Question

I'm trying to TWiki for IT/Operations Support, with topics for each server/device containing setup, scripts, troubleshooting, etc. I've installed the software, however, the starting page is so "busy" that it becomes confusing. You have to page down several times to even know about topics. Is there a way to simplify it so there's just the one web with the basic info on creating and finding topics. Thanks.

Environment

-- VictorMJRyden - 18 Apr 2005

Answer

I had the same problem. The default web template is OK for advanced users, but is far too complex for novice users of TWiki (who make up all of the users of my site).

My site has a different audience (research students) than yours will, but feel free to browse my site to see how I tried to simplify things: http://rabbit-island.net/twiki/bin/view

In summary, I simplified the Main web's homepage, changed the left bar's layout (changing from jump to search), and moved most of the administrative links to sub-pages. I renamed the links to the TWiki web to be "TWiki documentation", and functionally hid the web distinction from the users (i.e., most users will probably never know the site is divided into webs). I'd welcome any suggestions to make it even easier.

Hope this is helpful.

-- MarcPerkins - 21 Apr 2005

This is almost "exactly" what I'm looking for. Was it enought to just change the view template, or did you need to change others?

-- VictorMJRyden - 21 Apr 2005

Most of my changes were made by just editing the various pages involved (deleting/moving links and the like). However, the largest visual change is that I'm using DragonSkin, with the tab style (DS_THEME = tabstyle); I think that may be what you're referring to when you mention the view template. To get the customizable left menu, I created a page to code the menu (http://rabbit-island.net/cgi-bin/twiki/view/TWiki/DragonSkinLeftMenu), and then edited dragonmenu.dragon.tmpl to include the page using %INCLUDE{"TWiki.DragonSkinLeftMenu"}%).

-- MarcPerkins - 21 Apr 2005