[wp-hackers] Re: Not Feeling Crazyhorse

[Jonathan Dingman]

So why not have an option to set the default wp-admin theme/style?  It
would just be adding a few more options, some extra code here n there,
and would make a huge difference to the users.

Jonathan Dingman
http://ginside.com
http://wphacks.wordpress.com

On Sep 15, 8:53 am, Viper007Bond <vi... at viper007bond.com> wrote:
> There already is an API to change the admin CSS via a plugin, three ways
> infact (listed from best to worst methods)
>
> 1)  Use wp_admin_css_color() to register a new admin "color" which requires
> a new CSS file, so just add the custom CSS in there (the colors you pass to
> that function are only used for the theme picker, they aren't actually used
> CSS wise). When the user picks the new color scheme, they are actually
> picking a while new design. When you switch between Fresh and Classic, you
> just happen to be using two designs that look the same minus colors.
>
> 2)  Enqueue a new stylesheet:  if ( is_admin() ) wp_enqueue_style(
> 'my-admin-theme', plugins_url('/my-admin-theme/theme.css'), array(),
> '1.0.0', 'screen' );      but this isn't per-user like #1 is.
>
> 3)  Least preferred method, but you could just hook into "admin_head" and
> output a <style> tag.
>
> Short of actual admin themes (which I discussed earlier and mentioned why
> they'd be a bad idea), I can't think of how it could be any easier to reskin
> the admin area. Heck, I have been using the above methods to make tweaks to
> the admin area for ages now (for example, to make the category picker box
> much taller so there's no scrollbar).
>
> And WordPress does ship with two admin themes already (Fresh and Classic).
> They are the same design though, but that's because the devs pick one horse
> and stick with it as it's been determined it's the "best" choice.
>
> On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 5:39 AM, Xavier Borderie <xav... at borderie.net>wrote:
>
> > I'd be cool with changing the CSS of the admin area, if it was both
> > stable and documented. As it is, AFAIK, it is more of a question of
> > guess work, trial and errors. And not all themes developers (ie.
> > designers more than coders) want to deal with the Plugin API.
> > Having a solid way to update/modifiy the CSS has long been a request
> > of some themes, even more so since the introduction of the
> > "Fresh/Classic" color schemes. Some altruistic developers build it up,
> > like James Dimick (
> >http://www.jamesdimick.com/creations/easy-admin-color-schemes/), but
> > the huge change of 2.7, one could think the core-devs would have used
> > the "let's start from scratch" admin redesigning as a justification
> > for going the obvious next step in this matter : at least explicit
> > admin-CSS, at best an API...
>
> > Of course that would mean many many badly-built admin themes, just
> > like there are a humongous number horribly-built wp themes out there,
> > but in the end this would allow WP to be shipped with 2 or even 3
> > admin theme, and that's about enough to make all users happy without
> > having them scouring the Web for another one. And, obviously, the
> > happy devs that live by selling custom WP, who'd be able to custom it
> > even further. All this to say, I don't see anything wrong with this
> > direction :)
>
> > -x.
>
> > 2008/9/15 Viper007Bond <vi... at viper007bond.com>:
> > > That'd be a nightmare waiting to happen. Theme developers seem to have
> > > enough trouble adding wp_head() and wp_footer() to their themes, I
> > couldn't
> > > imagine how they'd do with admin themes.
>
> > > I think the current method of just changing the CSS of the admin area is
> > > just fine. I mean, look how different the various admin theme plugins can
> > > make the admin area look without changing any of the DOM. Heck, worst
> > case
> > > scenario they could tweak the DOM via JS or PHP's output buffer.
>
> > > On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 2:40 AM, Xavier Borderie <xav... at borderie.net
> > >wrote:
>
> > >> I suggested making everyone happy by building some sort of "user-made
> > >> admin template" API, back in August.
> > >>http://comox.textdrive.com/pipermail/wp-hackers/2008-August/021448.html
> > >> Got a bit of traction around here, if I remember well, but now we're
> > >> too far in dev, and too close to feature freeze, to think about that.
> > >> I think its too bad, really, 'cos it could really have been a huge
> > >> plus for both users (ability to choose between 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7-style)
> > >> and developers (ability to build tailor-made admin for clients).
>
> > >> I still think it's a neat idea, and wish the core-team would consider
> > >> this for the near future (2.7 might be too late, so 2.8?)
>
> > >> -xb.
>
> > >> 2008/9/14 Frank Bueltge <fr... at bueltge.de>:
> > >> > Why is it not possible to set the backend-theme in the user-settings.
> > >> > All functions for this feature is in the core. It si hard for many
> > >> > users you change very often the design.
> > >> > I use wordpress in many buisiness-bligs with many authors. I set the
> > >> > backend theme on design of WP 2.3 - the people tha tankyou, she will
> > >> > not changes i the backend.
>
> > >> > Liebe Grüsse
> > >> > Frank
> > >> > ______________________________
> > >> > Mein Buch: WordPress - Weblogs einrichten und administrieren | ISBN
> > >> > 978-3-937514-33-8
>
> > >> > bueltge.de
> > >> > kvfl.com
>
> > >> > On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 5:37 PM, Aaron Brazell <emmenset... at gmail.com
>
> > >> wrote:
> > >> >> For me its not about the look and feel or ugliness. Is about
> > >> >> usability. After a month of using and hoping I'd "get used to it",
> > >> >> understanding from years of being a support person that users are
> > >> >> change-averse but generally get used to changes after time, and I
> > have
> > >> >> not got used to it. It doesn't "feel" right and its not about colors,
> > >> >> fonts, or backend functionality.
>
> > >> >> If someone cares to clarify the semantic efforts here, I'd welcome
> > it.
> > >> >> To me, though, its a layour change like any other layout change. I'm
> > >> >> happy to be corrected. I admit not being close to the development
> > >> >> cycle on this.
>
> > >> >> On 9/14/08, Stephane Daury <wordpr... at tekartist.org> wrote:
>
> > >> >>> I'm assuming that the plugins options page contention is that the
> > >> >>> usual
> > "/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=plugin_dir/plugin_file.php"
> > >> >>> seems to not be working and does not load the plugin's options
> > pages.
>
> > >> >>> But this might just be because it's not ready yet.
>
> > >> >>> Stephane
>
> > >> >>> On Sep 14, 2008, at 7:02, Frank Bueltge wrote:
>
> > >> >>>> I use in a lot of plugins with mayx options the html of the
> > metaboxes,
> > >> >>>> open/cles div-areas.
> > >> >>>> This ist not a nice css in 2.7
>
> > >> >>>> Why ist not possible to set for the user a design?
>
> > >> >>>> Liebe Grüsse
> > >> >>>> Frank
> > >> >>>> ______________________________
> > >> >>>> Mein Buch: WordPress - Weblogs einrichten und administrieren | ISBN
> > >> >>>> 978-3-937514-33-8
>
> > >> >>>> bueltge.de
> > >> >>>> kvfl.com
>
> > >> >>>> On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 12:20 PM, Viper007Bond
> > >> >>>> <vi... at viper007bond.com> wrote:
> > >> >>>>> I like how everyone is commenting on the looks of the admin area
> > >> >>>>> and it's
> > >> >>>>> not even done yet.
>
> > >> >>>>> As for a new options page, all of my plugins work just fine in 2.7
> > >> >>>>> with no
> > >> >>>>> modifications. Not quite sure what you mean.
>
> > >> >>>>> On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 3:06 AM, Frank Bueltge <fr... at bueltge.de>
> > >> >>>>> wrote:
>
> > >> >>>>>> I think the actually verson of the design in backend is very
> > ugly.
> > >> >>>>>> The
> > >> >>>>>> html and CSS is very bad und man gugs.
> > >> >>>>>> Th deisgn is also hard for plugin-authors. Many plugins is must
> > >> >>>>>> write
> > >> >>>>>> a new page for options.
> > >> >>>>>> I hope, this is noct the end of the design in  backend and i hope
> > >> >>>>>> alos, the user can change on your progile to the last 3 design
> > >> >>>>>> (WP2.3
> > >> >>>>>> and WP 2.5 classic and frsh)
>
> > >> >>>>>> Sorry for my bad english!
>
> > >> >>>>>> Liebe Grüsse
> > >> >>>>>> Frank
> > >> >>>>>> ______________________________
> > >> >>>>>> Mein Buch: WordPress - Weblogs einrichten und administrieren |
> > ISBN
> > >> >>>>>> 978-3-937514-33-8
>
> > >> >>>>>> bueltge.de
> > >> >>>>>> kvfl.com
>
> > >> >>>>>> On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 6:47 AM, Jacob Santos <
> > >> wordpr... at santosj.name
>
> > >> >>>>>> wrote:
> > >> >>>>>>> I do not share you lack of distaste in Crazyhorse. I do think it
> > is
> > >> >>>>>> almost
> > >> >>>>>>> humorous that there are many bugs just testing through it. I
> > >> >>>>>>> haven't
> > >> >>>>>> filed
> > >> >>>>>>> any bug reports because there are just too many that they would
> > be
> > >> >>>>>>> overwhelmed. I'm going to take note of them and wait until the
> > >> >>>>>>> freeze is
> > >> >>>>>>> conducted before filing the tickets. Hopefully, they will be
> > >> >>>>>>> corrected.
> > >> >>>>>> It
> > >> >>>>>>> is the second half of September and while it is far more stable
> > >> >>>>>>> than when
> > >> >>>>>> I
> > >> >>>>>>> first looked at it, I'm still not going to upgrade.
>
> > >> >>>>>>> To me personally, the level of customization within the various
> > >> >>>>>>> pages is
> > >> >>>>>>> enjoyable. I have to say, I find some sort of happiness being
> > >> >>>>>>> able to
> > >> >>>>>> remove
> > >> >>>>>>> tags column, as well as other columns that I can see myself not
> > >> >>>>>>> using on
> > >> >>>>>>> some WordPress projects.
>
> > >> >>>>>>> I think too many people are seeing this as a new administration
> > >> >>>>>>> panel
> > >> >>>>>>> instead of what it is meant to be, an iteration of the current
> > >> >>>>>>> administration panel. Yeah, there are many changes being made,
> > >> >>>>>>> but many
> > >> >>>>>> of
> > >> >>>>>>> them are needed to ensure the ease of usability. Many parts are
> > >> >>>>>>> intuitive
> > >> >>>>>>> and I suggest giving the newborn some time before judging it
> > "ugly"
> > >> >>>>>> perhaps
> > >> >>>>>>> it will grow up to be quite beautiful.
>
> > >> >>>>>>> If you are more specific in your objections, I'm sure the team
> > >> >>>>>>> might be
> > >> >>>>>> able
> > >> >>>>>>> to do something about it. They are currently collecting
>
> ...
>
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