[Geoserver-devel] UI/Functionality Concerns

GeoServer GeoServer Developer
1

Hi,

I've been going through geoserver2 for documentation purposes and am encountering a number of UI and functionality concerns. In stead of sending things piecemeal throughout the day, on Mike's suggestion I'm sending a compilation of today's results. Some go through a specific work flow and some are general notes (aka, add rollovers to type icons). I imagine some warrant further discussion, before going into the JIRA. So, feedback welcome.

Thank you and more soon,
Alyssa.

*****
From the layer view:

1) I clicked on the layer Arc_Sample
2) In the data panel, I changed the name to Arc_Samples
3) I hit save
*4) I am returned to the layer view screen where my layer name is still Arc_Sample*

5) Thinking I made a mistake or something, I go back into the Arc_Sample layer
*6) And the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples*

7) I go to the publishing tab
*8) And while the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples the Basic Setting name says Arc_Sample*

9) I try to change the basic setting name, but alas
*10) This field is disabled*

All items with * seem to be either unexpected or real bugs. For the final one, I really don't understand the difference between basic settings name Basic Resource Info Name. And why we even have Basic Settings Name in the form if its uneditable.

*****
I believe this flow does does not make sense.

1) I was in the layers view screen.
2) I selected a store
3) I am redirected to the edit vector data source form
4) I make a change
5) I select save OR _cancel_
6) I am redirected to the store view screen.

I think one should be redirected to the page one was previous at, especially for the cancel case. But also for the save case. If you can do edits to the data sources from the layers review, why not be linked back?

*****
I disabled a store, but the layer continues to be active. How can a layer be enabled but a store be disabled?

*****
When I click on the STORE name, I am redirected to the edit Data SOURCE screen. I think the use of store and source are confusing. Store should be somewhere in the resulting page title. Similarly, when selecting a specific layer, layer should be used in the resulting page titles.

*****
rollovers for types

*****
warning when there is an unsuccessful login

2

Hi Alyssa,

This is really great stuff. Thanks for putting together the list. As your list indicates we still have a lot to do in terms of usability. That said, a while back we informally decided while updating our road map that most of the usability stuff would get pushed back to a later 2.0.x release, perhaps 2.0.1 or 2.0.2. The rationale being that we are still hashing out major bugs, and still getting the UI to a point where it is as functional as its previous version.

While all the usability improvements are very important they represent a pretty big scope increase for 2.0, so while we could decide to tackle them now, it would push that release back quite significantly. So what we have been trying to do is to capture the issues in jira, using this issue as as a container:

http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-2705

So should make sure that all your feedback is represented there.

All that said, recent traffic in jira indicates that usability issues may be coming back into focus. Hopefully the next road map update will clear things up a bit.

-Justin

alyssa wright wrote:

Hi,

I've been going through geoserver2 for documentation purposes and am encountering a number of UI and functionality concerns. In stead of sending things piecemeal throughout the day, on Mike's suggestion I'm sending a compilation of today's results. Some go through a specific work flow and some are general notes (aka, add rollovers to type icons). I imagine some warrant further discussion, before going into the JIRA. So, feedback welcome.

Thank you and more soon,
Alyssa.

*****
From the layer view:

1) I clicked on the layer Arc_Sample
2) In the data panel, I changed the name to Arc_Samples
3) I hit save
*4) I am returned to the layer view screen where my layer name is still Arc_Sample*

5) Thinking I made a mistake or something, I go back into the Arc_Sample layer
*6) And the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples*

7) I go to the publishing tab
*8) And while the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples the Basic Setting name says Arc_Sample*

9) I try to change the basic setting name, but alas
*10) This field is disabled*

All items with * seem to be either unexpected or real bugs. For the final one, I really don't understand the difference between basic settings name Basic Resource Info Name. And why we even have Basic Settings Name in the form if its uneditable.

*****
I believe this flow does does not make sense.

1) I was in the layers view screen.
2) I selected a store
3) I am redirected to the edit vector data source form
4) I make a change
5) I select save OR _cancel_
6) I am redirected to the store view screen.

I think one should be redirected to the page one was previous at, especially for the cancel case. But also for the save case. If you can do edits to the data sources from the layers review, why not be linked back?

*****
I disabled a store, but the layer continues to be active. How can a layer be enabled but a store be disabled?

*****
When I click on the STORE name, I am redirected to the edit Data SOURCE screen. I think the use of store and source are confusing. Store should be somewhere in the resulting page title. Similarly, when selecting a specific layer, layer should be used in the resulting page titles.

*****
rollovers for types

*****
warning when there is an unsuccessful login

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--
Justin Deoliveira
OpenGeo - http://opengeo.org
Enterprise support for open source geospatial.

3

Thanks, Justin. This is really helpful. I'll start putting UI concerns in the jira container as you suggested.

More soon!
Alyssa.

Justin Deoliveira wrote:

Hi Alyssa,

This is really great stuff. Thanks for putting together the list. As your list indicates we still have a lot to do in terms of usability. That said, a while back we informally decided while updating our road map that most of the usability stuff would get pushed back to a later 2.0.x release, perhaps 2.0.1 or 2.0.2. The rationale being that we are still hashing out major bugs, and still getting the UI to a point where it is as functional as its previous version.

While all the usability improvements are very important they represent a pretty big scope increase for 2.0, so while we could decide to tackle them now, it would push that release back quite significantly. So what we have been trying to do is to capture the issues in jira, using this issue as as a container:

http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/GEOS-2705

So should make sure that all your feedback is represented there.

All that said, recent traffic in jira indicates that usability issues may be coming back into focus. Hopefully the next road map update will clear things up a bit.

-Justin

alyssa wright wrote:

Hi,

I've been going through geoserver2 for documentation purposes and am encountering a number of UI and functionality concerns. In stead of sending things piecemeal throughout the day, on Mike's suggestion I'm sending a compilation of today's results. Some go through a specific work flow and some are general notes (aka, add rollovers to type icons). I imagine some warrant further discussion, before going into the JIRA. So, feedback welcome.

Thank you and more soon,
Alyssa.

*****
From the layer view:

1) I clicked on the layer Arc_Sample
2) In the data panel, I changed the name to Arc_Samples
3) I hit save
*4) I am returned to the layer view screen where my layer name is still Arc_Sample*

5) Thinking I made a mistake or something, I go back into the Arc_Sample layer
*6) And the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples*

7) I go to the publishing tab
*8) And while the resulting layer page says Arc_Samples the Basic Setting name says Arc_Sample*

9) I try to change the basic setting name, but alas
*10) This field is disabled*

All items with * seem to be either unexpected or real bugs. For the final one, I really don't understand the difference between basic settings name Basic Resource Info Name. And why we even have Basic Settings Name in the form if its uneditable.

*****
I believe this flow does does not make sense.

1) I was in the layers view screen.
2) I selected a store
3) I am redirected to the edit vector data source form
4) I make a change
5) I select save OR _cancel_
6) I am redirected to the store view screen.

I think one should be redirected to the page one was previous at, especially for the cancel case. But also for the save case. If you can do edits to the data sources from the layers review, why not be linked back?

*****
I disabled a store, but the layer continues to be active. How can a layer be enabled but a store be disabled?

*****
When I click on the STORE name, I am redirected to the edit Data SOURCE screen. I think the use of store and source are confusing. Store should be somewhere in the resulting page title. Similarly, when selecting a specific layer, layer should be used in the resulting page titles.

*****
rollovers for types

*****
warning when there is an unsuccessful login

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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