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Proposed additions to the main menu
I'd like to propose a couple of additions to the main menu for the site:
- Blogs:
The site is currently structured to enable registered site users to create their own blog on the site. So far a few site users have taken advantage of this feature and created blog posts. But, unless they are set to also appear on the front page, these posts are near impossible to locate. So I'm proposing a 'Blogs' menu item that will link to a page that lists all blog entries on the site in chronological order (newest at the top). - Groups:
The site provides a group facility to enable more focussed streams of content around particular issues. In large part the groups mirror the forums. We can certainly do more to enhance the group facility on the site, and as a start to this I'm proposing a 'Groups' menu item linking to a listing of groups so that users can see which groups they are member sof, and manage those memberships. We can then build on this further over time.
Comments? Anything else you think we need? I know there was talk of a classified ads type section to facilitate exchange, and I think there might be something we can do on this.
I also still need to upgrade the site software to the latest stable code, which will improve stuff all round.
Regards
Graham
Site developed in Slaithwaite by MC3.
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Imho...
The problem is, for 12 months no-one made any blog posts, so the list of new blogs was stangnant and was taking up space making the site look cluttered and unused.
With groups...i think the problem is that they provide no function, they are simply a mirror of the forum as you mentioned. This has led to confusion, because basically there is no point to joining the groups. They were there for the past 12 months, people joined up to them but never actually posted anything. I removed the groups to try and get discussions going on the forum. We need to remember the vast majority of people are not tech-savvy, and dont understand blogs, groups, forums etc.
For the time being, i feel it is best to keep things as simple as possible. Other transition towns are relying solely on a good forum as a website, because the primary aim of the site is for people to communicate.
Thoughts?
Hi Adam
Fair comments, both. I agree that simple is always best. I was a bit concerned when we first set the site up that maybe we had overcooked the structure a little.
But things seems to be going OK, although I am surprised we don't have more registered site users by now.
I'll get on with code upgrades as soon as I can find the time, and then take another look at improvements. I'd like to do some work on the visual design, but again that takes some time. Any skilled Drupalists or CSS people in the transition network locally?
We'd like to get more users on to the website but people don't seem to register or if they do, they don;t log in because you can see everything without having to do so. I think we can push the idea of people registering for the website at our events from now on.
I'd write a blog if there was a way for it to be more subtly added to the website, at the moment it has to be added to somewhere like a group or any of the other pages which makes it seem like you are pushing your personal opinions in people's faces. Would it tell people when you updated that same page or would it be like topics now, with it not telling people if you have updated your existing post?
I think we should perhaps have a section on the front page of the website where other people can't demote as it is important to keep MASTT events in a top position to ensure it gets as much publicity as possible.
I've made the event posting on Vegetable Sundays 'sticky'. A sticky item stays at the top of any lists it is included in, including the front page of the site, which is essentially a chronological listing of promoted items.
What about moving the blob of content that is the 'mission statement' into a block on the right hand side, and then there will be a lot more screen room available for the topmost item on the front page, which is currently hiding at the bottom of the screen?
Thanks for doing that, I don't know about moving the mission statement, I quite like it their. What does anyone else think?
One thing we can do is set it up so that people can only get the email newsletter if they sign up on the website. And promote this via a prominent block that shows on every site page.
I note that emails are being sent, presumably to a mailing list that someone is managing separate from the website. Let's bring these together so that everything can be managed from the web interface, giving a single list.
As for blogs, we can expose these more subtly via a block in one of the sidebars. We did have a three column layout, but I notice that this has been changed, by removing any blocks that were located on the right hand side. Can we review that? I don't know what the thinking was that led to that decision.
Regards
Graham
I'm not sure where I can post things so people will see them - would a blog facility act as a kind of community notice board?? My concern is that if I post whatever in one one of the dated group discussions, no-one will see it!
p.s. what i wanted to post was this link to 'Costing the Earth' - just heard on the radio some very interesting stuff re: bio mass developments in Barnsley
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00jm3l3/Costing_the_Earth_A_Burning_Solution/
Rowan, hi
At present the best way to get stuff noticed is to put your content in a new forum topic post. This will get listed in the 'New Forum Topics' block on the front page. Also, if you have appropriate privileges (I'll check) you can promote your post to the front page of the site so it gets listed there also, in chronological order (newest first), under any 'sticky' posts.
Regards
Graham
On checking, there is no easy way to give you access to promoting your post without giving you full admin rights over lots of other stuff on the site also. However I'll happily promote your posting.
well i logged in easily.
but when i came to log out, i was damned if i could find the log out button.
i had left the forums and gone back to the home page, its only when i came back to the discssion forum to comment on this that i discovered the logoff facility! it looks like its the only place to log off. yet didnt i logon on the home page ? mmmmmm?
could you not put the log off on the main home page as well ?
i have to say that i'm ok with forums but not very pc savvy. i would imagine that someone coming to the site for a beginner would really struggle to find the logoff button.
yet is it a biggie for someone to stay logged on indefinalety ?
yes its just as i thought
the login follows me to every location but the logout seems to only be only on the forum discussion page.
why can't the log-out be also on every page ?
Hi Pip,
You are absolutely right. The login/out links should be present on every page. It seems that some good soul has been tinkering. I'll reinstate.
Graham
Site admin
I just tried to post this as a new topic "Techy challenges with this website" but it's disappeared, having said it had been posted. Are new topics moderated? Can't work out what is going on. F...... anyway here is the message:
I don't think there is anywhere to put this, but please redirect if I've just not found the right place. If there isn't anywhere else to put this then this thread can serve as a holding space for techy issues.
Hi there, When I registered I wasn't required to add a password and had to go through all sorts of shenanigans to get a password (tbh I can't remember exactly how I did it, but it required emails being sent to me etc and a non techy wouldn't have bothered). (I can try and replicate and post full details if you want). Then, once I'd registered, I went to the forum and wanted to submit a topic, so I hit Login in "Login to post new forum topic" at the top of the page and got directed to "you are not authorised to access this page". I nearly gave up and then spotted the login half way down the LHS. Bit frustrating. It's fine if you're a regular user and know what to do, but first timers might well be turning away and not coming back. ...... oh, just one more thing..... it seems to me that the Last Reply column on the forums page is doing something wierd and very misleading, for example I posted to the BIG LUNCH thread yesterday and was replied to today and the Last Reply column shows 1 week 4 days ago. If I was using this column as it should be used, I wouldn't be bothering to check into any of the threads since it looks like there's been no action for ages. I hope this is helpful, as a new user of the site I've found it a bit frustrating. Since I generally won't be able to make it to meetings, this is my forum for keeping up with what's happening. Cheers F