I'm completely fine with an "Advanced Search" showing each of the filters as they are now (with some improvements in usability). However, I'd like to simply be able to type in that query as well. Google does this: https://www.google.com/advanced_search. You can use the UI to help craft it, or you can simply enter in the search search if you know it.
example: "class:wiz class:sor description:ac"
Especially with text completions on that, text input is vastly quicker for many users.
Absolutely. A comprehensive search feature is critical. I doubt you'd find someone who disagrees.
But how would you improve the filtering system? Are the current drop-downs an unforgivable trespass?
I'm completely fine with an "Advanced Search" showing each of the filters as they are now (with some improvements in usability). However, I'd like to simply be able to type in that query as well. Google does this: https://www.google.com/advanced_search. You can use the UI to help craft it, or you can simply enter in the search search if you know it.
example: "class:wiz class:sor description:ac"
Especially with text completions on that, text input is vastly quicker for many users.
Absolutely. A comprehensive search feature is critical. I doubt you'd find someone who disagrees.
But how would you improve the filtering system? Are the current drop-downs an unforgivable trespass?
They are inconsistent. "Save Required" is a text-input box that only allows certain inputs: in other words, it's a drop down. Then you have things like "Concentration" which are actual drop downs. And you have things like "Magic Bonus" and "Components" that are a series of buttons.
In the case of "Save Required" and "Magic Bonus", these are both multi-selectable items from a specific list of items, but you interact with them in a completely different way. Further, you cannot TAB into the "Components" or "Magic Bonus" filters, which requires using the mouse (also note that the focus ring is actually not rendered either making it hard to know what control actually has keyboard focus).
At the very least, the filters need to be keyboard accessible. However, it doesn't make a ton of sense that some multi-select items work one way and the others work a different way. Also, it's not great that I can type and see the options in some fields and not in others (e.g. "Concentation"). For those, I have to press the down arrow to see the completion list.
I'd like the UI to work the same way, especially when there is no overt advantage to the different functionality.
Given the technology choices on this project (Joomla, Cobalt CRM) don't hold your breath for better UX. They may be able to make the UI prettier with CSS, but the basic technology that underpins how they serve data, route, and link isn't changing unless this is strictly a prototype which this far in, I know it isn't.
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I hate forum signatures.
Given the technology choices on this project (Joomla, Cobalt CRM) don't hold your breath for better UX. They may be able to make the UI prettier with CSS, but the basic technology that underpins how they serve data, route, and link isn't changing unless this is strictly a prototype which this far in, I know it isn't.