Naming your Guide
To rename your guide, you can click on the name at the top of the page in edit mode and enter what you would like the title of the guide to be. You can change this at any time.
Once you are done, click the blue check.
You can also add a description to the guide in the same way to briefly introduce users to what the guide will be about. When made public, the description will appear directly under the title.
Choosing your Navigation Style
Types
There are two navigation options in LibGuides:
- Top Navigation, where the pages are set up like file folders at the top similar to tabs in an internet browser
- Side Navigation, which is how this guide is set up
There are pros and cons to each, but overall, it is a personal preference as to how you want your guide to be organized. You can change your navigation style at any time; however, the more content that is in your guide at the time you switch styles, the more likely it will have to be edited to fit the new style and sizing of the different navigation.
Top Navigation
With Top Navigation, each page is organized at the top of the screen like tabs.
In this example, you can see the tabs that line the top of the page under the title of the guide. To navigate to a different page of the guide, you would click on the tab you are interested in.
With Top Navigation, you can customize how many columns are on each page and their individual size.
Side Navigation
Side navigation is set up where each page is listed on the left of the screen.
In this example, you can see the different pages on the left of the information. You navigate to each page by clicking on the corresponding title.
In side navigation, you do not have the option to customize columns or column sizes. All Side Navigation layouts are set to two columns. The first column on the left contains the navigation menu as well as any additional information that you would like to add, while the main column on the right contains the main information of the guide.
Top Navigation
While this navigation style offers the most in terms of customization, it can be tricky finding the right balance of information and design.
Pros?
- In this navigation type, you can choose to include up to four columns and you have complete control over the size of each. Each page can be completely customized to match the content you are wanting to display.
Cons?
- Too many columns can begin to look like clutter and lead to information overload (when there is too much information on a page so viewers no longer pay attention).
- When using tablets or mobile devices, information in the first column will appear first, followed by the second, and so on unless using the 2-column 50 / 50 option. If you are using columns to achieve a specific layout to organize materials, it will only be achieved on desktops. Mobile devices will show information as follows: Navigation tabs, Top Box, First column, Second column.... Bottom Box.
Enable this Navigation Type
1. While logged in and in your guide, select the picture frame icon at the top right. Select "Guide Navigation Layout" from the dropdown menu.
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2. In the pop-up window, select "System Default-Tab Layout" from the drop-down "Tab Layout" menu and select "Save"
Columns
1. Select the Layout Dropdown option under the tabs. Then select the number of columns you would like as well as the size of each column.
- The numbers represent the percentage of the screen that each column will take up.
- Each column setting will include a Top box and a Bottom box that will extend across the full width of the page area. If you do not want either of these on your guide, do not add any boxes to these and they will not appear on the live guide.
2. To change your columns to a desired width, choose "Custom Column Widths" from the drop-down menu. Select the number of columns you want, and then use the slider to adjust the width of each column. Click save.
- You can adjust the amount and the width of the columns on each page without affecting any of the other pages of your guide.
- You can adjust these aspects at any time during the creation of your guide - but keep in mind, this may rearrange content or resize images in order to fit in the new layout.
Side Navigation
This layout provides a more uniform look but allows for less customization when creating the guide.
Pros?
- The viewer is less likely to get information overload.
- There is a uniform look throughout the guide.
Cons?
- You are unable to customize the number of columns or the width.
- When using tablets or mobile devices, information in the first column will appear first, and then the second column will appear after. To keep the mobile view tidy and ensure that important information is at the top, you will need to limit what is in the left column.
Enable this Navigation Type
1. While logged in and in your guide, select the picture frame icon at the top right. Select "Guide Navigation Layout" from the dropdown menu.
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2. In the pop-up window, select "System Default-Side-Nav Layout" from the drop-down "Tab Layout" menu.
3. If you would like to select other navigation options, you may do so here. After you have made your choices, you can click "save".
If you are planning to have subpages, I recommend turning on the "Show all subpages in side navigation" setting. This allows for easier navigation for the user. When turned off, the page will appear as a drop-down menu which often gets overlooked.
Box-level navigation will list each box title under the page that is selected on the left in the navigation menu. When there are multiple boxes on one page, this can get to be a long list. I would recommend keeping it turned off.
