Simple Machines Community Forum

In the next weeks and months, I will use this topic to document my progress as I create a FREE modification that will extend SMF's existing structure to include the ability for users to post their "status" (like some other popular social networks we know).

UPDATE

MyStatus_Updates 0.85
NOW COMPLETE!! and waiting to be put back in the queue for Mod approval on the mod site
For a pre release version, go here...
(for beta testing ONLY on non-production sites)
http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2268 (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2268)

MyStatus Updates mod now uses it's own independent database tables, and is self cleaning as the users post. Just set the max numbers of Status Updates a user can have, and when they reach that level, every time they post, their oldest Update is deleted (because who's going to look at a three week old update anyway :P)

Plus, for full webmaster customization,
Admin settings control:

• The text above the Status Update form
• The Status Update form submit button text
• The Reply Form submit button text
• Maximum Updates per user
• Maximum Update length
• Maximum Reply length
• How many Updates per page
• Status Update avatar size (for layout customization)
• Reply avatar size(for layout customization)

So stay tuned folks, the first un-official release is just days away....
IT'S HERE!!


Note, all older versions have been removed and trashed.
I suggest you do the same if you downloaded an older version.

Phhew, I'm tired after all that thinking.
Looks like I'll start coding it up tomorrow. The layout seems sound.

Any suggestions?

Love the idea!  Keep us posted how this is going and when it launches. 

The great idea. I like miniblog. Could you add more 3 features: Search; notify when someone add me as buddy, and integrate with some short URL services: bit.ly, shorturl,... ?

Just wondering how your doing on this ?

Haven't had any updates recently.

Progress is being made much faster than expected.

As far as an estimated release date, the unofficial version should be released sometime in early December, maybe sooner if everything keeps going as well as it is. The manual instal/code edit will be posted here in the second reply as a BETA version. Use at your own risk, and not on a production site.

The official Mod Site version, which I recommend everyone waits for, will be in the hands of those who approve the Mods, so when it will be posted to the Mod site is anyones guess.

Quote from: saosangmo on October 22, 2009, 04:05:24 PM
The great idea. I like miniblog. Could you add more 3 features: Search; notify when someone add me as buddy, and integrate with some short URL services: bit.ly, shorturl,... ?

@saosangmo
For the Buddy system, I suggest Buddy Page (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2204) Mod created by Arantor.
This is what I am using and will add support for this mod where-ever it's needed in the MyStatus Mod.

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 24, 2009, 07:12:13 PM
The official Mod Site version, which I recommend everyone waits for, will be in the hands of those who approve the Mods, so when it will be posted to the Mod site is anyones guess.

It'll be some time after you submit it to us (SMF Customization Team) and we review it. Larger mods do take time to get approved, but you will get feedback on it even if we don't approve it first time.

Thank you Arantor for letting everyone know that.
So far, this mod looks like it's going to be fairly light weight, despite it's functionallity. At least that's what I'm shooting for.

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 24, 2009, 07:12:13 PM
@saosangmo
For the Buddy system, I suggest Buddy Page (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2204) Mod created by Arantor.
This is what I am using and will add support for this mod where-ever it's needed in the MyStatus Mod.

Rofl, when I first saw that, I thought you were taking the mick out ma name ! :D

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 24, 2009, 07:12:13 PM
For the Buddy system, I suggest Buddy Page (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2204) Mod created by Arantor.

Just to confirm, you're free to use any of the code from that mod in your own mod. All I'd ask is a link back to the original mod page, nothing more.

This sounds great, cant' wait to see it in action :-) I just hope I'll manage to use it with our forum's theme: Blue Sound.

I have no suggestions beyond those I made in Status Message (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=340857.msg2325943#msg2325943).

Quote from: Mimmi on October 25, 2009, 04:59:02 PM
This sounds great, cant' wait to see it in action :-) I just hope I'll manage to use it with our forum's theme: Blue Sound.

I have no suggestions beyond those I made in Status Message (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=340857.msg2325943#msg2325943).

So far we've seen no demo :o

Even if its only something basic, it just shows us its happening :D and allows us to provide feedback.

I always do that for my projects.

Quote from: Mimmi on October 25, 2009, 04:59:02 PM
This sounds great, cant' wait to see it in action :-) I just hope I'll manage to use it with our forum's theme: Blue Sound.

I have no suggestions beyond those I made in Status Message (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=340857.msg2325943#msg2325943).

I will make every effort to make this mod theme universal.
Or at the very least, very easy to modify to work with a custom theme.

Quote from: sangwe11 on October 25, 2009, 05:01:18 PM

So far we've seen no demo :o

Even if its only something basic, it just shows us its happening :D and allows us to provide feedback.

I always do that for my projects.

I really don't care what you do with your projects.
This isn't your project.

Talking about your projects, aren't you working on your own version of this mod?
Where are your updates?
Where is your demo?
I haven't even seen a topic on it yet. (how about a link)

So why don't you go get some work done, and butt out of what's going on over here.
There is a word for what you are doing, it's called "trolling", and it violates your user agreement. So back off. You've already caused one topic to be locked. If you keep it up, you'll get yourself banned.

As you may note from other threads in this board, sangwe11 is working on a wiki mod for SMF, for which a number of screenshots have been provided already.

That said, there is something for having feedback; this is a large and complex mod and perhaps having some idea of how it's going would be good - since then you won't get to release and find it's not what users were expecting.

I've been coding on this for exactly one week now.
It's not time for a screenshot yet, since I'm doing the back end coding first. I haven't gotten to the layout yet.

I hear that ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ.  I usually do the permissions and Admin Settings first before coding the actual feature of it in.  This is best for me since I really don't know the names of the permissions and $modSettings until I get done coding them in and than when I get to the actual interface for the mod, it's much easier to do, since I have the permissions and $modSettings named already.  Doing it the other way around is just retarded IMO, since you have to go back and forth and remember what you named everything.  Well, this works best for me, but you do whatever works best for you.

Just my 2 cents...

*shrug* I have them all open in tabs in Notepad++ and develop them concurrently.

Quote from: Arantor on October 26, 2009, 03:02:30 PM
*shrug* I have them all open in tabs in Notepad++ and develop them concurrently.

That's what I'm doing now.
I wish I had multiple monitors, so I could have each file open and viewable on a different screen (instaed of having to bounce from one file on top, to the next) Anyway...

So far, I have the backend 75% coded for all three pages.
The remaining 25% is the reply/post function. I'm not sure how I'm going to tackle that yet. Especially since this Status Update field will be optional on the users profile page, board index, and in all three pages of this mod.
I would use SSI for this, but was warned against using SSI inside the forum.
That is tonight and tomorrows work.

For now, I'm toying with the layout, which is going very well. That too, is about 75% complete.

Quote from: Arantor on October 26, 2009, 03:02:30 PM
*shrug* I have them all open in tabs in Notepad++ and develop them concurrently.

Ohh, don't get me wrong I have them all open in tabs in Dreamweaver, so I know what's going on.  Just still better for me to get the permissions and $modSettings out of the way first.  But that's probably just me...

Update: The hard parts are done.

Template File/layout - 90% complete
(three pages)
  I'm tempted to say the layout is 100% complete, but we all know how last minute changes end up being made. Special thanks to SMF member Kays for supplying the much needed code to show the posters avatar. LOL, with that new way of gathering the member data (compared to the hack I was originally using), I was able to create a much better layout, with minimal coding.

  The post reply coding, which I thought was going to be a huge pain in the butt, ended up not being so bad, and is most of the way done. I'm still looking into adding smiley, img & url button, and other BBcode button support. That's todays work. This will be added to MyStatus ver. 2.0

Once that's done, it'll look all pretty, and I'll provide a few screenshots.

Sources File - 98% complete
(database queries & other coding)
  I'm tempted to say the sources file is 100% complete, but I may need to add a few minor things as I complete the last few details throughout the mod.

To do list (0% complete as of this posting):

• Menu Button/s - index.template.php
• Profile Button/s - profile.template.php
• Status Update input field (post new) - many template files (admin options, which ones show)
• Admin Options
• Install Package
• Final Testing
• Submission to SMF for approval
• Rest for 3 days

Note:
Here's the pageload data from the bottom of the "everyone page"
There are 8 topics and over 60 replies on that page.
Page created in 0.793 seconds with 13 queries.

This mod is being hosted on my DEVBOX, which is a slower than dirt old PC100 machine made from pieces parts. So that 0.793 seconds is pretty good considering the machine it's coming from.
For comparison, this is the stat for the Forum main page, board index...
Page created in 0.702 seconds with 12 queries.

So, so far, this mod loads just as fast as the forum main page!!




.

I can hardly wait for this mod.  Thank you for doing it.

Quote from: katers on October 29, 2009, 12:14:54 AM
I can hardly wait for this mod.  Thank you for doing it.

Your welcome.


So it looks like the smilies and BBcode additions to the post field are going to have to wait for MyStatus 2.0
I spent the day trying to add it, but it's quite complicated and will delay the first release of MyStatus Mod, so it's been push off to the To Do: list for version 2.

Tomorrows work, creating the Status Update input field. This is basically the same as the post (reply) field I already added to the pages that make up the mod, except the Status Update box (new topic) will be available (via admin settings) on the users Profile Page, Board Index, Message Index, and at the top of all three pages of the MyStatus Mod.

I'll post a screenshot or two tomorrow too.
It's late here (Florida, USA) and I need some sleep.

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 26, 2009, 11:48:57 AM

Quote from: sangwe11 on October 25, 2009, 05:01:18 PM

So far we've seen no demo :o

Even if its only something basic, it just shows us its happening :D and allows us to provide feedback.

I always do that for my projects.

I really don't care what you do with your projects.
This isn't your project.

Talking about your projects, aren't you working on your own version of this mod?
Where are your updates?
Where is your demo?
I haven't even seen a topic on it yet. (how about a link)

So why don't you go get some work done, and butt out of what's going on over here.
There is a word for what you are doing, it's called "trolling", and it violates your user agreement. So back off. You've already caused one topic to be locked. If you keep it up, you'll get yourself banned.

Have you ever read a thread I have posted in that isnt yours ??

Have you even bothered to look at the ******ing board, and SEE the big WIKI topic ??

Next time you have a go at some one for something, get your ******ing facts right.

OMG, Ok, you guys need to get a room somewhere that isn't SMF.  Here's a pick that comes to mind right now...

Good Luck both of you and please take this elsewhere, PM's come to mind also...

Quote from: SoLoGHoST on October 30, 2009, 06:09:39 PM
OMG, Ok, you guys need to get a room somewhere that isn't SMF.  Here's a pick that comes to mind right now...

Good Luck both of you and please take this elsewhere, PM's come to mind also...

Hehe, rofl raped ..

But this "guy" needs to be able to back up what he says, or just dont say it.

All I said was a few pictures of the progress would be nice, and he starts all that crap.

Just bull man, f-ing bull.

Please keep this friendly, guys. I don't wanna have to lock this topic as I like this idea and look forward to updates on it.

Quote from: Nas on October 30, 2009, 06:28:29 PM
Please keep this friendly, guys. I don't wanna have to lock this topic as I like this idea and look forward to updates on it.

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 26, 2009, 11:48:57 AM

Quote from: sangwe11 on October 25, 2009, 05:01:18 PM

So far we've seen no demo :o

Even if its only something basic, it just shows us its happening :D and allows us to provide feedback.

I always do that for my projects.

I really don't care what you do with your projects.
This isn't your project.

Talking about your projects, aren't you working on your own version of this mod?
Where are your updates?
Where is your demo?
I haven't even seen a topic on it yet. (how about a link)

So why don't you go get some work done, and butt out of what's going on over here.
There is a word for what you are doing, it's called "trolling", and it violates your user agreement. So back off. You've already caused one topic to be locked. If you keep it up, you'll get yourself banned.

And who is the one being "unfriendly" ?

Him?

I think so.

I didn't say it to anyone in particular, just a general note.

Quote from: Nas on October 30, 2009, 06:42:50 PM
I didn't say it to anyone in particular, just a general note.

And I'm just saying exactly what needs saying.

He's being the "unfriendly" one.

Afaik, asking for a few pictures is well in reason.

Insulting me, and how I work on my mods, is not.

Lets end this right here and be friends ;)

You rubbed me the wrong way a few days ago in a part of this topic that was removed. But that is history now, and it's a new day.
Lets let this drop and get on with progress, since that's what we're all here for anyway, and leave the bad feelings in the past.

I quite love this mod.
Will the first release contain the chat feature as in facebook too?
That will be real awesome even if it's in a later release.
Quite looking forward to this mod!
Good luck!

Yeah!! Good luck for this MOD!! It's an awesome idea!! ;)

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on October 31, 2009, 12:38:52 AM
Lets end this right here and be friends ;)

Sure :D

Anywho, how is the progress looking ? And is there any demo we can look at so far ? (I has somewhere it can be hosted if thats a problem)

I'm looking forward to the release of this, and I hope its going to be as good as described.

I had a slight setback trying to add multiple page support, but all in all, progress is ahead of schedule. I still need to get the screenshot done for everyone. It figures, the stuff I think would be easy, end up being the hardest to accomplish.

As far as a demo, not yet. I don't foresee having one ready until the first full version is coded up.
At the rate this is going, I'm guessing in a week or two. At the same time, I'll make the code available (in the second post of this topic) for anyone who wants to try it before the official version is approved for the SMF Mod Site. BUT, it will be use at your own risk, and I'll gladly take any info on possible bugs that need fixing.

15 days after I started coding MyStatus Mod, it's almost done.
Yes, you guys were correct, taking this on as a "first mod" was WAY ambitious, but it's almost done 8)
Estimated first beta release - 4 days

   MyStatus Mod will require the following to install
      - Addition of 4 new files
      - Addition of an image folder containing 5 images
               (including a default avatar for users without one)
      - Edits to 6 existing core files
      - Edits to 2 existing theme files
      - 0 (zero) database changes

The layout - done.
The core files - done
Edits to existing SMF files - 4 left
      - adding the Status Update field to Index.template.php
      - adding menu buttons to Index.template.php
      - adding buttons/links to Profile.template.php
      - doing something with Notify.php to block notification of the MyStatus board topics

I've made the edits to existing SMF files as small as possible, and limited them to Sources files as much as I could, to retain theme compatibility, no matter what theme you use. These edits to existing files are also very small and contained, so they are easy to do (compared to some mods with multiple edits per file).

The admin options are contained in the language file. Yes I know this is odd, and this may be changed in MyStatus 2.0, but it is my intention to not mess with anyones database if I don't need to. The only real needed admin option is the board MyStatus connects to. By default, this is board 1, Open Discussions, but this can be changed very easily.

The board MyStatus Mod uses will not show up in the "recent posts", "unread posts", "unread replies", or the "search" pages. This is because MyStatus Mod uses the existing structure of SMF topic and replies, and the ability for the MyStatus Mod board to show on these pages would be like a back door into the normal board view. This will be addressed further in MyStatus Mod 2.0

Email notification is disabled for MyStatus Mod 1.0 topics and replies. Again, this is because work needs to be done to rewrite the URL, as to not allow a back door into normal topic view. A lot of work on this feature is planned for version 2.0, including "on the fly" notification.

Theme edits required are very basic. Basically just the addition of a text input form (Status Updates) and a few buttons/links. The MyStatus Mod pages use the Index.template wrapper and MyStatus has NO color coding or borders of it's own. The MyStatus CSS file handles positioning ONLY. Again, this is to retain custom Theme compatibility.

... and that the progress update.
I still need to add a screenshot, but I need to remove the borders from the stylesheet first (used for debugging).

Note, though this mod is being developed on SMF 2.0 RC1.2, I am waiting for SMF 2.0 RC2 with the Curve theme before I build the official Mod Site install package. I will make the code for RC1.2 available here as an unofficial beta release, but MyStatus beta will be manual install only, and not suggested for a production site.

∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ you rock!! Can't wait to test your MOD! :D

I just added a 4th page to the mod.

So far, it had...
  - Everyones Status page - showing posts from everyone
  - Friends Status page - showing posts from friends only
  - MyStatus page - showing only your status updates

I just added...
  - Their Status page - which allows you to view all the status updates from one friend

This added page is what will show in other users profiles, in place of the mystatus page, which shows on your profile.



The list of things needed to do to get to the final release is almost complete.
I believe that the only thing left is to add the buttons that connect everything together.

Beta release date - any day now :P (very soon)

Any chance of a screenshot now ?

Only takes a second to do :D

I'm interested to see how you've layed the pages out

Quote from: sangwe11 on November 07, 2009, 01:59:28 PM
Any chance of a screenshot now ?

Only takes a second to do :D

I'm interested to see how you've layed the pages out

Sure, as soon as I stop improving it ;D

possible to include a relationship status? XD

Will this be available for 1.1.10? :s
And today is the expected release (1st), am I right? ;D

Quote from: ∑£ℓ¢†®¡¢ §ợų¡đ on November 07, 2009, 11:18:25 PM

Quote from: sangwe11 on November 07, 2009, 01:59:28 PM
Any chance of a screenshot now ?

Only takes a second to do :D

I'm interested to see how you've layed the pages out

Sure, as soon as I stop improving it ;D

Haha xD

Just take one, even if you change it (as I often do when I give out screenshots) it just gives us an idea of how it might be.

We can then feedback if any changes are needed ect .. :D

There are still minor tweaks needed for the layout.
Oh, and I need to test it on the god-awful IE. It looks good in Safari and Firefox, but IE is such a pain in the butt.

Img 1 - shows some simple posting back and forth. Also gives a peak at the buttons on the right, like

• MyPosts, brings you to a page with only that users posts (users who are friends and self)
  
• Add/Remove Me, the add or remove from friends list button (all logged users excluding self)
  
• Spam**, the report to moderator button (all logged users excluding self)
  
• Delete Post, gives the poster the option to remove what they wrote (post owner only)
  
  Img 2 - shows the simple (as of now) Status Update form for posting new updates (topics)
  
  Img 3 - shows the bottom of the page with page numbers to older posts.
  
  
  ** NOTE: The report to moderator button works just like everywhere else on the forum. In the Moderate Section, the links to MyStatus topics WILL bring you (the admin or moderator) to the normal board view, where all moderator actions can be done. All others are locked out from normal board view.
  
  Why this matters?
  ALL normal forum links to the MyStatus board are non-existant for normal users. Normal users must use the provided MyStatus Mod links that lead to MyStatus pages.
  This is this way so the MyStatus board does not show on the BoardIndex page, Unread Posts page, Unread Replies page, Search pages, Jumpto menus, and no email notifications are sent. This is because these actions would give the normal user a back door to the normal forum view for the MyStatus Mod.

Quote from: impennetrate on November 08, 2009, 03:51:35 AM
possible to include a relationship status? XD

Possibly for MyStatus 2.0
At this point, I'm just trying to get this first version out the door and available.

Wow!


I've been looking for a this type of mod for quite a while now.

Thank you for the time and effort which you are putting into it.

I'm really excited about its release.

:)

I apologize for delays in the first release.
I MUST be sure it is stable, and this mod covers a lot of ground when it comes to the functions involved. To put it simply, anything involved in posting a normal topic to the forum, is covered, or disabled for the board this mod uses. But don't be scared off by that, the code edits are quite small, I made sure of that.

Anyway, my next post in this topic will be to announce the code is available.

Oh, MyStatus Mod is coded for SMF 2.0 RC1.2 at this time.
There will probably be minor code changes needed for SMF 2.0 RC2 because of the addition of the Curve theme as default. Because of this, I am holding back the official install package for RC2.

The first un-official release will be manual install only for RC1.2 see edit below, and will be use at your own risk, on non-production sites, for testing and bug reporting, since it'll still be in BETA.

EDIT I found out that building the install package is WAY easier than writing up the manual install instructions, so the first Un-Official release will be a full, working install package for SMF2.0 RC2. The ONLY differences between RC1.2 and RC2 for this package is the second edit in Search.php does not exist in RC1.2, and the position of the Status Update Form in index.template.php is different in RC2 due to the Curve theme.
End EDIT

SMF 1.1.x support will not be available until at the very least, MyStatus Mod 2.0 is released. But I do not guarantee there will be 1.1.x support, because of the unknown to me differences in SMF2.0 and 1.1.x






LOL, this is my 420th post on the SMF forum :P

So far, looking breathtaking! 1.0 hasn't come out yet and I'm already waiting for the sequel. Haha.

Well, RC2 is now public - go nuts with making it :)

I'm pleased to announce that MyStatus Update Mod version 1.0 is complete.
The un-official install package of version one is available, and attached to the first post of this topic.

This un-official release is for beta testing ONLY.
I will be submitting this package for SMF review, and I would suggest that anyone without extensive coding knowledge, please wait for the Official Mod Site approved version to come out. I'll post a link for that as soon as it does.

For the rest of you who aren't scared of the code :P, visit the first post of this topic for a copy of MyStatus_Update mod version 1

Hello ElectricSquid, had a few minutes and ran your mod through a quick test run and here's are my results (ofcourse, this was just a small test run of mine, putting it through a much more vigorous test will take more time)...

PROBLEMS/BUGS Noticed:

---

• I can't seem to see any of my boards on the Forum page after installing this mod.  Wiped out my forum Board called General Discussion (SMF's default board) which was the only forum board I had within the forum area of SMF.  Please Note - The board is still functional as all of the topics link to it and are able to get to it through the topic/post links, however, the boards just isn't visible from the index.php page.  This could be that I have a portal system installed, so not sure if this would be causing the problem or not.

SUGGESTIONS:

---

• Updating your status should not create a topic on it.  Otherwise your forum will be overrun by topics with nothing useful it them.  I recommend creating a table similiar to the messages table and/or topics table of SMF and control it separately so that it has no effect over the actual posts within the forum (since, supposed to be a status update and seems to me that it can also be private).
  
  
• If you still want to use the SMF messages/topics table for updating users status after reading suggestion noted above, than atleast allow the administrator the option of where these updates get posted, such as, what board will hold the status updates.
  
  


• An Administration Panel and Permissions is needed for this mod.  I haven't seen these anywhere for this mod.
  
  
• The pagination text at the bottom is too big IMO.  Making this smaller would look better.  On the opposite side of this, there is the icons to the top-right of each posted status - too small and would look better a bit bigger (why not go with the default size of these images when viewing forum posts?).
  
  


• Since this is on curve, why not have a curve on the corners of each comment/status message??  Would look much better IMO.
  
  


• Get rid of the [ Write Comment ], change it so it is Write Comment without the brackets.  Just looks dumb with the brackets IMO, though I can understand how it sort of gives it a sense of urgency, but you can accomplish this with images instead of a button if you'd like and would be way cooler.  Ofcourse this is just my opinion though.
  
  


• Change "What are you thinking right now?" to "Update your Status", unless that is supposed to be a way to post instead of updating your status, or both.

COMMENTS:

---

• I like the way you have laid out the way the posts get created.  That is kinda like the same way Deviant Art does their layout for posts/and replies.  Looks like a good amount of thought and energy was put into this and very nicely done.  The only thing that would make it better is, if it were curved as I mentioned in the suggestions.

Cheers and was a bit of fun testing this for you.  Though biggest problem I see is that it removed my board "General Discussion", you should look into this deeply.  I would if it were my mod.

SoLoGHoST

Thanks SoLoGHoST, you're helping me address some of what will be the most common questions asked from users installing this mod. The below text is what I'm working on to add to the lower part of the description for this mod (http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2268) on the Mod Site's page.


What you should know before installing this mod

The MyStatus Board
MyStatus_Updates mod connects to "board 1" by default, which is Open Discussions. On install you will notice that the board MyStatus_Updates mod uses will disappear from normal view on your forum. This is not a bug, this is by design. MyStatus_Updates mod has it's own menu button that connects users to the MyStatus Updates pages.

The removal of the MyStatus board from normal view is to eliminate users access to the MyStatus board through any "back doors". The board MyStatus_Updates uses is changable, I'll explain that lower down when I cover the Admin Settings location.

MyStatus_Updates mod removes view of the MyStatus Board for these following pages or features:

• BoardIndex
• Search
• Search2
• Recent
• Unread
• UnreadReplies
• Notify
• JumpTo

Moderator Access
The only back door left open is through Moderation Center » Reported Posts and this is so moderators and admins have full access to all their cool forum administration options, even for MyStatus_Updates mod. This is one of the big reasons I used existing SMF database tables and existing SMF topics and replies coding to create MyStatus_Updates Mod.

The following admin features exist for MyStatus:

• Split topic
• Lock Topic
• Move Topic
• Remove Topic
• Merge Topic
• and any other topics and replies feature normal boards have

Admin Settings
The board MyStatus uses IS changable. Go to the MyStatus language file located in Themes/default/languages/MyStatus.english.php
ALL the Admin Settings are there with full explanations of how they work, and what the default settings are.

You can change:

• The MyStatus board number
• Amount of Status Updates per page
• Avatar size (for Updates and replies separately, 2 settings)
• Wording on all the buttons
• Wording above the status update form

Permissions
Permissions are simple for this mod.

Guests access:

• everyone page (action=everyone) with ALL buttons removed

Members access:

• View all MyStatus pages
• Status Updates form shows at top of forum pages
• Ability to Post & Reply
• All MyStatus buttons show

Error Messages
If you are a guest, or a member with no friends or Status Updates, you may receive an error message depending on what page you are trying to visit or what action you are trying to do. The text to these various error messages is informative to the user, but can be changed to suit your website better if you feel the need.
Go to Themes/default/languages/MyStatus.english.php where the MyStatus Admin Settings are located and you will find the error message section clearly marked toward the bottom of the file.

Uninstall
After uninstall, you will find a few MyStatus language errors in the error log. This is because the Status Update Form shows at the top of the page during the uninstall. These errors are one time only, and will not show again. So don't worry, this is normal and there is nothing wrong with your forum.

@SoloGhost

What do you mean when you said this...

QuotePlease Note - The board is still functional as all of the topics link to it and are able to get to it through the topic/post links

As stated above, the board MyStatus uses is made invisable through ALL normal means. This is by design, to not allow any access to this board in normal forum view (for non-moderator members).

Now the last art of that quote states that you found a way to the topics. Was this on a certian page that I missed blocking the MyStatus board on, or through direct URL links?

If it was through a page/function, please let me know which one, because it needs to be disabled for the MyStatus board number (which is controled through the admin settings as stated above).

Ok, like I said, I had a Portal System installed when testing your mod.  The portal system has a module for listing Recent Topics/Posts and linking to them.  There is no way you can completely hide a post/topic from these portals, as they are built for this sort of thing.  Simply hiding the board from view on the board index of SMF is, not only a Bad Coding Judgement on your part, but will also frustrate users as they could very well be using BOARD id of #1 as a very important board, that once your mod gets installed, becomes invisible/inaccessible.  Though linking to it will work as the board still exists. This is why I suggested having your own table in the database for this mod.  Yes, it's kinda taking a step back from what you've already done, but sometimes, taking a step back is not a bad move, so that your next step forward would be a better move than the previous steps you've made.  Trust me, no one wants to see their boards disappear on them after installing a mod.  This will kill the reputation of your mods bro, and even you as a mod author.  I understand this is your first mod, but would be best to try and create your own table for storing status messages.  Just look at the messages table and use that to base it from instead.  And not sure, but perhaps a clone of the topics table somewhat will be needed.

But hey, if you still feel that you want to use the already existing topic/post functions within SMF which you seem to be using already (and the tables), that it's probably not a good idea to automatically hide a board on them after installing this mod.  I would let them decide via Admin Panel Settings on what board to chose for status updates, as well as make it automatically DISABLED by default (that way the user has to enable it and upon doing so will need to define a board for it to use upon their already existing boards).

Anyways, these are some of the unspoken rules of coding, not in any specific order... 

Rule #1:  Do Not change anything that is already there without the user knowing this prior to it happening.
Rule #2:  Do Not, intentionally, cause any security issues with your product.  Make sure it is completely, 100%, secure to the best of your knowledge.
Rule #3:  Do Not Use other peoples code without their permission.  Make sure you note that their code has contributed to your project and how.
Rule #4:  Support your projects/products and Respect those who use it.
Rule #5:  Your product/project must not contain any viruses/malware/spyware/trojans of any kind.
Rule #6:  Your product/project must not harm the users computer, or software it was intentionally designed for, or any other software, including the Operating System in which it runs on.

And there are many many more rules...  I just don't have the time to list them all.  But if you look at Rule #1 above, you will see that you are in direct violation of this rule with hiding of board id #1 upon installation of your status mod.

Well, bro, Good luck with this mod and Cheers,
Solomon

I didn't have chance to reply to this yesterday.

While I fully understand your reasoning for using an existing board and existing threads (since that makes permissions et al so easy), there are even more routes into that board than you may have realised - I haven't checked the code but off hand, you have direct links to boards and threads in them, portals linking to boards, the different feeds, the printpage view of threads, the recent topics system (which may reuse the same underlying code feeds does, not sure), SSI.php functions... plus any other mods your users may have installed.

This sort of thing regularly comes back at haunt folks, so please don't feel as though it's a direct criticism of you or your work - it isn't. Ordinarily I'd say it's a fantastic idea, but unfortunately the reality and interconnectedness means it isn't.

Pushing it into its own table needn't be a lot of work. Sure you'll be doing queries manually instead of using createPost but very likely it'll be easier to manage in the long run. You can create permissions readily enough to usergroups to manage their own and other user's entries and comments.

If there's anything I can help with please do let me know.

Thanks for the heads up on SSI, I used the morning to work that out and I'll update the package once I get the Who page worked out.

As far as "Rule #1:  Do Not change anything that is already there without the user knowing this prior to it happening."

I have stated many times that it does this. It's even in the write up, clearly stating "What you need to know BEFORE you install this mod". Beside that, where and how else could I warn the user that this is what it does by default?

As far as "Portals", that's not a default SMF function if I remember correctly. I do understand that users would like mods to be universally compatible, but support for other mods isn't something that is mandatory, if I remember correctly. I will try to support as much as I can when it comes to other mods, but I think it's a bit much to expect from the first version. That will come in time.

Hello again, ElectricSquid.

Personally, I think you shouldn't use SMF boards to hold the status of each message.  Again, IMO, bad coding decision, since about 50 - 80% of SMF users have a portal installed, and since it will look rather ugly with this showing up in the Recent Topics/posts modules, it's very unlikely anyone would want to install it.  Let alone keep it, since it would cause problems with a portal system's topics right off of the bat, which many users come to rely on.  However, if you decide to go this way despite what I think, than I would suggest that you make it disabled by default, and after the user installs the package, you can redirect to where the settings are in the Admin Panel for a user to select a board to hold the status update messages in.  Choosing a board for the user, by default might tick a few users off.  However, letting them know of this ahead of time should be ok.  Just as long as there is an option to choose a different board to hold the status messages in, instead of Board #1.  But, in any case, this is your mod, just thought I'd give you some feedback on this from a mod author's stand-point.

Cheers :)

I wouldn't normally do this, but let me give you a little insight from the discussion we had in the Cust. team about this. (As you know, we review mods prior to approval. That means invariably we discuss them as a team prior to approval, amongst other things)

More than one member of the Customizer team has expressed concern over using the main boards for status updates, not only from the usability as mentioned here, but also because it's supposed to be what amounts to a private board, but there are so many ways that is being accessed that it won't really ever work as intended.

Note also that it will skew the stats for the stats page as well.

There are also side benefits to keeping it out the main tables, you reduce the performance hit on searching (oops, yes, that's another area we both may have forgotten about), the hit on stats calculation, post count counting, and generally keeping the main tables free of many/short rows will reduce performance degradation of the entire forum in the longer term.


One other thing we'd picked up on is the use of storing what amounts to settings in the language files - e.g. $txt['avatar_first_msg'] = '60px';

Ideally, $modSettings is the place for this, and providing an interface inside ManageSettings.php which handles all that change for you makes the mod easier to use for the admin and probably easier to maintain too, because you're keeping it structurally closer to SMF (language stuff in the language files, settings in the settings files)

You could for example make the option just have the number (and have SMF check it is a number) and then just insert that number later, with your code adding 'px' on the end.

If there's something you're not sure about with that please do let me know and I can go through it. This is an excellent start to modding, but right now it has a few things we're a little concerned about, and what we're also keen for - and I'll be honest - is to discourage people from getting into maybe bad habits.

Quote from: Arantor on November 13, 2009, 03:57:58 PM
I wouldn't normally do this, but let me give you a little insight from the discussion we had in the Cust. team about this. (As you know, we review mods prior to approval. That means invariably we discuss them as a team prior to approval, amongst other things)

I appreciate the insight, and just so you know, do to the shear size and function of this mod, I don't expect it would be approved the first time around.

Quote
More than one member of the Customizer team has expressed concern over using the main boards for status updates, not only from the usability as mentioned here, but also because it's supposed to be what amounts to a private board, but there are so many ways that is being accessed that it won't really ever work as intended.

I realize that there are a lot of ways into a board.
I have eliminated view through the following...

• BoardIndex
• Search
• Search2
• Recent
• Unread
• UnreadReplies
• Notify
• JumpTo
• SSI functions

Quote
Note also that it will skew the stats for the stats page as well.

There are also side benefits to keeping it out the main tables, you reduce the performance hit on searching (oops, yes, that's another area we both may have forgotten about), the hit on stats calculation, post count counting, and generally keeping the main tables free of many/short rows will reduce performance degradation of the entire forum in the longer term.

Search and Search2 has been eliminated already.

Stats?
OK, you got me there. How do I keep the MyStatus board from being counted in stats?
I'll look to see if I can eliminate that too.

Short rows?
OK, didn't think of that yet.
I planned to create a way of pruning the MyStatus board, since it will be fast paced and any Status Update over 3 months old is as good as dead and can be removed.

Quote
One other thing we'd picked up on is the use of storing what amounts to settings in the language files - e.g. $txt['avatar_first_msg'] = '60px';

Ideally, $modSettings is the place for this, and providing an interface inside ManageSettings.php which handles all that change for you makes the mod easier to use for the admin and probably easier to maintain too, because you're keeping it structurally closer to SMF (language stuff in the language files, settings in the settings files)

You could for example make the option just have the number (and have SMF check it is a number) and then just insert that number later, with your code adding 'px' on the end.

Admin settings in the admin panel are next on the list.
I put them in the language file out of temporary convenience. But I do plan to create an admin panel section dedicated to the mod.

Quote
If there's something you're not sure about with that please do let me know and I can go through it. This is an excellent start to modding, but right now it has a few things we're a little concerned about, and what we're also keen for - and I'll be honest - is to discourage people from getting into maybe bad habits.

Thanks for your help.
I could use a point in the right direction with how to get this mod, on install, to create it's own board, and connect to it. With the creation of it's own board, it won't need to connect to an existing one.

Version 1.1 is done.
I added Who's Online support and made it where the MyStatus board doesn't show/interfere with SSI functions that show normal boards, topics, or replies.
A special SSI function for MyStatus_Updates will be created soon.

The updated pre-release of MyStatus_Updates v1.1 is attached to the first post of this topic.
This pre-release is for testing on a non-production site ONLY.
MyStatus_Updates mod is not yet an approved SMF mod at this time.

I really dont see the point in deniying them access to this board through all these places.

Much easier to just create a new table.

IMHO, you need to rethink how this mod works, and again IMHO the design of the layouts.

SSI.php is supposed to be used to show any board.  May I ask, why don't you just create Tables.  For example status_message and status_topic tables can be created.  Or perhaps you really only need 1 table:  status_message.  In any case, I think the short version of what Arantor was saying in his post, and I could be wrong, is that your mod will not get approved as long as you are using boards for this, since there are too many concerns as SMF ties directly and indirectly into topics/posts more so than one could possibly comprehend... STATS, Post Count, Topic Count, etc. etc. etc..  And getting rid of all of these in your mod poses a huge security risk as well as risking the functions of SMF in itself.  So, in short, just create a table or 2, to handle this as it's really the only way to get this functioning properly without interfering with SMF's posts and topics.

For all of you who think that hiding a board is a security risk, and that it is too big a job to do, keep in mind that the Recycle Bin is hidden exactly the same way I am hiding the MyStatus board. In fact, it's been easy to hide the mystatus board from normal view because I'm simply excluding it everywhere the recycle bin is excluded already, and the same way the recycle bin is excluded. Directly in the WHERE.

Why do I want to use the SMF board and topics tables?
That one is easy, because to allow for ALL the functions of SMF to happen for my mod, and do it with new tables, I would have to pretty much rewrite SMF.

Instead, I am simply using 1 board, hiding it like the recycle bin, and allowing access ONLY through my mods pages.

Say a member has a Status Update that they would like to port over to the forum as a real topic. How do you suggest they do that the way you are saying to code this mod? They can't without extensive coding.
With the way this mod is coded right now, that is possible. All a admin needs to do is go to the board directly via URL, or just have the user hit the spam button, and that will bring them to the Report to Moderator page, where they can ask to have the Status Update moved to the forum. In the moderator page, the link there will bring the mod to the normal forum view for the MyStatus board, where ALL moderator functions exist, including MOVE, SPLIT, LOCK, etc.

That is why I am using the existing SFM board and topic tables, and coding, just showing it differently.

As far as skewing the Stats page, I just fixed that with version 1.2, which will be available as an attachment in the first post in about 2 minutes.

Let me clarify that statement.

It is NOT hidden the same way at all. If it were you wouldn't have to modify all those files, because those files do not investigate the recycled board variables, and that is where my issue is. Might want to investigate what {query_see_board} and {query_wanna_see_board} do.

Converting a status to a full blown topic? Create an action/subaction and push it via createPost. Really not a lot of code there.

How often would you seriously need to split/merge status updates?


The one issue I will come back to, however, is performance. This will have a non trivial effect on the performance of SMF as a whole. Don't forget, when you modify the tables you are, you're also modifying multiple OTHER tables at the same time and creating a situation where you will pretty seriously impact the log_mark_read table as well. It will grow fairly huge, in fact, if you're determined to use the board in the regular way.

While I see where you're going with this, there are some real concerns about doing this. We have a standing policy with respect to mod approvals, one of the terms is no significant performance hits. This WILL cause performance issues, and if anything your purging ideas on the tables will actually make it worse, not better, because you will have significant fragmentation of two of the biggest-hit tables in SMF.

This would be resolved through the Optimisation scheduled task, but then that blocks performance of the entire forum (while that operation runs, NOTHING else can).

Earlier I said we had concerns. The longer I look at this, the more I'm concerned this will have performance issues on any forum with more than 1k regular posts + arbitrary number of status updates, or 98% or more of the forums that would use this mod.

In all of the files I'm modifying to block the Mystatus board view, I am finding this in the WHERE...

<?php

AND b.id_board != {int:recycle_board_id}

?>


All I'm doing is adding...

<?php

AND b.id_board != {int:mystatus_board}

?>


So I'm not sure why that would be there to exclude the recycle board if it wasn't needed :o

If I'm not mistaken, I addressed the read/non-read issue in ver 1.0
I'll have to go back and look at that. I believe I addressed it by making it where ALL posts are automatically marked as always read, so there wouldn't be this huge unread impact.

If posts are unread, there's no performance concern because you're not filling the table. If you are marking them read for all users, you're filling up log_mark_read possibly unnecessarily.

/me hasn't examined the code on that part too deeply though.

Quote from: Arantor on November 13, 2009, 08:33:49 PM
If posts are unread, there's no performance concern because you're not filling the table. If you are marking them read for all users, you're filling up log_mark_read possibly unnecessarily.

/me hasn't examined the code on that part too deeply though.

I might be mistaken on that. I took care of Notify, but after looking into the read/unread, I need to address that.
For this mod, there is no need for read/unread.

So, you say if posts are unread, that's fine?
Basically I would need to keep them from being log_mark_read, as far as you say.
That sounds easy.

Hmmm... how do I keep them from being marked read when they read them..... looking now.....



Oh, I'm on ver 1.3 now.

Then you'd have to modify Display.php to not update that table, and also the markasread (think that's its name) action also to minimise folks marking the entire board as read.

And also should the admin ever change the board id, all this changes too.

OK, it's only marking them read when a user posts.
You can look at the posts all day, and it's not marked as read.

Views aren't logged either, only the number of replies, which I believe is just a count of replies.

So basically all I need to do is adress the marked read for MyStatus Board on post issue and I have the log_mark_read issue licked.

That's in Post.php, I'll be right back.....

Quote from: Arantor on November 13, 2009, 08:54:09 PM
Then you'd have to modify Display.php to not update that table, and also the markasread (think that's its name) action also to minimise folks marking the entire board as read.

And also should the admin ever change the board id, all this changes too.

I need to make make it where the board is created during install, that would limit the need to ever change the board number. That'll be tomorrows work :)

As far as Display.php, it's not used for this mod. I'm calling the data straight from the database tables in MyStatus.php, which is how I've slimmed down the amount that is called upon. Remember, I I needed was the topic_id, and the messages in it, nothing else (well, almost).

OK, got it done. Now even on post or reply, the topics are not marked as read.
Kiss that performance issue goodbye!!

Thanks Arantor, for the heads up on that one.
What else ya got?


Oh, I'll post the new package with this change in a few minutes once I package it.
There have been a lot of changes since ver. 1.0, so I hope the team looking this over catches that I've uploaded the newer versions (to the mod site) since they downloaded the first one.

Version 1.25 will be up in about 20 minutes

You still haven't addressed my even greater concern: table fragmentation of the {db_prefix}messages table, and the fact that come optimisation, the entire forum will grind to a halt while the entire table is rebuilt.


Oh, by the way, you kind of missed my point with {query_see_board}. If you had modified where that was defined, you'd nail pretty much every place in one go.

Quote from: Arantor on November 13, 2009, 09:31:00 PM
You still haven't addressed my even greater concern: table fragmentation of the {db_prefix}messages table, and the fact that come optimisation, the entire forum will grind to a halt while the entire table is rebuilt.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Why/how does a table get fragmented?

Quote
Oh, by the way, you kind of missed my point with {query_see_board}. If you had modified where that was defined, you'd nail pretty much every place in one go.

I have to search that one. I don't know where that is defined.

---

Sorry for the delay with the newest version,
I had an issue with the install package I needed to fix.
It's uploaded now.

Same way a disk gets fragmented, and for the same reasons.

Imagine a table with 1000 rows in, the messages table. Let's say for the sake of argument that everything's the same size, 1000 characters.

Now let's say we delete item 1. That gives us a space at the start of the table of 1000 characters.

Next time we want to create a new record of 2000 characters. We have two choices how we do this, we can either split the row in half, and put half in that first space and half at the end. OR, we can put the entire thing at the end, and hope that some other record comes along to claim that 1000 character space.

Now, imagine you're doing this all the time with regular purging and regular new records. Over time this gets worse and worse in performance terms.

So what happens is, periodically, we optimise the table, restructuring it to be in a single cohesive list. BUT while we're doing that, the entire table is locked, meaning it can neither be read nor written to.

Now, I know that the average user will more likely make status updates than posts, as Facebook and Twitter have proven. Meaning this whole process is going to go on and on.

So when it comes for the process of optimising, you have many many small rows clogging up the process, meaning that during that time while it's mulching through that, NO user can use the forum (not even the admin).

On any sufficiently large forum this is likely to be a real performance killer over time.

Here's where we get into the need to limit the amount of messages that can be in this table.

Personally, I don't think anyone who would be posting to this mod would give two $#!+$ about a Status Update 3 weeks old unless it was their own and they didn't visit the site much.

In fact, if an average power user goes back more than a day or two on a busy site, I would be shocked.

So if we limit the life span or amount of Updates a user can have, that should limit this issue down to a serviceable amount.

The big question is, where do we set this limit?
Is there an existing process that can be used?

No, there isn't an existing process for limiting user messages, other than preventing them being posted too quickly.


You're still missing where I'm getting at. You're still injecting smaller-than-average messages into a table not designed for it, meaning you'll be inserting these in between regular messages.

Over time this WILL cause degradation of performance. By limiting user capacity to post status updates (other than to 1, and storing it in the member's table), you only mitigate rather than resolve.

You also realise, of course, the ENTIRETY of the forum is being slowed down by adding status updates to the primary messages/topics table, and by adding extra data unnecessarily.


I'm sorry. I don't believe, and have never believed, this is the road you should go down. I personally believe you should have moved this data to a separate table, and even granted separate permissions for management, which would avoid all these other problems.

I am not going to continue arguing on this matter. I personally will not approve this mod, however I will not prevent anyone else on the Customization Team doing the same if they have no such concerns over it. The internal discussion has flagged up this topic and is being taken into account during the approval process.

IMHO, scrap this post idea and use your own tables !!!

Why find hundreds of solutions to make it work when there is a better alternative!!!

As of now, I wont be using this for the post reason, and for the *hideous* (IMHO) design.

Quote from: Arantor on November 14, 2009, 09:22:09 AM

You're still missing where I'm getting at. You're still injecting smaller-than-average messages into a table not designed for it, meaning you'll be inserting these in between regular messages.

The reason I'm missing this point is because every forum I'm a member of has a ton of these small messages all over the forum posted by daily post whores :P (no offense meant)
So what you are telling me here is that those forums are having this issue already?

Or if I understand correctly, those forums are fine because most of the posts are small anyway.
In that case, I don't see how this mod doing the same thing that is already being done is such an issue.

Quote from: Arantor on November 14, 2009, 09:22:09 AM
I am not going to continue arguing on this matter.

and I'm not arguing with you about this as you implied :)
I've taken most of what you said and did something about it.
I just don't get the fragmentation thing because of what I just posted above.

QuoteThe internal discussion has flagged up this topic and is being taken into account during the approval process.

Good, I was hoping they would :)

Are you regularly deleting those messages?

It wouldn't be quite so bad if you weren't.

But if they are posting them, you'll get double benefit keeping them OUT of the main message tables, because you won't get the same fragmentation across the primary tables (which means everything's kept faster), AND you can prune them at your leisure without hurting the main tables. Plus you can run your own prune/optimise schedule without having it affect the entire post stack, plus you won't get the additional pain of the search index being extended.

Ok, now I think I fully "get it".
LOL, I wish I would have fully gotten it before I got this far :P But that's water under the bridge.

So, on to creating the MyStatus table in the database.....

Huzzaaahhhh !!

About time too xD

I'm about half way through converting this mod over to it's own tables.
I might get it done tonight if all goes well.

While I'm at it, I'm taking the time to take the admin settings out of the language file and add them to  $modSettings. This was intended from the start, but I had other stuff that was more inportant that needed to be taken care of first.

Any suggestion on the data type the messages should be?

Depends how long they are gunna be xD

Also, are you adding BBC buttons to the message boxes ?

It does, very much, depend on how long they are going to be.

If you keep it to 255 characters, you can do it in a varchar(255) which will keep performance well, but any longer than that, you'll need to use text.

Quote from: Arantor on November 14, 2009, 04:14:12 PM
It does, very much, depend on how long they are going to be.

If you keep it to 255 characters, you can do it in a varchar(255) which will keep performance well, but any longer than that, you'll need to use text.

If any sad act wants to type more than 255 characters about what they're doing, faeking let em have the bad performance xD :D

255 is too small, have you see the length of some of the political conversations on facebook lately? 420 doesn't even cover it.

...and BBcode buttons will be eventually added so I should support those from the start.

Then text is the only type you can use

Quote from: sangwe11 on November 14, 2009, 04:21:39 PM
Then text is the only type you can use

Not strictly true. Varchar does support > 255 characters, however that's only on MySQL 5 and up. AFAIK the majority of SMF users aren't on MySQL 5+ yet.

Quote from: Arantor on November 14, 2009, 04:28:23 PM

Quote from: sangwe11 on November 14, 2009, 04:21:39 PM
Then text is the only type you can use

Not strictly true. Varchar does support > 255 characters, however that's only on MySQL 5 and up. AFAIK the majority of SMF users aren't on MySQL 5+ yet.

Hense why I said text is the way too go xD

text or mediumtext?
SMF's message body uses mediumtext.
It there an advantage of using one over the other?

Quote
Not strictly true. Varchar does support > 255 characters, however that's only on MySQL 5 and up. AFAIK the majority of SMF users aren't on MySQL 5+ yet.

I have to keep this backward compatible. A lot of users can't control the database version they are on since they run through a host.

This answered the question for me...
http://www.ispirer.com/doc/sqlways39/Output/SQLWays-1-211.html (http://www.ispirer.com/doc/sqlways39/Output/SQLWays-1-211.html)

text it is.

In MySQL, TEXT and MEDIUMTEXT are exactly the same thing. MEDIUMTEXT is the technical name, TEXT the canonical.

Text could still be limited if I am understanding this correctly?
By adding a size to the row during creation?
Example below limits to 420?

And if this is so, how do I pass that info back to the user if the user types more than 420?


<?php

array(
'name' => 'body',
'type' => 'mediumtext',
'size' => '420',
'default' => null,
),

?>


That won't work properly and will not actually create the column (or table) for you.

TEXT and MEDIUMTEXT do not have implicit sizes less than 65535 characters.

You will have to check it yourself when the user submits it before attempting to add it to the database, and revert to the user appropriately.

Well I think that 255 characters are enough!! It's only a status update..!

Anyway I'm glad to read you've decided to use another table!! :)

While I personally would agree (255 is fine for most users!) I can see the benefit of allowing the mod not to.

Idea for you: allow the user to switch it, and issue the appropriate db_alter_column statement.

Quote from: Arantor on November 14, 2009, 07:17:15 PM
db_alter_column statement.

Where's the documentation on that?
I'm not seeing it here [LINK] (http://dev.simplemachines.org/smcfunctions.php)

Oh, it's called db_change_column. I don't use it much to be honest so I wasn't 100% on what it was called.

Is there a demo?

Quote from: ormuz on November 15, 2009, 12:14:01 PM
Is there a demo?

Not afaik, but if he wants me too, I can set him up a demo if needs be.

Quote from: ormuz on November 15, 2009, 12:14:01 PM
Is there a demo?

Not yet, I'm rewriting it's core code due to concerns from the customizer team.
It'll be a few more days till I get the last few bugs worked out.

I'm at a little bit of a stuck point.
How is $topic populated in Post2?

Quote from: ElectricSquid on November 15, 2009, 03:28:27 PM
I'm at a little bit of a stuck point.
How is $topic populated in Post2?

I thought you had dropped using the topics / posts ?

It's actually done the same way it is throughout the rest of SMF, by looking in $_REQUEST['topic'].

Quote from: sangwe11 on November 15, 2009, 03:34:40 PM

Quote from: ElectricSquid on November 15, 2009, 03:28:27 PM
I'm at a little bit of a stuck point.
How is $topic populated in Post2?

I thought you had dropped using the topics / posts ?

In a forum board, I did.
But this mod acts almost identically to how topics and replies are done. So it would make logical sense to look at how topics and replies are posted, to get ideas on how to do it elsewhere.

Or no?

Quote from: Arantor on November 15, 2009, 03:56:55 PM
It's actually done the same way it is throughout the rest of SMF, by looking in $_REQUEST['topic'].

Quote from: Arantor on November 15, 2009, 03:56:55 PM
It's actually done the same way it is throughout the rest of SMF, by looking in $_REQUEST['topic'].

The issue I'm having is...
OK, first you need so insight on what I did.
Basically, I grabbed the code from post2 and sub-post, since that was how I had this mod doing it before this huge change to it's own tables. That code now resides in it's own independent Source files. Index.php has been updated, and the forms have been updated. The new tables are also in the database as needed.

OK, now I can post a new topic (status update), that works as needed and returns me to the everyone page.
I can reply to ONE new topic, but every other new topic I try to reply to gives me this message...
"The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you."

But I can still reply to the one new topic that I successfully replied to the first time.

Unfortunatly I am having a huge problem figuring out where the issue is.

If you're using $topic directly (which is a bad idea), it's defined in index.php during page load, directly from $_REQUEST.

I still don't know enough about what you're doing and how you're trying to do it.

What URL are you trying to access when you get that error?

Quote from: Arantor on November 15, 2009, 04:25:13 PM
If you're using $topic directly (which is a bad idea), it's defined in index.php during page load, directly from $_REQUEST.

I still don't know enough about what you're doing and how you're trying to do it.

What URL are you trying to access when you get that error?

It's a custom url and I'm working it all custom files at this point.
I have the issue rounded down to the fact that it only errors out on the first reply to a post.
I can post in any update already replied to, but if the update is new, it throws the error.

I'm still working on it.

Then there's some faulty logic in your code somewhere if you're completely in a custom action.

Quote from: Arantor on November 15, 2009, 04:25:13 PM
If you're using $topic directly (which is a bad idea), it's defined in index.php during page load, directly from $_REQUEST.

Your advice was what I needed.
I was using $topic, which was a bad idea.
I switched that to $update and $_REQUEST['update'] and that damn near fixed the problem.

Thanks!!
After a few other minor tweaks, I have it functional now, and fully independent from SMF boards, database tables, and coding.

Quote from: Arantor on November 15, 2009, 10:08:27 PM
Then there's some faulty logic in your code somewhere if you're completely in a custom action.

LOL, :P rub it in why don't you :P

Hey, nice Code Monkey logo you have there.
Is that new? I haven't noticed it before.

Quote from: ElectricSquid on November 15, 2009, 10:47:28 PM
LOL, :P rub it in why don't you :P

That wasn't what I was on about; simply that if you're using a custom action and not calling SMF functions, process of elimination says it's your custom code.

QuoteHey, nice Code Monkey logo you have there.
Is that new? I haven't noticed it before.

I switched my avatar to that yesterday. I'm feeling in a slightly frivolous mood, so will change my avatar around occasionally; I have a couple of others to run with yet...

What are all the parameters for $config_vars?
I can't find any documentation on it anywhere.

I looked at other mods to get an idea, but I don't exactly know what ALL the parameters are. Especially this last one.... ,'',

<?php

array('text', 'mystatus_update_txt','32','label' => $txt['mystatus_update_txt'], 'subtext' => $txt['mystatus_update_txt2']),'',

?>

I figured out the ,'', at the end, it's actually outside of the setting array, and somehow creates a <hr /> between settings.

I would still like to know the full range of options available for $config_vars if anyone knows where that info can be found.

Take a look in ManageServer.php for that.

Parameters for $config_vars, by and large it's an array of arrays, with the subarrays being 2+ items, the first being the type of option (text, large_text, check, int, float), the second being the name of the entry in $txt and $modSettings that it needs to be.

size is used to dictate the size of the box, label is the text label it gets if you don't want to use the default auto populated one, subtext is a sub label it has.

You can simply define it as ('text', 'settingname') to have it saved into $modSettings['settingname'], use $txt['settingname'] and be a basic textbox.

The '' is not outside of the settings array, actually. The array is an array of arrays, really, with one array containing all the settings and each setting being an array or string (default label, not recommended), or '' for divider.

Looking forward to the update!  8)

Quote from: Kays on November 18, 2009, 12:35:22 AM
Take a look in ManageServer.php for that.

Yup, there are a bunch of good examples of $config_vars there in that file
Here's one of them....
(< ?php is added just to make it colorful :P

<?php
/* If you're writing a mod, it's a bad idea to add things here....
For each option:
variable name, description, type (constant), size/possible values, helptext.
OR an empty string for a horizontal rule.
OR a string for a titled section. */
$config_vars = array(
array('mbname', $txt['admin_title'], 'file', 'text', 30),
'',
array('maintenance', $txt['admin_maintain'], 'file', 'check'),
array('mtitle', $txt['maintenance_subject'], 'file', 'text', 36),
array('mmessage', $txt['maintenance_message'], 'file', 'text', 36),
'',
array('webmaster_email', $txt['admin_webmaster_email'], 'file', 'text', 30),
'',
array('enableCompressedOutput', $txt['enableCompressedOutput'], 'db', 'check', null, 'enableCompressedOutput'),
array('disableTemplateEval', $txt['disableTemplateEval'], 'db', 'check', null, 'disableTemplateEval'),
array('disableHostnameLookup', $txt['disableHostnameLookup'], 'db', 'check', null, 'disableHostnameLookup'),
);
?>


... and I'm going to take a wild guess at it here, I'm guessing that the Help file text that can be added to the $config_vars array should be located in Help.english.php?

It's a bit different in ManageServer.php, which is why it should be in ManageSettings.php.

Yes, you can add it in Help.english.php but it's preferred to keep all language strings in Modifications.english.php generally.

If you look further up the page you'll see this. Which is why I referred you to that file. It should explain it all.

Quote
/*   Adding options to one of the setting screens isn't hard. Call prepareDBSettingsContext;
   The basic format for a checkbox is:
      array('check', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL'),

      And for a text box:
      array('text', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL')
      (NOTE: You have to add an entry for this at the bottom!)

      In these cases, it will look for $txt['nameInModSettingsAndSQL'] as the description,
      and $helptxt['nameInModSettingsAndSQL'] as the help popup description.

   Here's a quick explanation of how to add a new item:

    * A text input box.  For textual values.
   ie.   array('text', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', 'OptionalInputBoxWidth'),

    * A text input box.  For numerical values.
   ie.   array('int', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', 'OptionalInputBoxWidth'),

    * A text input box.  For floating point values.
   ie.   array('float', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', 'OptionalInputBoxWidth'),

    * A large text input box. Used for textual values spanning multiple lines.
   ie.   array('large_text', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', 'OptionalNumberOfRows'),

    * A check box.  Either one or zero. (boolean)
   ie.   array('check', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL'),

    * A selection box.  Used for the selection of something from a list.
   ie.   array('select', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', array('valueForSQL' => $txt['displayedValue'])),
   Note that just saying array('first', 'second') will put 0 in the SQL for 'first'.

    * A password input box. Used for passwords, no less!
   ie.   array('password', 'nameInModSettingsAndSQL', 'OptionalInputBoxWidth'),

   * A permission - for picking groups who have a permission.
   ie.   array('permissions', 'manage_groups'),

   * A BBC selection box.
   ie.   array('bbc', 'sig_bbc'),

   For each option:
      type (see above), variable name, size/possible values.
   OR   make type '' for an empty string for a horizontal rule.
   SET   preinput - to put some HTML prior to the input box.
   SET   postinput - to put some HTML following the input box.
   SET   invalid - to mark the data as invalid.
   PLUS   You can override label and help parameters by forcing their keys in the array, for example:
      array('text', 'invalidlabel', 3, 'label' => 'Actual Label') */

It's complete and ready for approval!!
Totally reworked, completely upgraded.

This mod is now self cleaning.
Uses it's own database tables.
Many admin settings.
Features smart return on posting and replying.

Yaddda yadda yadda :P

http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=2268

Yeeeeah!! 8)
Can't wait to try it! :D

QuoteSorry but no mod was found

:(
hope this mod will be finally released soon!

Quote from: saosangmo on November 28, 2009, 10:42:40 AM

QuoteSorry but no mod was found

:(
hope this mod will be finally released soon!

It's there, but the SMF Customization Team is still looking it over so that's probably why it's not showing up for you.
It's a big mod with a lot of coding and many things they need to look at.
(ie. many ways to try to make it fail)

Plus Thanksgiving just passed, so it might take them a few days/weeks to approve it (or send it back to me for revisions).

While I'm waiting, I am working on a sister mod that will go well with MyStatus_Updates Mod.

It's usually measured in days, for small mods, maybe a week or more for larger ones (like this). We're looking at it, though, rest assured. It hasn't dropped 'off the radar'.

Thanks for backing me up on that one.

You guys and gals take your time, and enjoy your long weekend ;)

Great idea...
Can this work with 1.1.10 ?

Given how much work is involved, I doubt many would want to backport this; well over half would have to be rewritten.

Quote from: Dzonny on November 29, 2009, 01:14:34 PM
Great idea...
Can this work with 1.1.10 ?

No, 1.1.x support is not available, and probably won't be in the future.
Arantor is correct, there would be a lot of code that would need a total re-write in order to back-port this mod.
I am concentrating my efforts on a sister mod (to this one) and don't have the time needed to re-write MyStatus_Updates for 1.1.x

Quote from: ElectricSquid on December 02, 2009, 10:13:39 AM

Quote from: Dzonny on November 29, 2009, 01:14:34 PM
Great idea...
Can this work with 1.1.10 ?

No, 1.1.x support is not available, and probably won't be in the future.
Arantor is correct, there would be a lot of code that would need a total re-write in order to back-port this mod.
I am concentrating my efforts on a sister mod (to this one) and don't have the time needed to re-write MyStatus_Updates for 1.1.x

And, seeing as SMF 2 is so great, why bother?

Quote from: sangwe11 on December 02, 2009, 11:42:12 AM
And, seeing as SMF 2 is so great, why bother?

huh??

Every time I see the new post on this topic, I check if the mod is public or not! :(

ElectricSquid: sangwe11 is being rheatorical, specifically that since SMF 2 is so good, mod authors wouldn't necessarily want to backport to 1.1. I know I'm not backporting much of my newer stuff to 1.1 now.

Quote from: Arantor on December 03, 2009, 03:28:27 AM
ElectricSquid: sangwe11 is being rheatorical, specifically that since SMF 2 is so good, mod authors wouldn't necessarily want to backport to 1.1. I know I'm not backporting much of my newer stuff to 1.1 now.

For anything that I write, or finish writing when I actually get time to sit down and finish them now (busy with exam revision :() I won't be backporting.

I will welcome anyone that wants to back port for themselves, but I won't let anyone release a backported version as a public one.

I have been following this. Thanks a lot for developing such a useful mod. Very useful i say.

<== Anxiously awaiting this mod. It's 1/3 of some new ones I'm tracking that will finally let me do the redesign of my site I have been planning.

When will it be finally approved? Hmm...

When we approve it.

Quote from: Arantor on December 16, 2009, 07:40:01 AM
When we approve it.

Ha ha ha...

Can't say more than it. It'll be approved when it's approved. We asked for some things to be changed for performance reasons, amongst other things.

Quote from: Arantor on December 16, 2009, 09:12:01 AM
Can't say more than it. It'll be approved when it's approved. We asked for some things to be changed for performance reasons, amongst other things.

Hope it will be around early new year...

Any news on this?

seconded!

Might ElectricSquid taken ill or something? He hasn't been logged on for a month, and I was thinking maybe something was wrong.

I really hope this extension will be public soon, we are in a situation were we need to decide what to do with our forum where the activity is dying caused by Facebook. I hope that this feature might boost our forum's activity.

This will be great to have if it gets finished.

I would also like to have it on my forum :)

Glad I stumbled upon this... shame it's not available though and the author has gone missing. :(

Considering something like this for when I relaunch my forum on SMF2. Will monitor this thread in the meantime and hope there are developments...