Forum:New Sidebar Element Being Tested

Hello,

I wanted to give you a heads-up about a new sidebar unit we are experimenting with on Wikia. We've been looking again at our Answers websites, and have just redesigned them to have a similar look to other wikis, and to make it easier to match the theme to a similar regular wiki.

Next we would like to point people toward a wiki’s corresponding answers site via a box on the right hand rail of the wiki, similar to the Recent Activity box.

This box is a bit like the the Answers widget we introduced last year, but is simpler and just shows a list of questions recently asked or answered on the corresponding answers site, much like one would expect to see on “Wiki Activity” if one were actually on the answers site. For this test, the box would only show to logged-out users.

We've chosen wikis with plenty of activity and an Answers wiki on the same subject - ut if we've chosen the wrong Answers Wiki to link to please let us know. If you are logged out, and see the “Recent Questions” box, feel free to give us your feedback! --daNASCAT http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb32675/wikia/images/e/e9/WikiaStaff.png (help forum | blog) 19:30, May 4, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, I can confirm that it's pointing to the correct Answers site. And since it appears only when users are un-logged, it doesn't really affect me personally.  But in theory I don't like it, because it makes it seem to the inexperienced user that the Doctor Who Answer wiki and this on are one in the same.  And they're really not.  I find DW Answers to be sort of a "wild West", lawless kinda place where anyone can say anything they want.  While there are technically admin there, I'm not sure what they do.  I've seen completely nonsensical answers to basic questions about DW.  I'd rather not promote it in any way, and in fact have removed a link we once had to that site.


 * Still, if we're obliged to participate in this test, I'd like to at least make the box fit in to our layout. Can you please provide the CSS element name(s) so that I can, at a minimum, apply a transparent background, header styling and fonts that match the rest of the site. 23:26:13 Sat 14 May 2011
 * I don't know them offhand, but you should be able to see the CSS elements using Firebug on Firefox or Google's inspect element feature. There should also be an overriding CSS sidebar element (i.e. class="sidebarbox") that should let you customize /any/ upcoming box. --daNASCAT http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb32675/wikia/images/e/e9/WikiaStaff.png (help forum | blog) 15:25, May 16, 2011 (UTC)


 * Cool, I just thought you might have the element name to hand. Here's another question for you, though.  I can appreciate that Wikia might need to use us as a guniea pig.  That's cool; I've no intention of trying to opt out of the test period.  But can we know when the test period ends, so that I can make sure it's turned off at the earliest possible date?  And if it becomes permanent, will it be a TOU violation to turn if off?  As I said above, I really don't like our Answers counterpart being given front-page prominence. 16:37:00 Mon 16 May 2011


 * Yes, I will try updating all communities currently being tested if and when the test period ends. However, yes, it would be against the Terms of Use to remove an element from the sidebar. --daNASCAT http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb32675/wikia/images/e/e9/WikiaStaff.png (help forum | blog) 20:22, May 16, 2011 (UTC)