Problem/Motivation

There are too many items on the Structure page (/admin/structure) for a flat list. It is hard to find a particular link.

Steps to reproduce

Proposed resolution

Group together all the items for configuring entity types (block types, content types, media types, taxonomy, etc.).

Remaining tasks

User interface changes

Change the page at /admin/structure.

Before

Here is the current page, using the Umami demo profile:

Structure page using the Umami profile

API changes

None

Data model changes

None

Release notes snippet

TBD

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#2 structure-page-mockup.png85.71 KBbenjifisher
structure-page-umami.png94.21 KBbenjifisher

Comments

benjifisher created an issue. See original summary.

benjifisher’s picture

benjifisher
he/him or they/them
Primary language English
Location Boston area
commented
StatusFileSize
new structure-page-mockup.png85.71 KB

We reviewed #2985887: Make core's structure descriptions more consistent at #3355631: Drupal Usability Meeting 2023-04-28, and decided that a better solution to the problem of inconsistent descriptions is to group together the links for configuring (fieldable) entity types. Referring to the screenshot (Umami) in the issue description, more than half the links belong in this group:

  • Block types
  • Contact forms
  • Content types
  • Media types
  • Taxonomy

If we create that group and add some static text for the group, then we will not need descriptions for the links in that group.

One possibility for the group label is "Content structure".

Here is a mockup of the page after adding the new group:

Mockup of Structure page with entity types grouped together

Any link that does not belong in this group will be displayed in a separate list. TBD:

  1. Leave the remaining links ungrouped or create an "Other" group?
  2. Show the "Content structure" group first or last?

At first, all links on this page from non-core modules will go in the "other" group. Once this feature is implemented, other modules that create entity types should be able to update their links so that their links go in the appropriate group.

Once we finish this issue, we can consider adding additional groups.

Before adding this issue, I found #2518960: Emphasize the most important items on the 'structure' page. It looks to me as though no one reached consensus on that issue. At least one comment there points out that "important" vs. "unimportant" is not a viable distinction, and I agree with that. I think the proposal in this issue is more incremental and easier to implement than the ideas discussed there.

aaronmchale’s picture

aaronmchale
Primary language English
Location Edinburgh, Scotland
commented

I would recommend "Structured content" rather than "Content structure", as that's more of a generally used term (at least it is 1among people who work in content design type roles).

Version: 10.1.x-dev » 11.x-dev

Drupal core is moving towards using a “main” branch. As an interim step, a new 11.x branch has been opened, as Drupal.org infrastructure cannot currently fully support a branch named main. New developments and disruptive changes should now be targeted for the 11.x branch, which currently accepts only minor-version allowed changes. For more information, see the Drupal core minor version schedule and the Allowed changes during the Drupal core release cycle.

mstrelan’s picture

mstrelan commented

-1 from me. Not sure when 9 items became too many. Having to figure out which group an item is in would be more cognitive load than scanning the 9 items listed alphabetically.

Version: 11.x-dev » main

Drupal core is now using the main branch as the primary development branch. New developments and disruptive changes should now be targeted to the main branch.

Read more in the announcement.