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The toolbox replaces the edit bar dedicated to the page, which was shown at the top in preview-based editing in earlier Magnolia versions. The page properties are accessed using a regular page action. Page options like a language selector or information on page links have been extended and moved to the options rack (see definition below). The button to return to AdminCentral has been replaced with a button in the Toolbox to leave page editing in the Toolbox, which is also where the "Preview" button was moved to.
The toolbox also features a two-level control at the top for the selection of a target and a rack (definition see below). The target may be either a selected paragraph or , selected area or the page itself. The targets you may choose depend on which elements are currently selected on the page, if any. If a paragraph is selected, the target can be either this paragraph or the page as a whole. If no element is selected, then the page is the only valid target left. Once you've selected a target, racks become available allowing you to choose either actions or options related to your target.
The target selector solves the problem that showing both paragraph and page actions at the same time results in a long list of actions with similar sounding, but different commands. It also focuses the interface to the content element you're working with.
Note that while this concept may sound complicated, its day-to-day use actually isn't. If you select a paragraph on the page, the target selector is automatically switched to "paragraph". The same holds if you select an area. If you deselect any element or when you enter the page, the target selector switches is set to "page". The only time you have to manually switch it is when you've selected a paragraph, but would like to switch back to work on the page level to e.g. activate the page.
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- to offer a great overview of various aspects of a content element while keeping the interface simple
- to provide a scalable UI solution for adding functionality to pages, areas and paragraphs contributed by modules or future extensions
Actions and Options rack
The default configuration offers at most two racks: one for showing the list of actions applicable to the currently selected content element, one for showing options on the same. In both racks, the ubiquitous toolbar unit is available as well.
Options are preferences affecting the editing of the page, either actively by actually changing which version of the content element is edited or passively by providing the user with additional information on the content element such as by showing its status in regard to activation or translation. Options differ from settings found in the edit dialogs of a page or paragraph in that they do not affect the actual content, but only the editing of such.
More space in a rack
If many actions or options have to be shown and the space for showing them is not available (e.g. on small screens), the rack may virtually split and offer more than one page effectively doubling the space available for units. The rack then shows a page switcher control to allow accessing all pages. Note that the control shows up above the toolbar unit, which remains visible on all pages of all racks.
Uniform and expanding units
A unit may either use a single-state or a two-state interface. If a unit can provide a short overview of its core settings, but needs more space to show all values, it is dubbed an expanding unit and uses the two-state interface offering both a collapsed and an expanded view. In the expanded view, the unit takes over most of the space available in the rack and thus has plenty of space available to show its data. In the collapsed view, only the brief overview fits in. If a unit only needs one interface to show its settings, it is called a uniform unit and uses a single-state interface offering only the collapsed view.
Actions and Options rack
Uniform and expanding units
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The toolbar unit
The toolbar is a special unit hosting two global functions, namely the clipboard and global undo/redo. In particular undo/redo needs to be available at any time and independent of the currently selected content element. The toolbar thus is available at all times and at the exact same location. It even remains visible if a unit is switched to show its expanded view.
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