Super Nav

The video screencast demo shows it off very well: http://www.impliedbydesign.com/superior-performance-navigation-drupal-su...

Bevan/

There are very good ideas in this module. The bookmarks ideas seems very useful, I can definitely see how it could help the editors of some websites I've built. The "search your nodes" feature also looks like a fast and convenient way to find and edit content.

What I don't like is that the whole thing is not integrated into the site. Well I realize it's the whole point of the module :) It acts like a remote control, but by doing so it seems totally disconnected from the site's UI.
Like drumm I wish some of these features would be split and implemented in a drupal UI way.

When I watched the "search your nodes" part in the video I immediately imagined the same feature added to Admin Menu module on the right side of the toolbar, with a menu listing the relevant nodes. Spotlight for Drupal anyone?

Or it could be done in a "dashboard" way to replace the admin/content/node page. It would then be an addition to controls, along with the status/type/category filters, and bookmarks to the nodes your edit most often.

Hi folks,

I'm the developer of Super Nav, and am excited that the module has spurred some discussion about usability, as that's what it's all about. I'd like to respond to a couple items because, as a relatively new Drupaller, I'm still wrapping my mind around the philosophy behind Drupal development, and where to add functionality when you have some to add.

Drumm - You said "I generally do not like modules which solely exist to override or supplement core UI elements. I would rather see the best solution get into core.". The way I see it, contrib offers an arena where different UI concepts can be tested out. I'm not sure that the concepts behind Super Nav are the best way to go, even, but I put it together to be a better option than what's currently out there. I hate passing a site onto my clients where the UI is too challenging to accomplish simple tasks, and it does a bit of harm to my business. Super Nav lets the client find what they need fast, and as an admin, you can set it up so they have some pre-set bookmarks and a help-based home page, built just for them. I needed that, and while I would be glad to put in some work to move some of the concepts to core, I can't wait until the next version (I gots to pay the bills).

I'm hoping that you'll point out some better way to go about what I'm doing. If going contrib for a UI module gives you a funny feeling, what would be the alternative?

elv - A Drupal Remote, exactly! Part of the goal of the module is to allow designers to move administrative navigation and tasks into a separate area that can be managed on it's own without affecting the theme. Conceptually, my thinking might be a little fuzzy in this area, as I know there are probably situations where you really should keep the admin tasks integrated with the theme. In that case, Super Nav would act as a supplementary tool to help you navigate. I just don't think it should be necessary to design a site around the possibilities of displaying administrative tasks in the theme, it should be optional.

One other side benefit to being separate is that in most cases it only loads once, which lets you keep the same state as you manage your site.

In regards to replacing the admin/content/node page, I've developed another module that allows for ajax-based searching and editing for simple node tasks (and lots of other stuff), that I use for clients to help them them manage their nodes, called ajaxtable. It seems kind of odd that there's not a way to search for your node by title on that page, but that must be one of those itches no one has scratched yet (at least not in Drupal 5).

BTW, I really like the Teleport concept in terms of usability. I haven't used it actively yet, but I see how it can be a huge time saver.

Thanks for starting the thread, Bevan, I'm enjoying the feedback.

Chris