Posted by: admin
on Feb 12, 2010
We have begun work in conjunction with Niche Studio to create a much more modern and user friendly Joomla admin template that takes it's guidance from Usabililty principles. We should have a result in the next 6 weeks for you to drool over.
Here is some idea of what we are up to:
| Number | Item | New Position | Link |
| 1 | On page labels | Right Align all labels against input fields | |
| 1 & 2 | Remove horizontal menu items and move to new left menu. | | |
| 4 | Menu Icons | | |
| 5 | Logged in Users and Mail | These can be moved to the Dashboard. | |
| | Article manager | | |
| 1 | Video link | | |
| 2 | Article Title | Work out a new style for Title. When the title has not been completed, display it as an input box. | |
| 3 | State | Change to Status | |
| 4 | Page tree view | | |
| 5 | Article | | |
| 6 | Open All, Close All | | |
| 7 | | | |
| 1 | Status | This column is misleading. I think at best, it can only display if it is fully published or fully retracted. Change it to display "P" or "R". | |
| 2 | | By default, hide the views columns. Add a text link "Display Statistics". | Move to mouseover link for aticle title. |
| 3 | Display Order, Front Page and Article ID | Remove these columns entirely. | Add their info to a mouseover on each Title. |
| | | | |
| 1 | Article title in list | On Mouseover, a series of options is to be displayed | On mouseover of article title in list |
| 2 | Bulk Actions | Bulk Actions on top and bottom of list | Features like Retract can be moved here. |
| 3 | Excerpt and list view icons | | Excerpt view displays teaser text of article summary. |
| 4 | Screen Options | Just below the header on right side | |
| 5 | Help | Just below the header on right side | |
| | HTM Area changes | | |
| 1 | Source/standard view | Move above HTMLarea to right | |
| 2 | Insert image etc. | Move insert images etc. links above HTML area | |
| 3 | Summary/Body | New button. Simple button to add body text. | It adds a visible line in the article. This removes the need for two HTML areas and reduces the length of the page. |
| 4 | Show additional HTMLarea buttons | HTMLarea icons | Unhides remaining HTMLarea icons |
| 7 | Dashboard | Top Left (Always present) | Redirects to control panel |
| 8 | Preview | Subtle but still in header | Opens new window |
| 6 | New Item | Generic "New" item of page function | Always in header when a new item feature of that page type exits. |
| 4 & 9 | Left menu | Move most items to left menu rather than horiz top menu | |
Yes, we think Wordpress has a lot to offer in terms of design style and usability. Our implementation of some of their processes will be limted by what can be achieved without hacking the Joomla core. As long as we start to obey some basic usability principles, we'll have made a real improvement.