Thanks Tenants
These are the issues I have found so far with just a local install and a play.
Like I would assume many others would have, I have a 3 level category structure just like you would have in the forums with Category -> Forum -> sub Forum. The index page is:
I have removed the "Account" styled categories left column as it is pointless as it is only showing top level categories plus the index page is showing the categories and sub categories anyway
The sub category of Clubs and Schools I have has sub sub categories for each State of Australia like Qld, NSW, Vic etc. I have created a test entry in Vic (see side block) however the Australia top level category counter and the Clubs and Schools sub category counter still shows "0" entries. I have tried to rebuild counts but no change besides one shouldn't have to as this should be automatic.
Also I noticed a small thing and that is the code in the templates is all over the place...small thing but they could be cleaned up to look more professional with proper tabbing, less carriage returns and zero tabbed separating lines
Next shows from my install the sub category page of Clubs and Schools:
4 things here...firstly many site owners have a forum background set different to the default white. The sub category title is in a different block to the sub categories underneath it...these should all be contained within the same block to make it look better irrespective of what style they may be using.
Secondly, when you click a sub category, it would be better if all the entries for that sub category
and all sub sub category entries of it, be displayed to the user not just the entries in the selected sub category leaving out all the entries in the lower levels. If you run a structure like:
Category (Australia)
-- sub category (Clubs and Schools)
---- sub sub category (State of Queensland)
---- sub sub category (State of New South Wales etc)
it is more than likely that all the entries would be in the sub sub categories (i.e. the different states of Australia) than to have entries in the higher level categories (i.e. category and sub category)...it would allow the user to see everything with the ability to drill down (to the sub sub categories) if they wish to
Thirdly, the breadcrumb is not showing the higher level category. In my example we are in "Directory -> Australia -> Clubs and Schools"...Australia is left off the breadcrumb
Lastly, in keeping with the XF standard, the "Submit New Listing" button should be on the right of the breadcrumb...this is the way that XF does it so I would think that it should be done the same way
This 3rd screen shot displays the 3rd level sub sub category for in my case the State of Victoria (Australia -> Clubs and Schools -> Victoria):
Again 2 things...the "Submit New Listing" button and the breadcrumb which is now leaving off both "Australia" and "Clubs and Schools"
This 4th screen shot of the actual listing page:
Again we have the breadcrumb issue however the category that the entry is in is there but the 2 categories inbetween are not.
The main thing with the listing page is that as I have shown in my post #312, this page can be extensively customised by the user to reflect what they need to show and how they want it shown so little to say here other than the issues of stretching, placement and layout that others have highlighted but I say again, these can be overcome by customising this page. The issues I have highlighted above are "core" issues and I think they should be fixed before other bells and whistles are added like a rating system etc.
The next thing is the large view of the Google Map page...there is no way for the user to go back to the listing other than by clicking the "Directory" tab on the main site menu and commence down through the different category levels to get back to the listing (or they have to use the "Back" button on their browser).
Also when viewing the listing page the sub menu items on the main site menu bar (i.e. the 2nd level) disappear
One final thing is the Account styled navigation column. Only you know what your strategic vision is for the addon and this block may well serve a purpose in the future, for example if it was the only navigation block on the index page because the page show "Featured" entries in the middle block. But, with it currently only showing the top level categories, it is of very minimal use. It needs to show all category levels above the current level and perhaps 1 level below. The breadcrumb should let you go up in levels, the Account style navigation block should let you also go up in levels but also sideways as well as a quicker means than the breadcrumb.
I am sorry if I seem a little pedantic but just trying to help by giving my thoughts