Talk:Main Page/Archive 5

Time to move the Index back up the page?

Now they're using DynamicPageLists, the region/topic sub-pages update themselves automatically. This makes them much more useful than in the past, when many were out-of-date as no editors were interested in keeping up to speed.

I think we should now move the FronPageSubjectIndex box back above the second and third leads on the Main Page, so readers can access the sub-pages much more easily. Ironically, the box always used to be there when many of the pages were in disrepair. Now they're all shiny and great, the index box is buried... Dan100 (Talk) 09:12, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Here's a (rather rough) idea of what it could look like: User:Dan100/Main_Page_sandbox. Yeah, I got rid of the second and third leads, but they take up a lot of room and are often out-of-date :(. Minus them, we can have bits like Latest News and Weather (more useful, imo) higher up the page. Dan100 (Talk) 09:30, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

You know me at this stage Dan... i've been waiting for so long to get my beloved index back up to a prominent position! But I don't agree with removing the 2nd and 3rd lead. Can you offer a comproimise to maybe include 2 leads and the index? → CGorman (Talk) 12:00, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

My two cents: I like it but agree having three lead stories is nice. Could you put 2nd lead under the 1st and the 3rd either under the index or between welcome and index. The index could also include links to Weather and Stock Market. Is it really desirable to have the other languages box at the bottom when those links are already in the side bar? DoubleBlue (Talk) 20:52, 9 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I give you User:Dan100/Main Page sandbox 2 and User:Dan100/Main Page sandbox 3! Sandbox 3 is my preference as it uses page space more efficently. Obviously neither could be used as real Main Pages in their current state, the coding of either the right-hand coloumn boxes or the page itself needs sorting out so it all renders properly, but you get the idea of the general layout. Dan100 (Talk) 09:51, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

PS anyone, please feel free to edit my sandboxes to fix the rendering! Dan100 (Talk) 10:27, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I know you've put a lot of work and thought into this, but im still unhappy with the alternatives - both 2&3 push the vital latest news section too far down the page. → CGorman (Talk) 20:10, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

It's a real juggling act! That's half the reason why I originally dropped the second and third leads - it's a real challenge to get everything in.

What may well be the simplest and most effective fix might be just to move the Index box to the top of the existing Main Page's right-hand column, and have 2nd and 3rd a bit lower down. Dan100 (Talk) 20:50, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Consider also DoubleBlue/Sandbox, which has a narrower 3rd column allowing Latest news to be higher up. Dan100 (Talk) 20:53, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I like DoubleBlues one quite a lot, however there seems to be a lot of whitespace... maybe its the absence of any straight lines or boxes. But its certainly intesting, anyone else wish to comment? → CGorman (Talk) 20:19, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Put it on the Main Page, C. That'll make people comment ;) Dan100 (Talk) 21:01, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

It needs significant prettying up. I just played with it enough to see what it would look like with a narrower 3rd column. I'm not really familiar with the wikicode to format it properly. Also the Market Data could be put in there if it was narrower (i.e., take out the description column and shorten the date format). DoubleBlue (Talk) 22:03, 11 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Actually, I kind of like Amgine/Sandbox3 with the categories and "Today's news". DoubleBlue (Talk) 21:08, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I would like some comments on my own attempt at it: User:Redge/Sandbox 1 based on Amgine's design. -- Redge (Talk) 16:17, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC)

<grin> Redge, that looks great! I have a couple a problem, however (that can be resolved). The Stock Market box always breaks out of the right column for me, leaving me with a scroll bar. I can look to see what can be done about that. The three-column look is one I hadn't thought of... very glad to see an implmentation! - Amgine 16:23, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Now thats by far the best option given so far. If the scroll bar problem can be fixed it would be perfect. Can you try it with a few colour variations just to see what they look like? → CGorman (Talk) 20:22, 14 Apr 2005 (UTC)

One problem I see is that it offers no links to the region pages - only the subject pages via the headers above each DPL. It also lacks the small menu we have below 'Welcome to...', though I'm sure that would be trivial to add. But I do still think there's a place for Latest news on the main page, rather than DPLs - it's so easy just to check to see what's new on the site when you come back after a bit. Remember DPLs are far from perfect too - if someone edits a weeks-old article, it will go straight to the top of the list as if it's brand new! Dan100 (Talk) 10:11, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Well, if you check the code, you'll find that latest news is the only header on that page not to use DPL, but the Wikinews:(Date) latest news template. I haven't found anything that would cause the stock box to snap out of the column, but I'm sure we can work that out. For some color variations, try User:Redge/Sandbox 1/Pink, User:Redge/Sandbox 1/Green, User:Redge/Sandbox 1/Blue and User:Redge/Sandbox 1/Yellow, or make your own theme. I've customized the first version to my own needs. And I'll see if I can work the region headers in. -- Redge (Talk) 16:09, 16 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Region headers are now in there. The only drawback to my page (besides the stock market box acting up) is the fact that only the present day is displayed. I´ve created an extended version which displayes all the headlines the current Main Page does, and filled the right column up with some background info. The result is a rather lenghthy but very complete Sandbox 2. -- Redge (Talk) 18:05, 22 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Lead texts too long?

I think our Main Page leads are too wordy, so I'm just trying much shorter texts on them (generally just one sentence). I think it works rather well. Dan100 (Talk) 21:04, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

My sandbox 3 (above) also seems to work better with shorter leads - Latest news is a bit higher up. Dan100 (Talk) 21:05, 10 Apr 2005 (UTC)

My first attempt doesn't seem to be affected by Lead length. In fact, a longer lead article fits in well. -- Redge (Talk) 16:22, 13 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Column: Where to put it?

I have a science and technology column that I've put in my namespace until I know what to do with it (and until I know if people like it). I'd like to get more publicity to it. How do you think we can get columns such as that to the public eye? Can it be placed on the Index (a Columns category) or do you think it fits under the Science and Technology category instead?
I hope you like the column too. Cap'n Refsmmat 00:22, 12 Apr 2005 (UTC)