Wide/High Layout

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Sun May 07, 2006 3:44 pm

Hi,

I suggest two different layouts. One for wide maps, like the classic map, and one for high, narrow maps, like IndoChina.

The problem is that the site isn't designed for high maps and you have to scroll down for the controls, despite having all the space underneath the player names.

Given the site's all done nicely with CSS you can probably just toggle the layout without changing the HTML.

All the best!

Marvaddin · Post by **Marvaddin** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:18 pm

Hmm, good idea... The buttons could be at the side of the map... Interesting suggestion!!

Hoff · Post by **Hoff** » Sun May 07, 2006 11:24 pm

hmm yes that is interesting. It could be useful, but i dont feel like it is a real big issue having all the maps on the same format.

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:11 am

Hoff wrote:It could be useful, but i dont feel like it is a real big issue having all the maps on the same format.

What?

ZawBanjito · Post by **ZawBanjito** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:59 am

He doesn't think it's a big issue.

Neither do I. What are we missing out on? It would be nice, but so would a thousand other of the changes people have put forward, like 3D maps and oodles of statistical info, etc.

There's absolutely no serious problem with the maps the way they are, none that prevents you from playing, so you should perhaps practice enduring the .0008 seconds it takes to scroll down two or three centimeters. Alternatively you could ask the creator of the map directly to produce another version. Either way you are not asking the time-strapped creator of this site to bother with extremely minor cosmetic changes when there are far, far more pressing matters to attend to, features that many people are waiting eagerly to see implemented. Lackattack has nothing to do with the maps, he does not maintain them, and does not own them. He simply puts them up for us to play once they have reached an acceptable standard. Why then should he individually craft each page to fit each map?

Black Jack · Post by **Black Jack** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:37 am

A excellent suggestion, but, is this the correct time for it?

The site's official birth was only 4 months ago... it takes time to get it right.

If Lack was to post something on what the top priorities are... suggestions and discussions would be more useful.

Twill · Post by **Twill** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:07 pm

hmmm, good suggestion BlackJack, I'll see if I cant get that out of him

I know he is swamped, and yes, the man does have a life outside of CC, despite popular belief (or perhaps popular hope)

As for the high/wide, I'd love to move the buttons, but dont know sqiuddly dot about CSS and Lack has other things that he's working on right now so it may be a while off unless someone wants to volunteer some CSS time to make a few skins?

Have a great day, may your longs be shorter and your wides be skinnier
Twill

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:45 pm

ZawBanjito wrote:He doesn't think it's a big issue.

That's not really what he said. He's talking about formats, it's not 100% clear what he meant.

Neither do I.
...
Why then should he individually craft each page to fit each map?

It's not a big issue at all, but it's also an trivial to fix.

I understand you want lots of suggestions to be implemented but there's no need for us to stop making small suggestions because of that. Lack & Twill can decide the priority they can implement them.

It's a real shame the codebase isn't available in any way. I could probably modify the CSS to do this in about 2 minutes.

Tr0y · Post by **Tr0y** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:55 pm

Or maybe iconify the sidebar.

It's a real shame the codebase isn't available in any way. I could probably modify the CSS to do this in about 2 minutes.

Do it, and post the source.

I wanted to do something with the sidebar in a future release of my greasemonkey script. ( It could even be map specific ).

Lack may like it and decide to add it, who knows.

Jota · Post by **Jota** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:22 pm

Yeah, that's the tack I took with the XML-testing script. After I sent a copy of it to lack, he liked it enough that he put it online next to his own.

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:42 pm

Actually, I emailed lack in the past offering my help, but he didn't reply.

I would do it if I knew it was going to be implemented.

Jota · Post by **Jota** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:00 pm

Doesn't Firefox let users implement their own CSS for sites?

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:50 pm

Jota wrote:Doesn't Firefox let users implement their own CSS for sites?

Yes it does in a round about way. But I need to be able to toggle in on and off, not sure how to do that, anyone know?

I'm sure the fix would benefit all users of this site.

Still as others pointed out, there are other fixes, it's up to lack and others to decide what's a priority, it's not that big a thing, though if anyone knows how I could implement it just for myself that'd be cool.

Tr0y · Post by **Tr0y** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:22 pm

Greasemonkey would be the easiest.

Banana Stomper · Post by **Banana Stomper** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:29 pm

Hoff was saying that its not a problem because its a greater leap for Lack to redesign the page than for the creators of the maps to just alter the map in such a way that lends itself to fit on the screen. For example, North doesn't necessarily mean up, which could be one thing to take into account when designing these long island maps, such as the phillipines or japan.

Banana Stomper · Post by **Banana Stomper** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:33 pm

kevinc wrote:I would do it if I knew it was going to be implemented.

If everyone had that mentality, nothing would ever get done. Just do it and if it comes out nicely and looks good, lack will probably implement it. If not now, than eventually. "If you build it, they will come"

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:10 pm

Troy - I really need to take a look at greasmonkey it seems. If I come up with anything I'll post it up.

Banana, thanks for the clarification. It's not true though. As I know how much works goes into a map, and know how much it'd be to make this fix. There's always going to be some maps that tend to be portrait and some that will be landscape. Catering for that is something that will hopefully be catered for at some point down the road.

Banana Stomper wrote:
kevinc wrote:I would do it if I knew it was going to be implemented.
If everyone had that mentality, nothing would ever get done. Just do it and if it comes out nicely and looks good, lack will probably implement it. If not now, than eventually. "If you build it, they will come"

I understand where you're coming from, but that's completely not true. This is lack's site, I've offered my help and he knows how to get in touch if he wants. To be honest if I sent him code that would just be rude. This isn't an open source project.

Instead, I spent my time creating the XML Map reader, and designing an Ireland Map because I knew people would use and enjoy them.

At any rate, this is Lack's site and I'm confident he'll do what he think's best.

lackattack · Post by **lackattack** » Tue May 09, 2006 7:54 am

kevinc, I appreciate that you want to help out. If you could post some code or a mock screenshot - even something hand drawn - it would help me visualize and give an opinion on the alternative layout.

Also, if you're good with css, you could help me change the forum css to blend with the colours of Conquer Club. My pallette is here http://www.conquerclub.com/mapmaker/skidoocolors.html and the forum css is here http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/templa ... erClub.css

Speaking of layouts I've been wanting to put my left hand sidebar in the forum to give access to my games, etc.. but I've been holding off because I'm concerned it would waste too much space on 1024x768 resolution. You'd have to scroll more and scroll vertically too when people post map images. What's your oppinion?

EDIT: There are also gradient background images that would need to be re-colourized:
http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/templa ... ellpic.gif
http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/templa ... llpic1.gif
http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/templa ... llpic2.gif
http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/templa ... llpic3.gif

kevinc · Post by **kevinc** » Tue May 09, 2006 8:04 am

lack, cool stuff! I'll take a look at those things properly and drop you a mail.

Happy to help!