I have used the new UNO web UI for a bit now and its pretty much good. Unfortunately I HAVE to go back to the old layout because of the font size in the library bar. I just can’t read the names of anything I have.
Please shrink this down and move the text closer. The Web UI cuts off more characters than the Roku does.
Otherwise I think its pretty good to go.
I have reverted as well. It’s just not as good of an admin experience for me.
I like it, but still needs improvements as already detailed in this thread, especially spacing and the removal of global library management commands from the main page (scan/empty trash/clean bundles).
I’ve reverted.
put all of these back on the main page
and fix the spacing, it should be worthwhile.
I don’t have other servers.
Should I get one just to fit full library name in the sidebar?
Common, Otto, there is no excuse for this new “feature”.
Sooo… are we just going to ignore this? I’d love to not have to go three menus deep to do what used to take 2 freaking clicks…
Three menus deep?!
Just click “More >” and click the ellipsis (three dots) next to the server name or a library name.
It’s one extra click. Hiding administrative functions behind a single “More >” menu option does not mean they are buried in a now-inconvenient location.
It will come to the main screen as a context menu.
Actually, it should already be there.
I’m not seeing anything any different on 3.102.0 ?
The library context menu has been updated / re-organized.
When you click ... next to the library name in the UNO navigation bar there’s the main actions (pin/unpin, reorder…). In addition the library administration actions have been grouped into a Manage Library menu (edit, refresh metadata, analyze, empty trash…)
yes but those appear to be the same library specific actions, not global server (all libraries on a server) actions.
scan libraries only acts on the selected library
refresh metadata should be library specific
empty trash I don’t know of any way to confirm if it is library or global action
analyze acts only on the selected library
delete I would hope and pray is library specific
the whole issue is that there are overlapping actions that can be either library specific or global. and it not made any clearer by the menu design
we have lost the global (server specific) actions from the main page.
maybe there should be a separate manage server submenu, with which the applicable server actions.
server actions was accomplished on the old UI by
old ui library actions
Old:
(dots) > (desired function)
New:
More > (library dots) > Manage Libary > (desired function)
Using the old method, I could perform both global and library specific functions in a single click menu. Using the new layout, it is indeed three clicks to get there, and there are no global functions.
I really do love what Uno has done for the player. I really don’t like it as an admin.
A case for separating the Player and Admin screens:
Admins and Users tend to spend a lot of time doing the task they came to Plex Web to do. If they want to play things, they’ll spend most of their time navigating and playing back material. If they came to perform Admin functions and work with libraries, they’ll spend most of their time doing that.
I don’t think a single click upon login to choose Admin/User interface will destroy the resulting experience. Yes… it will add one click, but how many of us bounce around between the two hats while we’re sitting in the seat, and if we do… I would assume it’s the Admin checking to see what the User experience will be. Overall, clicks will be saved because the things that matter to each type of user will be presented up front to them.
The Admin, only wants quick access to work with the libraries and servers they have power over. They’ll bounce over to the player to ensure things look and feel how they desired, and bounce back if they need to make edits.
The User, using Plex Web primarily for playback won’t be bouncing between two interfaces. They’ll want and enjoy the Uno interface.
Edit: If a User doesn’t have Admin access to a server, take them directly to the playback experience. Less clicks for a larger audience and a better overall experience? Maybe remember the last interfaced used? Dropdown to quickly switch between the two?
The Admin experience was pretty good pre-Uno. The Uno experience is great for playback. Why are we trying to force the two together?
great post, however you completely overlook that player and admin are already separated.
there is the (legacy) ui for viewing/playing/managing your server libraries and content.
then there is a whole settings section.
non admins do not get the server settings (they do get some client/web settings).
ok, so well settiings are not exactly the same thing as ‘admining’
admining requires doing actions on many different levels-
each of those different levels of admin are exposed while utilizing the same ui as for playback.
there is zero point in creating a separate ‘admin’ ui for the server/library/content, but there is a point to keeping admin actions consistent with the different levels and keeping them easy and direct to access for the admin.
again, non-admins do not get admin actions, I cannot go to a shared server that is not mine and admin anything.
it is simply that the (different) actions have (different) context, and that they should be kept as simple and direct as the legacy UI
I guess my primary issue, is that it seems anything that is added trying to enhance the playback experience (unified servers, grouping, etc…) removes from the Admin. So, I guess what I’m asking for is… keep the current UI screens as they are, because they’re pretty good for what they do… and add a layer in addition, strictly for the playback experience with unified grouped libraries, bells and whistles and whatnot.
The global functions are under the three dots next to the SERVER, rather than a Library.
It’s one extra click. And having to move your mouse one context menu further is not that big a deal.
2 extra seconds between a mouseover and a click does not make it unintuitive. That’s the key. Is it intuitive or not? It shouldn’t matter that “it always used to take one click fewer”.
The problem with the content-centric UI Plex prevously was pushing, was that it isn’t intuitive, not merely because it was different or took more clicks.
They want to hide the admin options a little better. It’s not that hard to get to them and there are in fact global ones.
rando not sure I understand, the admin actions are simply a context menu with applicable actions.
that has ZERO affect on any playback experience?!
adding clicks is not fun for anything.
how about instead we make it 10 clicks just to play anything?
there is no reason to hide admin actions they are already hidden from non-admins, and they are not even in the way of an admin who isn’t doing any admin actions?!!?
I guess I’m not explaining myself well…
To look at this another way… PMP has two views. One is essentially Plex Web, and the other is pretty much the Uno experience out of the box. It’s actually fairly ideal for both an Admin, and someone who strictly wants to use it as a Player, because both interfaces feel well designed for those functions.
Yes, you can currently use Plex Web as a Player… but if it were perfect in that regard, why Uno-fy it?
If I’m being honest with myself, you’re probably right. It’s the whole left-hand navigation that I’m not adjusting well to… which brings me back to all of my pre-Uno pain points. I don’t want my server mixed with others. Uno was merely an acceptable fix for me, not ideal. I do want admin functions right there on the bar.
When I’m working on my stuff, I have no desire to work around any other libraries beyond those I own.
I stand corrected.
And I guess this is another pain point for me, as Admin functions are the only reason I use Plex Web. I understand that this is not the case for every User, but it is the case for every Admin… If you’re doing Admin tasks, you’re using Plex Web.
I suspect most admins are using plex web only (or primarily) for admin functions.
I expect that most admins have recognized that a native plex app is the best experience for playback and use that whenever possible.
exceptions being for computers/locations where installing a full client are not available (ie work), or whatever personal reasons.
That actually describes me pretty well, both from an Admin perspective, and from a guy at work who can’t install things.
Honestly, the changes they’re making are pretty good, if you’re using Plex Web strictly as a player. It makes a lot of sense if I’m wearing that hat.
