Talk:Main Page/Archive 2009

I'd like to write but I don't speak wiki

wikispeak isn't a difficult language to learn and speak. Nonetheless, it can be a barrier to those for whom it is not a mother tongue, i.e., technogeeks or for those who do not have an ear for languages. Therefore, if you'd like to write something, write it in whatever application you'd like and send email it to managing_editorfiniki.org and we'll figure out how and where to include it.

This is the first cut at dealing with the problem.--yielder 08:47, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

Indexing Problems

The page topics should show bullets not numbers. Numbers imply ranking; there is no ranking. They are sorted alphabetically which makes sense. --yielder 21:42, 10 February 2009 (UTC)

The problem with using a bulleted rather than a numbered list is that the bulleted list does not allow easy subheadings. A numbered list does, although there are other approaches. As the number of topics increases, an unweighted (or equally-weighted) approach fails. Numeric lists allow grouping under subheadings in a simple and convenient manner - 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, etc.--Shakespeare 12:06, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

True but let's wait until we have to deal with the problem.--yielder 12:15, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Having over three headings using the Wiki == format will autogenerate a Table of Contents. This can be disabled in software if it becomes necessary. However, just using bolding for sections will not cause ToC generation. --Shakespeare 19:08, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

Added __NOTOC__ (No Table of Contents) command to main page as precaution. --Shakespeare 18:54, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

Mainpage and lower level page layout

At this point, I don't think that we should be limiting ourselves by making a decision to match the FWF forum layout. I think that we're better off letting editors shape finiki as they go along. Material will be in a state of ongoing reorganization as finiki is fleshed out.--yielder 17:34, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

Maybe not, but the link to the excel-to-wiki converter is very useful on the main page. That's why I put it there. Perhaps Norbert can put it in the side link - Or I'll put it back... ;-)--Shakespeare 17:45, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

Move it back if you wish. That's an editor's prerogative. As the page evolves, it'll either stay or it won't stay. --yielder 18:10, 14 February 2009 (UTC)

finiki navigation

In the finiki navigation thread,shakespeare noted that "it is already too hard to find buried pages". A finiki navigation section which puts a couple of the special pages on the main page might do the trick.--yielder 23:08, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Having the extra links helps, pending a better solution. I also suggest that, at this point with relatively few articles in good shape, that a separate list of those might be worthwhile. The navigation problem, IMO, has several parts:

1. The map is not readily visible. If you go on a link (say, Asset Classes) you lose the overall map. If you then click on a class, your reference point again disappears, and you may well wind up on a stub. This is frustrating to new users. The CategoryTree mod may address this problem.

2. There has to be a way to easily see if branch ends in a reasonably useful reference or a stub. With the very large number of stubs at present, it may be useful to give a manual list of new or featured articles. As the wiki matures, it may be possible to eliminate this list. At this point, though, there are some reasonably good references (say, the one on RRBs, which updates Bylo's RRB FAQs in certain areas, or Norbert's Gambit, which is unique) that a newcomer would only happen on by chance.

Why not move those links off the main page and into the navigation box on the sidebar? It will get longer but we could dump "Current events".

On a more philosophical note, I think we want to avoid cluttering up the front page, especially with something that requires manual (thus error-prone) intervention when something changes elsewhere.Norbert Schlenker 08:22, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Temporary solutions are needed at present because of the large number of stubs. --Shakespeare 23:20, 20 February 2009 (UTC)

Use of category pages for navigation

Right now, there are base pages for the different categories, such as for example "asset classes", that have to be individually maintained. Why not replace them by the corresponding category pages that are automatically maintained? --Shakespeare 05:23, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Make the change to Asset Classes so that I can see what you mean.--yielder 05:29, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

It didn't work. Added text descriptions on main page instead.--Shakespeare 12:04, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

I don't see the reason for the text. How does it help navigation? It only clutters up the main page.--yielder 13:21, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

The text is there to help the newbie find something. It's reasonably logical that Bonds are in Asset Classes. But RRSPs are not necessarily under Retirement Planning; they could be elsewhere. There is some overlap between main page sections and no way to avoid it.--Shakespeare 13:51, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Added: People aren't going past the main page: Special:Statistics. The main page must both lead and entice. A blank list of page links does neither.--Shakespeare 15:48, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

Main Page Test

Rather than fiddling in production with main page layout: TryMe.

Excellent. I've deleted your text additions on the main page on the basis that they are a still work in progress.--yielder 09:59, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Current layout

The "color=red" is too annoying, just as it was too annoying for several posters on FWF. I've darkened it using hex codes.--Shakespeare 10:22, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

Added: for future reference, <font color="#990033"></font> is a reasonable dark red. --Shakespeare 10:43, 22 February 2009 (UTC)

I suggest the links to citation problems and stubs be toned down or removed and the '^[citation]' be changed from an annoying red to a milder blue. A category tree would also help navigation, perhaps as a separate page.--Shakespeare 17:46, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

Main Page Locking

With wording changes, the left box and right boxes now don't end at about the same place. The place to adjust this is in the left/right split, which is at these statements:

[!--- items on left ----->

[div style="float:left; width:66%">

and

[!--- items on right ----->

[div style="float:right; width:33%">

The split has to be adjusted by trial and error to get the bottoms of the boxes roughly aligned. 60:39 might be better.--Shakespeare 13:05, 3 April 2009 (UTC)

Done--yielder 15:15, 3 April 2009 (UTC)

Sidebar Changes

Administrators need access to the sidebar to be able to update it as needed, eg. Excel to Wiki - http://people.fas.harvard.edu/~sdouglas/table.cgi--AdministratorQ 00:55, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

Any admin can edit the page http://www.finiki.org/index.php?title=MediaWiki:Sidebar

Be aware that the preview function will not work for this edit and the formatting is different than for a regular wiki page, so be prepared for a little trial and error. WikiSysop 05:14, 17 August 2009 (UTC)

Link fixed. --AdministratorX 06:56, 17 August 2009 (UTC)