My head is spinning! What components and mods are out there??

[phil_roy]

Hi all,

I'm about to move my site from the integrated phpBB component to SMF. I've tested it locally on my Mac, but the sites (including this one) that you get SMF info from are just confusing as heck! (Sorry, no offence)

I first had the Joomlahacks component installed, then I stumbled upon this....
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,20247.0.html

This made the component from this site a little more impressive, so I came to this site and to this page...
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.0

Downloaded the component and installed it...no problems. BUT....it talks about a number of modules that I for the life of me can't find. I've been everywhere (over 2 hours of searching between here, mamboforge etc). I've read most of the 29 pages of this thread...
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=63182.0

Again...still no luck. I saw in one thread a suggestion that the 'recent posts' mod might not work for 1.1RC2, bu hold on...the section about the latest version of the bridge (http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.0) has a section "MISCELLANEOUS MODULES" that describes them in detail...but where are they??

So I look at the FAQ....
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=63187.0

Nope...no help there. Soo maybe a "module" might be considered a "modification" (I know, pushing my luck...no joy there either!)

So (as a newbie who has a lot of interest in good web design) can I make a suggestion.....a page...a single page....with a lovely table that has across the top the various versions of SMF. Down the left....bridges, modules, mambots and anything else with *just* there title....and in the table, a simple link...a number representing the version and you click on it to download. There'd even be room to list if more than one person has made something.

Sorry to rant....SMF looks really cool and I'm amazed at the wealth of postings here and at the Joomla site about bridging....but I'm just staggered that I can't seem to find some of the simplest pieces of software that are mentioned.

Do I go back to Joomlahacks? I had the feeling the bridge here had advantages??

Phil

PS...if anyone needs instructions on how to migrate from the integrated phpBB component to SMF, I added quite a detailed list to this thread....
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=70555.msg508138#msg508138

[Dannii]

We do have mods listed at http://mods.simplemachines.org/

However most portals and bridges are not included, as they really have more to do with other software than just SMF. I'm not sure exactly what you want so I can't help more.

[phil_roy]

Just even the basic modules 
MISC MODULES are described in length here...
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.0
such as...mod_smf_RecentEvents, mod_smf_RecentPosts, mod_smf_RecentTopics:

But where are they? And what is SSI?
This is the sort of basic stuff I can't find, despite trawlling the forums.

Phil

[Dannii]

Those are all Mambo/Joomla stuff, which I know nothing about.

SSI.php is a file included with SMF. It allows you to include many of the basic and not-so-basic functions in any other php file on your server. It also gives you access to the SMF database, and allows you to do many things, such as having people login on other pages.

[Orstio]

Let's make this simple.

What version of SMF do you have?

[Kindred]

hmmm... even simpler...

The modules and mambots are attached to the very post where they are described!
Log in to simplemachines.org.
Go to http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.msg266417#msg266417
and http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.msg470792#msg470792

See modules and mambots attached at the bottom of those two posts....

[phil_roy]

No that's my point. I have 1.1 RC2.....the thread is clearly broken up into two sections....the first is about 1.1 RC2 and the bridge v1.1.1 (aka 3.20). It mentions 11 modules...but there are only 7 to download.

Next, (your second link) is a section of that thread about Instructions for v3.19a of the Bridge: (for use with SMF 1.0.x and SMF 1.1RC1 or prior.....and in that thread are 4 more mods with the comment...."I don't think the related topics module works under SMF 1.1 RC2... but the rest should work correctly under any version of SMF and any version of Mambo or Joomla."

My point (and guys, I'm not complaining, just confused) is that the first part of the thread is very detailed and informative...but not to the point of saying where the 'missing' mods are, or if mods futher down now work with 1.1 RC2. In a detailed artcile that mentions all those modules, it's actually quite hard to figure out where they are, if they are available or of there's technical reasons why modules mention later on in the thread (about a different SMF version) apply to it also, when the thread starts of by highlighting the separation of the two and (in a way) encouraging users to focus on the appropriate part of thh thread (top part for RC2, bottom part for older versions)

It just confuses the heck out of me (like putting me in a round room and telling me to find the corner...ha!)

Phil

[Kindred]

actually, the second set were added to the thread later...   and that's why they appear below the 3.19 section...  NOTE... they are BELOW the 3.19a section.. NOT part of it.

Those modules were originally distributed WITH the bridge package. When someone asked for them, we directed them to the old package... That got to be too confusing and so those modules were added into the combined readme post.

[phil_roy]

OK...I guess my point is..see how confusing it is? I don't think I'm exceptionally dumb (others may argue) but that thread is very hard to read in terms of what modules goes with what bridge....particularly when there is strong emphasis (in red) about one part of the thread being for RC2 and the other part for ealrier versions.

I get it now...it's a posting subsequent to all that, but perhaps a page where modules and bridges are listed (even a downloads sections?) would make things easier?

Phil

[CheChen]

Now, there is no mod for recent posts for SMF 1.1 RC2 and Joomla 1.0.8??

[phil_roy]

Yes I think there is...just well hidden....it's amongst the group of 4 modules listed way down the thread at this post...
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=25718.msg470792#msg470792

Appears to be working on my test site.

Phil

[TriGrrrl]

I'm going to have to agree with phil_roy.  I've been a devoted Mambo/Joomla bridge user for about a year now and I have extensive experience finding, grabbing, installing, and debugging the bridge mods.

But even after all this time, it *still* takes me a long time to find all the various bits.  In fact, I stumbled across this post by trying to search for "mod_smf_recentevents".  It's my only gripe about this effort.  The bridge and the support are top-notch. 

It would be lovely if there were a central page somewhere, perhaps linked from the Joomla extensions site, or perhaps a seperate category on the SMF mods page... something... that will present the available material at a single glance.


Keep up the great work,

TG

[Kindred]

I would have to suggest that your experience in tracking these things down is lacking, then....

all of the current modules and mambots for the bridge are attached in a single message (one for each version of the bridge) in the updated combined readme thread...  (and while the updated combined readme was done this week, I have included the modules and mambots in the original combined readme post for the last few months.

[phil_roy]

My head still spins a little when reading the read me....as I work as an instructional designer, I do find myself reading, then re-reading then realising I'm in the wrong part of the read me.

I think the challenge is one that is difficult for you guys, as you've generously produced a read me that covers mutiple versions on two different systems (Mambo/Joomla) and that must be as complex as heck for you. But I do have to say, that even that basic combined read me has a flow that goes like this...

* Post on joomla and 1.1.3
* 2nd Post on joomla and 1.1.3
* Post on Mambo and 1.1.3
* Post on 3.19a with SMF 1.0.x or SMF 1.1beta or SMF 1.1 RC1
* 2nd post (I think) on Instructions for v3.19a of the Bridge
* Post on Width of Themes pages in SMF? (assume this is for all versions on all CMS)
* Modifications for Additional Functions and Code Hacks (this seems to vary between Mambo and Joomla)
* Next post is hack is for Mambo 4.5.2.3 or prior and then futher in is for Joomla ONLY
* THEMES! (again for both I think)
* OTHER MODULES/BOTS
* Actual MODULES & BOTS for 1.1.3
* MODULES & BOTS for 3.19a

So for a Joomla user it's 1, 2...skip 3,4,5...6,7,part of 8,9,10,11 skip 12...unless of course you're not using the 1.1.3 bridge in which case it's....well, I won't go further.

I know you're not going to like this suggestion....as I know a combined read me must save you a heck of a lot of work....but maybe it's time to split the combined read me up? I know multiple stickies on this site aren't going to be that attractive...maybe it's time to have to child boards (kinda like the Joomla site) where one is nothing but your anncouncements and read me's that we can't alter (each for whatever version of the bridge and CMS we use) and then another area wehere we discuss it all?

Just a thought. I really do appreciate all that you have done with regards the bridge and supporting us all.

Phil

[Kindred]

no, child boards are not the answer and won't be done by the management

And multiple sticky posts won't work either since the more sticky posts we add, the less space there is for non-sticky posts. In addition, people already don't read the sticky posts... more of them just means more things that they won't read.

The combined readme post WAS a mish-mash, I agree...   the updated one flows correctly now, though... as long as you read the titles of each post.  1.1.3 instructions... (because that is what most people will be installing now) 3.19a instructions... (because we do still support versions for 1.0.x) and then the stuff that is appropriate for both bridges.

Once again, each section is specifically titled and each section specifically states what it is for...