Explorer Tree Guideline

1 Guideline

Current Situation
Several features in ILIAS are using explorer trees to assign or move objects, create relations to other objects a.s.o. Unfortunately, the tree is often closed when it is presented on the screen. This makes orientation and usability more difficult. It would be better always to open the tree at that node where the user currently is.

Guideline:

• Open the tree at the user's current position: If a function in ILIAS uses the explorer tree it notifies the tree about the current user's position. The tree is already opened when ILIAS presents it to the user at the new page.
• Highlight the current position of the user in the tree, if possible. If the current node is not diplayed, highlight the container of the node. (added with JF 27 Oct 2014)

Please see also the Expandable Areas Guideline that affects the look and feel of explorer trees.

2 Status

• Effective from release: Release 5.0
• Approved by Jour Fixe at: April 28, 2014 / October 27, 2014
• Implementation status:  partly implemented
  
• Funding for streamlining existing features: { name of organisation }
• Implementation of guideline: all developers
  

3 Components that are not compliant with the Guideline

• …

4 Discussion

JF 6 Sep 2010: The guideline is highly appreciated.

HL., 6.2. 2014: The ILIAS core group has decided that this Guideline is highly appreciated. Bugreports are:
 
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=10463 Assigned, Search at current position, Then click "Select Search area"
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=8717 Assigned, Wiki
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=8720 Assigned, Preconditions
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=7022 Assigned, Learning module
 
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=7037 Resolved, Testpool
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=7038 Resolved, Surveypool
http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=9778 Resolved, ILIAS Page Editor
 
I suggest that this guideline should not be a Suggested guideline, but a Implemented guideline. The funding status is "Required". Is there still funding needed?

AK 24 Apr 2014: As the "maintainer" of the explorer widget I still support this guideline. I am not sure about the status, since it has been appreciated but not scheduled.

JF 28 Apr 2014: We still appreciate this guideline and schedule it for 4.5.

HL., 20. Okt. 2014: AK implemented here: <http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=9778>, that ILIAS also highlights the current object. I think it would be a good usability-feature for this Guideline. Do we want to add the following rule?:
 
"ILIAS highlights the current object. If highlighting of the current object does not make sense, then ILIAS highlights the container above"
(Explanation for the container-rule: When the admin in a Survey-pools, in the "suggested solution tab", wants to add a Learning Module, then it is not a good idea to show and hightlight the actual survey-pool, see http://www.ilias.de/mantis/view.php?id=7038)