Layout. Let's talk

[hlapin]

Here are some preliminary thoughts from an email exchange with Daniel

Given this URL as a typical output, can you give feedback with design elements?
http://mishnah.mith.us/exist/apps/digitalmishnah/compare/4.1.2.1/S00483,S07326/align

For instance, I would like

• back to browse, back to home buttons/links
• Perhaps a hidable controls panel at the top and data below?
• both left contents menus take up way too much space; too much padding to begin with, and each ref is at least two lines
• In addition/over the select passages menu, perhaps a text-based filter?
• Select and order witnesses also take up too much space. Could also be stashed when not used (or appear as a modal box?)
• When constructing right menu, perhaps pull title from index that can be used as tool tip?
• [Not a design issue per se but] rather than variant/invariant group on surface (same analysis as for apparatus view, which also needs some work)
• Synoptic view (eventually dynamic ...?): Fixed width columns, that do not shrink to the width of the heading when many columns selected. (right and left menus constrain space.

http://mishnah.mith.us/exist/apps/digitalmishnah/browse

• text display css needs work.

http://mishnah.mith.us/exist/apps/digitalmishnah/compare/4.1.2.1/S00483,S07326/apparatus:

• Daniel comments that spacing is off