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Activation of Discuss This? Reply to topic


BlogsPlus contains code to link with the Discuss_This module (yet another module that dropped into oblivion).
i.e. provides an option for blogs to also be added as forum topics.

I'm considering activating this component and have 2 options,
a. Revive the Discuss_This module and provide it as a supplement to BlogsPlus - the benefit is that Discuss_This can be applied to other modules.

b. Recode BlogsPlus so that Discuss_This is part of the code - I'm thinking this is a better option since Pro News already takes this path.

Either way, it will be a selectable admin option.

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I have to say that I think this is a cracking idea and think that option b is definitely the way forward. Just a question about functionality though - would the comments also be posted as as part of the blog topic?

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Good question indeed - the original concept of Discuss_This was as a replacement for the comments system, hence its use as a module that you could expand for all manner of modules. Having said that, option b seems preferable to me also.

However, it could be setup to do one, or the other, or both. Since blogs is a low and fast query module, the extra queries to generate a forum topic/post is not going to impact noticeably on server load, which is the main concern for you guys. In any event, if switches are available for all permutations, you can take it or leave it. Lucky Jim might get a lot more than he bargained for Laughing

However, if using both, that opens another potential can or worms - forum posts don't get duplicated back into blog comments - that would require deviation from vanilla code and would add an undesirable overhead to forum queries.

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Maybe we could lock the original thread so that comments can only be posted in the blogs module? When the blogs module 'posts' it could add a line along the lines of 'this has been created by the blogs module - click here to reply'

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hmm, good idea - we could lock the thread and provide a link. Otherwise you do end up with considerable confusion from the loss of continuity.

I see DF threads where people want it to flow both ways i.e. from forums back to news, calendar, blogs etc but I think that's starting to get a little crazy, not to mention the risk of searchens penalizing for duplicate content when everything starts getting duplicated.

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It really is gratifying to see how much thought, time and effort you good people are putting in.

I sincerely hope that your endeavours result in the number and quality of blogs that all this work deserves.

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Thanks LJ - sometimes we try to get it right before we dump it on people Laughing

Okay, how does this sound? (DT = Discuss_This)

Option 0 - admin disables comments (current operation)
  • blog is created in Blogs
Option 1 - admin enables comments, DT disabled (current operation)
  • blog is created in Blogs
  • blog comments are added under each blog in Blogs.
Option 2 - admin enables comments, in-built DT (yet to be coded)
  • blog is created in Blogs.
  • topic is created in Forum and topic is sealed (link to Blog to post comments).
  • comments are added by posting under that blog in Blogs.
Option 3a - admin enables comments, in-built DT (yet to be coded)
  • blog is created in Blogs.
  • topic is created in Forum and topic is left open.
  • blog comments are disabled in Blogs.
  • comments are added by posting under that topic.
Option 3b - admin enables comments + DT using DT module
(code already present, switch is automatic if DT module present)
  • blog is created in Blogs.
  • topic is created in Forum and topic is left open.
  • blog comments remain enabled in Blogs.
  • comments are added by posting under that blog in Blogs.
  • comments are also added by posting under that topic.
Option 3b would be useful for users who may already have the DT module installed and activated for the News and mKnow modules.

I'm not sure about the sanity of mentioning this option but (and no promises), if admin enabled, allow the user to choose between comments under the Blog or in the forum for any given blog.

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I've actually installed Discuss_This - you can see/test the results of having it present.

The DT module admin setup determines whether Blogs uses DT, what forum is used for such topics and whether the user sig is added.

If comments are enabled, Blogs accepts comments plus provides a link for a forum entry if any user clicks that link. If comments are disabled, and the DT module is activated, then just the DT link is present.

Hence you can end up with 2 comment streams, independent of each other.

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Personally I always prefer the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and therefore see 2 and 3a as the best options. In some ways 3a is the best as people are normally more familiar with the forums and thus blogs are likely to attract more comments this way .....

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Purely as a user, I too think that 2 and 3a are the better options. This is why:

Firstly, by flagging blogs on the forum and possibly in the last 20 postings on the front page, they would bring more exposure to this under-used area of the site. Some people have posted writing of excellent quality (not that I include myself in their number) and it would be good to have more of it. Receiving constructive or appreciative comments encourages people to write more often.

Secondly if the original blog were of the moronic quality (one liners, adverts to earn extra cash, pointless drivel etc. that currently occupy the top five or six entries) then they too would be seen by a much wider audience. If we're lucky the baying hounds of ARRSE would post comments that might dissuade the originator from doing it again.

If we're even luckier then a mod would notice it sooner and swiftly delete the entry.

Whichever option is chosen this is a very exciting development.

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Okay, progress report:
* admin options enabled and functioning - options 2 and 3a.
* installer updated for the extra db columns (2) and config_custom values (3)
installer updates successfully

Might even be done this week Laughing so now is the last chance for any changes.
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hmm, run into a few snags in trying to do this properly - it seems all other implementations of the "Discuss_This" feature are somewhat incomplete in several or all aspects of adding topics to forums, and none actually remove the forum topic when the blog entry is removed. One way or another, all past applications of DT are flawed.

Most issues I can manage, but the process of deleting a topic is very delicate and must be absolutely foolproof, or we'll end up with a back door into deleting forum topics. In the case of large forums, I feel it is essential that we remove the forum topic when we remove the blog entry, from both moderation and forum efficiency viewpoints.

We also have a dilemma created by switches for html, bbcode, smilies and signatures, so when it posts to the forum, I have adopted the forum settings and ignored Blogs settings - this may lead to other issues but I figure you don't want blog topics over-riding your forum preferences.

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That all sounds very logical to me and I definitely support your aspiration to keep things efficient! Also agree that forums should have the nod over blogs!

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Okay, it's all done Smile

If it's not too messy, I'll just have a tinker with the forum topic being automatically updated when the blog entry gets edited.

Edit: implemented, a basic version for now, more sophisticated later on.

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Great news - any chance we could play?

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