Redesigning and re-branding EN World

[Valdier]

Okie cool, just wasn't sure how many hits a day the site was getting overall

 

[JDRay]

The server this messageboard is on is LInux (as you can tell, because the boards use PHP). So I have a problem with parts of the site needing W2K and other parts needing Linux.

There's a good set of instructions (short) for installing PHP on Windows. It's at http://www.pcquest.com/content/networking/102020512.asp. Of course, Java runs everywhere. I think that either one (or both) could be very effectively used to enhance ENWorld. The trick is to come up with some sort of form page that enables the author (that's you, Morrus) to "fill in the blank" to get the news out in a preset, standard format. I don't know if you're currently editing HTML to do the front page each day, but you shouldn't have to.

 

[Valdier]

I just wanted to give a quick update if anyone is using my monster tools at the moment... (apparently a *lot* of people are from my logs) but, I am bring the server down for a bit to upgrade the OS after several years of stalling... so hopefully it will be back up, and not too late this evening

 

[ergeheilalt]

Re: New Site

Wow, it looks alot different. I like the pull down menu, but I nearly missed it cause it was right at the top on the window. Maybe you could put a buffer (or banner) up there. I like the larger space for the news, but without the menus on each side it seems it looks alot like the Black Pages and could be confusing for people just surfing in.

There is my 2 cents,

Ergeheilalt, wizard extraordinary

 

[Darraketh]

I got a bit bored last night so I went ahead and put together a mockup taking what I liked from both Morrus and Psionicist's work and put together a sorta "mix" version, I am adding a little more simple of a menu to the top, a non-javascript version(since it doesn't work in mozilla). If you check it and it isn't there give it a little bit and it will be


www.valdier.com/backup/enworld


btw, psionicist, I refreshed that source code since last night, you might wan't to re-download it as some of the files I gave you were bad development files, not what is currently live.

Hmmm... the top menu does need to stand out more. Perhaps a divider between the menu options. And the cursor doesn't change to the hand.

So with the dark gray hi-lighting on a black background and the pointer telling me it was just text and not a link I was saying; what menu?

 

[Psionicist]

So... Morrus, can you organize this? I need to know if you are interested in my layout? You see for every day I'm not working on it the more tired I get of it...

 

[Morrus]

I'm thinking it's a little too much for me. Very cool, but I'd be more comfortable doing something like that if I was more of a techie.

Also - I won't be doing anything until after I get back from Gen Con anyway. I'll be giving this a lot more thought then.

 

[Phowett]

I actually like the layout and colors and all of the site as it is. I think the site can use a little more organized content, though.

 

[Griswold]

There is only one thing I would change about EN World, and that is please open links in new windows.... It's a pain to have to keep going back to the main page.

Otherwise i love the site.

Griz.

 

[Morrus]

There is only one thing I would change about EN World, and that is please open links in new windows.... It's a pain to have to keep going back to the main page.

I've done that in the past - you have no idea how many people complained!

The thing with having them open in a new windown or not, is that if they don't, the people who want them to can still do so by right clivking and selecting "open link in new window", whereas if they do open in a new window, the people who don't want them too have no way around it.

So, the best thing to do is to set them so they don't. Then the people who want them to can just do so.