Right Column is useless- please improve

[manyspears]

I'm seeing lots of CSS tricks to remove the right column "Member Management" module (not sure that's what it's called, but I'm talking the box with links to Inbox, Alerts, etc.) #xg_module_account {display:none!important;} for instance.

 

But when used, the right column just remains empty.

 

I'd like more real estate for member profiles, with the left column and then a wide middle column.

We also need to have this work on specific pages and their subpages/child pages ONLY, i.e. the Member Profiles for every member (and not just /members).

 

Ning's strict control of the right column is puzzling, and makes for a lot of wasted space that could otherwise be very useful.

 

[Evan]

Hey there!

I'm not sure it's puzzling. Aside from your main page, your Ning Network was designed with two columns. One at the left that changes depending on where you navigate, and one on the right that both persists (so you include ads, or things you want to be visible on all pages) and includes important links/info, like links to content awaiting approval or the inbox. 

We'll try to build in the flexibility for you to totally remove or move these tools in the future, though it's not on the roadmap at the moment.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Robert Williams]

With a two-column design, how do I control the ads seen in the 3rd column of member pages? Maybe I am not following....

 

[Matt Coston]

The right column is definitely NOT useless for me - I use it to contain the code for my analytics (Trace My IP), which needs to be shown on every page and can't be added to the 'custom code' box - as far as I know.

[Speed Racer]

@manyspears-my right side column alone makes me more than enough ad revenue to pay for my network and domain.

@Matt-has anyone picked up you are using trace my ip? some people can see it if they know how. I'd love to use it, but I'm afraid of freaking people out. Also, do you know if it slows your site at all?

@Evan-it would be really nice if we could choose which side the persistent column sits. I sometimes want to "mix things up", which will help people research our networks a little more, even though it may slightly irritate them at first. Many websites do this for that very reason (increased page views).  

[Evan]

Hey Speed Racer!

Are you using the Design Studio? Both layouts B2 and B3 have the "right" column on the left instead.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Speed Racer]

no, i'm on the old design editor. the design studio has been a design devil for me. I just don't have alot of time to perfect the design in it mainly. is there any css you know of I can use to do this? I know (and understand completely) that you guys aren't going to work on making this possible from the backend, as any work you guys do in design work will focus on the studio now.

 

Regards,

SR

[manyspears]

All,

 

My apologies- I don't think I explained my request clearly enough. I'm not suggesting that anything be categorically eliminated, but that we have the *choice* to turn off the right column in certain circumstances.

 

I think the confusion might be that in my network's case, I'm using the Newspress theme in the B1 layout (see http://screencast.com/t/SD7iIrO4LA8o for the layout, which is "right column only")

 

When a member is logged in, the account module consumes a second right column by itself, creating lots of wasted space.

 

The functions of the account module (sign out, inbox, alerts, etc) should be placed elsewhere in the theme, maybe across the top in the Ningbar. But I don't believe I have the choice to do that, so have to live with the wasted space and scrunched user profiles etc.

 

My request is this: make it optional to turn off account module (and the arbitrary right column it creates) on some or all pages. (There is a CSS hack for this.) But as importantly, allow the mainbody to expand to fill that space. This is an elementary function of many themes on many CMS tools, and I think it's time Ning gets this right as well.

 

Thanks for considering.

 

 

[Matt Coston]

@manyspears - OK that makes slightly more sense.

 

@Speed Racer - I have been very lucky with using TMIP, nobody has raised any questions about it. Also, I understand that if you upgrade to the paid service, you can choose an invisible version of the code. RE slowdown: Occasionally the status bar in my browser does say "waiting for Trace My IP", but it does not appear to affect the rest of the page. I think it is a small price to pay for such an amazing analytics service.

[Evan]

Hey there,

Just to be clear, I understood your request. I just wanted to explain why the right column can't be removed easily.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[manyspears]

Evan,

 

I understand why it should be an option to have a persistent column that shows either ads or navigation/account management tools. What I don't understand is why I can't choose to not display those items. For my network, user profiles are critical and more real estate better. The forced three column, scrunched middle is the problem.

 

For $25/mo forever, I'm expecting more theme layout flexibility (and without using CSS hacks that aren't reliable on IE etc.)

[Evan]

Hey there,

You can't choose because, today, there are essential tools like the ones I pointed out in the persistent column. We haven't built those tools (like inbox, etc.) into other parts of the page design just yet, but we hope to eventually, allowing creators the flexibility to just have a single column.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[manyspears]

Evan,

Thank you for understanding. IMO these "essential tools" are either so essential they deserve to be in the Ningbar, or aren't essential enough to warrant the consumption of such valuable pixel space.

 

Thanks,

Tom