Book module usability: Stop using vertical tabs

Open on Drupal.org →

Created on 7 March 2013, about 12 years ago

Updated 4 September 2024, 7 months ago

Problem/Motivation

While I was testing book module's conversion to twig, I failed, three times in a row, to actually use book module correctly because the usability is so bad. Each time I tried to create a book page, my workflow was as follows: 1) enter title 2) enter body 3) save. When people follow this workflow (as dictated by the book node page) book nodes fail to be placed in any "book" at all - let alone have any book hierarchy set in the outline.

Placing things in the vertical tabs (or in D8, on the right hand side of the page) tells people that "these things will be set for you by default, and you don't need to think about them when creating content". That was, after all, the whole point of adding vertical tabs in d7 - so that we would have a place to hide stuff.

However, we should not be hiding stuff in vertical tabs that is crucial for functionality.

Additionally, since the vertical tabs functionality that used to let me see what was in those fieldsets has been lost in D8/Seven theme, I had no idea this was happening while I was creating the content. (see #1936708: Current element values missing from vertical tabs when shown in 2-column layout → )

Proposed resolution

For enabled content types, the "Book outline" settings need to be moved out of vertical tabs, and in to the main form.

Remaining tasks

Move book settings out of vertical tabs
hide the weight field until a book is selected
Implement hook_fields_extra_fields to allow the book outline settings to be weighted

User interface changes

See above.

API changes

None

Related Issues

#1936708: Current element values missing from vertical tabs when shown in 2-column layout →

✨ Feature request

Status

Closed: outdated

Version

1.0

Component

Last updated 2 months ago

Maintained by
🇺🇸United States @pwolanin

Created by

🇺🇸United States jenlampton

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Usability
Makes Drupal easier to use. Preferred over UX, D7UX, etc.

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Comment over 1 year ago →
🇳🇿New Zealand quietone
This extension is being deprecated, see 🌱 [Meta] Tasks to deprecate Book module Active . It will be removed from core and moved to a contrib project, 📌 [11.x] [Meta] Tasks to remove Book Active .

This is now Postponed. The status is set according to two policies. The Remove a core extension and move it to a contributed project → and the Extensions approved for removal → policies.

This issue may be re-opened if it can be considered critical → , If unsure, re-open the issue and ask in a comment.
Status changed to Active 12 months ago7:14am 24 April 2024
Comment 12 months ago →
🇳🇿New Zealand quietone
Status changed to Postponed: needs info 10 months ago4:11pm 18 June 2024
Comment 10 months ago →
🇺🇸United States smustgrave
So now that this has moved to contrib I'm not opposed to the vertical tabs. Feel placing in the middle would seem awkward, and menu links are over there which is somewhat similar. This still a valid request or something that couldn't be handled by custom code?
Status changed to Closed: outdated 7 months ago2:19am 4 September 2024
Comment 7 months ago →
🇺🇸United States smustgrave
Since there hasn’t been a follow up going to close out but if still valid later please reopen.

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