Progress report on new “Chapters” pages

[Jeff_Ricks]

I’ve been spending a lot of time on upgrading the Chapters pages of the website, and I hoped to have it in place by now but there’s still probably one more weekend to go before it’s ready to switch on. But, because I know some of you are anxious to start using it I decided to post a progress report so you can see that it’s close to being ready. I also wanted to post this so I can get some feedback on it before I put the finishing touches on it.

The new chapters section uses a Google map (similar to Google Earth) to display the locations of chapters. I’ve set it up with Google maps because I think it makes for a better way to present the Chapters than just showing them in a list, and the map is kind of fun to play with (when you switch to ‘satellite mod’ chances are you can even zoom in and find your house on the map!).

On the map are map pins, one for each chapter. Clicking on a map pin opens a little info window about the chapter. Included in the info window is a link to that chapters own webpages on the postmormon.org website. It’s those webpages that I need to get finished before its ready to switch on and let the public start using it.

Okay, below is the link to the main map.

- On the left side of the map are the pan and zoom controls (you can also pan by clicking and dragging the map, which is easier).
- On the right side at the top are ‘Map mode’ buttons. The default mode is ‘map’. Satellite mode switches to actual photos of the geography (try switching to satellite mode, use the zoom slider on the left to zoom in. You’ll be amazed at what you can see!). The Hybrid mode combines both map and satellite modes.
- On the right middle are ‘go to’ buttons that will zoom you to key places on the map. On the right bottom is an over view window. You can drag around the overview window content to navigate the big map too.

http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/chapters

As mentioned, the individual webpages for each chapter is what I need another weekend to get working. Those pages will be fully controlled by the chapter leader (and anyone she or he assigns to maintain their pages content). It will include an introduction page that they can update at will. Each group gets their own custom background (take a look at the Brisbane Australia chapter's background for an example -- oh, and ignore the content of the chapter's pages, which is mostly meaningless test content). There's a weblog section (which is like a journal for the chapter), and a photo gallery where chapter members can upload any photos about their people, places or events. It’s possible too that in the future they'll have their own private discussion forum that they can use to keep in touch and plan events for their chapter.

Look it over and please post any questions, suggestions, or concerns that you might have. Any feedback, positive or negative is appreciated (negative feedback is sometime the most useful for helping to fine tune something like this).

Jeff

[peter_mary]

This feature is developing great "face validity." Good work!

[runfromsafety]

This is looking really good Jeff... great to see the additional navigation options we talked about, they work really well. You are doing a fantastic job in the delopment of the postmormon site all round, including this.

Have you thought about having some introductory text on the opening page (where the map is) that introduces the concept of the chapters and what the overall "mission" is? Perhaps something inspirational that makes people feel like this is something they want to be a part of at a local chapter level?

[Jeff_Ricks]

This is looking really good Jeff... great to see the additional navigation options we talked about, they work really well. You are doing a fantastic job in the delopment of the postmormon site all round, including this.

Have you thought about having some introductory text on the opening page (where the map is) that introduces the concept of the chapters and what the overall "mission" is? Perhaps something inspirational that makes people feel like this is something they want to be a part of at a local chapter level?Good idea! I was planning to create a pop-up window that explains how to start a chapter, but I should include something like what you describe that starts with explaining why to start a chapter. Thanks for the feedback from both you and peter_mary! I never know what I've got when I do something like this until I get some feedback from others. It's like a sanity check for me.

Any more feedback from anyone else? Is the way the groups are presented on the map confusing to anyone? I plan to include a pop-up window that has a brief description of how to use the map. I should have both pop-up windows working this weekend sometime.

Hey, you should check out something on the map that I found yesterday. It's a very clear overhead shot of that glass pyramid at the Louve Museum in Paris. It's so clear that you can see people walking around and almost see the color of what they're wearing. To see it do the following:

- Go to the Chapters map link: http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/chapters
- Click the "Go to Europe" button on the right side of the map.
- Click on the map pin in France and leave the "info bubble" open, then zoom all the way in using the zoom controls to the left. Notice the the map pin is on a street called Pont Neuf. Move north on that street until you get to Voie Georges Pompidou.
- Turn left and follow that street until you get to Place de Carousel .
- You're now at the Louve Museum. It's on the corner of Voie Georges Pompidou and Place de Carousel. In the courtyard area notice the place called "Galerie Commercial Carousel de Louve." That's the pyramid. Center it on the map.
- Finally, switch to Satellite mode using the button at the upper right of the map and zoom all the way in. There's the pyramid!

Can you tell I've been having fun with the map? :D

Jeff