search box ?

hi,
wonder if its possible to show a search box in header instead of the icon only …

just like

I think that this would be a great feature to add as an option for the desktop/landscape iPad versions of the site, then go back down to the button for smaller versions of the site.
If we have room in the menu bar, it makes more sense from a usability standpoint to just be able to type in a search box that’s already there rather than clicking a button to open it.

I understand. It would be nice to have the option for desktop though for usability. If we get enough requests on this thread maybe you guys will consider it? 🙂

I am running All-in-one Events Calendar on a site I’m building. When the plugin is turned on, the search function no longer works. A simple search box would be preferable.

I think for most of the usability (UX) design elements happening right now, this theme is properly designed. “on site” search is used only a tiny fraction for most folks who surf in from social media or other link. Visitors to home page would explore on page elements before search. In our case we happen to prefer the search only be visible when tapped as this has become very much the norm (e.g., YouTube, Google, et al), as it puts a box where no box is needed unless asked for. And, a LOT of people forget if they are desperate to have a big visible search box, simply put it in the sidebar using the built-in wordpress widget. For the navbar, I prefer how it’s done now, as “search” isn’t technically part of “navigation” but a separate function, so from a UX standpoint, Radu got it right the first time.

That takes nothing away from those who need it, however, I — and many others here — would prefer the CORE features get updated and solified further before additional “alt” functions are added, as this takes time away from the evolution of the product as originally created — meaning, the demo shows how search works, so asking to change it now isn’t necessarily a bad thing for your purposes, but not how the theme was developed based around “current think” on UX dev.

Just my four cents. 🙂

Thanks for your thoughts, Christopher. I think I don’t understand you correctly when you say:

we happen to prefer the search only be visible when tapped as this has become very much the norm (e.g., YouTube, Google, et al), as it puts a box where no box is needed unless asked for.

Could you please explain what you were trying to say with this? If you go to google.com and youtube.com, they both have visible search boxes… In fact, I’d really appreciate it if you could point me to a major site that has implemented search in this “two step” fashion. Major outlets such as CNN, HuffPost, and FoxNews all have search boxes located in their headers.

I feel like this feature would help Tagdiv sell more themes, as it seems pretty basic. I’ll still use the theme, but I’m sure you’d agree that it seems silly to force the user to click their mouse on an icon to show a search box if there’s already room to display the search box initially.

Using the built-in search function would take away the AJAX functionality that I love so much from TagDiv, so I will continue to use their implementation of search, but I was just adding in my two cents, which may be paltry when compared to your four cents 🙂

It’s becoming a common user interface element to have a “tap to search” function, where when the magnifier icon (aka “search” icon) is tapped, a viewport specific box will appear either in place with wide screen, or as a modal type element for ease of use on mobile.

Many examples online, but for example you could see this with Google’s YouTube site when on, say, an iPad in portrait mode. The icon is there, box is not. Click icon, new box appears larger and to fit viewport/device for ease of use.

Similarly, a bold new site design by NBC News, http://www.nbcnews.com/
also uses this same approach.

“most” people don’t go to a news portal and “search” for content unless they’re doing a particular research task.

So, “new think” — more “above the fold” space for people “browsing” content or who have clicked in from external link (email, social, etc.) to read specific item. Then, for researchers, tap/click to search with either in place or modal type search box.

For those in the web design field by profession, you can also see this on UX/design sites like “.net magazine” http://www.creativebloq.com/net-magazine

Hundreds of other examples, but just examples.

Radu and co. have followed this concept for the Newspaper theme, where more horizontal space is given for the actual navigation topics and drop downs, with search a tap to click which doesn’t interfere with the main nav element (in theory).

Your needs may vary, but this is why/how Radu and co did it the way it’s now done. It’s not an isolated idea, but a trend which is proven useful for solving above the fold visibility issues on varied mobile devices for content and main navigation over an “always on” search box.

And, again, for those who need an “always on” high visibility search box, you can add the built-in search from WP to any widget area, unless I’m mistaken.

WP admin > appearance > widgets > search

Hope that made sense. 🙂

Just my thoughts on this topic, and it’s not intended to invalidate or argue against your particular needs. Just a comment as to my preference for having Radu work on the fixes to the core elements post migration to v3 framework, versus “changing” too many of the established design elements which are clearly shown in the demo.

• This reply was modified 12 years by simchris.

Thanks, Christopher. I hadn’t realized that more websites are moving towards this trend.

You’re very thorough! Thanks again for taking the time to write all of that – I learned a lot.