zCommunity 0.8.1 Beta Now available! (supports SMF 2.0 RC1 and 1.1.8)

[ybn1197]

We have installed the mod on a brand new forum, then went into features and options and we are unable to find the blog mod appearing in the forum at all,

Is there anywhere else it should appear as we are unable to activate the blog mod on the test forum.

Was this ever resolved? I'm having the same problem. I installed it into a vanilla test environment (no other mods, default template) but I don't see the Blog Control panel in the menu. I double checked the database and I see the settings in the smf_settings table but I can't access anything.

Make sure the txt strings were added properly to your forum's language files.  Look at the install.xml file that came with the package and compare the changes made to your language files.

Thats what it was. I was installing the package through the admin control panel and it was reporting the package installed properly but the link wasn't showing. Turns out, the language files were right protected and not being changed.

[tom155]

Great mod works good but I wanted to know like most mods you have to uninstall older version to install new version in doing so will the blogs be lost if I uninstall or do I have to manually move the blog boards in Admin CP then make them blog boarsds again with updated blog mod?

Link to Mod

Name: Blog: Community
Version: 1.11
Author: charlesh
Email: [email protected]

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Description:

Powerful and flexible blog add-on for your Simple Machines forum.  Tons of options and features for one or an infinite number of blogs.  Use the multiple blogs mode to turn your forum into a blogging community or be selfish and just have your own blog.

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Features:

Modes...
- Disabled, Enabled (standard), Enabled (hidden), Enabled (multiple blogs)

Multiple Blogs Mode...
- All users you give the write_blog permission to can make their own blog
- All users you give both the write_blog and multiple_blogs permissions can make more than one blog
- Set maximum # of blogs each user can make

Categories...
- Enable / disable the Categories window on the right side of the blog
- Create any number of categories
- Reorder those categories however you want
- Edit category names
- Delete categories

Archives...
- Enable / disable the Archives window on the right side of the blog
- It displays all the month/year combinations that have at least one topic in them (excluding the first month with topics in it or just the current month)

Links...
- Enable / disable the Links window on the right side of the blog
- Create any number of links
- Reorder those links however you want
- Edit links names
- Delete links

Friends Of...
- Enable / disable the Friends Of window on the right side of the blog
- Displays a list of the blogs owned by users on your buddy list

Various settings...
- Blog name
- Blog description
- Justify side windows (right or left)
- show comments on blog page
- max # of topics to display on the main blog page
- max # of comments to display per topic
- max length of topics
- max length of comments

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Files Modified:

index.php
Sources/BoardIndex.php
Sources/ManagePermissions.php
Sources/Post.php
Sources/Profile.php
Sources/RemoveTopic.php
Sources/Subs.php
Sources/Subs-Boards.php
Sources/Subs-Post.php
Themes/index.template.php
Themes/ManageBoards.template.php
Themes/Post.template.php
Themes/Profile.template.php
Themes/style.css
Themes/languages/index.english.php


Database changes via add_settings.php

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Instructions:

Uninstall any old version of this mod before installing a new version.

Upload the zip file via the package manager (Admin -> Packages -> Download Packages) then apply the mod.

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Custom Themes:

If you are using a theme other than the default theme, install the mod through the package manager then follow the install.xml file to figure out what changes you must make to your theme's .template.php files.

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Version Info:

1.05-
Bug fixes

1.06-
Fixed issue where you couldn't change the blog category of topics in the modify post page

1.07-
Really fixed that blog category select issue this time

1.08-
*new* Blog Mode (multiple blogs)
*new* Permissions: write_blog, multiple_blogs, blog_restrict_access, delete_own_blogs
*new* Blog Index (when in multiple blogs mode) ... Lists all blogs on your site
*new* Blog Control Panel ... Located in Profile and Admin area (admins only)
*new* Convert existing non-blog boards to blogs (for admin-only)... Located in Admin >> Blog Control Panel
*new* Global Blog Settings ... hide blogs on board index, maximum # of blogs per user, category for new blog boards... Located in Admin >> Blog Control Panel
*new* Links window
*new* Friends Of window
*improved* All actions made from a blog take you back to that blog (remove, delete, modify, post new)
*fixed* minor bugs
*removed* Features and Options >> Blog Settings

1.09-
*fixed* When "Friends Of" was enabled and the blog owner's buddy list was empty, there was a mysql error on the blog page
*fixed* Post actions in a blog board redirect you back to the blog page for that blog
*fixed* blog_restrict_access form in Blog Control Panel

1.10-
*fixed* non-admins were unable to create blog boards via their blog control panel (just have to replace the old template_blogControlPanel function if you had v1.09 installed)

1.11-
*improved* blog link tree added in place of Back to Blog Index link to make navigation easier
*fixed* several small bugs

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Notes:

Please post comments, suggestions, bugs at http://degreesofzero.com/index.php?board=6.0 or http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=244848.0

See this mod in action at:
http://www.degreesofzero.com

This Blog Mod was developed by Charles Hill for use in conjunction with Simple Machines Forum.

Redistributing the code of the Blog Mod without express written permission is prohibited.  All rights are reserved by the developer.

Check out Degrees of Zero for the latest developments with this and other projects.


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[Charles Hill]

None of the data already in your database will be altered when you uninstall/install this mod.

[Sweetwater]

Hi Charles,

I just loaded the newer version & it works fine. The extra features requested earlier in the string are great. Will post any other suggestions as they come to mind.

Thanks for a great mod.

Sweetwater

[Charles Hill]

Hey there,

Would you be able to create a blog mod that would allow a user to start their own (say within their profile) without having to turn the whole board into a blog?

Thanks,
Chris.

First off... please don't pm me for support.

I will answer your question, because I'm nice like that... however, all future unsolicited, support-related private messages will be ignored.  If you have a question or questions related to this mod please post them in a topic devoted to support for this mod (like this topic or the Blog board on degreesofzero.com).

Now for your answer...

When you enable the blog mod in multiple blogs mode, all users who have the write_blog permission can make their own blog via their blog control panel (Profile > Modify Profile > Blog Control Panel).  When they create a new blog they are actually creating a new board.  As an admin, you have access to some extra admin-only options that let you convert existing non-blog boards to blogs (Admin > Configuration > Blog Control Panel).


edit---

@Sweetwater
Glad you like the mod   have you had a chance to check out the latest things I've done on my dev site?

[kizley]

[

I have installed Blog mod,i can see the tag of blog ,but when i click that tag there comes nothing except blank space,no option where to start ,where to write etc etc.

Go to your admin area.  Then go to Blog Control Panel (Configuration >> Blog Control Panel).  From here you can set the necessary settings and set up your blog or blogs.
[/quote]


Thanks,i did the same,but at Admin panel> features and layout>blog categories.
i can only view blog category not setting .I have checked everything there is nothing to start with :sad:

[damnitmike]

I think many are anxious about this mod Charles...I've been holding off installing it, because your making so many improvements to it... I can wait....

I might suggest checking out the Blog Mod for PHPBB for more ideas........I noticed you were working on possible templates....I know that mod uses javascripting to allow its blog owner to change the color theme with a click and a choice of 4 colors........

I have it set up on a dead site, if you wish to check it out....

Very nice mod.....I know your proud of it!

Nice work!

[Charles Hill]

@kizley
Sounds like you are using an old version of the mod.  Try v1.11

@damnitmike
v1.11 has no known issues at all.  I will be making a patch mod package that will update v1.11 to 1.12 when I release v1.12.  Beyond v1.12 I will be releasing add-ons which will be very specialized additions to the blog software.  The way I am handling blog templates is not with javascript (as some people have javascript disabled in their browsers).  Everything is done with php.  Users will first have to check "Make blog appear on its own page" and then select which blog theme they would like their blog to use in their blog control panel.  Each of their blogs can use a different blog theme (or they can use the same if they want to be boring )

[damnitmike]

Beyond v1.12 I will be releasing add-ons

Add-ons.....very cool. I am guessing things like, your own Shoutbox? The ability to add Widgets perhaps? Calenders?

I am guessing....I really have no idea....

But it doesn't matter, I am certain your going to do it up right!

Thanks again, and nice job!

[digit]

Ok, I am having some serious issues.

1. I don't see anywhere where you can set who can view blogs.  When someone creates a new blog, only regular members, global moderators, and admins can view it.  My Charter Members, who are the only ones I am allowing to create blogs, can not view any others!  So, I am having to manually edit who has access each time a new blog is created. 

2.  By default, after manually granting access to view the blogs, any user can create new topics in any blog!   I have it set not to show blogs on the forum homepage, but the new entries still appear in the recent results, so people can still see the boards, and still have access to New Topic links! It seems to me to grant the owner of the blog the ability to post new topics, while restricting that ability to everyone else, you would have to create a new membergroup... <-- not true - I tested it - only blog owners can post new topics - even when viewing the board. (phew!)

Thanks in advance.

p.s., what is the "Friends Of" feature, and how do I use it?

[Charles Hill]

@digit...
Please do not pm me for support

1.  There is a permission blog_restrict_access that allows users to set who can view their blog(s) (by membergroup).  There is no global setting for the default member groups that can view any/all blogs.  I will add this option to the admin blog control panel for the next version.

[digit]

Thanks - looking forward to it - sorry about the flurry of pm's 

[Garry1953]

I just installed it...
Works fine.
Thanks

[digit]

I'd like to know what the Friends feature is all about.

I don't see anyway to add friends, and it doesn't display buddies.

[Charles Hill]

Oh yes, sorry.  The friends window displays a list of links to the blogs of your buddies.  If you have no buddies or if none of your buddies has a blog, then nothing will be displayed.

I guess  I should add some little question mark links that open up info windows to help explain stuff like that in your blog control panel.

[digit]

Ok, that feature is not working here on my end.  I just tested it.

Created new account, created blog, added that new user to my buddy list, as that user, added me to his buddy list, enabled the friends window, but nothing appeared under the friends header.

Also, sn't there a way to make new blogs visible to ALL membergroups by default?  It's a pain granting access to blogs to my Charter Member each time a new blog is created.

Thanks.

[Charles Hill]

That buddy must ALSO have a blog.

Yes it is possible to allow the admin to set the default member group permissions for new blogs.  I'm adding that to the next version.  You can see the next version while I work on it at http://dev.degreesofzero.com/index.php  (username: test  password: test)

[digit]

That buddy must ALSO have a blog.

I did that as well in my test.   

[Charles Hill]

If you look in the first blog listed on my dev site's blog index, you will notice the Friends window on the left.  You must have a buddy that has at least one blog for it to show anything.

[digit]

ok, well, I might have other issues.

1. I just created a new account... 

2. then with that new user account, I created a new blog.

3. I posted a new message. (added me to the buddy list, went into admin account, added that new user to my buddy list - still no friend in my list)

4. I went back into the profile and there was no "Go to blog" link.

5.  So, I clicked on "initialize blog" again. (even though in the admin area I have the blog limit set to 1).

6.  Went through the same process...  created blog, posted new message,  etc.)

7. Looked in blog list and there were TWO blogs for the new user.  THIS time, in the 2nd blog, I, the admin, appeared in the friends window, but the new user was not in my window.

I noticed someone else created two blogs yesteRday too.

Sigh.

If you feel like testing it on my system, let me know.