Adding a lot of codes is annoying. Can this solution be implemented?

[ReyVGM]

I'm making codes for Wizardry, and there are a ton of them. Now that I have to add all these codes, I realize how annoying it is. I know it has become easier to add codes since the +/- option was added in the popup window. But still, it's incredibly annoying having to scroll so much up and down when adding codes, description, notes, modifiers, etc. Specially when you're interchangeably copying/pasting info from several codes boxes, back and forth.

So I propose something, which I don't know if it's possible. No offense to the site designer, of course. But how about this pops up when you're adding or editing multiple codes?


Original sized image: http://i.imgur.com/CFJPK9i.png

Instead of having to scroll to the next code window below (I hate scrolling when adding codes! Specially when it interrupts to scroll hacker list instead. Grrr.), the second code box should appear right next to it. If you add another code box, then a 3rd one should appear next to the second one. Any more than that, then it continues below. (Obviously, if you're adding or editing ONE code, the current popup behavior should appear.)


But that's not all, to have as many code boxes as possible on the same screen and to diminish the scrolling, the real state devoted to the fields should be reduced.


Original sized image: http://i.imgur.com/USg2RPS.png


The reduction should be implemented anyways because even if you're only adding one code, you still have to scroll down to reach all the fields (did I mention I hate scrolling?). Here are the changes I made to the design. These are suggestions, of course.

1. Put the +/- buttons on the same field. Having the + button on the right, since that's the most used one. That actually prevents from one hitting the - button by accident too. 2. Reduce the amount of real state the field titles and columns occupy (the left and right side columns). 3. Combine "Code Format" and "Master" into one field. 4. Combine the "Request fill" and "Youtube ID" into one field. 5. Since the modifier field is rarely used, and it is usually just copying values from the notes, and I've seen several times where the Notes are instead pasted on the Modifier field (which breaks the drop down option), I propose to have the Modifier field reduced or retracted. If you want to open it, click the check box or something.

If all those changes are made, you can easily fit 3 compact code boxes on the same popup window:



Even 6 or more:




It will still involve scrolling, but at least it will be severely diminished now since there's more information on the screen at the same time. So, how about it? Good idea or did I waste my time?

[rimsky82]

You were certainly thorough. How do you feel about scrolling?

I've already done some minimizing with this in the redesign. Because of how the bootstrap modal window works, I don't know that side by side will work. Not everyone will have their resolution that high or their browser window that wide anyway, but I'll keep it in mind.

[ReyVGM]

It doesn't have to be 3 code boxes per row either, it could be two.

It could always be added as an option too. If you want the code boxes to appear to the side, or at the bottom.

Thanks for considering it.

[rimsky82]

for you, ReyVGM

[ReyVGM]

God. I spent like 2 hours making all those "redesign" images on windows paint. If I had know you were already working on a redesign I wouldn't have bothered so much :P

Looks great, but I have some suggestions/questions though.

-Where is the +/- option?

-Could you combine the Youtube and Request rows into one, and use that space to make the "Codes" and "Notes" box bigger? I know I can always grab the corner to make it bigger, but still.

-In my opinion the Code box could have more height and less width. There aren't any codes that actually fill out the width space, is there?

-About the hacker field. The new method looks good. However, I don't really care either way since it's not something that benefits me considering I rarely add codes from other people, but for the guys that do, I think there should be an option to be able to select a name from a list too (like the current behavior), in case you forget the spelling of some of those ridiculous nicknames some people use.

-One of the biggest reasons why people often posted the Notes on the Modifier field was because they were both virtually alike. So it was easy to make that mistake. I see the same thing happening with the new "Group" and "Name" fields. Is it possible to differentiate them a little bit? Maybe make one a bit smaller than the other? Or add different coloring? You see on gamefaqs how the names on the game lists alternate between white - gray - white - gray? That helps a lot to reduce selecting something by mistake.

[rimsky82]

1. The +/- is available in the addCode screen, that is the editCode screen. You can edit multiple codes at once, but you won't be adding and subtracting when editing them.

2. Request names can get long, I'd rather it be it's own line so the select doesn't outgrow the form.

3. Sure, but I did with what I could. The checkboces didn't need the width either. Perhaps I could move the Youtube under the checkmarks, giving more height to the code box, and give more width to the left column.

4. That is a chosen select. Very cool. When you start typing a name, a window pops up underneath and starts filtering the hacker names. Then you choose or press under to select it. No misspelling.

5. I think it's pretty obvious which box is used for what, but I'll keep that in mind since others may not agree.

[ReyVGM]

1. The +/- is available in the addCode screen, that is the editCode screen. You can edit multiple codes at once, but you won't be adding and subtracting when editing them.

Sorry. I thought it was the add code one.

2. Request names can get long, I'd rather it be it's own line so the select doesn't outgrow the form.

Alrighty. But that shouldn't really be a problem. That's how it works right now and it works fine.

5. I think it's pretty obvious which box is used for what, but I'll keep that in mind since others may not agree.

Yeah it's obvious. But when you're adding a bunch of codes, most likely you are doing it a bit quickly since you don't want to spend your entire free time adding someone else's codes, and in those situations, you are bound to paste something in the wrong field if both fields look the same. There's a reason why I have ended up fixing so many Modifiers with Notes in them.

[rimsky82]

Widened the modal and moved things around a bit. Not sure I'm happy yet.

[ReyVGM]

If the popup is going to be at the center of the screen, then code box, name and group should be to the left. In my opinion.

The fields that get more use, should be closer together.

I don't know about everyone else, but when I add codes, I only use the title, and code boxes. Notes come third if I have something to say.
I only touch the group field one time, because after you use the + button, all new boxes automatically have the same group selected.

I never use the youtube field (does anyone, except for nolberto?), hacker, mods, code format, encrypted or master. And if I ever do, it's maybe once every 100 codes. So in my opinion, the things that get less use, should be grouped together away from the ones that get the most use.

I would put the Group before the Name since all codes are technically inside groups.

I would personally go this way:



Would it be terribly inconvenient to add a numbered menu to the left of right of that popup? That way when you have a bunch boxes open, instead of scrolling and scrolling and scrolling to reach the bottom, you can just click a number to go to that code box? Maybe even include the "post" button right there too, to avoid having to... scroll... all the way down to post/edit the codes?

Ugly example:

[Tony H]

Suggestion... If you select "Game Genie" under code format, how about having the "Encrypted" box automatically checked.

[ReyVGM]

It would be nice if there was a way to have some kind of configuration option that allows us to select default behaviors, such as always having "Raw" or "gamegenie" (or whatever) selected by default. In my case I always leave it RAW because I don't use gamegenie. But it must be annoying for the ones that do make Gamegenie codes always having to select that option.

Or does the database automatically recognize and names them Gamegenie?

[rimsky82]

If the popup is going to be at the center of the screen, then code box, name and group should be to the left. In my opinion.

Does anyone else share in this opinion?

I never use the youtube field (does anyone, except for nolberto?), hacker, mods, code format, encrypted or master. And if I ever do, it's maybe once every 100 codes. So in my opinion, the things that get less use, should be grouped together away from the ones that get the most use.

The code format is important, so the site knows how to convert it.

I would put the Group before the Name since all codes are technically inside groups.

True dat.

Would it be terribly inconvenient to add a numbered menu to the left of right of that popup? That way when you have a bunch boxes open, instead of scrolling and scrolling and scrolling to reach the bottom, you can just click a number to go to that code box? Maybe even include the "post" button right there too, to avoid having to... scroll... all the way down to post/edit the codes?

That's an excellent idea. I'll try to incorporate a scrollspy.

Suggestion... If you select "Game Genie" under code format, how about having the "Encrypted" box automatically checked.

Sure. I could add a "normally encrypted" option to every device, so that this can be done programmatically for everything.

[Helder]

Does anyone else share in this opinion?

I like his setup as well.

[ReyVGM]

Does anyone else share in this opinion?

The reason for that is because we always look top-left first, since that's how books and webpages are set up (and that's how we learned to write). If an item is centered, we still look left first.
Ideally the group, codes and titles should be in the dead center (like how it is currently). But if you're going with the double column setup, then it should be to the left.