Your feedback needed - Tatiana's TOMATObase new page format

Tania · January 19, 2013

Folks,

I played with TOMATObase page layout in the last couple of days, and would like to hear your opinion about the looks and usability, compared to the old format. The main difference is the introduction of the Tabbed interface.

Here is the sample page with the new format:
http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/1884

On this particular page, the 'Seed Availability' section is moved to a separate tab.

For pages with large number of pictures, I can do something similar, i.e., move the plant pictures, green fruit pictures into their own tabs, so only ripe fruit pictures would stay on the main tab.

All the other pages still have the old format, so you can compare the two.

Let me know what you think - I would love to hear your feedback and incorporate it into the new page design.

Thank you,
Tatiana

Doug9345 · January 19, 2013

I like it. It makes the page look better and I like tabbed browsing anyway.

Redbaron · January 19, 2013

Where are the rest of the 1884 pics?

Tania · January 19, 2013

Scott, sorry, I do not have any other pics for 1884, and I have not implemented tabs for pictures yet.

Just checking for some preliminary impressions about the direction I am taking

Redbaron · January 19, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tania

Scott, sorry, I do not have any other pics for 1884, and I have not implemented tabs for pictures yet.

Just checking for some preliminary impressions about the direction I am taking

OK Then in that case carry on.

Tania · January 19, 2013

Here is another sample page with tabs: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Yellow_Trinidad

For logged in users, please note the new 'Edit with form' option for pepper pages. It is also a trial run, and feedback is welcome if you decide to try the new edit form to add a new pepper page. It does not yet work for editing existing pages (these will need to be converted into the new wiki markup first)

[I think Doug may also have a very good insight into the new wiki markup behind the scenes... as he has been working so hard on creating new pages last week

]

ddsack · January 19, 2013

I like it, Tania! Makes the page faster to scroll through, but easy to find the seed vendors if you want them.

**carolyn137** · January 19, 2013

If only Carolyn could understand what that blue thing is that says new tab when I'm at a site such as this one.

But please remember she just finished reading the last book in the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel and who is no doubt back in the stone age.

Carolyn, not a flatlander, for those who know the series, but trying to understand all the bells and whistles of her new computerand software.

SunnyK · January 19, 2013

Well, it looks good to me...but then it looked good to me before as well. But I agree that the seed tab does speed things along nicely. And of course I got distracted by all the gorgeous tomatoes on your site and must now update my 'Want' list. Lol!!

Tania · January 19, 2013

Carolyn, LOL!

SunnyK, LOL too

The cons with tabbed user interface that it will hide the information in a tab, and a user will have to click on the tab to see it.

But tabs could be a good solution when a page gets too long and a user have to scroll down to see the info.

I personally hate scrolling, and would rather have tabs to click through. For very long pages it takes lots of scrolling, and I'd rather switch to one click on the tab to jump to the info I am interested in.

Another 'con' with tabs is that they are 'less visible'. Very often users simply do not 'see' them, and the info behind the tabs is essentially unavailable to them.

So I am still considering pros and cons to the tab approach.

[Besides, it would mean that my DH will need to write another tool to modify the pages markup to convert everything into tabs - that's not a small 'cost']

So please keep your candid feedback coming, I am especially interested in 'negatives'.

Worth1 · January 19, 2013

Looks like the other one.

Worth

Tania · January 19, 2013

OK, here is more involved example: Cherokee Purple.

Old page: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Cherokee_Purple

New Page: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/C...le_(with_Tabs)

**Mischka** · January 19, 2013

Can you change the hyperlinks to a darker shade of blue, or is that hard coded?

Tania · January 19, 2013

I have to figure out how to overwrite the default wiki hyperlink style, it is not very straightforward (meaning I have no clue so far how to do it)

EDITED TO ADD: maybe trying a different 'skin' would help... I have to try.

This could be a problem for color blind folks...

awillie · January 19, 2013

I like the tab system very much. It makes a complex page look very organized. You can find what you want to know quickly.

January 19, 2013	#1
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Your feedback needed - Tatiana's TOMATObase new page format Folks, I played with TOMATObase page layout in the last couple of days, and would like to hear your opinion about the looks and usability, compared to the old format. The main difference is the introduction of the Tabbed interface. Here is the sample page with the new format: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/1884 On this particular page, the 'Seed Availability' section is moved to a separate tab. For pages with large number of pictures, I can do something similar, i.e., move the plant pictures, green fruit pictures into their own tabs, so only ripe fruit pictures would stay on the main tab. All the other pages still have the old format, so you can compare the two. Let me know what you think - I would love to hear your feedback and incorporate it into the new page design. Thank you, Tatiana __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

January 19, 2013	#3
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Where are the rest of the 1884 pics? __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

January 19, 2013	#4
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Scott, sorry, I do not have any other pics for 1884, and I have not implemented tabs for pictures yet. Just checking for some preliminary impressions about the direction I am taking __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

January 19, 2013	#6
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Here is another sample page with tabs: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Yellow_Trinidad For logged in users, please note the new 'Edit with form' option for pepper pages. It is also a trial run, and feedback is welcome if you decide to try the new edit form to add a new pepper page. It does not yet work for editing existing pages (these will need to be converted into the new wiki markup first) [I think Doug may also have a very good insight into the new wiki markup behind the scenes... as he has been working so hard on creating new pages last week ] __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

January 19, 2013	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I like it, Tania! Makes the page faster to scroll through, but easy to find the seed vendors if you want them. __________________ Dee **************

January 19, 2013	#2
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	I like it. It makes the page look better and I like tabbed browsing anyway.

January 19, 2013	#8
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	If only Carolyn could understand what that blue thing is that says new tab when I'm at a site such as this one. But please remember she just finished reading the last book in the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel and who is no doubt back in the stone age. Carolyn, not a flatlander, for those who know the series, but trying to understand all the bells and whistles of her new computerand software. __________________ Carolyn

January 19, 2013	#9
SunnyK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Stratford CT., Z6 or new for 2013 Z7 Posts: 126	Well, it looks good to me...but then it looked good to me before as well. But I agree that the seed tab does speed things along nicely. And of course I got distracted by all the gorgeous tomatoes on your site and must now update my 'Want' list. Lol!!

January 19, 2013	#10
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Carolyn, LOL! SunnyK, LOL too The cons with tabbed user interface that it will hide the information in a tab, and a user will have to click on the tab to see it. But tabs could be a good solution when a page gets too long and a user have to scroll down to see the info. I personally hate scrolling, and would rather have tabs to click through. For very long pages it takes lots of scrolling, and I'd rather switch to one click on the tab to jump to the info I am interested in. Another 'con' with tabs is that they are 'less visible'. Very often users simply do not 'see' them, and the info behind the tabs is essentially unavailable to them. So I am still considering pros and cons to the tab approach. [Besides, it would mean that my DH will need to write another tool to modify the pages markup to convert everything into tabs - that's not a small 'cost'] So please keep your candid feedback coming, I am especially interested in 'negatives'. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

January 19, 2013	#11
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Looks like the other one. Worth

January 19, 2013	#13
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Can you change the hyperlinks to a darker shade of blue, or is that hard coded? __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

January 19, 2013	#15
awillie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: phoenix, AZ Posts: 11	I like the tab system very much. It makes a complex page look very organized. You can find what you want to know quickly.