Talk:Main Page

The Main Page is the TNG Wiki's "window to the world". It needs to be crafted with careful thought.

Top image

The original image 20080723135358.jpg seems overly large in its vertical dimension, thereby displacing textual information. It also omits the vital word "Sitebuilding" from its embedded caption. I suggest it be updated with a more compact image. Lochneil 23:34, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

---

Hey ... that works for me! I just threw something up there real quick just to have some kind of logo that was similar to a logo I found on one of Darrin's pages (not sure where now??).

If anyone is skilled in Graphic design and wants to work with Darrin for a cohesive look and feel for the Wiki, Forums, and TNG web site ... that would be great!! --Bgaugler 00:09, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

---

I agree. A unified approach will add to the professionalism of the package. On another topic, I've just added some notes to this page for newcomers (or people new to the wiki idea) on how to contact contributors regarding issues with links, etc. --Lochneil 09:05, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

---

I inserted a Main Page image that matches the Forums front page and Main TNG web site ... If you dont like it ... we can "roll it back"

• Here are several versions --Bgaugler 05:04, 12 January 2009 (UTC)
• _{Front page graphic variations (opinions welcome)} Moved here by --Ken Roy 11:42, 3 November 2009 (UTC)

---

Left sidebar

When I first registered for the wiki last month my first reaction when I looked at the left sidebar was that there are way too many options. Now the categories section just adds to the confusion. It is just too confusing as to where one is supposed to start looking for answers.

In my experience using wikis (primarily wikipedia), the most helpful function is the Search box, which I think should be "above the fold."

I suggest consolidating and rearranging the left sidebar.

1. Re-order the left sidebar so that the most important sections are above the fold, such as follows:

I will have to investigate re-ordering the sidebar, since the Search box for example is not in the editable content--Ken Roy 21:21, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

navigation
search
tng guides
toolbox
external links

Search was moved to below Navigation--Ken Roy 21:58, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

2. Eliminate the sections labeled "categories" and "other categories" and place their contents within the submenus of the TNG Guides.

• The other categories contains information that may not rightful belong within the TNG Guides, such as Software, Web Services, Tip and Tricks--Ken Roy 21:21, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Other categories was renamed to Items of Interest--Ken Roy 21:58, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

• Categories is really a different organization of the articles using the MediaWiki CategoryTree extension, which I think might be helpful in finding information to some people, see we all learn differently--Ken Roy 21:21, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

3. Eliminate links that are not needed: i.e. Community Portal, Current Events, Random Page, and sitesupport.

I have removed those links--Ken Roy 21:21, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

4. Remove some of the blank space above and below TNG logo - this will allow the sidebar links to move up slightly and have more of the links visible on the first screen of the page.

will also require investigation as to how the image is brought in--Ken Roy 21:21, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

MediaWiki:Monobook.css was created to set

   #p-logo,
   #p-logo a,
   #p-logo a:hover {
      height: 75px;
   }
   #column-one { padding-top: 85px; }

--Ken Roy 00:12, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

Cutting to the chase. Based on recent comments in the TNG Forum, I added a section right at the top of the main page telling visitors how to find stuff. That's the only reason people visit the wiki - so "How to find stuff" should be front and center and above the fold (IMO).

--R Morss 15:24, 24 October 2009 (UTC)

Redesign Nov 2009

The Main Page badly needed revision (IMHO). It was getting cumbersome and cluttered with info best retained in the Help page. In the redesign, I have aimed for the following features:

• Pleasant graphics at the top, not too big, not too small, but loads fast and resizes gracefully
• A clean, concise, balanced and consistent structure with logical flow
• Vital stuff for new visitors "above the fold".

Hopefully, we can build on this. -- Lochneil 23:52, 23 November 2009 (UTC)

Roger, very nice work. Thanks for stepping up and helping. Probably the majority of information starting with the TNG Wiki User List and below could be moved to a separate page to further un-clutter the Main Page.--Ken Roy 12:44, 24 November 2009 (UTC)

Instructions line for wiki newbies

From: tngusers2-bounces@lythgoes.net On Behalf Of EAjunkmail@switched.com

Sent: Monday, 22 August 2011 6:13 a.m.

To: TNG Users List

Subject: Re: [tngusers2] TNG Volunteer Mentors

OMG I wouldn't even know where to begin. I don't recall going to the Wiki and ever leaving without frustration. So I went there just now. The main page itself is confusing. Under Additional Aritcles/Feature (which should be at the very top of the page), the subcategories of "Using TNG Wiki" and "How to search in TNG-Wiki," are blank. That's not good.

Eric's above comment on tngusers2 is wrong, of course. The subcategories DO have content. As a consequence, I've put this line on the Wiki home page:

To open or close the following sections, click the [show]/[hide] links.

--Lochneil 18:38, 21 August 2011 (CDT)