Logical Layout to Menus
Right now, there isn't really a lot of logic being applied to the layout of the menus in WHM.
There are really a few things that the average user does with WHM / Cpanel, and they can (simply) be broken down to the following:
1. Setting Up a Server (VITAL initially, and afterwards mostly an afterthought.)
2. Maintaining Accounts (This is the day-to-day stuff.)
Once the server is up and running, there shouldn't be that much tweaking that needs to be done with the box. So why are things like "Server Configuration" and "Support" at the top of the menu stack? Sure, the server configuration has to happen before everything else, but after the server is set up, why is it there?
Also, isn't setting up and maintaining the DNS system (for example) a part of "Server Configuration?" Then why does it warrant its own menu in the menu stack? Ideally, there should be sub-folders in the menu stack.
[Hosting Functions]
- Add a new account.
- Delete an account.
(This submenu deals with the day-to-day operations on the box.)
[Server Configuration]
- Basic Server Configuation
(This submenu contains the most basic things required to make the server work.)
- Advanced Server Configuration
(This submenu would contain everything for the service configuration, tweak settings, DNS etc...)
- Additional Configuration
(This submenu would include things like contact preferences, resellers, packages, etc...)
[Help]
- Self-evident.
Finally, any items included in the submenus would be arranged LOGICALLY.
For example, account functions like "ADD account" and "TERMINATE account" would be next to one another.
I like this idea 
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While I agree there certainly is some cleanup and "maintenance" of the WHM menus that would lend itself to naturally better located menu items, much of the menu is subjective to the user.
For NOCs deploying and configuring cPanel & WHM servers for people, they *do* want the configuration items at the top.
For Shared Hosting admins, they'd want Tweak Settings, EasyApache, and other similar administrative tasks near the top (most of the account add/remove/suspend/etc would be handled by a billing system like WHMCS)
For Resellers on the server, they'd want the account creation/management items most likely.
I just do not see a universally agreed upon hierarchy for the WHM menu, do you? Again, I'm not saying it is perfect and couldn't be improved. But, I just don't see us ever being able to deploy a menu that everyone feels is ideal.
You may want to further jump in the feature request about a favorites system for WHM's menu:
http://features.cpanel.net/responses/favorite-links-in-whm-menu
Allowing each WHM user to organize their menu or set favorites that best apply to them seems like one of the best compromises.
In either case, I would definitely like to hear further feedback from WHM users on what are the critical menu items for them and what sort of organization they see as an improvement.
While I agree there certainly is some cleanup and "maintenance" of the WHM menus that would lend itself to naturally better located menu items, much of the menu is subjective to the user.
For NOCs deploying and configuring cPanel & WHM servers for people, they *do* want the configuration items at the top.
For Shared Hosting admins, they'd want Tweak Settings, EasyApache, and other similar administrative tasks near the top (most of the account add/remove/suspend/etc would be handled by a billing system like WHMCS)
For Resellers on the server, they'd want the account creation/management items most likely.
I just do not see a universally agreed upon hierarchy for the WHM menu, do you? Again, I'm not saying it is perfect and couldn't be improved. But, I just don't see us ever being able to deploy a menu that everyone feels is ideal.
You may want to further jump in the feature request about a favorites system for WHM's menu:
http://features.cpanel.net/responses/favorite-links-in-whm-menu
Allowing each WHM user to organize their menu or set favorites that best apply to them seems like one of the best compromises.
In either case, I would definitely like to hear further feedback from WHM users on what are the critical menu items for them and what sort of organization they see as an improvement.
While I agree there certainly is some cleanup and "maintenance" of the WHM menus that would lend itself to naturally better located menu items, much of the menu is subjective to the user.
For NOCs deploying and configuring cPanel & WHM servers for people, they *do* want the configuration items at the top.
For Shared Hosting admins, they'd want Tweak Settings, EasyApache, and other similar administrative tasks near the top (most of the account add/remove/suspend/etc would be handled by a billing system like WHMCS)
For Resellers on the server, they'd want the account creation/management items most likely.
I just do not see a universally agreed upon hierarchy for the WHM menu, do you? Again, I'm not saying it is perfect and couldn't be improved. But, I just don't see us ever being able to deploy a menu that everyone feels is ideal.
You may want to further jump in the feature request about a favorites system for WHM's menu:
http://features.cpanel.net/responses/favorite-links-in-whm-menu
Allowing each WHM user to organize their menu or set favorites that best apply to them seems like one of the best compromises.
In either case, I would definitely like to hear further feedback from WHM users on what are the critical menu items for them and what sort of organization they see as an improvement.
While I agree there certainly is some cleanup and "maintenance" of the WHM menus that would lend itself to naturally better located menu items, much of the menu is subjective to the user.
For NOCs deploying and configuring cPanel & WHM servers for people, they *do* want the configuration items at the top.
For Shared Hosting admins, they'd want Tweak Settings, EasyApache, and other similar administrative tasks near the top (most of the account add/remove/suspend/etc would be handled by a billing system like WHMCS)
For Resellers on the server, they'd want the account creation/management items most likely.
I just do not see a universally agreed upon hierarchy for the WHM menu, do you? Again, I'm not saying it is perfect and couldn't be improved. But, I just don't see us ever being able to deploy a menu that everyone feels is ideal.
You may want to further jump in the feature request about a favorites system for WHM's menu:
http://features.cpanel.net/responses/favorite-links-in-whm-menu
Allowing each WHM user to organize their menu or set favorites that best apply to them seems like one of the best compromises.
In either case, I would definitely like to hear further feedback from WHM users on what are the critical menu items for them and what sort of organization they see as an improvement.
Fair points indeed. Then what about a totally customizable user layout system? Is that something that a theme pack could do for the current iteration of WHM? (ie: re-layout the current x layout?)
Fair points indeed. Then what about a totally customizable user layout system? Is that something that a theme pack could do for the current iteration of WHM? (ie: re-layout the current x layout?)
True not everything is going to make everyone happy. But as of now there are no options at all but to take it as it is. I dont speak for everyone but i have somewhat of a disability in following the current layout. To me it does not make sense to not have some kind of alphabetical asc or desc order to it.
However all im asking for is an option. Some may choose to leave it as is because this is what they are used to however many of us may choose to put the layout in a different order. I am certainly not asking for you to rewrite the whole template, but atleast allow us some way to make it more logical for many of us that cant seem to follow the way it is.
Thanks :)
True not everything is going to make everyone happy. But as of now there are no options at all but to take it as it is. I dont speak for everyone but i have somewhat of a disability in following the current layout. To me it does not make sense to not have some kind of alphabetical asc or desc order to it.
However all im asking for is an option. Some may choose to leave it as is because this is what they are used to however many of us may choose to put the layout in a different order. I am certainly not asking for you to rewrite the whole template, but atleast allow us some way to make it more logical for many of us that cant seem to follow the way it is.
Thanks :)
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