Implemented [Suggestion] Blocks system / sidebar widgets

[yoghurtfarmer]

Perhaps it's already there but a system to allow admins to add blocks in key areas would be useful (left side, right side, top, bottom, maybe between posts).

There could be some predefined blocks such"most recent posts" "top posters", but the most important feature would be the an option to allow custom php or html blocks.

The blocks could be controlled through member permissions (guest only, member only, etc) and content type (show only on index, show everywhere, show only on pages, etc).

With the custom blocks, admins can customize their forum and add advertisements/banners with ease.

 

[pjfry]

Sounds great ... that is something very useful great idea

 

[Paul B]

Isn't this the same suggestion as on this thread: http://xenforo.com/community/threads/suggestion-blocks-system.2654/

If the OP agrees I can merge them.

 

[Moses]

Yep, it's a duplicate, please merge (and please build)!

 

[Paul B]

Thanks Moses, I've merged and updated the title so it's easier to find when searching.

 

[D37]

I would like to see this too.

 

[Shanj]

I think a good start would be an html block - though WYSWYG is also a good next step.
Wordpress has a Text widget that adds anything you like which is very useful.

Then our magical coders could add blocks with php calls to the forums like latest posts /
later still user can select which forums to see latest posts displayed from.

But just having a block ready to one click insert with text, a pic would b e an excellent start. To be duplicated and the order set higher lower blocks.

 

[alpukn]

very good idea. thumbs up

 

[danielwerner]

I agree, this is right now the feature I need/would want the most in xenForo.

 

[lightbox]

I've never quite understood why XenForo (and vBulletin) have a sidebar on forum home only. Sidebars, blocks, widgets ... no matter how you call them, they're an important part of community-internal cross-promotion of content etc.

If I had to decide, I would even go one step further and not only implement vertical sidebar(s), but also horizontal widget areas above header, below header and above/below the footer.

Cheers,
Martin

 

[dieketzer]

id even be happy if it were merely easier to reconstruct the existing blocks. id love to load up 'newest members' in the default sidebar for example, but its problematic and causes php errors.

 

[Shelby]

Yes, again, a duh moment. Still for some reason I'm liking this thread.

 

[secnam]

I think it would be nice for an option somewhere in the admin where you can select what sidebar you would like to be displayed on what section or forum.

 

[DoctorWatsOn]

I was just searching for how to do this myself.

 

[RobParker]

This is something I've been wondering about. The sidebar is controlled by the template isn't it? As I use Jaxel's portal I'd prefer if the sidebar was consistent with the portal pages.

 

[secnam]

Just a bump to ask has anyone achieved the above yet...

 

[Benjy]

I just managed to get the sidebar on the forum_view template without any template editing. Create a code event listener for template_post_render, link it to a class/function and add this inside:

        switch ($templateName)
        {
            case 'forum_view':
                $containerData['noVisitorPanel'] = 1; //this will remove the visitor panel
                $containerData['sidebar'] = ' '; //this is the sidebar's template content (I put a space so that the sidebar appears ; anything written here will be appended to the sidebar)
                break;
        }

This is also good for thread_view and, I think, any other template.

 

[James]

Can't you just use <xen:sidebar> </xen:sidebar> ?

 

[Benjy]

Can't you just use <xen:sidebar> </xen:sidebar> ?

Well, my goal was to not edit any template, so no, not really

 

[majdi]

i would like to be able to set the sidebar to show on all pages or on certain pages of the forum. in addition, the widgets of the sidebar can be configured to show/hide according to each page.

 

[Paul B]

Merged with an earlier suggestion.