Hi all

for anyone that happens to utilize my Tech Articles page on my website I plan on doing a complete overhaul of it.
For reference, here is a link to the current page:
http://lbfun.com/Corvette/Tech/vettetech.html

When I first started and created the Tech Articles page I only had about a dozen or so articles but it's now almost 180 .PDF files and external links and it's outgrown the current format. Too much scrolling down the page to try to find articles, Topic Headings that don't stand out well, etc, so it's time to re-do it to make it easier, better organized, etc.

I have a fairly general idea of what I'd like to do but haven't set anything in concrete and only just started some rough layouts and ideas on paper tonight.

What I'd really like to get from anyone that uses my Tech Articles page is any ideas or suggestions that you have that you feel would be beneficial and help make the page easier to use.
Since it's people like you that visit my website and use the Tech Articles page I might as well get your ideas on what you, the webpage viewer, feel would improve it.
I can't promise to use all of the ideas or suggestions of course but perhaps some of them I can and will, or maybe an idea you have could work with some modifications, or a combination of different ideas put together, etc.

What I'm currently thinking is something alone the lines of this which is on a website I built for our local Vette Club:
http://www.vetteclub.org/activities/activities.html
This is what's called an "Accordion" and if you click on the header title (on this example page the Header Titles are months) that "section" of the Accordion opens to show the contents. Click another Header Title and the first section closes and the newly selected section opens. Click the open section's Header Title again and it closes.
I'm thinking of this style as it would make each Topic (such as "Body & Frame", Ignition & Timing" etc) easier to locate. All links to articles or external links to other websites to articles would go inside the section under it's appropiate Header Topic.

would you find this type of format easier to use?
Suggestions for something better?
Would you prefer a different breakdown on Topics (Header names) that the current breakdown
Are there things that you would rather see eliminated or things you would like to see added to the Tech Articles page?
Any other ideas or suggestions or CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is very welcome.

Thanks in advance for any feedback or ideas you may have.

Barry

 

I don't have any specific suggestions, but I wanted to thank you for all your hard work and time devoted to it.

 

If the amount of scrolling was reduced it would be a little quicker to access. Your site has been very helpful as I have been learning about the quirks of corvettes and relearning information I have not used in years. It's been over 15 years since I've had anything that would smoke the tires.
Thanks for your hard work. Todd

 

ive got to be honest to not visiting yet.. but is there a search feature? if so... can it be fixed at all.. with the acordians, are you going to put all articles under the acordian, or if you get to say headers, is there a page with links to individual topics?

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Thank You!!

 

Add me to the list of appreciative people!!

Your site has been a a source of invaluable information..

Thanks for all the hard work you put into it!!

 

DB is spot on mate.

 

wow!!!Barry great work! I never seen your sight before. THANK YOU! Your right about the scrolling, maybe ad a search box or the obvious more sub sections C1,C2,C3 Body, Frame, Drivetrain ECT... I'm sure you know better than me. IMHO

 

 

Barry,
I can’t tell you the hours I have spent reading your articles. I am with the other guys a search would be invaluable, but still no complaints here. Thank you for all of your work.

 

LL&P
Tom1701

 

wow! 10 responses and the only feedback is to reduce the amount of scrolling?
I'm disappointed in your guys, usually people here in C3 aren't exactly shy in your opinions.

offroadtoyota, thanks. Reduced amount of scrolling is actually one of the main reasons I'm looking to do an overhaul and redesign of the page.

OK, maybe I'll get more suggestions on this:
I just threw together a VERY, VERY ROUGH example page of what I'm kinda thinking of going to. Again, nothing set in concrete yet but tell me how you would feel about something alone this line.
Each topic, such as Body & Frame, Electrical, Gauges & Instruments, C3 Vacuum System, etc, etc all have their own section in the Accordion. Just click on a Header Title to open that section. Click on the Header Title again to close it or click on another Header Title to close the first one and open the newly selected topic.
inside each section where it says File 1, File 2, etc would be the links to each .PDF article or external link to the article on another website.

http://www.lbfun.com/Test/

 

Probably a dumb suggestion but what about formatting the page like a forum, categories on the left to click on .With no viewer interface of course.

 

not sure how you mean "like a forum".
If you mean like regular Navigation links on the side like a regular website has that would easily work but than you have to go from page to page to page for each topic.
More work for the viewer that way (not to mention for ME to create and update multiple pages rather than just a single page).
It may have put a flickering of another idea into my head through so every suggestion is useful, thanks!

 

I just saw this section and went to your page and I have to say you have a lot of great information on it.

I have a web site, but it's pretty basic with links.

Maybe if you had your tech links like my schematic links, it might work out better.

Here is my page:

http://members.***.net/1980corvette/index.htm

You can go to my main site too:

http://members.***.net/kingjlw/index.htm

I think you have done a lot for the corvette people and I would like to thank you for sharing.

You are more than welcome to share my site on your site if you want to.

Keep up the good work.