Karelia Community Forum

jerrykrinock

Member

Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

I find it illogical that, while most Page attributes are in the Inspector, the URL, Window Title, Meta Description are at the bottom of the document window.  I find it annoying that I need to check two different places before publishing.  Furthermore, on my 11-inch MacBook Air, I don't like those three controls taking up pixels at the bottom of the window.  So I ask Karelia to please put all the Page attributes in one place.  Move those controls from the bottom of the window, to Inspector ▸ Page.

terrence

Administrator

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

Our goal was to make it hard to not notice the filename-related stuff, since it's pretty important to get that right before publishing.

We also decided to put window title and meta description there as they can be just as important for SEO as filename (i.e. page URL).

One advantage of having this stuff where it is, is simply that there's plenty of width available to see/work with longish text. I can see how that might be tough on an an 11" Air. We may need to consider some other option(s) in the future.

jerrykrinock

Member

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

I see what you mean, chief, but the other Page Attributes in the Inspector, although not as important as the ones you put at the bottom of the page, should be reviewed too, and often I forget.  I would suggest putting all of this stuff in the Inspector, and rolling down an alert sheet, and popping open the Page Tab the first time that a new page is published.

But as far as the inspector not being wide enough, yes I see that.  Making it wider would be too wide for the other tabs and a big redesign.  And it's already pretty tall too.  Conclusion: The Page Tab has outgrown your Inspector window.  You should eliminate that tab and instead put its content on a sheet.  It's not unprecedented because your Host setup is done that way.

While you're at it, take the "Site" tab out of the Inspector too.  I've always felt it was weird that different tabs in the Inspector inspect different object simultaneously, at different levels in my mental model.  I expect an Inspector to inspect a single object (the selected object).  I think that the "Site" and "Page" don't belong in there anyhow, and this is the underlying problem.

jerrykrinock

Member

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

Slight correction.  In my previous message, when I referred to the "Site" tab, I meant the "Document" tab.  Note that the "Document" and "Page" tabs are the only ones with sub-tabs.  They're too big and you should definitely move them into sheets.

terrence

Administrator

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

The argument against that would be, of course, any of the iWork apps. We'll figure something out.

jerrykrinock

Member

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

Ha!  I've never used an iWork app.  Now I think maybe I won't.  iWeb is dead, you know :))  Might be interesting to read Apple's Human Interface Guidelines regarding Inspectors.

terrence

Administrator

Re: Don't like some Page Attributes in document window, some in Inspector

iWork is Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. iWeb was part of iLife which used a simpler UI (and also did less). I sleep with the HIG under my pillow. :)

We've been talking about your suggestion and have some good ideas for the future. Stay tuned!