Triple-Redundant Main Navigation Bar

[chuck]

There are three links in the main navigation that all go to the same page. Home, Marketplace and Main all go to the home page. It's rather confusing for users, as there appear to be more options than necessary and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.

Both Marketplace and Main go to main.php. And Home goes to index.php. But all three highlight the Main tab.

Probably just keep the Home on the left and get rid of the others and have the Home tab highlight. Unless I'm missing something.

[Peter]

There are three links in the main navigation that all go to the same page. Home, Marketplace and Main all go to the home page. It's rather confusing for users, as there appear to be more options than necessary and there doesn't seem to be any reason for it.

Both Marketplace and Main go to main.php. And Home goes to index.php. But all three highlight the Main tab.

Probably just keep the Home on the left and get rid of the others and have the Home tab highlight. Unless I'm missing something.
Chuck, you are correct. Few things why I believe this is like this.

1. ILance decided NOT to take over the site owners index.php page or index.html. If a new customer attempts to upload ILance to their web server main HTML document root, it would simply overwrite the old 'index.php' or 'index.html' page.

2. As for the redundant links, I understand your concern, however, you should be able to change the headers to reflect your proper URLs:

- Home should point to 'index.php' or 'index.html'
- Main should point to 'main.php'
- Marketplace could point to a completely different URL

However, this has already been taken into consideration for v3.0.0, also, since v3.0.0 introduces a completely revamped template system, and works well with multiple languages, we decided to keep the header portions of the software all text based with some fancy style sheets :) This way, the admin would NOT have to sit there and re-do the main ILance top header graphics in their language locale.

Peter

[chuck]

Now that I see we can modify it so easily, I think it's a good idea to have the option of the three locations.

I will be having a Marketplace, and being able to easily redirect that link to another area will be great.

Also (now that you mention it), I like the ability to use a different index.html page than the homepage of iLance, as it will the site more customizable. I would want to change the Home page to a customized page of my own. Although this may work for others, I personally don't like the idea that when a visitor comes to the site to browse before registering, they are confronted with the MyNavigation bar on the left:
Main Menu
My Account Area
My Preferences
My Watch List
Referral Program

Logically (to me at least), it doesn't quite make sense. They have not yet registered, so they do not actually have a Main Menu, Account Area, Preferences, etc. They won't have those features until *after* they register.

But when they go to the site, that's the first thing they see. And when they click on it, they get a message that says: Error Processing Account: Idled Session. Please verify below.

I don't want my visitors/customers ever seeing an "Error" message. eLance handles this issue by presenting unregistered visitors with a homepage that includes the categories, but no MyNavigation/Membership Menu. After they register a cookie is used to display a page with their Membership Menu. Actually, even though it solves the issue with presenting a non-registered member with a membership page, I'm not even crazy about that. I'd just prefer a homepage that everyone is presented with every time they go to the site. That way you can update the homepage and keep it fresh. The homepage will include a MyAccount image link in the top navigation bar (or just below it) so you can log in to your account (if and when you want to) and then see all your Memership info in an area separate from the main page. Again, this then does not confuse the homepage and your Account page.

This may seem like a customization issue, and maybe it is, but I think it's more of a Program Logic issue. What do you think - worthy of v.3.0?

[Peter]

Now that I see we can modify it so easily, I think it's a good idea to have the option of the three locations.

I will be having a Marketplace, and being able to easily redirect that link to another area will be great.

Also (now that you mention it), I like the ability to use a different index.html page than the homepage of iLance, as it will the site more customizable. I would want to change the Home page to a customized page of my own. Although this may work for others, I personally don't like the idea that when a visitor comes to the site to browse before registering, they are confronted with the MyNavigation bar on the left:
Main Menu
My Account Area
My Preferences
My Watch List
Referral Program

Logically (to me at least), it doesn't quite make sense. They have not yet registered, so they do not actually have a Main Menu, Account Area, Preferences, etc. They won't have those features until *after* they register.
Exactly. However, ILance provides software based on membership features and members will be required to log-in to their accounts to do major functions, or they will see the dreaded guest not logged in page, however, you have full control over visual aspects of the phrases, the look and the feel of the guest "not logged in" message which is currently displayed. Also, is there not a form with a login menu on that guest "not logged in" page? If not, there should be. You could 'borrow' the login form page found on 'login.php' and put it on this page, so guests can simply login or click a link to register when they see a message like this.


But when they go to the site, that's the first thing they see. And when they click on it, they get a message that says: Error Processing Account: Idled Session. Please verify below.

I don't want my visitors/customers ever seeing an "Error" message. eLance handles this issue by presenting unregistered visitors with a homepage that includes the categories, but no MyNavigation/Membership Menu. After they register a cookie is used to display a page with their Membership Menu. Actually, even though it solves the issue with presenting a non-registered member with a membership page, I'm not even crazy about that. I'd just prefer a homepage that everyone is presented with every time they go to the site.
Thats fine. Simply delete index.php (it's the same as main.php), and upload your customized website 'ie: index.html, etc' Keep in mind, ILance is a PHP application, so mainly ALL files are .php extension. So if you keep your normal introduction site all .html based, you should have no problems with conflicts on the .php files.

Also, if you would like your .html pages to parse PHP like a .php page would, you might find this article interesting as a reply to a recent thread regarding 'Using PHP in HTML page':
http://ilance.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=47&postcount=3


That way you can update the homepage and keep it fresh. The homepage will include a MyAccount image link in the top navigation bar (or just below it) so you can log in to your account (if and when you want to) and then see all your Memership info in an area separate from the main page. Again, this then does not confuse the homepage and your Account page.

This may seem like a customization issue, and maybe it is, but I think it's more of a Program Logic issue. What do you think - worthy of v.3.0?You bring up many good ideas and points, yes -- however, it really would be simple to remove the index.php page, replace with your own website html pages, learn how to parse PHP in a .html page, and then you could do even more with the .html pages, such as include the category listings (via codeblock which is really cut and paste) in your .html pages, so you can essentially have your site (.html style) using elements from the ILance functions using PHP, change the guest not-logged in pages to reflect a sentence and message suitable for your marketplace, and maybe include the login form direct on these pages.

Peter

[chuck]

ILance provides software based on membership features and members will be required to log-in to their accounts to do major functions, or they will see the dreaded guest not logged in page, however, you have full control over visual aspects of the phrases, the look and the feel of the guest "not logged in" message which is currently displayed. ...
Peter

That's good to know that we can control the phrase. It sounds like also, with a little work, we can also modify the appearance of the page. For example, if they get to the page, rather than just having a logon, it would be good to have the focus being a guide for them to register, if they haven't done so.

I think in v.3.0 there are plans to keep the html and php separate through the use of tpl files. Keep the html in the tpl file so the page can be easily edited and out of the php.

Simply delete index.php (it's the same as main.php), and upload your customized website 'ie: index.html, etc' Keep in mind, ILance is a PHP application, so mainly ALL files are .php extension. So if you keep your normal introduction site all .html based, you should have no problems with conflicts on the .php files.

Also, if you would like your .html pages to parse PHP like a .php page would, you might find this article interesting as a reply to a recent thread regarding 'Using PHP in HTML page':
http://ilance.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=47&postcount=3
Peter

That's interesting and very good to know. I'll definitely consider this.

You bring up many good ideas and points, yes -- however, it really would be simple to remove the index.php page, replace with your own website html pages, learn how to parse PHP in a .html page, and then you could do even more with the .html pages, such as include the category listings (via codeblock which is really cut and paste) in your .html pages, so you can essentially have your site (.html style) using elements from the ILance functions using PHP, change the guest not-logged in pages to reflect a sentence and message suitable for your marketplace, and maybe include the login form direct on these pages.
Peter

That's really very helpful to know that. The search engines shouldn't have trouble with that, as long as there are no odd characters in the URL, and this will save a lot of time for items that would normally need to be hand-coded and updated every time something changes. Thanks for your helpful comments.