Wiki page layout issues
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:22 pm
Okay, seriously, we were trying to brainstorm potential new projects earlier and a few of us agree that the Wiki page is a train wreck. I've said it before and it bears repeating: Making the page look decent and organized will help people take it more seriously, which will make it easier for us to attract new contributors.
Basically the only reason anybody shows up is because Haruhi is insanely popular. You know that's the truth...
And so, I would like to suggest a few organizational improvements... Starting with the main menu on the left.
Under "Navigation," remove "Current events." The blank page is a spam magnet and the site isn't updated often enough that any event would ever be current. Not that we have events either that I've noticed...
Consider adding a "Staff" link here instead, where you can list all of the supervisors etc. in a more detailed fashion.
Under "Current Projects," collapse Suzumiya Haruhi into ONE link instead of three. Link to the Spanish and French versions from the landing page instead, where it would actually make sense.
Remove the "Gaijin-San" link. Not only does the link mean absolutely nothing to anyone other than a handful of Baka-Tsuki regulars, but there is an entire category listed right underneath it. (It's also painfully stupid, but we've already had a topic about that which went absolutely nowhere...)
Going one level deeper... The "Format/Style guideline" is very specific to the Suzumiya Haruhi series right now. I would recommend making a dedicated format guideline page for each project and linking to it from that project's landing page. Replace the current guideline page with a generic guide that applies to the whole site, including talk pages (eg how to discuss translation issues and how to create lists of citations)
The "Registration Pages" link really does nothing as-is. Are we using the same registration method for all projects (register chapter-per-translator)? In either case this section might be better titles "Contribution Guidelines" and the page reformatted accordingly.
Beyond this, I would like to see standardizing of the project landing pages in terms of format: Short intro paragraph, table of contents, list of contributors (translators and editors), actual list of translated pages, and updates at the BOTTOM since they are rarely of any importance. Important stuff can be stuck at the very top of the page for as long as it's relevant.
Standardizing for citations. As a personal preference, I'd like to see citations link to a dedicated "Footnotes" page for each chapter (or the whole volume/project divided into chapters). This page would contain a brief explanation of the footnote and then an external link if one is required. The purpose of this is to collect all of the information in one source. Putting external links inside the translation itself creates a break in flow, since the user leaves baka-tsuki.net entirely if they click on it. Also, having a brief paragraph of footnote on the wiki eliminates any problems of external pages moving or changing.
Removing citations from the talk pages would also help reduce the clutter.
*deep breath*
Okay, that's about it for now. I would gladly draft up the guidelines and such that I mentioned above providing my efforts won't be in vain. I'm willing to discuss any of these points as well, including alternative suggestions. Whatever, it just needs to be cleaned up and maintained better.
=Smidge=
Basically the only reason anybody shows up is because Haruhi is insanely popular. You know that's the truth...
And so, I would like to suggest a few organizational improvements... Starting with the main menu on the left.
Under "Navigation," remove "Current events." The blank page is a spam magnet and the site isn't updated often enough that any event would ever be current. Not that we have events either that I've noticed...
Consider adding a "Staff" link here instead, where you can list all of the supervisors etc. in a more detailed fashion.
Under "Current Projects," collapse Suzumiya Haruhi into ONE link instead of three. Link to the Spanish and French versions from the landing page instead, where it would actually make sense.
Remove the "Gaijin-San" link. Not only does the link mean absolutely nothing to anyone other than a handful of Baka-Tsuki regulars, but there is an entire category listed right underneath it. (It's also painfully stupid, but we've already had a topic about that which went absolutely nowhere...)
Going one level deeper... The "Format/Style guideline" is very specific to the Suzumiya Haruhi series right now. I would recommend making a dedicated format guideline page for each project and linking to it from that project's landing page. Replace the current guideline page with a generic guide that applies to the whole site, including talk pages (eg how to discuss translation issues and how to create lists of citations)
The "Registration Pages" link really does nothing as-is. Are we using the same registration method for all projects (register chapter-per-translator)? In either case this section might be better titles "Contribution Guidelines" and the page reformatted accordingly.
Beyond this, I would like to see standardizing of the project landing pages in terms of format: Short intro paragraph, table of contents, list of contributors (translators and editors), actual list of translated pages, and updates at the BOTTOM since they are rarely of any importance. Important stuff can be stuck at the very top of the page for as long as it's relevant.
Standardizing for citations. As a personal preference, I'd like to see citations link to a dedicated "Footnotes" page for each chapter (or the whole volume/project divided into chapters). This page would contain a brief explanation of the footnote and then an external link if one is required. The purpose of this is to collect all of the information in one source. Putting external links inside the translation itself creates a break in flow, since the user leaves baka-tsuki.net entirely if they click on it. Also, having a brief paragraph of footnote on the wiki eliminates any problems of external pages moving or changing.
Removing citations from the talk pages would also help reduce the clutter.
*deep breath*
Okay, that's about it for now. I would gladly draft up the guidelines and such that I mentioned above providing my efforts won't be in vain. I'm willing to discuss any of these points as well, including alternative suggestions. Whatever, it just needs to be cleaned up and maintained better.
=Smidge=