Updated Blog Look and Feel

Comments

# Vladimir Cvajniga said on July 28, 2007 3:18 AM:

Nothing special. Re-designs means nothing to me, ehmmm... except that I can't see the whole page on my 1024x768 monitor (missing a part of the right-most column).

# Vacan said on July 28, 2007 5:23 AM:

I think, that it's clean design, but so cold..

# Bill Mosca, MS Office Access MVP said on July 28, 2007 9:21 AM:

Zac - I liked the orange. And I agree with Vlad. Fixing up the page to fit the screen would be better. I'm no web designer, but wouldn't tables or frames take care of the width issue?

# wheat said on July 28, 2007 10:33 AM:

I miss the orange, and I don't like that it's a fixed-width design that cuts off even at 1024x768 when viewing with the browser maximized.  It needs some color.  It's  way too washed out, but not in a good way.  I think the new title is good and reflects the content better.  

# Charles Robinson said on July 28, 2007 11:20 AM:

I hated the orange, it was too vivid and left me seeing spots after reading a few entries.  This is MUCH better! It looks fine at 1280x1024 and 1440x900.  :-)

# BobK said on July 28, 2007 12:36 PM:

"Atta' Boy!"

Appreciate your efforts to improve.

Don't pay too much attention to the "Fussy Pants" comments <grin>.

Bob K

# Maciej said on July 28, 2007 1:33 PM:

Hello,

Could you help me? I've got one problem with access runtime: when the form is based on stored procedure access shows message that the record source of the form ... does not exists. When the same .adp/ade file is opened using normal version of Access 2007 everything goes well.

# Zac Woodall said on July 28, 2007 3:56 PM:

I'll take some time next week to re-fit the contents so that they are all visible at 1024x768, that's good feedback.  

Also, if most people prefer the orange, I'm fine with going back to that look.  Since the redesign was a not-insignificant amount of work, I'd like to be sure that most people agree with that sentiment first though.  Could some more people chime in with their opinions?  

Maciej, the best place to ask a question like this is probably in the newsgroups (microsoft.public.access), or up on www.utteraccess.com.  

Thanks!

# Steve Schapel said on July 28, 2007 4:58 PM:

Agree with the other comments about the display width.

FWIW, I didn't particularly like the previous orange design.  I like the header on this page, with the Access logo, and I think that maroon colour would certainly clash with orange.  On the other hand, a little more spice would make it twice as nice.

# Tony Toews, MS Access MVP said on July 28, 2007 6:45 PM:

Well, I use an RSS reader so the appearance of the blog doesn't bother me.  <smile>  Yes, it does need to fit on 1024x768 but you're going to fix that anyhow.

# Oli-S said on July 28, 2007 9:27 PM:

Looks good to me (I'm on 1280x800 :) ). We have to remember what the purpose of this site is. It's isn't really to look fancy or pretty, but rather a blog to deliver important news to the Access developer group. As long as it is visible on most common screen resolutions and doesn't completely look hideous then I think it fulfills its job. How about designing it closer to the default schema of the Access Ribbon interface (the blueish-gradients) so visitors immidiately identify with the site and its content?

# andrew said on July 30, 2007 2:19 AM:

I'm not one to talk since my design is the default for CS :)

But... I kinda like it, it's got the Access feel.

I'd just make it so the header includes the sidebar (ie goes over it) to make it part of the site more.

And did you get rid of the most recent articles from the sidebar?  I usually prefer that to the archive - because no one really goes back 2 months, but they could go back 5-10 articles.

Especially with things like the runtime out, etc.

Tagging your articles would be good too, I usually find I go to tags that suit my particular interest before I start browsing archives.

# Werner van Zijl said on July 30, 2007 11:32 AM:

I love Access 2007 for other reasons than the look and feel. The screen real estate is a little wasted I think and when setting the focus on an object its very easy for the focus to shift to another object and you end up accidently renaming or deleting the wrong object.

# KiwiBruce said on July 30, 2007 1:00 PM:

I am fine with the new look I always thought the orange was a little um... bright and amateurish but yes the with needs to be sorted out. But really people WHO CARES!!1 lets get onto Developer content

# Garry said on July 30, 2007 4:56 PM:

Given that Access icon is purple, this looks is miles better.  Leave Orange for the supporters of Holand in the soccer.

# Brendan Reynolds said on July 31, 2007 6:18 AM:

I like the new look. Cool, restrained, and classy. Very nice.

# wheat said on July 31, 2007 10:35 AM:

The width was my biggest gripe.  That seems to be fixed now.  I never had a problem with the content--this is the Access 2007 site I've found most useful.  And I generally read via an RSS reader.  But Zac asked for feedback on the look and feel, so I gave it.  

Checking it out now a few days later, it looks to me like the design is evolving nicely.  The new background color and the darker shading on the sides of the content area keep it from having the washed out look that it did when the new design launched.  So, I'd say, keep on trucking.  

# Craig Alexander Morrison said on August 2, 2007 5:05 AM:

Why not just design it for 1920 by 1200 resolution no doubt anyone developing solutions in Access 2007 would be using that mode anyway. (vbg)

I prefer the colour but could do with it a bit wider, especially as we have been using widescreen for several years.

BTW It is not as clear when you are logged in as before the screen used to show your name if you were logged on now the only clue is that you don't need to add your name when leaving a comment.

# Charles Robinson said on August 3, 2007 8:59 AM:

I didn't really like all the orange before, so this is a tremendous improvement!

P.S.  This is my second attempt at posting a comment to this thread.  The other one from last week never appeared and I sent an e-mail to the contact address but did not receive a response.

About Zac Woodall