Skin design for next release

[msg]

Hi All

When i purchase the Invision suite, i was ask to make some modifications to the skin.

Example, i was ask if i can keep the top bar fix.

When doing so, it seems some of the changes I made to have this behavior, propagate to other window (at least this is my understanding). Im my case having the top bar fix, seems to have an impact on the Facebook i like button, where when I click "I like", a popup box appear to allow us to enter more text. That popup box will not show anymore.

It is a good a thing to have share resource, to help propagate changes, but at the same time, we require flexibility to adjust individual section of the interface.

My request for next release (IPSV4) is to make sure user can understand what will be the impact of a skin changes. Especially when we deploy the community for the first time.

A visual theme editor would be just fantastic. Something "à la Sharepoint" with webpart having individual setting so we can drag those webpart around to change the look and feel and adjust them individually. I think we have Block that looks similar to this.

[Aiwa]

Not sure I understand what you're after...

There is already a visual skin editor... Are you asking for additional functionality there?

[sijad]

also you can use this for make topbar fix: http://community.invisionpower.com/topic/381516-top-bar-to-stay-in-place/#entry2381278 :)

[msg]

Not sure I understand what you're after...

There is already a visual skin editor... Are you asking for additional functionality there?

I guess it will be additional functionality.

The visual editor seems to be oriented to changing colors not windows behavior.

Example i need to have the top bars of the community ( Login, logo, navigation menu) to always stay visible. When i change the CSS, this seems to affect other sections of the community that use that same CSS.

In this case i suspect the share link window is affect by the change i made.

Where in fact the top bars and the share links window are two distinct area of the community interface that should have independent settings.

If i refer to my sharepoint example, at the top of a window we have the little pen we can click an edit the windows. In some sectin we can simply drag an drop a block inside a window, in some other case we have more option.

I think Vbulletin 5 is taking the same approach

I think the keyword is module, build everything like a module to give as much flexibility as possible and at the same time being able to push generic/common option in batch. I know it is something difficult to achieve, but once you get there you probably won't get back.

sijad

Marcher has already give me some hint about this in the past when i join IP Board ( about a year ago), need to validate if their is a difference between the two. but from the first look it seem similar

[GreenLinks]

I guess it will be additional functionality.

The visual editor seems to be oriented to changing colors not windows behavior.

Example i need to have the top bars of the community ( Login, logo, navigation menu) to always stay visible. When i change the CSS, this seems to affect other sections of the community that use that same CSS.

In this case i suspect the share link window is affect by the change i made.

Where in fact the top bars and the share links window are two distinct area of the community interface that should have independent settings.

If i refer to my sharepoint example, at the top of a window we have the little pen we can click an edit the windows. In some sectin we can simply drag an drop a block inside a window, in some other case we have more option.

I think Vbulletin 5 is taking the same approach

I think the keyword is module, build everything like a module to give as much flexibility as possible and at the same time being able to push generic/common option in batch. I know it is something difficult to achieve, but once you get there you probably won't get back.

sijad

Marcher has already give me some hint about this in the past when i join IP Board ( about a year ago), need to validate if their is a difference between the two. but from the first look it seem similar

Thing is what you want are easily accomplished things at the moment.

What vBulletin did is nonsense. There is no logic on bringing backend functionality like how a site style is customised to front end and bloat the front end. Those are administrative options and will be used very rarely , once in 18-24 months maybe for established sites.

[AndyF]

I'm sure once IPS4 is far enough "down the line" for there to be something skin specific for us to see, I'd guess IPS will be wanting plenty of feedback on it, this thought reminds me of the initial 3.0 preview site in a way as that was mainly for initial feedback, shaping that version which resulted in a great product.

[msg]

Thing is what you want are easily accomplished things at the moment.

What vBulletin did is nonsense. There is no logic on bringing backend functionality like how a site style is customised to front end and bloat the front end. Those are administrative options and will be used very rarely , once in 18-24 months maybe for established sites.

re-reading my comment and seeing your reply, I could add this, the main idea is to exposed the interface options to the user in a logical way and easily accessible.

What i want development to notice is not if it make sense or not, but that options are exposed and accessible for admin., as for the users this is less critical.

So I agree this might be something you use once and never touch, but when you need it, you want to find it and be aware the option exist.

[GreenLinks]

re-reading my comment and seeing your reply, I could add this, the main idea is to exposed the interface options to the user in a logical way and easily accessible.

What i want development to notice is not if it make sense or not, but that options are exposed and accessible for admin., as for the users this is less critical.

So I agree this might be something you use once and never touch, but when you need it, you want to find it and be aware the option exist.

There is a reason why softwares have Administrative Panels :) You already can do many things directly from Admin Panels , no need to bring those to front end. Bringing them to front end will only save you one tab switch.

[msg]

Here on example, the header of the community

As of now the options is hidden under several layers, under the menu look and feel, then select a sub-menu, then navigate inside a CSS list then find the right CSS and inside of it change something and you need to know how to code.

Basic option like how many line do you want for the community header, on which line you want to place the logo, how easy i can change the logo, I wanted to keep the navigation bars fix above the two other line of the header. I need to have the two other lines not fix so when user scroll we only see the navigation bar etc....

Now i want to move things around in the interface to organize the layout again we need code expertise to make simple things. We should be able to drag'n drop, click an edit icon on the header of a section. Change few parameters like width, height etc....

I want to increase the number of last post, comments, last blog article, i want to pin one in the list, change it's background color etc....

I have a promo to run, i want to change the section under the header to add video, text, image banner etc....

and i just cover maybe 5o% of the home page, what about the forum, the layout page for article, download section etc....

Yes it is just tab switching but at the same time it is just a small portion of what we do when customize and update a community, If someone want to make its community live and adapt base on what happens we need more flexibility.

For example I think about this summer where I will have an event, we call it the Solid Edge university 2013 (SEU13) for new product launch. I wanted to cover the event, place some twitt, linkedIN, G+ comments more visible, I want to easily change my layout to inform the member of my community who cannot assist, i want to give the opportunity for those who can assist to share their experience.

So i need to quickly change community look and feel to bring focus on something then next hours I need something else. OK i agree this is not something that happens every day, but if i want to change every month....

All those options could be facing the admin to make things more fluid.

As you see their is lot more.....

[GreenLinks]

Dude , all browsers have developer tools that allow you to customise CSS inline and see changes before applying.

[Cyrem]

I don't think 'dumbing down' is a solution.

Infact, causes more problems for everyone that knows what they are doing.

Also: Firebug.

[Aiwa]

Agreed with the above.

What you're asking for is akin to settings that control every aspect if a board without ever touching a bit if code.

At some point you must realize that custom = custom and your custom != someone else's custom.

[msg]

Aiwa YES

That would be similar to what any HTML editor do by allowing common stuff to be customize without having to fool around with the code. Like when we want to make a text bold or change its size etc... Smiley are another great example, open the list pick one and its done.

Fully agree on this one not everyone has the save vision of what need to be customize, what need to be exposed in a graphic interface which options should be create etc.... and what falls under code customization. But their is also a reason why the software side of IT have evolve almost exponential in the last 20 years ( browser, word processor, etc... are another great example)

At some point you must realize that custom = custom and your custom != someone else's custom.

Democratization would probably be another word to describe the idea.. I remember couple years ago if we wanted to create a prototype in 3D we had to call a bunch of specialist, doctor/PHD with a couple of engineers etc... it was a million dollars project.

Now you go online, send a picture, fill some option then BANG two week later you receive by mail your 3D object for the price of a coffee. The most adventurous invest a couple of $$$ to buy a 3D printer and do it at home.

Allowing community software to be operate/customized by average Bob while allowing code editing for Einstein will bring lots of benefit to IPS.

[Aiwa]

I think what you're after, to an extent, would be great... But what ends up having to happen is each bit needs to be compartmentalized to a greater level than is done currently.

What you're talking about with font size, color, etc is simple text manipulation. Expanding to layout manipulation is another ballpark entirely.

In terms of putting things here, or there... That's part of what the hooks system accomplishes. Yes, you need to know how to code, or hire someone that can... But you can put pieces of code where you want them or manipulate others in the manner you see fit.

[msg]

http://community.invisionpower.com/topic/381766-social-media-share-icons/

Not to add more justification, i think we all understand, but simply to post suggestion, hope other will do the same.

In the topic below, it was ask to use icons with count for social media site

In a visual interface, we click the edit media share section, then tick a check box to switch between the regular icon and the one with count without having to digg inside the code.. Inside they same place we can add or remove services.

[msg]

Aiwa

I just realize, IPBlog module has something very close to what I was looking for

At the top I see add block, this will add block on the right side and i can drag and drop them to reorder.

If we could have a small icon on the header bar to define options associate to the block.