
> I ask you to take a honest look... based on each home page, which software looks:
> #More inviting
> #Easier to use
> #"Cooler"
>

Drupal & Plone


> tw.o/tiki-index.php should be the place, not only to discuss and develop TikiWiki, but to SELL it, too.

More users + more contributors => better Tiki

It's a shame because Tiki is a lot better than it looks at the moment (from organization of our sites)


> My specific comments/suggestions:

hehe, sounds good. Let's do it!

And the same idea for doc.tikiwiki.org, themes.tikiwiki.org and dev.tikiwiki.org biggrin

Over on themes, we are working hard to make PhpLayersMenu work nicely with all browsers. This can help too with redesign.

M smile


posts: 1630 Canada


> Left Column
> *Create a new START HERE module that includes:
> **Download link
> **Installation instructions
> **Link to FAQ
> **Link to Features
> **Link to demo installation

Here is: START HERE

smile


posts: 1630 Canada

> Right Column
> *Login Module
> *Since Your Last Visit (after logging in)
> *Messages (after Logging in)
> *Who Is There
> *Last Changes Module
> *Shoutbox (should be on for anonymous users)
>

Done.

posts: 3665 United States

Suggestions:

  1. Move the search box to the first position. Recent usability studies show that web users expect to see a SEARCH field in the top-right area.
  2. Move the MENU to the left. Users who read left-to-right expect the menu on the left.


Some other critiques and suggestions....

  • We have "Welcome to TikiWiki" 3 times on the home page. Does anyone else think this is overkill?
  • Remove the "Help us with doc" plea... Or at least move it down. It should not be the first thing a new user sees.
  • Remove the "Free software is good." Personally, I don't see what adds. We should mention somewhere on the Home page that TikiWiki is GPL software.


Great job so far. Luci did a great job on the site identity logo.

-Rick

> > Right Column
> > *Login Module
> > *Since Your Last Visit (after logging in)
> > *Messages (after Logging in)
> > *Who Is There
> > *Last Changes Module
> > *Shoutbox (should be on for anonymous users)
> >
>
> Done.


posts: 4656 Japan

> I'd like to propose a rework/redesign of the main tikiwiki.org/tiki-index.php page.

Dang, Rick, do you feel powerful now or what? wink

Another suggestion is to use a different menu for Site Identity. I think there are too many top-level items, which makes the top look cluttered with links and pushes the page too wide. Maybe the section items following Home (Contact us, Stats, Categories, Calendar and Mobile) could be made into options so they wouldn't show until Home gets a mouseover. That'd reduce the width by a third or so.

While on the topic, is there a reason for "File Galleries" and its first option, "List Galleries" to both point to the same page? I suggest deleting "List Galleries." Same with "Image Galleries" and its "List Galleries", "Forums"/"List Forums," "Blogs"/"List Blogs," "Articles"/"List Articles," "Directory"/"Browse Directory," "MyTiki"/"MyTiki Home," "FAQs"/"List FAQs". All the second items are redundant, really. Then it might be good to see if any of the now-childless section items could be grouped as options somewhere, like under an "Other Features". This is kind of what I had in mind with the "Site Features" section of the custom menu at the themes site.

-- Gary - themes.tw.o

posts: 3665 United States

> > I'd like to propose a rework/redesign of the main tikiwiki.org/tiki-index.php page.
>
> Dang, Rick, do you feel powerful now or what? wink

I have the power! razz



>
> Another suggestion is to use a different menu for Site Identity. I think there are too many top-level items, which makes the top look cluttered with links and pushes the page too wide. Maybe the section items following Home (Contact us, Stats, Categories, Calendar and Mobile) could be made into options so they wouldn't show until Home gets a mouseover. That'd reduce the width by a third or so.


Excellent idea. There should really be two menus:

  • A menu for folks evaluating Tiki and want to get started. That's what I had meant by the START HERE module.
  • The full menu that contains ALL of Tiki's functions.


-Rick


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