Thread: Restructuring the Wiki (aka Spring Cleaning)

Gentlemen,

I just spent a few moments to re-consider the overall structure of the Wiki. I think it could do with a bit of restructuring. So I fired up my trusty old mind mapping program, and below is the result. I would appreciate your comments and suggestions. By the way, there should be a dotted line from the Beginners:Shaving part to the Shaving:Shaving one.



You can also download and edit the file, which is here. The program to edit it is called Freemind. It can be obtained from here: FreeMind - free mind mapping software. It's FOSS, and should work on any computer that runs Java.

I approve of this post

Nice project! Thanks!! And now some impressions:

1. I think that the Growing the Wiki sub-section and the Links section could be a sort of background to the Wiki, just tools in form of "buttons" or footnotes somewhere in the main page and not "real" pages of the Wiki.

2. I would give much more importance to the FAQ sub-section, transforming it in a very important/visible link in the main page; the FAQ section could be a way to visit the Wiki (a condensed form of the Wiki), starting from questions and finding short answers with links to the wiki articles for a full discussion of the subject.

Thanks!!

Originally Posted by clavichord

1. I think that the Growing the Wiki sub-section and the Links section could be a sort of background to the Wiki, just tools in form of "buttons" or footnotes somewhere in the main page and not "real" pages of the Wiki.

Not quite sure I can follow, but it sounds interesting. The links could go into the sidebar, no problem. The whole "how do I add/edit/photograph" section should stay, though, I think. I'm not happy with the Miscellanea idea, either.

Here's my take:

Originally Posted by clavichord

2. I would give much more importance to the FAQ sub-section, transforming it in a very important/visible link in the main page; the FAQ section could be a way to visit the Wiki (a condensed form of the Wiki), starting from questions and finding short answers with links to the wiki articles for a full discussion of the subject.

I have no problem at all making the FAQ a category and having a bunch of articles underneath. And since every SRP member can edit the Wiki (well, most parts of it...) - get cracking!

Make It So...

The forum category organization seems archaic by comparison

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

The forum category organization seems archaic by comparison

Maybe just a little.

Since we don't have extended image manipulation features, here's a full screenshot of the beginning of a few small changes to the Wiki layout and structure. More to come.

3. What about using a picture for the Reparing and Restoring section too? a b/w photo and, as for the other sections, the main links (Blade restoration, Scale Making, Scale Repair). I suggest the sub-links deleted from the main page. This will integrate the Reparing/restoring section (that now seems a very different part) with the other sections above.

4. The Getting Started is probably in the wrong place since it's in a quite "dead zone" (up-right). Beginners should find this link in a very easy and fast way, otherwise they will make all the time the same questions. The most important area, when a person is reading a page, is the top-left corner. The big picture that now is in the top-left corner doesn't need so much emphasis and could be moved to the right side of the page.

Originally Posted by clavichord

3. What about using a picture for the Reparing and Restoring section too? a b/w photo and, as for the other sections, the main links (Blade restoration, Scale Making, Scale Repair). I suggest the sub-links deleted from the main page. This will integrate the Reparing/restoring section (that now seems a very different part) with the other sections above.

I'll make that a 2x2 table instead.

Originally Posted by clavichord

4. The Getting Started is probably in the wrong place since it's in a quite "dead zone" (up-right). Beginners should find this link in a very easy and fast way, otherwise they will make all the time the same questions. The most important area, when a person is reading a page, is the top-left corner. The big picture that now is in the top-left corner doesn't need so much emphasis and could be moved to the right side of the page.

Well, then do it. It's a bloody Wiki, you know? You edit, everyone improves. Except, as I just remembered, on the main page. Use the sandbox

Working on it now...

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Well, then do it.

Well, I was working on the changes, before you edited your breakfast+wife post. I couldn't save since you are editing too. Also, "no changes to the main page", right? So wht's the sense of "then do it"? ..

EDIT: However I like a lot the last changes to the page. Thanks.