Page Organization

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Page Organization

Timothy Foster 07 Apr 2009 19:55

In my opinion, the way we have the main content sorted out is not clean. We have four giant categories (development, techniques, references, and commands), but the content within them might be unrelated to one another. Unfortunately, this makes it hard for someone wanting to learn from a specific area of programming (like how to make good graphics). Furthermore, there are pages that are hard to get to that I never even knew about. Some pages repeat others, and some just don't give sufficient information. In contrast, some pages need to be split into separate pages because they are too long.

The starter kit, however, is organized into categories in a tutorial like fashion. This is very easy to navigate and is very convenient. Perhaps all this site should be organized in this way?

This is why I created and was modifying that strange obscure page, pages. I have been using it to see exactly how many pages there are and where they are as well as what information is on them. I discovered pages I never knew of. Currently, I am filtering bad pages and trying to sort them into categories. However, before I continue, is this the direction we want to go? Does the community think this website needs some reorganization, or should it be kept as is? Keep in mind that this decision is not only for us, but for all programmers or potential programmers out there.

What do you think?

Timothy Foster — My Site ~ My Blog

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Timothy Foster - @tfAuroratide
Auroratide.com - Go here if you're nerdy like me

Re: Page Organization

DarkerLine 07 Apr 2009 20:14

I like the idea of organizing the site in a tutorial (except for the command pages, which obviously stand alone) — in fact, I think I suggested this idea earlier. I think that the starter kit could be used as a base: the first two chapters are very basic, and the rest tend to duplicate information elsewhere on the site.

I think this is a good idea, and though I can't help in the near future (classes are killing me) I'll be out of the woods by May and then I can give this project the time it deserves, should others approve of it too.

Re: Page Organization

GoVegan 07 Apr 2009 23:59

By sorting them into categories, do you mean Wikidot categories? Like archives:six-differences, where "archives" is the category? Do you mean organising them via page-parenting or page-tags?

Or do you mean just by containing links to relevant pages of a "master category page"?

Whatever it is, we most certainly can not rename any of the command pages (i.e. rename page if to command:if). As TI|BD is an online resource, doing this would break numerous links on the internet. However; if this method was to be applied, then it goes without saying that we change the original pages to have a redirect to the new page. That way the content is organised AND no links are broken on the web.

Actually, we should apply redirects to everything we rename, since this is an online resource. But we would do it in the process:

1. Rename page;
2. Return to page's old URL;
3. As the page doesn't exist, create it;
4. Apply redirect code to redirect it to the new URL.

That way, the page history is retained on the new pages.

There are other things that need to be considered, but first we need to confirm what you're proposing Timothy.

Overall, a great idea!

Last edited on 08 Apr 2009 00:06 by GoVegan Show more

Re: Page Organization

Timothy Foster 09 Apr 2009 13:26

Renaming each page into a Wikidot category would be overkill, and it would be hard to moderate ListPages modules with tons of categories. Rather, I was thinking about using more of parenting and tags. However, the list of pages would actually be hard coded rather than using the ListPages module so that we can put the pages in the order we think it should go in.

I have created the pages-2 page where I am going though each page individually and giving ratings and recommendations. If you want to help, then go ahead.

If anyone else has opinions on this type of setup for TI|BD, please post!
Timothy Foster — My Site ~ My Blog

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Timothy Foster - @tfAuroratide
Auroratide.com - Go here if you're nerdy like me

Last edited on 09 Apr 2009 13:27 by Timothy Foster Show more

Re: Page Organization

DarkerLine 09 Apr 2009 15:53

How do you suggest discussing the recommendations we give? I disagree with some of your evaluations, but I obviously wouldn't just overwrite them (I might be wrong just as well as you). I could add on to the end, but that would result in a bloated table indeed.

My main disagreement so far is that I think you misunderstand the intend behind including an assembly reference. We certainly don't want to teach assembly: that's better done on other websites. However, it's a somewhat common practice to use tools, written in assembly, to supplement a TI-Basic program. I don't think the theory behind the tools is important (hence why the "hex codes" page doesn't explain where they come from) so much as describing all such tools and how to use them.

Re: Page Organization

Timothy Foster 09 Apr 2009 18:16

There doesn't seem to be an easy way to discuss all the recommendations. My three suggestions to do so are:

1. Create a forum thread(s) for discussing. Thing is, with all the pages, it could become monstrous.
2. Create a new category. However, this doesn't seem necessary.
3. Use a few modules that allows individual page discussions. This creates a ton of pages that would be seemingly useless in the future.

I'm leaning toward the third choice since it would have a definite organization and discussions are directly tied to the topic page.

And yes, the my recommendations are limited to the my knowledge of the intent of the page therefore making them off or invalid. And they're also opinions. Perhaps I should hold off on the recommendations column until we get a discussion apparatus going.
Timothy Foster — My Site ~ My Blog

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Timothy Foster - @tfAuroratide
Auroratide.com - Go here if you're nerdy like me

Re: Page Organization

Timothy Foster 22 Apr 2009 18:31

I made a system that would allow for collaboration and on the pages. On the pages 2 page, you can see two pages I've reviewed and put suggestions on. There is a link that leads to a page so that you can discuss the categorization or recommendations. Also, if you can simply add recommendations to the list by editing the page. I've only done two so far in case this system isn't good. The only issue I see is that it creates a ton of pages, but I don't know if that is a problem.
Timothy Foster — My Site ~ My Blog

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Timothy Foster - @tfAuroratide
Auroratide.com - Go here if you're nerdy like me