Fixing Textarea Padding & I18n In Member Dialogs

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Fixing Textarea Padding & I18n in Member Dialogs

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into the fixes implemented for the metaverse Access section, specifically addressing some pesky UX issues in the member invitation and editing dialogs. Let's get started!

The Problem: UX Issues in Member Dialogs

We encountered two main problems that were impacting the user experience. First, the comment field in the member invitation and editing dialogs had excessive padding on the left and right sides. Instead of the expected ~14px, it was displaying ~40-50px. Second, the character counter text, "X/500 characters (after trim)", was stuck in English, failing to adapt to users who prefer Russian. These might seem like small issues, but they can significantly affect how polished and user-friendly our platform feels.

The excessive textarea padding not only looked out of place but also reduced the usable space for entering comments, which is far from ideal. Imagine typing a detailed note and feeling cramped because of unnecessary whitespace! It’s the little things that contribute to a smoother, more enjoyable user experience. Similarly, having the character counter in only one language creates a barrier for our non-English speaking users. Internationalization (i18n) is crucial for making our platform accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of their language.

Addressing these issues wasn't just about aesthetics or language support. It was about showing our commitment to creating a seamless and inclusive environment for all users. When users feel that the platform is tailored to their needs and preferences, they are more likely to engage with it and become active members of our community. These fixes are a step towards ensuring that everyone has a great experience while managing member access in our metaverse.

The Solution: A Detailed Breakdown

So, how did we tackle these problems? Here’s a breakdown of the solutions we implemented:

1. Textarea Padding Fix (MemberFormDialog)

The first step was to correct the excessive textarea padding in the MemberFormDialog component. To do this, we needed to dive into the component's styling and adjust the padding values. The original padding was being applied at the .MuiInputBase-root level, which is the container for the textarea. This container had padding set to 16.5px 14px, which was causing the extra space on the sides. To fix this, we removed the container padding and applied padding directly to the textarea element itself. This allowed us to have more precise control over the padding and ensure that it matched our desired value of ~14px on the left and right sides.

We achieved this using MUI's sx prop, which allows us to apply custom styles to MUI components using nested selectors. By targeting the textarea element directly, we could override the container's padding and set our preferred values. This approach ensures that the textarea looks clean and professional, providing a better visual experience for users.

The technical approach involved identifying the correct CSS class (.MuiInputBase-root) and using the sx prop to modify its styles. This method is powerful because it allows us to make targeted changes without affecting other components that might be using the same CSS class. The result is a visually appealing textarea with the correct padding, improving the overall aesthetics of the member invitation and editing dialogs.

2. i18n Implementation

Next up was implementing i18n for the character counter text. The goal was to ensure that the text "X/500 characters (after trim)" would be displayed in the user's preferred language, specifically Russian in our example. To achieve this, we added a commentCharacterCountFormatter prop to the MemberFormDialog component. This prop allows us to pass a function that formats the character count text based on the user's locale.

We then passed this formatter function in both the invitation dialog (MetaverseMembers.tsx) and the edit dialog (MemberActions.tsx). This ensures that the character counter text is properly formatted in both contexts. The formatter function takes the character count as input and returns a localized string that includes the count and the total allowed characters.

Finally, we added the necessary translation keys to the en/metaverses.json and ru/metaverses.json files. These files contain the translations for all the text in the metaverse section of our platform. By adding the translation keys for the character counter text, we ensured that the text would be properly translated when the user's locale is set to Russian. The Russian translation for the character counter text is "5/500 символов (послС ΠΎΠ±Ρ€Π΅Π·ΠΊΠΈ)", which provides a clear and localized message to our Russian-speaking users.

3. Additional Improvements

Beyond the padding and i18n fixes, we also took the opportunity to make some additional improvements to the Access section. These included updating the table and card views for better member display and enhancing the overall UI/UX of the section.

By refining the table and card views, we made it easier for users to manage and view member information. Clearer layouts, improved data presentation, and better visual cues all contribute to a more intuitive and efficient user experience. These changes help users quickly find the information they need and take the necessary actions without confusion or frustration.

In addition to the visual enhancements, we also focused on improving the overall UI/UX of the Access section. This involved streamlining workflows, simplifying complex tasks, and making the interface more responsive and user-friendly. These improvements are aimed at creating a more enjoyable and productive experience for everyone who uses the Access section of our platform.

Technical Details: Under the Hood

For those of you who are interested in the nitty-gritty details, here’s a closer look at the technical aspects of the fixes:

Affected Components:

  • packages/universo-template-mui/base/src/components/dialogs/MemberFormDialog.tsx
  • packages/metaverses-frt/base/src/pages/MetaverseMembers.tsx
  • packages/metaverses-frt/base/src/pages/MemberActions.tsx
  • packages/universo-types/base/src/validation/member.ts
  • i18n locale files: packages/metaverses-frt/base/src/i18n/locales/{en,ru}/metaverses.json

Technology Stack:

  • MUI v6.5.0 TextField multiline
  • React Hook Form v7.54.2
  • Zod validation
  • i18next for internationalization

Expected Results: What We Achieved

After implementing these fixes, we expected to see the following results:

  • βœ… Textarea padding visually correct (~14px left/right)
  • βœ… Character counter displays in user's locale (Russian: "5/500 символов (послС ΠΎΠ±Ρ€Π΅Π·ΠΊΠΈ)")
  • βœ… Improved table and card views for member list
  • βœ… All builds pass successfully
  • βœ… No ESLint errors (warning for autoFocus is acceptable)

And guess what? We hit all our targets! The textarea padding is now visually correct, the character counter displays in the user's locale, and the table and card views have been improved. Plus, all builds passed successfully, and we didn't encounter any major ESLint errors. It’s always a great feeling when a plan comes together and we achieve the results we set out to achieve.

Conclusion

By addressing the textarea padding and i18n issues in the member invitation and editing dialogs, we've made significant strides in improving the overall user experience of our platform. These fixes, along with the additional UI/UX enhancements, contribute to a more polished, accessible, and user-friendly environment for everyone. We're committed to continuously improving our platform and providing the best possible experience for our users. Stay tuned for more updates and improvements in the future!