Discussing improvements to the out-the box presentation layer of uPortal
At the moment most of the UI work and testing is done at the institutional level and doesn't make it back into the community.
Objectives:
- Default presentation layer using css and standards compliance.
- Minimise difference in terms of output to the browser so that we really can share skins across institutions. For example using consistent way of handling channels, widgets, images, conventions and standards for naming. Most of the customisation takes place at the CSS level presently - if we had some standardisation in terms of usage and ids, we could potentially share more.
- Need to genericise a standardised layout as far as possible thought and leave flexibility with the end using institution to customise to suit their own visual style.
- Try move away from rework upon upgrades and towards some sharing
AL - quite a few people using Aggregated Layouts - a couple using simple layouts
Lot of interest in terms of Distributed Layouts - simpler migratation path to DLM than ALM from simple layouts. Also DLM is a bit more flexible.
Problems pushing layout fragments via AL damaging layouts if the user is logged in. Memorial running push fragments when the portal is down.
ALM / DLM - DLM has more flexibility in terms of being able to edit tabs with pushed content on it. DLM not quite production ready yet.
- Not happy with the current customisation options - need improvements to ease of use, accessibility and end-user discovery.
- Consensus that we are turning it off or end-users are not using it - quite a lot of users don't use because it's not that important to them
Concrete Actions:
- Need Documentation of conventions, standards and requirements
- Tutorial style guidance to illustrate common usage, styles, design intentions
- Need a Standing Committee / Interest Group / Discussion Group to continue discussion and keep focus around UI. If anyone can devote any time to this- let Jason Shao know
Immediate short terms goals for 2.6
- Jason taking the Rutgers theme, ripping out the logos and adding to possibly 2.5.1. and 2.6
- Collier @ VT will contribute the VT theme - with icons ripped out etc
*Duffy at Arizona - can add in some tree-controls type layouts.
Rutgers Layout
- standards compliant version of SLM
- css driven for layout.
- improvements mostly 'cosmetic', less markup being moved around, quicker rendering, same preferences channel but prettier!
General rule: If anyone has something to contribute and it compiles, then it can go in the sandbox for comment (Sandbox - an area of CVS that stuff that's not quite finished and ready to go into the main code tree).
Join the JA-SIG Developers list and make sure that any work we do takes place in the JA-SIG web-space. Use the wiki for discussions?