Navbar update

[JustineMumsnet]

Morning folks, and a happy 2016, one and all.

We will shortly be releasing a new version of the navbar across some areas of the site on desktop view.

The idea is to have something clearer and more streamlined and that is more in line with the mobile version (which is where the bulk of MN users are) and standard web formats. It also allows us to accommodate a larger ad format at the top of desktop site - which advertisers are demanding because that's what most other sites offer.

We've done a first round of testing on a with some users (many to them) and the response was largely positive, so we're now testing it on parts (talk, reviews) of the live site. The plan is to introduce it everywhere if all goes well.

This is very much a beta version; and we'll be continuing to make a few design tweaks to the nav bar as needed and to the rest of the desktop site to accommodate it (at the moment on Talk it looks a bit jarring for sure but we are working on improving that). We're also looking at way to fit in the angels logo at least at the top of the page (it will disappear as you scroll). So, they'll be a few more updates over the next few weeks...

Do post any thoughts, concerns, feedback here. (Bear in mind it's a work in progress and all change takes a little getting used to )

Many thanks Justine

[RatOnnaStick]

I think I want the floatybar back but I understand it'll never happen so I'll shed a tear and move on (but i'm not putting the social media buttons back on just to get an Active link from the middle of a thread).

So then. The navbar thing at the top should at least be in the same font as the rest of the site. It looks like a slightly fuzzy bad add-on at the moment. Its clean and simple otherwise and I like it. Although I've never used the search box. Does it need to be so big? What does it search?

[DramaAlpaca]

I like it

[Trills]

HanSolo can we swap?

Yep, it's a free website, they can do whatever they like, and I know I'm not going to stop using it so as far as they are concerned my opinion is of little matter.

[IrenetheQuaint]

I think it's great and I am SO HAPPY to be rid of annoying pregnant woman and ugly baby.

[Allalonenow]

I like it, especially that the dog coated in spaghetti has gone!!
Well done!!

[leccybill]

I find myself wondering why everything has to be so big and blocky these days. Like we've all got sausage fingers or something. And giant boldy fonts everywhere.
Where's the finesse, I ask you?

[LieselMeminger]

Liesel have you been into customize and turned on the bookmark option? Then you get a little button appear if you hover over the bottom right of the post you're reading. Click that and it saves your place.

Thanks for the tip, I've turned that option on but as I'm on ipad I can't hover. It's rare I use laptop for MN in case I wanna moan about dh and leave myself logged in :)

[LieselMeminger]

Ooooh, tapping on the post shows the bookmark button on ipad. Thank you so much for that tip. Will save me loads if time on big threads.

[CalmYoBadSelf]

I think I must have used that floaty bar thing as I keep finding myself at the bottom of threads milling about confusedly as I can't remember how to get back to Active

Quite like the new look otherwise though

[Kewcumber]

Floaty bar has GONe?! FLaoty bar has gone?! Nooooo. NO No ! [Panic]

Why don't you all love floaty bar then they would have to bring it back. [frowns]

I can;t be scrolling up for hours to get back to the top, i have THINGS to do.

[SoupDragon]

Apparently on a macbook air it's Fn + Alt + Up (or down) arrow.

Apparently not on mine. I will have to google it!

[SoupDragon]

ooooh - it's just cmd plus up or down key.

[Kewcumber]

I don't have a macbook air

[TanteRose]

LOVE that the photos have gone!

sad about loss of floaty bar

[PrimeDirective]

Thank you for getting rid of those rollover menus and dreadful photos!!

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

having slept on it, I am actually in favour of the changes. They are better set out than a lot of sites. Never used to use the floaty bar. Tbf I think i turned it off as it was blocking the top part of the screen. As for navigating page up/page down were my tools on the desktop version. Or a scrolly mouse. Easy enough.
Do agree with those saying the logo needs to come back though.

[SoupDragon]

I can't believe that only 3% used the floaty bar. This site is awful to use on a desktop without it!

I imagine that the percentage could be inaccurate because there are many registered users and fewer active users, also he floaty bar doesn't work on an ipad and many users access MN via phone or tablet rather than traditional PC/laptop.

[Sparklingbrook]

I am usually on my laptop and have never seen a floaty bar.

[SoupDragon]

It's one of the options in "Customise" - Hide the Viewport Bar

[SoupDragon]

One change I'd like made is that after you've clicked on, say, "my mumsnet" I would like the menu to disappear if I click elsewhere on the screen rather than having to click "my mumsnet" again.

[TeenAndTween]

Am I missing something?

I am a laptop only user.

Under the old system if I wanted to move to Primary education board I pulled it from a drop down at the top.

Now I have to click Menu, then Education, then the pulldown
Or scroll to the bottom, then Education, then the pulldown.
Or Topics, then scroll, then select Primary

I can see myself just bookmarking on my IE Favourites all the pages I usually visit which seems crazy.

[Seeline]

Under the old system if I wanted to move to Primary education board I pulled it from a drop down at the top.

Now I have to click Menu, then Education, then the pulldown
Or scroll to the bottom, then Education, then the pulldown.
Or Topics, then scroll, then select Primary

As Teen says. Also to go to another board you then have to go through the whole procedure again, whereas before you could navigate to the other boards from the one you were in. Very longwinded.
We're not all 'mobile' - I always access MN from my PC, no touch screen or anything.

[SoupDragon]

You old fogey

[Seeline]

Thanks Soupy - less of the old please! Luddite I'll accept