RM 1.0 RM Article Manager

[Morgain]

This is a thread for those interested in the RM as an articles manager.

One issue is multiple pages, but I have contacted a good developer who will look at how to do this.

I have made a rough mockup of a page design - attached below. {UPDATED to show current condition 30/03/13]
Some can be done in Phrases, some needs css. I will probably need help!




Import (from eg the unfinished waindigo library) can be done manually using Chris Deeming;s addons to reassign the original date, and thread.
The author is I think OK to assign in the RM native functions.

 

[Morgain]

I have posted some Resources here and checked over what I could see of the RM as a user and yes I think it could be great for articles. Without "butchering" it

** Core code - major advantage.**
Article text on frontend edit exactly like forum posts so users have no or little learning curve to post a resource. With a small addon can have 2 'news' columns.
Permissions to create and manage.
Author and other ID data in sidemenu. Other articles by same author listed.
Close integration with search, what's new, node tree.
Good categorisation of content.
Forum thread for comment.
Phrasing to change names of components.
Download eg pdf version, or a promotional brochure, price list/ catalogue.
Link to payment system for ebooks or software eg books/ catalogue software, games. described.
Categories can be set to behave differently eg download, or pay, or not.
Tabs possibly useful for some like most popular. Ratings.
Author's page of own publications, link off profile page.
Integrate Help guides, categorised content of interest, a category of payment items, downloads sections, - all with only one interface to manage.
No doubt the admin side is well designed.

Seems like an awful lot there.

It does need some superficial page designing but not a massive amount. Some things need to be commented out, versions probably. Some won't want the sidebar, or not categories.

It needs multiple pages and I am still inclined to think a proper addon for this is necessary.
The tagging seems like it's one page displayed a bit at a time and for 15, 25, 35 pages tcarrying graphics hat'll be a loooooooong single [page.

I think that's about as good as it gets. I tried to get a specialist addon made but after a year it was still unfinished and the whole project languished. Couldnt promote to users. It could have been worse - it could have been even less 'done' than it was. The developer was at least responsve if anything went wrong, others are not. Or it might have been dumped. No the RM is about as good as it gets.

I'm still interested in CMF though.

 

[Lisa]

I have posted some Resources here and checked over what I could see of the RM as a user and yes I think it could be great for articles. Without "butchering" it

You understand I wasn't trying to be insulting there, don't you? I simply mean that I'd rather have something work out of the box as an article manager than have to modify the RM because that would mean I'd lose the RM as an actual resource manager - so I couldn't have both side by side.

 

[Morgain]

You understand I wasn't trying to be insulting there, don't you? I simply mean that I'd rather have something work out of the box as an article manager than have to modify the RM because that would mean I'd lose the RM as an actual resource manager - so I couldn't have both side by side.

Wasn't insulted at all was slightly concerned you might be as I quoted you so I put a smiley. La we are ladylike!

Of course I would love an articles addon out of the box bang does it all.
But my experience is no addon does that. Always need tweaking.
I'm just a demanding perfectionist old bat.

 

[MrC]

I would like to be able to change the default option for "Allowed Resource Types". In an article system, most authors probably do not upload a file, so it would be more convenient to set "Does not have a file" as default.

 

[Morgain]

I would like to be able to change the default option for "Allowed Resource Types". In an article system, most authors probably do not upload a file, so it would be more convenient to set "Does not have a file" as default.

Mr C that's an easy tweak.
The list of options will be in the code and one will show "checked=1" in its line of stuff.
Make that one "checked=0" and make the one you want "checked=1" instead.

To find which template go to Appearances/ Search Phrases
Put one of the phrases you gave here "Allowed Resource Types" or "Does not have a file"
in the search box Text Contains:
When you get a result copy the text in Title Contains:
Now go to Templates on sidemenu and put what you copied in the top search box
Hopefully you get an RM template as a result - use CTRL+F to locate the same Phrase code in it.
That's your target area to find the "checked=1" and change it.

 

[MrC]

I found the template, it's research_add. It is slight different to what you described, so I am a bit lost

                        <xen:if is="{$category.allow_local}">
                            <li><label><input type="radio" name="resource_file_type" value="file" id="ctrl_resource_file_type_file" class="Disabler" {xen:checked '{$resourceType} == "local"'} /> {xen:phrase uploaded_file}:</label>
                                <ul id="ctrl_resource_file_type_file_Disabler">
                                    <li>
                                        <xen:include template="file_uploader">
                                            <xen:set var="$buttonText">{xen:phrase upload_your_resource}</xen:set>
                                            <xen:set var="$attachmentButtonKey">resource</xen:set>
                                        </xen:include>
                                    </li>
                                </ul>
                            </li>
                        </xen:if>

The option "allow_local" is checked by default (the above code), but I don't know what triggers that.

 

[Morgain]

GOOD NEWS The developer has already given me his assessment and he has a VERY clever way to make multiple pages. Very neat and clever. We are discussing the details now.


Mr C sorry I do not have the RM installed yet. My help post was based on how this usually works with checkboxes.
I have a few ideas but would be better if I test them in my own RM before giving you more advice.
One possibility - look up in your Search Phrases uploaded_file
(put that in the box Title Contains
Whatever that gives you in the Text Contains: box is what that first paragraph of code is displaying on the page.

I won't be able to install and test things for about 15 hours maybe a bit longer.
You could try posting your first and second post here (both together) in the tweaks and customisation forum - might get quicker help.

 

[Reeve of Shinra]

Morgain, I'd be highly interested in this too once its ready.

 

[Morgain]

Morgain, I'd be highly interested in this too once its ready.

Reeve no problem you are very welcome. The method the developer is using is really brilliant - not a lot of coding - so should not take long to do.
But I'm hoping I can do some template edits and Phrase changes so he can include all that in it as a proper addon.
With luck we're looking at next week. I'll have time at the weekend.

 

[Lee]

Free or paid resource?

 

[Morgain]

PROGRESS REPORT I have a test install now with the RM on it.
The dveloper messaged me an hour ago saying he's ready to do some first tests.

Free or paid resource?

I'm not sure. This developer does several other really good addons on XF and some are free, others have a small cost.
Will post info when I have it.

Oh this guy is really excellent at support.

 

[Morgain]

OK here is where I am editing my test RM Articles.

Link to a test Article.
http://www.housemorgain.co.uk/oval/resources/changing-lots-of-phrases.1/

No multiple pages yet - developer HAS sent me a mini addon to try but my FTP is not working so I'm waiting for help from my site host. frustrating but they should have this fixed today.

Meanwhile there is lots to do with editing phrases - thats mostly what Ive been doing. Should be able to provide a file which can be imported so you dont have to make these 100s of edits as well also I dont want to do this on each of my sites GAH! it takes ages. You could just tweak a few to make them suit you.

SCR of the editor form so you can see how I have changed the text so far - next post.

Then I want do a little bit of page editing
like personally I'd like the list of Categories to appear in the sidebar under all the rest. Hope that is possible.

 

[Morgain]

Screenshot so far for example RM Article here
http://www.housemorgain.co.uk/oval/resources/changing-lots-of-phrases.1/



The explanation under the main text box was a bit faulty. Edited to ..
Enter the content of the Main/ front page of your Article (text, images, links etc). The image upload button is at the bottom of the page. This could be the only page the Article has. You can add more pages once you create this first page.

 

[Morgain]

Have had some fun with the sidebar, My html/ css is not modern so will ask for help later to make it 'proper' - I still use <font size=> etc old fashioned me - but this is just for the look I want.

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[EDIT] I have commented out the author avatar on the left sof the content header o all the author stuff is focused on the right. Made it the medium avatar.
On the left to replace the current author avatar I think I will have an icon or small image which signals "This is am article." Would be the same on all Article pages. I'll probably put a similar one but different colour on forum pages in the header so they are kind of partners.

Unfortunately I have some kind of glitch on my FTP so cant load the mini addon for multiple pages to test it .... grrr

 

[Morgain]

FIRST TEST OF RM ARTICLES!

See http://www.housemorgain.co.uk/oval/resources/multiple-page-article.5/

Still some clearing up of phrases, and some template tweaks to do
then putting it all together in a comfy way for you to install - there a re a lot of BITS right now ...
but ...
RM Articles WITH multiple pages exists!

 

[Reeve of Shinra]

Have some funkiness with the page #'s. Page 2 says page 1 in the url and footer link. Page 3 says page 2.

 

[Janmaat]

Is it possible to sort resources within a category e.g. in alphabetical order?

 

[Vicki]

This is a great initiative Morgain!

If you use RM as an article manager, on the same site can you still use RM as something else(e.g., downloading stuff)?

 

[Morgain]

This is a great initiative Morgain!

Thank you Vicki. I actually worked it out more than a year ago when the RM first appeared. Bloody court case. I mean I saw straight away the RM could be an AM - Articles Manager. I posted a mockup on here somewhere.

If you use RM as an article manager, on the same site can you still use RM as something else(e.g., downloading stuff)?

Yes.
There is a limitation though.
Only single page Articles can have an attached file to download on the Article page.
Multiple page Articles, if they need an attachment,must put it on the linked thread.

The other thing is that you might need to do a bit of phrase work if some of your stuff is Articles and some software downloads. But I am preparing a compete list of the relevant phrases.

MULTIPLE PAGE ARTICLES
If you DON'Tneed multiple page Articles, no problem. Have attached downloads as normal.
If you DO need some multiple page Articles do it one of 2 ways.
- EITHER disable attachments on all Articles (global); a file if needed it goes on the linked thread ;
-- OR do it per RM category. So if a Category has a Multiple pages in it, the category must be set to no attachments - if a files is needed it goes on the linked thread.

Have some funkiness with the page #'s. Page 2 says page 1 in the url and footer link. Page 3 says page 2.

We're sorting it. You'll see now no more pagination, only a page menu of links bottom of article,
Right now it only appears on the front page - have to sort that.

This is a great initiative Morgain!

If you use RM as an article manager, on the same site can you still use RM as something else(e.g., downloading stuff)?

This isn't a general support thread about the RM. It;s specifically about displaying content as Articles.
I don't think there is any reason why you cannot have sorting any way you want it. But it would need a moderate addon, or a template tweak.

 

[Chris D]

Bit confused why your demo page says:

(More controls can be added to import existing articles - Chris Deeming)