Decision: Wayfinding while reading content

[DRAFT]

Thing	Info
Relevant features	Content view
Date started	2021-09-22
Date finished
Decision status
Summary of outcome

Background/context

When a regulation reader clicks on a reg section from the search results or uses the "jump to" for a specific reg section (or any other specific link, like clicking a reg part ToC link), it can be hard to tell which subpart you are in without scrolling a lot (either up to top in the middle or down in the left sidebar).

When a regulation reader is reading through reg content, it can be easy to lose track of what subpart you are in.

Core questions

What would be the best ways to help a reader better understand where they are? This may include:

• When you click a link or use “jump to” to go somewhere new, what should the left sidebar of the new page do?

• When you scroll up and down the page, how should the left sidebar behave?

• Should we have some kind of persistent auto-updating wayfinding line like ATF eRegulations does? Example

What we know

We already highlight where you are within the left sidebar (subparts and sections already have an active state).

When we redesign our navigation to accommodate multi-view (section, subpart, and part view) and add parts of Title 45, that complexity will mean we'll need even more communication to the reader about where they are. Ideally, whatever we decide should be compatible with those concepts as well.

Multiple scrolls and transitions on page may be interrupting each other (e.g. scrolling in middle reader column affecting scrolling in left sidebar on page load).

Things we need to decide + options for them

How should the left sidebar behave when you click a link / use “jump to” to go somewhere new?

Options:

• The left sidebar remains in its default neutral position (with "jump to regulation section" displayed and then the first sections in that subpart) - current status.
• The left sidebar should be scrolled to that reg section or subpart (matching what is in the middle).
  • Example: I'm on the part 455 homepage and click "Subpart E - Provider Screening and Enrollment" in the center ToC. The left sidebar should show me Subpart E at the top.

How should the left sidebar behave when you scroll up and down the page?

Options:

• It stays in the same place, and your URL fragment stays the same as well - current status.
• The left sidebar scrolls in sync with the content, and the URL fragment updates with scrolling as well.
  • Could this be frustrating that it's moving without your direct input, for example if you scroll to a specific point in the center column but you wanted to keep the left column in a specific place so you could refer back to something else?

Should we have some kind of persistent auto-updating wayfinding line like ATF eRegulations does?

What do we need to learn before we can decide?

Consequences

Based on this, we'll need to update or replace https://jiraent.cms.gov/browse/EREGCSC-631