A navigation tweak is coming!

We are soon going to make the navigation permanently on the left side for everyone on DG. The image below is an example of this navigation box. We are doing this for a couple reasons:

- On our PlantFiles pages, we’d like to move the tall ad that is in the top center of the page so it's less obtrusive (if you don't have ads turned on, you may not see this, but in the picture below you can see why we'd like to move it out of the way a little.) We need to be sure everyone's navigation box is on the left in order to make this change.

- Looking ahead, it will make it easier to make improvements and enhancements to our web pages if we have a more standardized page template for everyone.

We will be making this switch soon but if you currently have your navigation on the right side of the page, you can go ahead and make the switch yourself now. Here's how:

1. Go to your preferences: http://davesgarden.com/tools/prefs/preferences.php

2. Scroll down to the section labeled “Navigation:” and select the option “On the left side of the site”

3. Click “Save the changes”.

If you need any assistance, Melody and I can help you - just use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page and send us a note!

Terry

Yes, don't hesitate to let us know if you need help.

Hmmm, I just made the change and it seems to affect only the forum pages. My Home Page still shows navigation on the right. I've refreshed several times, even Control + refresh...still only affects the forum pages (and probably PF, etc but haven't been there yet).

Will the Home Page still have navigation on the right while other pages have it on the left?

Shoe

'shoe I've wondered the same thing - as far as know it will not affect the Home page. (But it does affect all the pages under the other tabs.)

Okay-dokie, just wondered if I did something wrong.

Much obliged!

Happy Day, All!

Shoe

Guess I will adjust, but I sure don't like the extra column on the left. Add that to the column for the poster's info, and I start reading about the center of the page after I enlarge text a bit. I am a subscriber with ads turned off, so I don't have a problem with big ads on Plant Files. Is there any way to turn off the navigation box entirely?

Oooh! I will second that! Could you find a way for us to turn off the navigation box?!? It is a useless waste of space to so many of us.

I don't think you really want to do that - once you get into one area within a tab, you would have no way to get to any other areas within that tab, except to go back to one of the main tabs.

I don't use the navigation box now, so I would not miss it at all.

I don't use the navigation box either.....so I third the motion to have the option to turn it off!

I don't use the navigation box, either, and wouldn't. I have no problem going back to the main tab. Please give us the option to not have extra clutter, and turn it off.

neither do i
yes for the option

Me neither.

I never use that.

I'll ask - but I can't promise it can be removed entirely :-)

That's ok, I'll just ignore it like I always do... (lol!)

It is mostly redundant stuff. Maybe the things that are not (at the top and bottom of every page, anyway) can be added to the top of the page.

Oh I don't like it on the left at all! I've never used it in all the years I've been on DG. I put it on the left to see how it looked and it's like reading a book from 2/3 of the way across the page. Very annoying...Please keep looking for an alternative option. As Juneybug said, most of it is redundant and seems many members don't access from there to begin with.

I use it, but only for the 1st entry, forums.
I don't care for it on the left either.
It makes things feel awkward.
Can we opt out of moving it?

If we can't opt out I agree with the others who already stated they'd rather not have it.
It will be 1 extra step to get to the forums page but that's ok.

Interesting...we don't want it, don't like it, don't use it, but have to have it so ads can be in a happy place.

Same here. I was navigating on the right side as well, and for a couple of days it felt strange. Now, it seems normal...and it has been less than a week for me.

Thanks for asking, Terry. If in the future the tech team figures out how to make the navigation box an option, I'd appreciate being able to opt out.

Hi all, a heads up that we are making this switch permanently now!

I just experienced this change, and would like one tweak to it - that I can move all my navigation boxes on my home page to the right too. This jumping back and forth is somewhat disconcerting and it would be better if everything were in the same place. JMHO.

Never mind! I figured it out for myself.

This message was edited Jun 20, 2011 4:26 PM

The navigation should be on the left throughout the entire site. It might take an hour or so to be in full effect. But do let me know if you experience switching around the site! Thanks!

For those of us who have their Favorite Forums on the right side of their home page, The Message Board, Who and Last Post columns are right-justified. I would appreciate it if they were left-justified because they're much easier to read.

This message was edited Jun 20, 2011 4:39 PM

I don't see anything saying "navigation". ??

Ah yes, on your personal homepages, you can structure it at-will and our navigation change should not impact this area! Good catch and great advice. Thanks!

That's just what they're called. They aren't specifically named that. They're named things like Custom Box, Voting Booth, Today's Articles, and Happy Birthday! on your home page. On the forum pages it's usually just the Communities box.

Talia - is it easy to get those home page columns left-justified? I don't really understand why someone would program them right-justified in the first place.

This message was edited Jun 20, 2011 4:49 PM

pelletory, see the image Terry linked to above in the first post. That image has the navigation area we are referencing circled.

I HATE IT!! I don't have a wide screen monitor so I have to drag the thing over to the right to see the complete posts and messages. PLEASE remove it, make it optional, or move it back to where it was!

We will look into making it optional!

What about making ads like
"Enter to win the Proven Winners Sweepstakes by June 30, 2011 at 5PM Pacific!"

I'd like the opportunity to opt out of contest like the ads as a paid subscriber.
Thanks. ☺
Susan

I don't like it either. It's not natural to the the way the eye interprets things. Like someone else said, it's like trying to read a book that starts the text a third of the way into the page. The human eye naturally shifts from left to right, and having this all on the left isn't natural. If it's necessary, it would be much better on the right side. The aesthetics are irritating. I know after time and repeated use, I might get used to it, but if I was an occasional visitor, I wouldn't be so apt to sign on as a member if viewing the information wasn't laid out in a comfortable reading format.

you can disregard the message I sent to admin about this.. I would like the option to remove it as well.. widescreen here too.. and it's very annoying

Ditto what Joan said.

I don't usually have a strong opinion on these site changes but this one isn't working for me either. I honestly don't undertand the reasoning behind it.