IP.Pages

[Joey_M]

I would like to see IP.Pages in the future, have the ability to have it's own widgets/blocks throughout the whole system.

Currently, it really limits creativity to be limited to areas within 'categories' for example - each section shares all the same widgets/blocks and this prevents me from being able to customize each section based on the area, at least not all be the database should be forcefully shared.

For example

A category talented 'art' could have its own block for submitted images within IP.Gallery, without being seen in other sections like 'news' 'media' and 'features'.

Using statements only seems to complicate matters, especially when your categories are quite complexed and blocks are used multiple times.

What do others think?

[opentype]

Sure. Was suggested a couple of times throughout the year. It needs at least different widget sets for the default views (index, listing, record), but category-specific set also make a lot of sense. 

[Joey_M]

I think it would be a big thing for the suite and IP.Pages, hopefully we will see this included or perhaps a community release within the marketplace that will resolve this.

[kar3n2]

I really need these blocks to be working seperately too.   I added a block above one forum and when i checked the other forums the same block was there. This leaves me with a very limited site structure as it should be possible for me to feed in the appropriate calendars.and galleries etc too. Also I need to have advertising in the blocks in the correct place/ relevant forums.   ( my site is broken down with all the counties all over the UK so a Cheshire forum for example should  be surrounded with events in Cheshire calendar, images of Cheshire and also the businesses in Cheshire wanting to reach a specific target market.

The only other option is to have a great wordpress site and just add the rss feed for the "cheshire" ( or other) forums into the side bar (or other section dependant on the theme).

So at the end of the day the creation of all these blocks etc is of no use for any site that is broken down into many categories ( places or topics etc) because they are totally generic and cross the whole site.  

55 minutes ago, Joey_M said:

I think it would be a big thing for the suite and IP.Pages, hopefully we will see this included or perhaps a community release within the marketplace that will resolve this.

I'll be struggling hanging around for anything to be done now.  As I've mentioned previousy I might take a look at how a wordpress site can look great and be more managable for customizing better. Has anyone else used WP? Interesting to see if so...

[kar3n2]

1 hour ago, opentype said:

Sure. Was suggested a couple of times throughout the year. It needs at least different widget sets for the default views (index, listing, record), but category-specific set also make a lot of sense. 

If its not been done after being suggested for a year then maybe it's not possible?

[Joey_M]

15 minutes ago, kar3n2 said:

If its not been done after being suggested for a year then maybe it's not possible?

I don't really see why it isn't possible now, yet I think if people responded and said how much they wanted it to be an option in IPS 4.1 - I think we would see it.

Fingers crossed it happens.

[kar3n2]

there is ability for pages to have seperate blocks  as in these images you can see I've got a chester page nd a warrington page

 

 

BUT when I click over from the chester page to the chester forum posts (which have been fed into the page)... all the blocks disappear and then become the geneirc blocks which are around all the forums.

Is this what we are all talkiing about?   So we can use pages instead of wordpress anyway ...but to achieve an aim of  being very specific with blocks in appropriate places then will need to also create a page for every seperate forum ( yuk lot of work!!!)  

 

[chilihead]

34 minutes ago, kar3n2 said:

If its not been done after being suggested for a year then maybe it's not possible?

 A year is nothing.

Multiple chat rooms was announced as coming in a future version in 2010. It is still on the list.

Closing a poll I have suggested for 6 years also, and it is now on the list.

 

[kar3n2]

8 minutes ago, chilihead said:

 A year is nothing.

Multiple chat rooms was announced as coming in a future version in 2010. It is still on the list.

Closing a poll I have suggested for 6 years also, and it is now on the list.

 

Im gonna have to pay someone to do this.  It's just no good to me whatsoever that blocks around forums are generic throughout the site. Why would people in Cheshire want to know about walks in Dublin Ireland and so on?????     When I first saw the blocks I was exctied at the possibilities they opened up.But now feel flat on my face  

[Joey_M]

I wasn't aware that forums had the same issue, hopefully someone can come up with a plugin which breaks everything up - so that blocks/widgets can be placed where the admin wants, rather than the awkward spaces.

@Marcher Technologies  @newbie LAC - It's something worthy of exploring IMO.

[kar3n2]

1 minute ago, Joey_M said:

I wasn't aware that forums had the same issue, hopefully someone can come up with a plugin which breaks everything up - so that blocks/widgets can be placed where the admin wants, rather than the awkward spaces.

@Marcher Technologies  @newbie LAC - It's something worthy of exploring IMO.

I also sent a pm to @Kevin Carwile for a custom job for me as I really cant wait any longer now.

[Joey_M]

Just now, kar3n2 said:

I also sent a pm to @Kevin Carwile for a custom job for me as I really cant wait any longer now.

Perhaps he may consider a public release in the marketplace (provided he can take it on)?

[openfire]

This, for IPS:

https://en-ca.wordpress.org/plugins/widget-logic/

Pretty please?

[Marcher Technologies]

I've actually been giving this problem a lot of thought already.... there is two sides to the coin, people that want more granular control, and those that want a more global approach instead of needing configure every area individually.

Either way, I don't see IPS able to fulfill the needs of both, so I'm going to end up making and releasing something for it, for my own use as well as others. That said, unless someone wants to consign me to make it, customs still will remain a larger priority, so it will take some time to get this finished and on the MP.

[openfire]

1 minute ago, Marcher Technologies said:

I've actually been giving this problem a lot of thought already.... there is two sides to the coin, people that want more granular control, and those that want a more global approach instead of needing configure every area individually.

Either way, I don't see IPS able to fulfill the needs of both, so I'm going to end up making and releasing something for it, for my own use as well as others. That said, unless someone wants to consign me to make it, customs still will remain a larger priority, so it will take some time to get this finished and on the MP.

Awesome, I look forward to seeing it in the marketplace. Mark me down as your first customer!

[Joey_M]

@Marcher Technologies  - Would you require something like a sponsor to get this going? If so, what amount would make it happen? I would be apart of making this happen.

[kar3n2]

16 hours ago, Joey_M said:

@Marcher Technologies  - Would you require something like a sponsor to get this going? If so, what amount would make it happen? I would be apart of making this happen.

good idea @Joey_M   I am another one who would gladly pay my way ...  

Did you ever see the wordrpess themes genesis... ( Im sure there are other similar ones) ... well.. they had a generic sidebar or two depending on how many you wanted on your page.  You could also make your own sidebars with stuff in that you wanted just for any one page or as many pages as you like.  I see these blocks in the same manner.   Create your own blocks and add them to whichever page or forum it is suited too.

[Joey_M]

I've spoken to Marcher Technologies (Robert).

It will take time for it to be developed, more so within his own time - as a group we could possibly struggle to fund the work required to have a plugin made with priority which gave us the ability to add blocks to whatever page we wanted, be that application (forum, blog, gallery) or page.

This is possibly why he tends to avoid crowd-surfing style projects as it requires people to be interested from the start in order to get the project completed.

I completely respect that, so I aim to drum up support in the meantime for the plugin/application - so it at least has some form of awareness from within the IPS community, then potentially it will be well received.

--

@kar3n2 - Yes, I have - I've used themes for wordpress in the past for friends which also used it's framework.

Something for the IPS system would be massive in my opinion, as without it, I wouldn't be able to start a recent site I had hoped to launch which will be delayed until I can find a solution.

[kar3n2]

@Joey_M I noticed there is no longer any place where we cas ask for custom jobs doing anymore??? 

Trouble is I have sent messages to providers and they just dont respond. They say they are avaialble for hire but ZILCH...    

I dont know if some have had a bad time with customers but I know I for one have NEVER let any body down with respects to payments for quality work.  On the other hand it is me that has been let down by providers that took half the money upfront then never completed the job for me.  Its a shame when this stuff happens ....

[Joey_M]

I've had it happen myself, I try to rely on people who are trusted and very established within the community - usually people of this silk don't let you down.

I'm going to leave it in @Marcher Technologies corner, I know he'll do a great job with it regardless.

[kar3n2]

39 minutes ago, Joey_M said:

I've spoken to Marcher Technologies (Robert).

It will take time for it to be developed, more so within his own time - as a group we could possibly struggle to fund the work required to have a plugin made with priority which gave us the ability to add blocks to whatever page we wanted, be that application (forum, blog, gallery) or page.

This is possibly why he tends to avoid crowd-surfing style projects as it requires people to be interested from the start in order to get the project completed.

I completely respect that, so I aim to drum up support in the meantime for the plugin/application - so it at least has some form of awareness from within the IPS community, then potentially it will be well received.

 

sorry just messaged you as you posted this so its crossed but we are on same wavelength still  ( my connection went down for a few mins as I'm on mobile internet duh)

there should be a section for crowd funding for the BIG jobs..

[Joey_M]

5 minutes ago, kar3n2 said:

sorry just messaged you as you posted this so its crossed but we are on same wavelength still  ( my connection went down for a few mins as I'm on mobile internet duh)

there should be a section for crowd funding for the BIG jobs..

It would be useful.

If IPS could offer something of this nature, yet hold onto the funds themselves and release the payment once the work has been completed - it would reassure both parties and it would make it easier for people to promote the awareness of such projects.

A few months back I actually pitched several ideas via e-mail.

I wonder what @Lindy thinks.

[kar3n2]

Just now, Joey_M said:

It would be useful.

If IPS could offer something of this nature, yet hold onto the funds themselves and release the payment once the work has been completed - it would reassure both parties and it would make it easier for people to promote the awareness of such projects.

A few months back I actually pitched several ideas via e-mail.

I wonder what @Lindy thinks.

That would be fantastic.   Its a great way for IPS to offer that extra service and hold all monies back until the job is done for people.  I would really love that to happen for sure and it would stop anybody being ripped off either end

[openfire]

2 hours ago, Joey_M said:

It would be useful.

If IPS could offer something of this nature, yet hold onto the funds themselves and release the payment once the work has been completed - it would reassure both parties and it would make it easier for people to promote the awareness of such projects.

A few months back I actually pitched several ideas via e-mail.

I wonder what @Lindy thinks.

Just a guess, and @Lindy will correct me if I'm wrong, but I doubt that IPS would entertain getting involved to the extent of literally offering an escrow service... I'm guessing that could get messy for IPS when conflicts arise between parties...

Otherwise, I think some type of crowd funding section would be fantastic!

[Joey_M]

Just now, openfire said:

Just a guess, but I doubt that IPS would entertain getting involved to the extent of literally offering an escrow service... I'm guessing that could get messy for IPS when conflicts arise between parties...

Otherwise, I think some type of crowd funding section would be fantastic!

Don't we pay IPS for Marketplace submissions, then they pay the developer?

I don't think they would have to strain to much from that kind of arrangement.