Add more info to 404 Page

[DJPaul]

The 404 Page only has Page Not Found:

Review feedback:

Per Theme Unit Test Guidelines for 404 Pages: "Some content is displayed, more than merely the basic "Error 404 - Page Not Found" message - such as some helpful text, a search form, a list of Post or Pages, etc."

I think a search form is the minimum we need to add, but it would be nice to make it a genuinely useful page for people who run into it. For example, things like recent posts or perhaps recent activity stream entries etc.

[modemlooper]

I'll take this ticket. :)

But I want to add that the search in BuddyPress is off. The header search form only searches members groups and forums. Shouldn't the search include blog posts? I know 404 is for broken links, should the 404 page include members groups and forums with a recent posts list?

[hnla]

I was having a play with this but will step aside.

The search is an issue, I dragged in the standard searchform but it doesn't really suit.

I was also thinking along the line of displaying a modified and greatly simplified activity loop showing last ~10 entries with links.

[modemlooper]

I think the header search should include ?s= so you can search blog post from it. Something more than you failed is needed for sure. last 10 posts is good but since you land on a 404 because the link is broken we might want to give user option to search right on page to try and find the post.

[DJPaul]

@modemlooper, 'Posts' has been added to the select box in the header search (check out testbp.org). Or am I misunderstanding?

For the 404 page, search form would be a good addition. Think about what type of URL people might visit that doesn't exist; perhaps a group or user page mis-spelling. I think a recent activity list would work in this context. UI mockups may be useful.

[modemlooper]

testbp search was exactly what I was thinking. I think just adding text alerting user of error and then use same header search box in page and then list last 10 posts would be sufficient. What ya think? BuddyPress search isn't that good so putting it front and center may cause anger in users.

[DJPaul]

Sounds like the right idea; again, it would be worthwhile for you or someone to create a UI design mockup of this page as it'd probably be quicker than writing the patch, then everyone can give feedback

[hnla]

This is a tricky one. Been playing around as this page is an issue in any theme/design

A quick working example I've run up is along the lines shown in the jpg attached, however it doesn't feel right (ignoring layout styling ) not sure what to about search other than what I have done simply adding in searchform.php the activity loops are a test and not sure if I like the idea, I would prefer one line links such as the recent main site posts list or something close.

[hnla]

A very rough working example I tried earlier

[DJPaul]

The 404 page should try to find what the user was looking for. We can do a search on whatever string is in the URL that doesn't match a page.

Regarding the general layout, what about a 2x2 or a 4x4 blocks? i.e. 404-mockup-paul.jpg
Seems to me like this ticket and #3240 are becoming increasingly similar, and the same layout could work for both.

[hnla]

I'd be happy with that 2x2 block layout, the overall nature on the search is one I'm not sure about, at worst I'm happy to at least do what I showed so the page isn't so perfunctory :)

Agreed this is tending to sound like it ought to be merged with #3240 also I think that the unified search is the closest thing to working search and perhaps would be best employed to help this page out.

[modemlooper]

Additions to Paul's mockup

[modemlooper]

Style blocks using widget classes so it will be easier for themes to customize the look.

[hnla]

Mockups will now only take you so far and as such these are theme specific - Modemloopers extension of Paul's mockup looks fine, question is how does the functionality work which remains the pressing issue to fulfill the WP test criteria or fulfill it but also improve on it.

[Dennissmolek]

I think searching the content is interesting but For 1.3 I think the page should just know what you were looking for, IE: Group Not Found/ Member not found/ ETC.

Generally, a 404 is from a bad URL or a mistype. so unless we incorporate a spell correct it will be difficult for the 404 to show groups/somegrop as groups/somegroup.

if the url is a pretty permalink you could strip the dashes and form a search string from that I guess.

I think for the time being we should leave the search field out until #3240 gets resolved, and the recent listings as shown in the mockups would be fine.

[DJPaul]

Sure, that's what I was thinking. Something like http://buddypress.org/search/?f=djpaul what do people think?

[DJPaul]

or is that more suited for #3240?

[hnla]

Could do with seeing what may develop on #3240, but I would settle for the listings and a bit of expanded blurb as making a more worthwhile page even if it's pro tem.

[djpaul]

(In [4534]) Add search box to 404 template, tweak text, and remove sidebar. Fixes #3236, props bowromir for initial patch

[hnla]

What patch? where?