[xwiki-devs] Small Suggestion for the Distribution Wizard UI
Hi devs, as I recently played around with the DW on a fresh install instead of a migration, I figured out the "Cancel" button does not what I guess most users expect it to do. With a fresh install when there are no pages in the wiki, choosing "cancel" leaves one with a completely empty wiki where one cannot do anything, especially not login to import ones custom set of pages. If one really has a custom set of pages, probably one is experienced enough to know about the "superadmin" account. (Even then one might expect from earlier version that it is possible to upload an initial XAR without having to log in, and be confused when it is not there.) Unfortunately unexperienced users, who might just know the "standalone" HSQL/Jetty distro with their pre-installed pages, might be confused when they set up XWiki "the right way". The typical reaction when being confused is to press the "Cancel" button, which normally is the "get me out of here" way to fix things if some unexpected dialog pops up. However in the installation process this is exactly what an unexperienced user should *not* do. At most "skip" is the right option, if the user really wants to see how the wiki looks without UI. I wonder if instead of "Cancel" a stronger word like "Abort" should be used. Or maybe if pressing "Cancel" at install time one should get a javascript alert saying "If you choose this option you will have to activate the "superadmin" user in the config file, as no default admin user will be installed, and the wiki will be nearly useless without." (message should appear only in case of a fresh install, i.e. if there are no pages in the DB, of course). Additionally maybe it is helpful to color the button red instead of blue. (Well, maybe this is even all that needs to change to keep newbies from pressing that button). Cheers, Clemens
Hi Clemens, First of all, thanks for your feedback. It helps a lot. On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 2:30 PM, Clemens Klein-Robbenhaar <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi devs,
as I recently played around with the DW on a fresh install instead of a migration, I figured out the "Cancel" button does not what I guess most users expect it to do.
There has been some debate about the Cancel and Skip buttons and you're not the only one considering them misleading. I also agree, but I haven't seen seen / heard alternatives that are much better.
With a fresh install when there are no pages in the wiki, choosing "cancel" leaves one with a completely empty wiki where one cannot do anything, especially not login to import ones custom set of pages. If one really has a custom set of pages, probably one is experienced enough to know about the "superadmin" account.
(Even then one might expect from earlier version that it is possible to upload an initial XAR without having to log in, and be confused when it is not there.)
It was documented in the release notes as this is an important change in XWiki 5.1. See http://www.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/ReleaseNotes/ReleaseNotesXWiki50#HPublic... .
Unfortunately unexperienced users, who might just know the "standalone" HSQL/Jetty distro with their pre-installed pages, might be confused when they set up XWiki "the right way". The typical reaction when being confused is to press the "Cancel" button, which normally is the "get me out of here" way to fix things if some unexpected dialog pops up.
I guess I'm the only one naive enough to think user read the messages displayed on dialogs. I added the "If you want to perform the install manually then ..." message hoping it will reduce the confusion.
However in the installation process this is exactly what an unexperienced user should *not* do. At most "skip" is the right option, if the user really wants to see how the wiki looks without UI.
I wonder if instead of "Cancel" a stronger word like "Abort" should be used. Or maybe if pressing "Cancel" at install time one should get a javascript alert saying "If you choose this option you will have to activate the "superadmin" user in the config file, as no default admin user will be installed, and the wiki will be nearly useless without." (message should appear only in case of a fresh install, i.e. if there are no pages in the DB, of course).
This is a good idea.
Additionally maybe it is helpful to color the button red instead of blue. (Well, maybe this is even all that needs to change to keep newbies from pressing that button).
Are you sure it's blue? http://platform.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Features/DistributionWizard#HDWonaC... it's a secondary button so it's definitely not blue. I think red is too much. Thanks again, Marius
Cheers, Clemens _______________________________________________ devs mailing list [email protected] http://lists.xwiki.org/mailman/listinfo/devs
Hi Marius et.al.,
Hi Clemens,
First of all, thanks for your feedback. It helps a lot.
On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 2:30 PM, Clemens Klein-Robbenhaar <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi devs,
as I recently played around with the DW on a fresh install instead of a migration, I figured out the "Cancel" button does not what I guess most users expect it to do.
There has been some debate about the Cancel and Skip buttons and you're not the only one considering them misleading. I also agree, but I haven't seen seen / heard alternatives that are much better.
Ah, ok, I apologize for not having followed the discussion / searched the archives for the discussion. I did not want to stir up an old discussion, and I have to admit I have no strikingly better proposal for the button label. [...]
Unfortunately unexperienced users, who might just know the "standalone" HSQL/Jetty distro with their pre-installed pages, might be confused when they set up XWiki "the right way". The typical reaction when being confused is to press the "Cancel" button, which normally is the "get me out of here" way to fix things if some unexpected dialog pops up.
I guess I'm the only one naive enough to think user read the messages displayed on dialogs. I added the "If you want to perform the install manually then ..." message hoping it will reduce the confusion.
Yes, indeed, users are reading information on the screen ... only if they really have to ;) I feel the text could be a bit more grabbing for attention, but then, most probably those users that do not read it now will not read it even if it is dancing in big colorful letters over the screen, so lets drop any attempt to catch their attention here.
However in the installation process this is exactly what an unexperienced user should *not* do. At most "skip" is the right option, if the user really wants to see how the wiki looks without UI.
I wonder if instead of "Cancel" a stronger word like "Abort" should be used. Or maybe if pressing "Cancel" at install time one should get a javascript alert saying "If you choose this option you will have to activate the "superadmin" user in the config file, as no default admin user will be installed, and the wiki will be nearly useless without." (message should appear only in case of a fresh install, i.e. if there are no pages in the DB, of course).
This is a good idea.
On second reading of my ramblings I feel this is actually the only place where one can get in contact with that kind of users, who practice "subconscious software installing" and who might be prone to wreck the install by pressing the "cancel" button without trying to figure out what they are actually doing. If I find the time I will look into the DW and try to figure out if this is a viable option and send a pull request, if I succeed - unless someone argues against it.
Additionally maybe it is helpful to color the button red instead of blue. (Well, maybe this is even all that needs to change to keep newbies from pressing that button).
Are you sure it's blue? http://platform.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Features/DistributionWizard#HDWonaC... it's a secondary button so it's definitely not blue. I think red is too much.
I should stop trusting my memory when it is more than 10 minutes old or so. Yes, it is not the blue button but one of the secondary ones with while background and black / dark gray letters. Maybe red letters would be more indication that this is the "dangerous" ... but, well, see above, maybe the wrong place to make users aware of the consequences of pressing that button. Cheers, Clemens
Thanks again, Marius
Cheers, Clemens
participants (2)
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Clemens Klein-Robbenhaar -
Marius Dumitru Florea