RM 1.1 Resource Icons and Featured Resources

Today, we're continuing on with our look at some of the new features coming in the 1.1 release of the XenForo Resource Manager. Up next are 2 of the most common requests.

Note that as before, we're not running RM 1.1 here yet so you can't play with these just yet.

Resource Icons

In the current RM release, the icon that is displayed with a resource has simply been the avatar of the author. This has been used in resource lists and next to the title when viewing the resource itself. In 1.1, administrators can choose to let users upload unique icons for each resource instead, similar to what you might find in various app stores. The icon allows resource authors to have a space to add a quick, unique identifying element to their resource. This is particularly useful for resources that have a significant visual component, though most of the demonstration and information about a resource will still be found in the resource description and the attached screenshots.

Resource icons are controlled by an option that covers the entire resource manager, not category-by-category. This was done to ensure consistent display and expectations across categories.

The icon that is being uploaded should be 96x96 (the same size as medium avatars), or at least square so we can resize it. Note that in the standard list, we shrink the icon, but the featured resource list does use the full size.

Here's what a resource list item looks like with icons enabled:

ss-2013-09-24_15-02-37.webp


(It seems the burger wasn't that good based on the 2 star review... ;))

Similar to threads, we still display the creator's avatar to help you identify authors at a quick glance. If a user does not upload a unique icon, a standard placeholder will be used (like with avatars).

You can also see one of the indications of a featured resource here.

When viewing a resource, we focus on the icon:

ss-2013-09-24_15-05-04.webp


When you create a resource, you will have the option to upload an icon in a separate step. You can then also update that icon at any time via a link on the sidebar. Staff with the appropriate permissions will be able to manage resource icons as well.

Featured Resources

In RM 1.1, staff with the appropriate permissions will be able to mark specific resources as featured. A limited number of featured resources will then be automatically put above the standard resource list:

ss-2013-09-24_15-12-40.webp


The resources that are displayed in this list varies based on context. For example, on the main resource page, they will be displayed from all categories. Within a category, the featured resources will only come from that category or any children. By default, the featured resources are only displayed when viewing the "default" list (e.g., not sorting by different criteria).

Featured resources are currently ordered based on when they became featured; the most recently featured will be displayed first in this list.

The featured resource list is currently height-limited to one row, as to not push the standard list down too far. Older featured resources can be viewed by clicking the "view all" link which takes you to a standard resource list-style page.

The screenshot in the resource icon section also shows the "featured" indication in the resource list. There is also a small indication of this when viewing the resource:

ss-2013-09-24_15-16-53.webp





Come back next time for more new features coming in the XenForo Resource Manager 1.1.
 
Don't upload one. If you don't upload it, it goes to a standard icon. If you mean disable it per resource, no.

If you mean on your site, its an option to turn it on and off.
 
Choose your avatar if you wish.

Just upload the file.

But that won't change the image when a member changes their avatar. While this is a nice feature it's not going to be for everyone. So there should be an option to keep it as it is or have a choice to use avatar without having to upload it every time you change your avatar.
 
But that won't change the image when a member changes their avatar. While this is a nice feature it's not going to be for everyone. So there should be an option to keep it as it is or have a choice to use avatar without having to upload it every time you change your avatar.

I thought this was optional? Will this affect my current avatar when I upgrade?

Edit: I think i hear what your saying. So lets say I upload new avatar the previous avatar on the resource side would stay as the previous avatar I had?
 
Oversight don't you think for those that wish to keep retain their avatars as a way of distinguishing their posts? Course the avatars should be linked since it's going to look pretty stupid that there are two different avatars between the resource side and forum side.
 
All I am saying is they're linked currently so why take that out and replace it. I thought this was going to be an additional feature not a total change.
 
Your avatar will always be whatever your avatar is. There is no change in that. The Resource Icon is what can be changed per resource. I'm not seeing where avatars will stay the same as they are at this moment, and stay that way even if you upload another resource under a new avatar.
 
I'm on about uploading an avatar via the forum_list the normal way. If I were to upload a new avatar would that change on the resource side? Judging by brogan's reply they aren't linked so it would keep the old avatar I had before (unless I mis-read what brogan was saying).
 
I think he means linking the resource icon and avatars (in general) together.

I may be the one reading it wrong, I just assumed the avatars would always be whatever you have here (in the forum), and change in the resource side when you change them here. The independent image is the Resource Icon.

That was how I read it. I suppose clarification is needed. I'd test, but unable to post resources... hahahahahaha.
 
Your avatar is the same throughout the whole site.

The resource icon is separate from it.
Note that resources which don't have a custom resource icon have a different generic icon, a bit like a cog.
 
They have the forum icon feature enabled so I assume it would just show the default cog (catering for add-ons) but if I'm reading correctly the forum icon feature will retain the old avatar (if disabled) and no matter how many times you change your avatar on the forum_list side it would retain the old avatar on the resource side until you change it. If that is the case that is utterly ridiculous to make someone change hundreds of resources to comply to their uptodate avatar from the forum side since I thought if disabled this wouldn't affect those that didn't want to use this forum icon feature. Hopefully I'm mistaken.
 
You are mistaken. The avatar is the same throughout the whole site. If the feature is disabled, the functionality reverts to 1.0 functionality where the avatar is just displayed. If you update your avatar through the forum view, it'll update in the resource manager -- just like with any other add-on.
 
You are mistaken. The avatar is the same throughout the whole site. If the feature is disabled, the functionality reverts to 1.0 functionality where the avatar is just displayed. If you update your avatar through the forum view, it'll update in the resource manager -- just like with any other add-on.

Jeremy, I'm referring to the resource_description & resource_index pages. If I upload a new avatar via the forum_list will the avatar be updated on the resource_description & resource_index pages ? or will this retain the old avatar I had?
 
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