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Table of Contents - Opinions welcome

chipchip
edited August 2014 in Off-Topic
I spent the morning adding and testing a Table of Contents plugin. I also added a "scroll to top" button that you should see in the lower right portion of your browser. You can see the live version if you look at one of the commentary pages. It's not quite what I would call beautiful, but it is functional. There are a few options for how we can display the table of contents, and I thought it might be most helpful if you all could help decide.

Here are the options:

Option A - ToC shows at the top right of each article. Pros: It's easily accessible; the scroll to top takes you right to it; you can start reading right away. Cons: It looks terrible when long headings wrap to a second line; we'll have to be careful when we lay out each article (e.g. make sure the pictures line up appropriately).
image

Option B - ToC shows at the top of each article, without wrapping text. Pros: It's easy to read the ToC; the scroll to top takes you right to it. Cons: You can't immediately see as much of the content; the picture might be "below the fold."
image

Option C - ToC shows after the introduction and before the first story. Pros: You can start reading right away; the leading picture should show. Cons: The "scroll to top" feature will take you up past the ToC, necessitating a scroll down to find the ToC again.
image

Please let me know your preferences in the comments. We could probably set a schedule and try each option on the live site, too.

Thanks for the help!

Comments

  • ibartman
    edited August 2014
    Chip: Thanks! I like [Option B]. But don't think you don't need a box around contents if "Option B". Perhaps just a horizontal bar at the beginning and end of contents.

  • Old_Skeet
    Hi Chip,

    I like Option A best.

    Old_Skeet
  • TedTed
    edited August 2014
    The question should be, does this cosmetic change bring more viewers and posters to MFO ? I my opinion, ! don't think so !
  • David_Snowball
    Why is that the question, rather than "does this change better serve MFO's readers?"

    David
  • AccipiterAccipiter
    edited August 2014
    Option A looks the best in my opinion.

    see css comment below to indent...

    the jump to top image would look better if it was changed in the forum to match or changed in wordpress to match.

    And both on similar sides.


    <div id="wpfront-scroll-top-container" style="left: 20px; bottom: 20px; display: block; opacity: 0.8;">
    <img alt="" src="http://www.mutualfundobserver.com/wp-content/plugins/wpfront-scroll-top/images/icons/1.png"; style="width: auto; height: auto;">




    left:20px instead of right:20px;
  • chipchip
    It might look a little bit better, now.
  • AccipiterAccipiter
    yes.
  • jlev
    edited August 2014
    rather than jump to top is it possible to have a marker for the ToC, like how the ToC will send you to markers where the articles are, you could have a send to ToC? If so, option c, else option a is my preference
  • lrwilliams
    I vote for Option A -- less obtrusive over to the side. Wrapped headings look fine. I like the return to top button.
  • AccipiterAccipiter
    edited August 2014 
    you can indent the second part of wrapping text link if you add this to css.

    #toc_container > li {
      text-indent: 5px;
    }


    will look a bit better IMHO
  • JohnChisum
    I like option A.
  • [Deleted User]
    edited August 2014
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • AccipiterAccipiter
    Maurice said:

    On the other hand it won't change my life if you add it.

    don't be so sure, things could get better for you and your life could change.

  • [Deleted User]
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • LLJB
    I think Option A looks great and I wouldn't worry about the wrap-around problem; the benefit is much bigger than the cost.

    @Maurice, I tend to agree with you as far as the first read. I do and will read every word regardless. It will have an influence on my life because I usually go back to the commentary several times for various reasons and the ToC will make it quicker to go straight to whatever I want to read again.
  • [Deleted User]
    The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    Yes on A! or something...

    A is fine. OJ
  • David_Snowball
    Hi, Maurice.

    The "hide" button would make the TOC collapse to a single line: "Table of Contents - show". Chip could set the default so that it either hid until you clicked or was visible until you clicked. It's live on the commentaries now so you have the option of playing with it.

    David
  • CharlesCharles
    edited August 2014
    Option A with indent format css Accipiter suggested...good stuff!
  • rjb112
    I like what I'm seeing right now.
    Works great.

    I like how when you click on an item in the Table of Contents, it takes you right there.

    Great.

    image
  • Dave
    I prefer Option A ...

    But I'd prefer you not use the "go to the top" floating button. It obscures the text, forcing me to 'arrow' down instead of using the 'page down' button. (Unless I want to just guess at what's hidden under it...)

    The "go to the top" button just duplicates the functionality of the 'Home' key on the standard keyboards.
  • tigerman3tigerman3
    Prefer option A.
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