TheStable: Updated Genetics Page - Any Changes Needed? (Version 3 is here!)

[Ravvana]

I finally got around to updating the genetics guide on TheStable's website. Now with handy thumbnail images of all the coats!

http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics.html

Do you see anything that needs to be changed or clarified? I'm trying to make it genetics-for-dummies, so I want it to be very clear.

Thanks!

EDIT: Okay, updates have been made. Can I please get some feedback on V3, too?
http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics-v3.html

[springacres]

You might want to add some examples of flaxen roans, duns, etc.  to the flaxen section.  Other than that, it looks good!

[red_uni387]

wow! it looks so much better!! <3

[Keilin Alyr]

I'll admit, I preferred the old layout, but I know some people were finding it confusing. Hopefully this should ease some of that confusion, particularly with the agouti/extension and cream tables. It still looks good though!

The only change I'd personally request would be to perhaps arrange the examples based on their location on the genetic string. I'll admit, it took me a bit to figure out where all the traits were hiding. =)

Personally, I wouldn't clutter up the flaxen (or any section really) with more examples than the relevant base coats and the trait being displayed. As lovely as it would be to see all the potential combinations, we could end up losing some of the gene newbies in all of the examples.

Speaking of flaxen, I hope it's understood that carrying the flaxen gene will not spontaneously turn an otherwise bay or brown horse black. Non-chestnuts look as they normally would. Just realized someone could wonder about that. XD

[toffeeca]

I agree with Keilin, I much preferred the old layout. I find this one more cluttered and not as easy to use. I do think the pictures will help some for new people, so I will probably just make up a version of the old layout for my own reference. I would like to echo keilin's suggestion of having the same order as the last genetics page, I think it would help for new people to have the same order as the most established genetic people.

[Ravvana]

Keilin and toff: What about the old layout did you prefer? It was mainly the scroll-over images that were driving me crazy, prompting the change. But as I said, I'm happy to change this one around, so I could try to do a blend of the two if you give me specific things to change.

Speaking of flaxen, I hope it's understood that carrying the flaxen gene will not spontaneously turn an otherwise bay or brown horse black. Non-chestnuts look as they normally would. Just realized someone could wonder about that. XD

I can see how that would be confusing, with the flaxen table as well as the grey/white tables...

For the flaxen, at least, would it help to change "black mane/tail" to "original mane/tail"? And/or add a bay horse and brown horse in the same square as the black?

[Ravvana]

I had the foresight to save the old version, so here it is for comparison:

http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics-old.html

[Keilin Alyr]

I preferred the streamlined nature of the first set of tables, as I could just find what I needed at a glance. As gorgeous as the example images are (and being able to compare the subtleties of the double-creams is especially nice), I think on a subconscious level they're throwing me, especially the "non-carrier" examples.

It's comparable to seeing a complex math equation on a whiteboard: the veteran students will be fine just seeing the answer, they know how it's derived. The newer students will need to see the work shown, which might make said veterans a little impatient. It's the dual-edged sword of having many people with multiple levels of knowledge in one system.

All in all though, I think the new set of tables does the job for helping out the newer crowd, and it does so wonderfully. I do have a spreadsheet I jotted up for quick reference (yes... I'm a loser XD) for when I want a quick glance, and this is actually nice for reminders once in a while. =)

EDIT: Hooray, old tables! *bookmarks* Someday, those will be nostalgic. XD

[YourLoveOnly]

Will you keep the old one? Then I can just bookmark that link XD I preffered the scroll-over images actually, I find all the images distracting from the actual table and it makes it harder to see in my opinion. However, I do very much approve of the new way you listed Appaloosa, Overo, Grey etcetera. The table-like appearance is much neater and should help clear up some confusion. I know a lot of people had trouble understanding the N and L of appaloosa, this makes it easier I think =) I would honestly prefer to keep the scroll-over images like the old one, but with everything in tables.

[Winged]

In some ways i like the new one better, in some ways i like the old one better... I like being able to compare the differences, especially for the double creams. I also like the way you've listed then appaloosa, overo and and grey better now than before.
However, the layout i think is quite confusing, so re-ordering them to the same order as the genetic strings definstely sounds good.
I agree with your idea of adding the bay and brown image to the square for the black in the grey/ flaxen/ect tables.

[Ryuukokoro]

It's comparable to seeing a complex math equation on a whiteboard: the veteran students will be fine just seeing the answer, they know how it's derived. The newer students will need to see the work shown, which might make said veterans a little impatient. It's the dual-edged sword of having many people with multiple levels of knowledge in one system.

I think this is it exactly. XD;; I much prefer the new version! I like all the clear examples, and the tables help me with their new set up. But I have only a little bit of grasp on the gene thingy, so that might be why.

[Ravvana]

Okay, I took your suggestions into consideration, and I made a third version:
http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics-v3.html

I found a way to do rollovers using Javascript, which makes the rollover images much less finicky I'm hoping this version appeals to both gene newcomers (who can easily roll over text for thumbnail example images) and gene nerds (who can just scan the tables without images).

This should also clear up Keilin's concern about newcomers thinking FF turned all non-chestnuts black XD For tobiano, overo, appaloosa, grey, white, and flaxen, I didn't include a rollover image for the NON-displayers. Does that help?

I also reordered the genes according to the genetic string (although fleabitten still lives with grey).

[Ryuukokoro]

Aww, now I miss the little images.... oh well.


The only concern i have is that now you went back to the old confusing way of doing the tables. For example, the roan. Inside the table you have examples for all the RR, and examples for all the rr. But the Rr is just blank boxes. For me personally I know roan is dominant, so Rr would still show visible roan. But for someone who doesn't know that, the blank boxes are very confusing. Took me a long time to figure out what that meant with the version 1 page, way back when.

[Winged]

Yeah, i prefered the little images too... Would it be complicated to have two identical pages, but with one having images instead of rollover?
The only thing that i liked about the rollover was the the images were full sized so easily seen. Now they're small anyway. If possible, small images with rollower to larger images would be best in my opinion.
I agree with Ryuu, the blank boxes confused me too.

[Keilin Alyr]

Heh... I personally like the new layout. No images to distract from the main data, clean rollovers for quick reference, and the style is still reminiscent of the original set of tables.

As a compromise, maybe you could include both genetic tables? The step-by-step tables with images for the newcomers and those wanting the extra assistance, and the cleaner tables for people who just want to get a glance at the genetic information we might need?

[zarzamora]

I love version 3!

[Ravvana]

Annnd let's try this compromise.

Here is the "official" gene page, with rollover images for quick reference (fixed the blank boxes per Ryuu's request -- better or too crowded?):
http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics.html

And here is the alternate gene page, with images included in the table:
http://stable.lasolistia.com/genetics-images.html

Notice the link on the top of the "official" page that leads to the alternate page.

[Ryuukokoro]

Yay! Love it! *bookmarks page with images*