Template talk:University of Pittsburgh

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The Pitt Band isn't really Athletic. Perhaps we should rename Athletics to Activities or just make a new Category called Activities. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 130.49.4.80 (talk) 16:48, August 22, 2007 (UTC)

Actually, the Pitt Band is part of the Athletic Department.cp101p 00:31, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Template design

I don't think Cal's template is better than older Pitt one. In fact, I think it is a step back. The direct link to the topics was deleted Athletics. The categories aren't separated well, and seems uncentered with to the category labels, especially since Pitt has thicker lists of links. The picture is scaled poorly. The Cal template doesn't save any space over the previous version nor is it easier to read. Also, we are not "The" University of Pittsburgh. Although it may just be stylistic preference, I'm reverting it back to the previous template and re-adding the changes that came after from Synthestic. I think maybe we can decrease the font on the links, or space out the categories better, but I prefer the previous template by a large margin. If you disagree, please let me know, but I certainly don't think Cal's template is the end all of templates.cp101p 01:06, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

Hi. I'm the one who changed the template. I designed that template configuration to take up the least possible amount of vertical space on the page for users with both widescreen and "squarer" monitors, while still having a width of 90% or so; getting rid of rule-lines and the appearance of separate cells altogether, while still retaining a conspicuous "grouping" function for the links; and using color to move the almost superfluous -- but still necessary -- category titles into the background. I also resized the photo so that it would not blow out the last cell for readers using the increasingly-common, non-square monitors (My kingdom for an in-template image auto-resizing function!). From your comment that the two templates take up the same amount of vertical space, I'm guessing you designed this on a 4:3 aspect ratio monitor. Take a look at it maximized on a 16:10 aspect ratio monitor, and you'll see the problem with the image size and the rule lines (see screenshots below). I found the newer version easier to use for navigation, and I've gotten mostly enthusiastic responses to it elsewhere, but I guess I'll put the matter to the floor for consideration. --Dynaflow babble 05:47, 31 October 2007 (UTC)
In widescreen
Hi Dynaflow, I'm the one who reverted your template. I hope you don't take my preference personally. Yes, I was using a 4:3 (I can't take credit for designing it because I copied another university's one). However, I did check your template out on a couple widescreens and you are right, at 1440X900 your template is advantageous, especially the wider you make your browser window. It suffers though when you pull it back to 4:3 because of, as you mentioned, the lack of an in-template resizing function. I think this is different than how your template works for other universities because they do not have nearly as many links. Pitt's Buildings section has grown into 4 lines of links and that really screws up the 4:3 look of your template for Pitt. However, 4:3 monitors still dominate the market...and especially the installed PC user base, and your template assumes that all widescreen users are running at maximum resolution and have their browser window set at full screen length. I certainly think in the future your template will be the better choice, but for now I still believe the previous one is more compatible with the existing range of installed monitors, or in other words, the advantage to widescreen users is outweighed by the disadvantage to 4:3 users. I am certainly would like to hear other's opinions on this, and would not oppose a revert to your template if others disagreed with me.
As far as the categories, for the Pitt template they will eventually serve as links. For instance, now Athletics serves as a hierarchal top page category in the sports listing. I think the Buildings category may soon as well and I can see us adding another category somewhere down the line. I'm guessing that's easily changeable on your template, but is one reason I'm not concerned with deemphasizing the category labels.
Anyway, just so there is no misunderstanding, I want you to know I completely appreciate your interest in Pitt's template and your help...because no matter what, it will end up being improved due to your help.cp101p 22:26, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] New Categories

Hi everyone, I added new categories, because as the number of Pitt pages has been exploding, its becoming more difficult to place them in the categories as neatly as before. I also added an "Around Campus" category. Since Pitt is unique in its urban setting sandwiched in Oakland among so many other important non-university resources and institutions, I thought it would be appropriate to add a category that represents things in and around campus that are heavily used by students. I did not include neighboring universities (e.g. Carlow and CMU) as they are not really places used by Pitt students...and people can navigate to those educational institutions through the Oakland (Pittsburgh) page. Rather I focused on institutions that are key parts of "Pitt Life" despite not being official or exclusively "Pitt". I hope the definition makes sense. cp101p (talk) 04:34, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Used this as a basis...

Hey, I just wanted to say to all of you who put this together, thanks. I turned it into a decent template for University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Excellent work, thanks a ton for making it easy on me! Pete4999 (talk) 22:43, 14 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] new template

Hope you like the new template design. It's based on Georgetown's. I think it saves some space, but we can certainly revert to the old one if people don't like it.cp101p (talk) 17:22, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] buisness school≠ the graduate business school

I am editing it some, and a new article needs to be added Superbowlbound (talk) 05:40, 14 April 2008 (UTC)