Interface Draft: Breadcrumb Concept
Definition[edit]
A breadcrumb should provide a trail for users navigating within a page structure. It provides an easy way to access previously seen pages within the page structure. Users sometimes do not have in mind how to navigate to a certain page via multi level menu(s).
Problem
For web applications - where items are irrepealable be changed - there is no way back. Once an item has been changed it would not make sense to return to a previous view. And if so, the user needs to know the difference between 'back' and 'undo'.
Overview on 'Click Levels'[edit]
The rough overview shows main functional areas and click levels (this is a diagram only, not a specification of the page flow R4).
Why the following breadcrumbs do not make sense Wikipedia on Breadcrumbs[edit]
Path
Path breadcrumbs are dynamic and show the path that the user has taken to arrive at a page.
- PubMan does not provide a strict hierarchical structure. In many cases there is no single path to a page.
History of pages/Action history
- This is not, what a breadcrumb is expected to be. If items change at one point in time it does not make sense to jump to a page reflecting a state which is different from the current/real one.
Attribute
Attribute breadcrumbs give information that categorizes the current page.
- Would make sense, but as pages are role dependent the attribute might reflect a wrong categorization
Why a breadcrumb makes no sense for the following functionality:
Most pages are anyway redundantly displayed in a breadcrumb or inconsistent in use, because[edit]
Simple Search
- Anyway provided persistently inside header
- Not clear where breadcrumb leads to (revise search via advanced search?)
Advanced Search
- Anyway provided persistently inside header
Organisation Search
- Anyway provided persistently inside header
Export
- Will mostly appear at the end of the breadcrumb
- Autoamtically available after any search
Item Details (Revisions, Attachements, ...)
- Will mostly appear at the end of the breadcrumb
Submission(methods)
- Inconsistent because item changed in status
Actions
- Will be a mixture of structural breadcrumb and action history
- As actions lead to modifications the breadcrumb is rather a undo history (not possible!!)
Assumption[edit]
There is a certain functional area, where items do not change and where a breadcrumb could provide help (see Diagram). PubMan should provide a breadcrumb only for item lists, view item version, item details.
This additional navigation should not be called breadcrumb or be offered in a breadcrumb manner/stype in the interface because it is different.
Examples[edit]
Public Repository:
Click Level | Breadcrumb
1-2 | Searchresult (10)
3 | Searchresult (10) > View Item (escidoc:1707)
4 | Searchresult (10) > View Item (escidoc:1707) > Revisions > View Item (escidoc:1707:3)
Depositor Workspace:
Click Level | Breadcrumb
0 | Workspace (Pending, Page 4)
3 | Workspace (Pending, Page 4) > View Item (escidoc:1707)
4 | Workspace (Pending, Page 4) > View Item (escidoc:1707) > Item Log