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The Next Big Thing in User Experience Development: UI Controls PRESENTED BY: ROB WENGER, CEO/CTO, Higher Logic. Rob Wenger CEO / Chief Technology Officer Higher Logic Social Networking, Community, Collaboration Previously Principal Architect at ASI ( iMIS )
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The Next Big Thing in User Experience Development: UI Controls PRESENTED BY:ROB WENGER, CEO/CTO, Higher Logic
Rob Wenger CEO / Chief Technology Officer Higher Logic Social Networking, Community, Collaboration Previously Principal Architect at ASI (iMIS) CTO of Active Matter – Web Design & Web Products Who Am I?
Explanation of Control Based Development Demonstration of the advantages Design a Landing Page Using Parameters to Configure .NET/SharePoint Web Parts Use in Cross System Integration Fun projects (that are useful!) Summary and Q&A Agenda
How many of you are: Developers IT Managers IT Other Non-techies Quick Poll
What platform does your org use? Microsoft (.NET, ASP, VB, etc.) Open Source (PHP, Ruby on Rails, Python, etc.) Java Cold Fusion Other Quick Poll 2
Web application developers are used to “Pages” In this model, Think Smaller Think in terms of functional blocks Build pages from blocks Reconfigure blocks for new or different audiences Add or remove blocks for new functionality Choose a framework that makes the above easy Component Based Development
New pages, Same Parts Full View
New pages, Same Parts Summary View
New pages, Same Parts Summary View
New pages, Same Parts Summary View
New pages, Same Parts Summary Listing
New pages, Same Parts List View
New pages, Same Parts List View
New pages, Same Parts List style
Reuse Easy “customization” for different uses or audiences Small projects get finished! Small additions can have a big effect Advantages of Component Based Dev
A page at which visitors (users) arrive on your site (application) after clicking a link Home page Section home page Personalized home page Typically designed to get the user to do something. Landing Page
Our Goals – Get Visitors to: Complete their profile Engage in discussions Donate Connect with their peers Respond to the Call to Action of the week/month Let’s design a Community Landing Page
If not logged-in, say Login If logged-in but no profile, say Enhance your Profile If profile is started but no (or few) friends, say Connect with Colleagues If has more than 4 friends but no communities say Join Communities If in communities do Call to Action ButtonText parameter ButtonLink parameter E.g., Donate, Renew, Write your congressman, Register for the conference Action Button Control
Each control must be able to exist on its own Input is via parameters or URL parameters Flexibility thru configuration, via parameters Output is simple HTML that can easily be styled. Use semantic tagging. Always keep reuse in mind HL’s Rules of Control Development
Parameters (AKA Properties ) are component level settings, used for: Input of data or “keys” Control of what is displayed (Show/Hide) Setting use specific configuration Title Text Links Format Etc. Input and Configuration via Parameters
Non-visual components can affect page behavior, just by their presence Check security Add logic Get shared data Perform tasks Components Don’t Have To Be Visible
Built into .NET Key function in SharePoint (MOSS) Allow for changes at run-time (My MSN style) Allow for connections between parts to share data Easy to use UI for Add, Move, Delete, Configure Well known interface allows 3rd party web parts Web Parts
A page is made up of Zones Each zone can hold multiple parts Zones might come from a template or layout Web Part Zones
Anatomy of a Web Part Title bar Zone Name Add Button Title Menu Content
Web Parts Properties Pane • Change the properties, appearance, layout • Shared – change for everyone • Personal – changed by/for an individual user
Web Parts Connections • Connect Web Parts on the same page together • Exchange data between them • Set parameters/properties of one from another
Controls for Seamless UI Integration • Web services for grabbing 3rd party data • Controls to display web service data • Intermix with local controls, other 3rd parties, on one page
Example of Cross-System UI Integration • Local content from the CMS • Recent blogs from the Community site • Upcoming events from the Registration system • Thermometer from Fund-raising system • Renewal notice from the Membership system • Photo slideshow from Flickr
Once you start thinking small, you can make a big impact with very little (relative) effort.
Vista Sidebar Gadget • Management can watch without running full system • Calls to backend using web service • Properties set with configuration screen • Near real-time data
Mobile App • Road-warriors lookup customers from mobile • Very simple web app • Login • Menu • Form • Result
Summary • Think Small! • Build bricks, then assemble them • Reconfigure for new uses • Blur the lines between disparate system • If possible, choose a framework and toolset that makes this easy • Think outside the box