Monachos layout redesign Preview

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear message forum members,

An upgrade of the Monachos.net system is pending, part of which will include an upgrade to the design layout and interface.

Those of you who are frequent readers of the website are invited to look at an extremely rough, beta version of the new layout, currently applied only to a few pages for testing. These pages are found in the Liturgics area by clicking this link (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/index.shtml).

Your comments on the new layout are most welcome, and can be posted in this thread for discussion by others.

(Please note that at the time of this posting, the header of the new pages is not complete: the grey bar across the top of the page is not intended as the final result -- the relevant graphic is being produced.)

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

NB: Please note that the A-Z index bar for quick linking to source texts (available in some pages of the new design) will not yet function properly: it will take you to the A-Z index, but not to the appropriate letter. (This is because the A-Z index page is currently on the existing/'old' layout; when it is converted, the linkage will work properly.)

INXC, Matthew

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Very good job, Dr Steenberg.

I like the austerity of page formatting, which is so appealing at the same time.

I also like the links from specific versus of Scriptures to biblegateway.com site. I wonder if it could be possible to link on specific version (king james, new king james, darby) according to preselection from forum user profiles.

Also I find the SPIonic greek format quite out of time (although it is used by scholars), because every modern OS supports ancient greek fonts. I wonder if this could also be preselected from forum user profiles as an option.

I know that it is quite exterminative to reformat a whole web site! Congratulations on your work and I hope that you may "survive" from the reformat process.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Friends,

A new bit of functionality that I would particularly be keen to have tested: the new layout will provide the ability to configure your display settings through safe cookies, allowing you to increase or decrease font sizes, change the font used, etc, for ease in reading the documents on-line.

In the Liturgics area, you can test this functionality by clicking the Configure Display link on the right-hand side of pages, then using the drop-down list on the resulting page to select one of the two modes currently available: (1) Monachos Default (font is Verdana, non-serif); or (2) Times New Roman (with serifs).

Could people please test this and let me know if/how it works, as well as reactions? Once I am certain that the cookies aspect is functioning properly, I'll add in the extra bits to allow for larger and smaller font sizes, etc.

(Please note: the other personalisation fields -- e.g. name, title, country, etc. -- are not yet functional. You can simply leave them blank for the time being.)

INXC, Matthew

[Theopesta]

dr. MATH. I make this test I hope I am not mistaken and understand what your reverence want

p.s. I am not knowledgable in the net if I am not understand forgive me

this is the result
http://www.monachos.net/cgi-bin/cookielib/set_cookies.pl

[Theopesta]

this is the result of using the Times New Roman display

http://www.monachos.net/cgi-bin/cookielib/set_cookies.pl

name, title, country are written by black bold large font I cannot know the size but very big and comfertable to my eye
the remain are also large but not bolded

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

I was able to set up the Configure Display--unfortunately I have no idea what it's purpose is!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[M.C. Steenberg]

Fr Raphael wrote:


I was able to set up the Configure Display--unfortunately I have no idea what it's purpose is!

Dear Father,

The purpose of this feature will (eventually) be to enable readers to change the font and font-size of all text on the web site, to accommodate those with poor eyesight or who find other fonts easier to read (or simply more pleasant) than our standard Verdana.

Currently, the only field that matters in the 'Configure Display' area is the 'Display Mode' drop down list. If you select 'Monachos Standard', you should see the new pages in the Liturgics area in the usual Verdana font. If you select 'Times New Roman', then go back to any of the new-layout pages in the Liturgics area, you should find that they new appear with all font in Times New Roman (a font with serifs, and more of a typewriter style).

Does this work for you?

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Dear Matthew,
Thanks for the explanation!

By changing the font setting back & forth a few times between Monachos Standard & Times New Roman I was able to see that this function does indeed work for me.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

PS: Would you know how this cookie is identified? I have been using Webroot's Window Washer for the past while and before I discovered there was a save cookies setting I washed & deleted all my cookies! You know what happens then- you have to re-register for all your groups- monachos, yahoo, etc.(including trying to remember your password!) Now I realise that one needs to save the cookies for favourite websites before doing a 'wash' but there is a bit of guess-work on identifying them.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Fr Raphael,

All the cookies for Monachos.net should be registered under either the www.monachos.net (http://www.monachos.net) or monachos.net domains on your computer: your washing programme should have some feature to allow cookies from specific domains: if you add these, it should preserve Monachos cookies when you perform your sweep. (All such functionality is built into the FireFox browser, as some others.)

Monachos has for several years used cookies in the Message Boards, to remember login settings, check for messages since last visit, etc. The new layout design will also employ minimal cookie usage on document (i.e. non-message board) pages to control font and font-size, etc.

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear all,

Some further change to the graphical layout of the new pages has taken place today, and will do throughout the week. Additional feedback, bug reports, etc, is most welcome.

I realise that there is a bug with the left- and right-column background graphics at the moment when viewed in Internet Explorer (bug not present in FireFox). This is being worked on. Do check back from time to time if you use IE, to see if it has mended itself.

Now is the time for feedback / wish-lists, etc. Monachos does not undergo thorough overhauls that often, so do voice your opinions of there are features, design elements, etc, you would like to see incorporated into the web site.

INXC, Matthew

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Yes the graphics are not fully visible using IE but are with Firefox. I've been using the Firefox Browser (along with Mozilla Thunderbird email) for about 3 months now. I understand it is much more secure than IE. It also downloads websites so much faster than does IE- why the difference I do not know.
In Christ- Fr Raphael

[M.C. Steenberg]

For those testing the new pages and functionality: you should now be able to change the font size in either supported font format (Monachos default and Times New Roman), between the normal/default size and 'Larger Font'. This is configurable from the 'Configure Display' link on the new pages (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/index.shtml).

Please let me know if you have any trouble with this feature.

INXC, Matthew

[Theopesta]

I am testing the 4fonts no trouble with this feature
I think the the best for me is:
Monachos Standard Display LARGER FONT SIZE.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear all: for those testing the new pages in Microsoft Internet Explorer: the problem with the cropped / cut off / repeating graphics in the left- and right-hand columns should now be fixed. I would be grateful to know if the pages are now displaying properly in readers' installations of IE.

(Unfortunately, the stationary graphical framing available in the pages when viewed with FireFox is not possible in IE: but this new fix should assure that the page have their own coherent look in that browser.)

INXC, Matthew

[Theopesta]

I find every thing right for me I feel the right and the lift graphic and the pages display properly.

I think I use IE

If I am fail in my understanding for what your REV. want forgive me

[Theopesta]

I download the firefox and can see the stationary graphical framing which is not stationary in IE

[Marie-Duquette]

Forum members, especially Matthew who is re-configuring the Monachos web site

I'm only testing for color, Font and Size.

HOPE it works!

marie_duquette

[Marie-Duquette]

2 brackets after my name in the previous post?
marie_duquette

p.s. I'm just learning how to use the formatting.

[Theopesta]

I think my be you press on any key of color or fonts or size without intent and the order not completed

[Theopesta]

if you REV. please some threads in the link catalogs not active i.e when I click on it I read
{Not Found
The requested URL /mystic/Christian/Cyril/index.html was not found on this serve}

e.g Cyril of Alexandria,
John Klimakos (John of the Ladder)
Philokalia - Selections

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

Dr. Steenberg.

I have checked the test web site (I use MS IE ver 6.0.2800 SP1) and I have found that the links:

About the Feast of the Theophany - Orthodox Church in America website Discourse on the Day of the Baptism of Christ, by St John Chrysostom - OCA website
at the end of the page Texts for the Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany) - 6/19 January (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/theophany_texts.shtml) are being linked to external web site pages which have been removed.

The link at the and of the page The Nativity of Christ According to the Flesh (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/nativity_texts.shtml) is also broken due to removal of the external web page.

Another point is that while in all other pages of test web site the font sizes are defined as static and they are not being affected by the text size defined by the web browser, in the page Prayer as the Act From Which All Good Comes (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/on_prayer.shtml) the reference numbers of the notes within the text are defined as dynamically sized. So, if the web browser of the client has a definition of the text size as "larger", the text appears like in the attached images, which makes the reference numbers to look disproportionally BIG compared with the text.

Smallest text size defined in web browser (reference numbers are sized according to the text):
[image removed]

Larger text size defined in web browser(reference numbers are sized disproportionally to the text):
[image removed]

On the personalized display settings, the "Times New Roman - Larger Font Style" does not work and it behaves just like the ""Times New Roman" setting, but the "Monachos Default"/"Monachos Default -Larger font style" work as supposed to.

I have found no other problems. Everything else works fine for my IE web browser setup.

Leandros

(Message edited by matthew on 30 August, 2005)

[Daniel Jeandet]

I like the new design, but why dont I like it when icons are cropped like that?

[Marie-Duquette]

Matthew,
On Sunday I spent a lot of time looking into the many resources and links provided. A wealth of material! Thank you.

A few times I tried posting a short message using "COLOR" "FONT" "SIZE" and, after preview my post, if I try to change, correct, add something, then "POST" I receive an ERROR sign. the message does not "POST"

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Leandros,

Thank you for your recent post with details on display issues with the new design.

(a) I will check into the font size issue on the page 'Prayer as the Source...', which you indicated.

(b) Thank you for notification of broken external links. These will also be corrected in due course.

(c) I am concerned by the background fade behind the 'Search this website...' link at the top of pages, as displayed in your two screen capture images. As those images render, the fade is in large blocks: blue, dark grey, light grey, white. It should be a smooth fade from dark blue to white. Is this simply a side-effect of the screen capture, or does the background actually display like that in your browser? If so, what is your display resolution, etc?

My thanks,
INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for the feedback. The images in the side-bars are still rather tentative. In the lower left-hand a portion of a larger icon of Christ creating the fish of the sea; in the upper right-hand a section from an immense icon of the last judgement. However, these may well (and probably will) be changed. Perhaps I will test some non-cropped icons and ask for your (and others') feedback. The main problem is the squares/rectangles (which icons generally are), causing a very choppy look to the page if too frequent (and there is always a miniature page icon in the upper right-hand of every page). Perhaps the end result might rather be simply colour fades in the corners, rather than icons.

Feedback always welcome.

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

To those examining and testing new layout pages:

A very early preview of what the new layout of the Discussion Community message forum might look like is available by visiting a sample topic of the Development Board (http://www.monachos.net/devboard/messages/8/24.html?1125392336) (a separate message board used solely for testing purposes; entirely distinct from the actual Discussion Community).

Comments on the general look and feel (and not specific functionality) are welcomed, especially by frequent readers and posters to the Discussion Community.

(Please note: only the test topic linked above gives a feel for what is in work. Other sections of the development board are not complete, and some (e.g. the main topics listing) are merely space fillers and bear no resemblance to the intended final product.)

INXC, Matthew

[Theopesta]

with my weak sense I feel it is more better and comfortaple to my eye, and more silent as no need to move the page right and lift.

if you please some times I feel I need the icon to be more obvious but if this not suitable every thing always right and suitable.
it is best for icon to be obvious to the mind eye
in CHRIST

[Marie-Duquette]

Just hope that the new format -- display page -- will not be too wide. This happens sometimes, even in the "old form". I find it difficult to move the page from left to right for reading the texts at times. This I find distracting, losing the trend of thought, and a little frustrating.

I am still wondering about the ERROR message that I receive when I "PREVIEW/POST MESSAGE" finding mistakes or wanting to add "COLOR" or "SIZE" ...

Something about "argument" I guess I don't understand this particular process. Will try again.

thank you for the great effort put into updating the MONACHOS site, that it can be more beneficial for all.

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Leandros,

I believe the problem with odd font size irregularities surrounding note references in the Prayer as the Act From Which All Good Comes (http://www.monachos.net/liturgics/on_prayer.shtml) article should now be remedied, and should display properly in whichever display format you configure.

Please let me know if they continue on your machine.

With thanks,
INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Marie-Duquette and Theopesta,

Thank you for the feedback. The issue with forum pages at times displaying too wide, i.e. scrolling off the right-hand side of the browser window, is one of the things that should be corrected in the new layout (again, have a look at a test page here (http://www.monachos.net/devboard/messages/8/24.html?1125392336)). The new centre-column message display should sort this problem.

In the current ('old') Discussion Community layout, the message display takes place in the main page area, which is a right column. The problem with side-scrolling messages is caused when members post messages that include especially long URLs/hyperlinks: hyperlinks, which register as single words in computer interpretation, are so wide that the column has to be increased in order to accommodate, and thus it expands to the right (since there is no other direction for it to expand, as there is a toolbar on the left) resulting in the need to scroll sideways.

The new layout should accommodate for this by line-breaking long URLs, such that even the longest URL should not force an increased centre-column width and distort the page.

The only situation in which page width distortion will continue (and which really cannot be helped) is if a member posts as part of his/her message a graphical image (e.g. a screen shot, or a large photograph) that is especially wide. As there is no way to line-break an image, this will of course alter the display width of the page. But such situations are extremely infrequent.

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Marie-Duquette, you wrote:


A few times I tried posting a short message using "COLOR" "FONT" "SIZE" and, after preview my post, if I try to change, correct, add something, then "POST" I receive an ERROR sign. the message does not "POST"

It sounds as if you may not have put proper slashes and opening/closing curly-braces around the tags. For a step-by-step introduction to using formatting tags, read the formatting tags tutorial (http://www.monachos.net/mb/tutorial/easy_formatting.shtml).

Remember: if you are using the formatting toolbar to insert tags, you still need to add closing braces at the end of tags.

Do let me know if this is of assistance.

INXC, Matthew

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

(c) I am concerned by the background fade behind the 'Search this website...' link at the top of pages, as displayed in your two screen capture images. As those images render, the fade is in large blocks: blue, dark grey, light grey, white. It should be a smooth fade from dark blue to white. Is this simply a side-effect of the screen capture, or does the background actually display like that in your browser? If so, what is your display resolution, etc?

Dr. Steenberg,

The bar colour effect is due to image colour reduction that I manually produced in the saved images in order not to post big size real colour images.

The actual presentation of the bar on my screen is fading smoothly.

Leandros

[Leandros Papadopoulos]

To those examining and testing new layout pages:

A very early preview of what the new layout of the Discussion Community message forum might look like is available by visiting a sample topic of the Development Board (a separate message board used solely for testing purposes; entirely distinct from the actual Discussion Community).

Comments on the general look and feel (and not specific functionality) are welcomed, especially by frequent readers and posters to the Discussion Community.

Dr. Steenberg,

I find that the old style forum member name linkage to member's profile is more suitable than the new one that is linking to member's email address.


I believe the problem with odd font size irregularities surrounding note references in the Prayer as the Act From Which All Good Comes article should now be remedied, and should display properly in whichever display format you configure.

Please let me know if they continue on your machine.

OK. Now the reference notes are the same size as the text.

Leandros

[Theopesta]

I am gratful at any thing as it is not easy to find all this number of blessed kind,experianced and knowledagble, in one forum in addition to the deep searches of the webmaster,
I feel it is important to find easy the profil of other to know with whom we speak to give the suitable reverence.

the words and the way of speaking with the elders surely not as the same age specially in between mans and womens, I don't know are my mind correct or not?

finally I am gratful many thanks

[Marie-Duquette]

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for your responses to my questions and observation.

I still have problems accessing the "FRONT PAGE" and the whole web site from my "favorite places" Can only access from my e-mail address.

I wrote a lenghty observation in Announcements etc.

In my opinion, I still like the Old Format better; that is accessing Monachos from my "favorite places" on my server, which is different from my e-mail address.

respectfully,

marie_duquette

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear friends,

As many of you have already noticed, we are engaging in a large-scale test of the new layout for document pages across Monachos.net. Previously accessible only in the Liturgics area, the new layout has this weekend been applied to the whole of the web site, save for a few sections (the Discussion Community included in those exceptions). Please do report any problems or more general reactions here.

It is likely that the site will revert back to its former layout after this testing period, before the final switch over to the new design takes place later this Autumn.

INXC, Matthew

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear friends,

As any who have accessed the Monachos.net Discussion Community forum since this evening will be aware, we are now testing the implementation of the new layout for the message board. Do feel free to explore the new layout and design, including some new features enabled in the system and refinements of the old. Comments can be left in this thread, including any display problems, thoughts, etc.

Please note that certain aspects of the new layout are still in the process of being 'tweaked' -- including, most notably to many, the layout of posts as delivered by e-mail. These will continue to be refined over the coming days and weeks.

My many thanks to Thomas Farr and Kate White for assistance in the work on this redesign.

INXC, Matthew

[Trudy]

Dear Matthew,

When entering the Monachos.net site, I thought perhaps I had landed in the wrong place! But WOW! It is very nice! I like the easy color on the eyes. The print is a good size. I like the images on the corners.

Thank you to you and your team for all the hard work and time this has taken to improve an already wonderful site.

Sincerely, Athanasia

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear Athanasia,

Thank you for the kind remarks about the new layout - I'm glad to hear it meets with a longstanding member's approval. http://www.monachos.net/mb/clipart/happy.gif I'll make sure to pass along your comments to the others.

INXC, Matthew