Jaxel
Well-known member
This release is absolute ****ing beta! If it ****s up your forums... not my problem! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Okay, first things first... This is the single biggest update to a mod I have ever done. Because of this, I have completely deprecated previous versions of this mod. If you currently have a previous version of XenPorta, you MUST uninstall it before installing this one. As well, don't forget to remove the appropriate files from the /js and /library folders before uploading the new files. IN ADDITION, check your database and make sure all EWRporta tables have been dropped.
XENPORTA CHANGES
The entire administration of XenPorta has been moved out of the public controller and into the admin controller. The new sections for modifying your XenPorta settings can be found in your adminCP for any administrators with the "option" and "node" permissions. If you are running your forums in debug mode, you may also edit blocks and their options directly if you have the "addOn" permission.
Everything in this new version has changed... custom module blocks create by OTHER people will not be compatible with this new version. Its very easy to update the old custom blocks to match the new formatting, but you should ask the original custom block authors to do that. Since the new version of XenPorta uses a built in "block creation system" that works pretty much exactly the same as the "addOn creation system" of XenForo, I will not be writing a guide on how to construct the XML. You don't need to do it anymore, XenPorta will construct the XML for you. Just make your blocks in XenPorta, and then export the block as XML when you are done.
In addition to being able to define each and every block individually in the portal, you can also define each option individually. You will notice in both the block and option screens, you can define callbacks for installation, uninstallation, format parameters and even validation. With this, you can have it so that blocks install their own tables, to use for their own reasons and stuff.
XENPORTA OPTIONS
After installing this new version, you will see a new option in XenPorta...
Globalized Custom Layouts defines the abilities of your portal. Generally you only want to check the options you need, as enabling each settings will add some queries to those sections. Those queries are VERY SMALL... but I'm a performance whore; so I give you the ability to turn them off if you're not needing them.
This new system works through the content id system with multiple fallbacks. For instance, if you enable the "Thread" layout system... when you visit a thread, it will look for a custom layout called "thread-(thread_id)". This lets you create a custom layout for that SPECIFIC thread_id. If it can't find the layout, it will trigger the first fallback and instead look for a layout called "thread-forum-(forum_id)". This will let you create a custom layout for all threads within a SPECIFIC forum_id (node). And finally, if it can't find that, it will hit a final fallback called "thread", which would be a custom layout for ALL threads.
Naturally, none of this is required. If it finds none of them, then it won't have a custom layout. You could use "thread-(thread_id)" and choose not to use "thread-forum-(forum_id)" or even "thread". This system works for threads, forums, the forum index, and articles (any thread within forums set in the RecentNews block, or promoted to the block). Enabling the "Article" layout will also enable the custom article view.
Creating custom layouts is actually very easy. You simply type the name of the layout into the box on the "List Layouts" page and submit. Then it will bring you to a page where you can construct a new layout. When you save it, it will be entered into the system. Naturally, you can name the layout whatever the hell you want... but realistically, only layouts the fit the naming structure defined in the "Globalize Custom Layouts" section will have any use for now. (for now!)
Customizing layouts is pretty much the same as before... except its in the AdminCP instead. You can also download your layout grids to an XML file, should you want to backup your settings.
BLOCK CHANGES
A new block called "EventsStream" has been added. This block lets you embed live streams on your portal.
A new block called "Amazon" has been added. This block lets you display amazon affiliate products.
Thread promotion in the RecentNew block has also completely changed. Now when you promote a thread, you can specifically select what to display as the "promotion icon" for the article on your portal.
Okay, first things first... This is the single biggest update to a mod I have ever done. Because of this, I have completely deprecated previous versions of this mod. If you currently have a previous version of XenPorta, you MUST uninstall it before installing this one. As well, don't forget to remove the appropriate files from the /js and /library folders before uploading the new files. IN ADDITION, check your database and make sure all EWRporta tables have been dropped.
XENPORTA CHANGES
The entire administration of XenPorta has been moved out of the public controller and into the admin controller. The new sections for modifying your XenPorta settings can be found in your adminCP for any administrators with the "option" and "node" permissions. If you are running your forums in debug mode, you may also edit blocks and their options directly if you have the "addOn" permission.
Everything in this new version has changed... custom module blocks create by OTHER people will not be compatible with this new version. Its very easy to update the old custom blocks to match the new formatting, but you should ask the original custom block authors to do that. Since the new version of XenPorta uses a built in "block creation system" that works pretty much exactly the same as the "addOn creation system" of XenForo, I will not be writing a guide on how to construct the XML. You don't need to do it anymore, XenPorta will construct the XML for you. Just make your blocks in XenPorta, and then export the block as XML when you are done.
In addition to being able to define each and every block individually in the portal, you can also define each option individually. You will notice in both the block and option screens, you can define callbacks for installation, uninstallation, format parameters and even validation. With this, you can have it so that blocks install their own tables, to use for their own reasons and stuff.
XENPORTA OPTIONS
After installing this new version, you will see a new option in XenPorta...
Globalized Custom Layouts defines the abilities of your portal. Generally you only want to check the options you need, as enabling each settings will add some queries to those sections. Those queries are VERY SMALL... but I'm a performance whore; so I give you the ability to turn them off if you're not needing them.
This new system works through the content id system with multiple fallbacks. For instance, if you enable the "Thread" layout system... when you visit a thread, it will look for a custom layout called "thread-(thread_id)". This lets you create a custom layout for that SPECIFIC thread_id. If it can't find the layout, it will trigger the first fallback and instead look for a layout called "thread-forum-(forum_id)". This will let you create a custom layout for all threads within a SPECIFIC forum_id (node). And finally, if it can't find that, it will hit a final fallback called "thread", which would be a custom layout for ALL threads.
Naturally, none of this is required. If it finds none of them, then it won't have a custom layout. You could use "thread-(thread_id)" and choose not to use "thread-forum-(forum_id)" or even "thread". This system works for threads, forums, the forum index, and articles (any thread within forums set in the RecentNews block, or promoted to the block). Enabling the "Article" layout will also enable the custom article view.
Creating custom layouts is actually very easy. You simply type the name of the layout into the box on the "List Layouts" page and submit. Then it will bring you to a page where you can construct a new layout. When you save it, it will be entered into the system. Naturally, you can name the layout whatever the hell you want... but realistically, only layouts the fit the naming structure defined in the "Globalize Custom Layouts" section will have any use for now. (for now!)
Customizing layouts is pretty much the same as before... except its in the AdminCP instead. You can also download your layout grids to an XML file, should you want to backup your settings.
BLOCK CHANGES
A new block called "EventsStream" has been added. This block lets you embed live streams on your portal.
A new block called "Amazon" has been added. This block lets you display amazon affiliate products.
Thread promotion in the RecentNew block has also completely changed. Now when you promote a thread, you can specifically select what to display as the "promotion icon" for the article on your portal.