Forum:SH Archive/Revamp of the Main Page

Forums > Senate Hall archive > SH Archive/Revamp of the Main Page

This page is an archive of a community-wide discussion. This page is no longer live. Further comments or questions on this topic should be made in a new Senate Hall page rather than here so that this page is preserved as a historic record. 1358 (Talk) 11:40, January 22, 2012 (UTC)

In recent Mofference it was decided that the revamp of the Main Page is to be discussed in here, so here I am opening the discussion. To quote the one who raised the issue for the Mofference, "A revamp of the Main Page is long overdue. Our site is beginning to have a very dated look, and there is far too much plain text on the front page." Keep in mind that the Main Page is for all users, but especially for the ones who come to the site for the first time.

Discussion is divided to a several sections to keep things in order, feel free to add necessary sections or totally reorganise if need be.

Current items

Give here opinions about the current items, should they stay or should they go? How should they be changed?

  • Article navigation
    • I think we need images here, a few examples: swtor wiki and stargåte wiki, prolly has to figure out how to do it to serve our purpose. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
      • I agree, something similar to the Stargate wiki, but in our own way would be good here. The current navigation is too big when expanded, and most probably don't click it anyway. Grunny (talk) 09:52, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
        • I hate this thing with a passion. The arrangement needs a lot of trimming as Grunny said. For example; the films each have a massive box with links to every related product when all you'd really need is the film poster; similarly most of the space is taken up by the white space above/below the text next to each image. NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
          • Eww article navigation... :p Anyway. I think the Germans have made it pretty well, especially the left column's "Das Star Wars-universum". 1358 (Talk) 12:45, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
            • That navigation box is absoulutely hideous, yes. I've only had to look at it twice. Does anyone actually use it though? I certainly didn't when I was an anon. Holocron Greatholocron (Complain) 13:46, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
              • I've never used it myself. It definitely has a lot of fat that needs trimming. Master Jonathan — Jedi Council Chambers Monday, April 4, 2011, 19:02 UTC
                • The thing is that while we may not use it, someone not familiar with the saga will be. -- Riffsyphon1024 03:10, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
                  • Per Riffs, we need something like that, but maybe it could be just a link to that page? –Tm_T (Talk) 06:03, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • QotD
  • FA
  • DYK
    • This one is ok as is, except the placement could be here or in sidebar. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
    • It just needs to be more updated. We have the people to do this. -- Riffsyphon1024 03:10, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
      • I don't believe we have any guides how to contribute on this, so it's a bit scary. (: –Tm_T (Talk) 06:03, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
        • Just hunt through Special:New Pages for the most interesting material. :) -- Riffsyphon1024 06:11, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • Official friends
    • Fine as is to me. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
      • I don't really see much point in this one, to be honest. --Eyrezer 10:26, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
  • Random articles
    • One of the best ways to spur article editing and creation. -- Riffsyphon1024 03:10, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • In the news
    • A staple of the Main Page. I would advise against removing it. -- Riffsyphon1024 03:10, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • Newsnet
    • I think the newsnet should go altogether It maybe updated once every 2 or 3 months, and not to mention most of the stuff on could have other places on the site. For example the most recent update happy 6th birthday Wookieepedia was in the logo for a day or to the featured article promotion for the last two months could go on the featured article page. GTQ 02:09, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
      • I think the NewsNet should stay. It is not only for things that can be covered elsewhere on the site, such as interviews of new admins and WotM winners. What it needs is more people to volunteer to write stories for it and do the interviews, as those who were doing it got burned out or left. So if anyone wants to write something for it, let me know. Grunny (talk) 02:30, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
        • I actually really like the NewsNet. I would love to contribute - maybe we could coordinate volunteers in a way similar to a very small scale WookieeProject? That way we have a page that could record proposed stories, keep track of regular installments (FA/GA announcements, WotM winners), and organize which volunteers would write them. And on that page we could take applications (if that's what you want to call it) for users who would like to contribute. Not to sound elitist, but for the sake of quality we may want to have a bit of a screening process, given that these articles are linked to on the main page. AND, even if all of this is rejected, I'd still love to help. I think it's a great asset. Darth Trayus(Trayus Academy) 05:26, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
          • Trayus explained rather well what I've been thinking too, some light structure how to contribute on this would be good IMO. –Tm_T (Talk) 06:03, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • On this day
    • It looks best in the sidebar but I think it might look better above the Newsnet because, frankly, that isn't updated enough to have a position where you don't need to scroll to see it (on 1024 high screens at least) whereas OTD changes daily. NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • WotM

New items

  • Portals: Portals could have one image slot from the article navigation, or be just a horizontal list in there. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
    • Seeing as portals are likely to be a big attraction to visitors, perhaps something similar to either the image slider or small panels below it on the Avatar Wiki's main page might be an interesting way to display them. NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
      • Definitely keen for a WP:AS/Sentient species portal. --Eyrezer 10:32, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
        • I support creating portals. 1358 (Talk) 10:40, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
          • Should mention my Back to the Future Wiki got an overhaul by Wikia during the release of the new game. The Main Page here demonstrates the highlighting of a few primary characters with images, granted that is for a series that is less expansive than SW. Those images currently link to the respective articles, but we also have tried working with portals on the wiki (less successful though). -- Riffsyphon1024 02:57, April 7, 2011 (UTC)
  • Beside the portals, something could be added that brings the community and participation more visible right in main page, suggestions? –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
    • That line of links below the article navigation could be better served by being more prominent. And add a link to the RCs there for Oasis users :P NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • I think I recall Grae saying something about featured images. That would be nice, if it doesn't violate copyright law. 1358 (Talk) 12:43, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • I think maybe a link to other star war wikis like the TOR wiki or the Star Wars Fanon wiki GTQ 02:15, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
    • We have "Official friends" section for that. –Tm_T (Talk) 07:48, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
      • Maybe have our fellow official friend Star Wars wikis displayed more prominently? 1358 (Talk) 10:40, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
        • Yeah that is really what I meant GTQ 01:22, April 7, 2011 (UTC)

Styling

  • I want to get rid of most if not all of the excessive {{Rt}} and {{Rb}} in there, it just makes the page looks heavy. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
    • Seconded, if people still insist on having rounding everywhere then we should use -border-radius. NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
      • Except that Internet Explorer doesn't support border radii via CSS. Using {{Rt}} and {{Rb}} is the only way to get rounded corners in IE. Master Jonathan — Jedi Council Chambers Monday, April 4, 2011, 19:22 UTC
        • IE 9, which is the latest stable release, does support it. What I'm thinking is getting rid of the round borders entirely except carefully thought uses. –Tm_T (Talk) 19:46, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • Color scheme, but that is more about the theming of the site which is discussed in its own discussion (TBD). –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
          • FWIW, I don't support removing the rounded corners; they look nice IMO. But sure, go ahead and replace Rb and Rt with -border-radius if it has the same effect. 1358 (Talk) 10:38, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
    • A new goddamn background would be nice. Those faint blue skyscraper outlines get boring after several years. NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • How about making the right-hand column variable-width? We don't have to use the main page column tags provided by Wikia for the whole page. Help:Main page column tags specifies that after the end of the right column, 100%-width material can be used. Taking inspiration (and a lot of code) from SWFanon's main page, I've placed everything from QOTD and the random FA/GA down and placed it in a 100% width table with two variable width columns (60% left, 40% right). The exception is the Official Friends, which is placed below the table at 100% width. The result can be seen at User:Master Jonathan/meh. This would allow for both columns to have similar widths even on very wide or very narrow resolutions, which the current format doesn't. Thoughts? Master Jonathan — Jedi Council Chambers Monday, April 4, 2011, 19:22 UTC
    • That could be one way to go, yes, and I like not having hardcoded widths. That kind of layouting would require setting some minimum widths but that shouldn't be any issue. –Tm_T (Talk) 19:46, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • All I ask is we don't have a stationary background image like so many other Wikis. I hate them with a passion. The TOR wiki is an example of what I'm talking about. OLIOSTER (talk) 02:16, April 6, 2011 (UTC)
    • It all depends on what kind of background image we are able to get, and if it's not "stationary", it has to be something that looks sane when repeated vertically, or will cover only the top of the page (like the current one). –Tm_T (Talk) 07:48, April 6, 2011 (UTC)

Comments

  • I have done some minor tuning and testing in User:Tm_T/Main Page. I have to admit I'm not the best person to create the design, but I'm more than willing to help and do the coding. –Tm_T (Talk) 09:48, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
    • What problems have been been having with the page? I find the main page to be informative, easy on the eyes, and good at showcasing the work we do, both through the Featured article of the day box and the random F/GA lines in the top right corner. It's one of the only main pages for a website that I haven't had problems with, actually. Holocron Greatholocron (Complain) 10:51, April 4, 2011 (UTC)
  • One thing to bear in mind is that while we should make this look best for Monobook (it is our recommended skin after all) it should look just as good for those people enduring Oasis (and, to some extent, those other random skins which no-one but Tm seems to know about :P). NAYAYEN—it appears to be a frammistat 11:49, April 4, 2011 (UTC)