Improve installer usability:
| Project: | Drupal |
| Version: | 8.x-dev |
| Component: | install system |
| Category: | task |
| Priority: | minor |
| Assigned: | Unassigned |
| Status: | active |
| Issue tags: | Usability |
I just installed the Drupal 7.x-dev tarball for the first time and I would like to share this experience in order to make the installation procedure as smooth as possible. After unpacking the tarball and navigating to my site I instantly got the installation screen. I like that. After I choose my profile I got a screen indicating some requirements problems. Now, I know how to fix these so that was not a problem, but then... If I want to see if my problems are fixed, should I refresh the screen or click "proceed with the installation"? I choose to refresh my screen but later I noticed that proceeding with the installation would do exactly the same thing. In my opinion (but I am not a native English speaker) the word "proceed" implies skipping these checks and I think the use of the word "retry" would clear things up. Besides that does "Check the error messages" mean that I have to check them or that Drupal is going to do that for me? I thought of the first option since this text was not part of the link.
In the next stage, when I mistype my database information, I get an error message. This message gives some double information (It refers to the Installation and upgrading handbook twice and suggests to contact my hosting provider twice.) Furthermore, the blue links on the orange background are unclear and the possible explanations may be itemized.
Another question I have: Can't removing the write permissions from the default folder and the settings.php file be done automatically? It can always give this notice when it doesn't succeed because of i.e. php safe mode or something.
Maybe I am nitpicking but these are just my 2cents.
| Attachment | Size | Status | Test result | Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| installation_unclear_link.png | 111.42 KB | Ignored | None | None |
#1
Seems one of my points was already addressed here:
#641008: Duplicated text in install error message
#2
#3
I found my question regarding the usage of chmod by PHP answered here #418302: Securely copy default.settings.php to settings.php during install. #90, so that only leaves the proceed vs. retry as an issue.
#4
use tag 'usability' to get ux team attention :) Thanks for this first-timer report, valuable insights. I agree the text you point out could be more specific. User interface texts are basically frozen now though :\, I think we even have an issue open somewhere about this that didn't get resolved.
#5
#484186: Improved error message for missing settings.php file
#6
Just a note that if there is evidence that these types of messages are causing significant confusion, I would classify that as a "bug". Though it'd be nice to get these kinds of things cleaned ASAP.
#7