User talk:Samuel Wiki/2008 main page redesign proposal

I like this one.

 * 1) I've been advocating for Show/Hide like the French page.
 * 2) I'd been talked out of the extra search box on the main page, thinking people have to learn to find the littler one at the left on all other pages anyway, but yours is nice; I like the explanation of "Go" which you've introduced. The magnifying glass is a bit unclear; a better one can probably be found. And it needs a tool-tip/mouseover.
 * 3) I like not bragging at the very top about the current exact article count. But I don't like the page you've chosen to link to for 'In other languages'; it's just too detailed.  The present main page's box about languages could be retained, or somehow linked to, instead.  Also, I don't like the suggestion that all languages except for English are "other".  Nobody wants to be "other".  So, instead of "In other languages", wherever it is to appear, why not 'In more than 250 languages'?
 * 4) You're concerned about mixing 'encyclopedia' and 'project' sections, but I think you've done the same thing. I noticed this before reading of your concerns!  What I see is Search (encyclopedia) > Wikipedia & wiki (project) > Explore (encyclopedia) > Beginner's help page (project).  They alternate exactly from the one to the other.  However!, I do agree that the main page should provide relatively simple 'getting started' help; the present set-up just sends one off on a merry link parade.
 * 5. a)  Tho you don't like miscellaneous, unmotivated icons any better than I do, the "featured" star does appear at the top of all featured articles and also at the top of featured pics, if you click on them for a larger view.  Therefore, I think the star should appear in those sections on the main page.
 * 5. b)  Several proposals have included more featured content than just 1 article and 1 pic.  Since your proposal has a consistent width for these items and the default has white space at the bottom of the middle column, you might consider allowing several featured items, perhaps all in one box "Featured content".  (Perhaps with the star in the box under the header, adding fine print explaining that starred featured content has been reviewed and voted upon for excellence.  Most other languages say right out "Excellent" article. The word "featured" isn't intuitive here.)
 * 5. b)  Several proposals have included more featured content than just 1 article and 1 pic.  Since your proposal has a consistent width for these items and the default has white space at the bottom of the middle column, you might consider allowing several featured items, perhaps all in one box "Featured content".  (Perhaps with the star in the box under the header, adding fine print explaining that starred featured content has been reviewed and voted upon for excellence.  Most other languages say right out "Excellent" article. The word "featured" isn't intuitive here.)

All this in no particular order and hopefully of interest. --Hordaland (talk) 12:54, 27 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your valuable comments, it's getting a bit late so I'll just do a quick response for now.
 * 2. The magnifying glass is the same image as used on the Commons Main Page. I'll see if there's a better image and I'll added a tool-tip. I've replaced the magnifying glass icon with a better one. Big improvement. I've also added a tool-tip.
 * 3. I originally had the "Languages" in the sidebar (old revision) but after much debate with myself I decided to take it out. I'll think about putting back in, if not I will definitely clean up the text.
 * 4. I don't count the entire top bar in the Encyclopedia/Project division. The only thing I would consider as crossing over is Explore (was hoping no one would notice that), everything else I believe is in their right section.
 * 5. Featured star icon. Maybe. Still don't really like the idea of an icon, but a star does convey the idea of excellence that the word "featured" doesn't. But I will not change the title unless Featured articles and Featured pictures change their name. And to multiple featured articles and pictures - never! - kollision (talk) 13:54, 27 July 2008 (UTC)


 * 'Nother small thought. If "What is Wikipedia?" were shorter text, the 'hidden' box titles would line up so much more neatly. Just now it is twice as tall as the one beside it.  It could say Wikipedia is: or, perhaps better, Wikipedia is...
 * Re point 3 above, I wasn't thinking of the language list in the left panel. I was thinking of the very bottom section on the present Main Page.  There, we brag about the precise article count, and I've always thought it was quite OK at the very bottom, but unnecessary (to put it mildly) at the top of the page.
 * Keep up the good work! --Hordaland (talk) 10:05, 29 July 2008 (UTC)

Congrats
You've done an incredible job in redesigning the main page, and established a number of very good ideas. Don't forget to place redirects on the other talk pages (e.g. advance mode, am 2column, and so on) to prevent confusion.

The POTD is arranged to have two columns — which do not allow word wrap; this can become irritating on either smaller screen sizes or when duel column is engaged. Me and Dudemanfellabra have solved this through a number of transclusions and parse functions. The template can be found here.

You've gone a long way when you first stubed it in July 12, I'm interested if you make any changes. Good Luck. ChyranandChloe (talk) 01:42, 28 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Thank you. I've since added redirects on all other talk pages. And as for the POTD template, I was already using your template. I noticed that problem at low resolutions as well and then I came across your template through your proposal documentation. So thanks for that. - kollision (talk) 11:48, 28 July 2008 (UTC)


 * I was referring to the duel column option of your entry. Thanks, I'm glad to know somebody actually read the documentation — I need to update it sometime: the panoramic images for the POTD should be in its own frame, the id attribute for elements should be used so you can jump to sections within the template, I was wrong when I stated the em should be used throughout, need to find something to fill the empty space for the portals section, and so forth. ChyranandChloe (talk) 00:11, 29 July 2008 (UTC)


 * Oh, I get what you're saying now. I thought I was already using your template for the dual column layout, but apparently I wasn't. - kollision (talk) 11:10, 29 July 2008 (UTC)