Some ideas for improving the admin UX experience. Sparked by http://www.d7ux.org/pimp-your-imaginary-admin/

1. Some possible Drupal 7
UX enhancements
Janusman
April 2009

2. “Filter list” in long admin lists
(JQuery?)
Where?
• Modules
• Permissions
• Administer > By Task
• Administer > By
Module
• Blocks
• Others?
Context-sensitive?
Filter list: by category: by keyword:
Administration
Core – optional
• Filters: “Show only
Core - Required
enabled modules”
• Actions: “Enable all
shown modules”
Enabled by Fields-in -
core?

3. “Inbox” of pending admin-related
tasks
• Scenario: you install a new module, and then ask
yourself “what’s next?”
• Proposal:
– some sort of API where modules can write out structured tasks
the admin must/should/could do for new module.
– Admins are shown those messages in a block, receive a mail, or
navigate to Admin/logs/?? to see them

4. “Wizard” API
• Sometimes real-world Drupal • Proposal:
tasks require a complex series of  wizard.module
steps.  Modules would define a
o Modules: get complex task as a series of
steps through
module, activate, configure, set up
hook_wizard_tasks()
user role, assign permissions to
role, assign users role…  “Steps” are mainly the user
o Content creation: create content filling and submitting existing
Drupal admin forms.
type, then add CCK field 1, then
add CCK field 2, then add  Wizard UI module would guide
workflow… users through steps.
o Theme selection: download  Steps could be required or
theme, activate theme, configure optional.
theme, configure block placement  Could have “reasonable
in new theme, … defaults”
 Like names for new
roles, content types, etc.