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36 Comments
Posted by
Matt 
We've just upgraded the IP.Blogs application we use on these forums to 2.1.0 beta 1. As you can see, it's a fairly substantial upgrade with many new features and improvements. This blog entry will run through the main ones:
Efficiency
I've added several more caching layers for commonly requested data from blogs and entries. This, along with significant SQL query work makes this version the most efficient yet. The improvements are obvious even here. Pages load much quicker with much fewer queries.
User Interface
The user interface has had a complete facelift to bring it up to standard. The new look feels more 'bloggish' and enhances the experience. I've added drop down menus at the top so that you can quickly access common areas and start new entries where you have permission to. The post screen has been overhauled to add functionality. You should find the new version much easier to navigate and easier to use.
Group Blogs
This is a new feature that allows you, the admin, to set up a group-wide blog. This blog is a normal blog in every other way. For example, you could set up a blog for your staff and everyone in the staff group will instantly be able to start writing new blog entries and managing comments, etc.
Blog This!
This is a brand new feature that adds a "Blog This" button to every post. This allows you to use post content in your blog entry. Furthermore, the relationship is remembered and all linked blog entries appear at the bottom of the topic when viewed.
Pre entry Rating
You can now rate each blog entry rather than just the entire blog itself. The blog rating is still shown on the homepage as an aggregate of all rated entries.
Report Item and Reputation
You can now report an entire blog entry, or just a single comment. You can now also give someone a reputation increase/decrease in comments.
There are also countless other improvements and enhancements. Keep in mind that this is very much early beta software so expect bugs! Please report them in the tracker as usual.
Efficiency
I've added several more caching layers for commonly requested data from blogs and entries. This, along with significant SQL query work makes this version the most efficient yet. The improvements are obvious even here. Pages load much quicker with much fewer queries.
User Interface
The user interface has had a complete facelift to bring it up to standard. The new look feels more 'bloggish' and enhances the experience. I've added drop down menus at the top so that you can quickly access common areas and start new entries where you have permission to. The post screen has been overhauled to add functionality. You should find the new version much easier to navigate and easier to use.
Group Blogs
This is a new feature that allows you, the admin, to set up a group-wide blog. This blog is a normal blog in every other way. For example, you could set up a blog for your staff and everyone in the staff group will instantly be able to start writing new blog entries and managing comments, etc.
Blog This!
This is a brand new feature that adds a "Blog This" button to every post. This allows you to use post content in your blog entry. Furthermore, the relationship is remembered and all linked blog entries appear at the bottom of the topic when viewed.
Pre entry Rating
You can now rate each blog entry rather than just the entire blog itself. The blog rating is still shown on the homepage as an aggregate of all rated entries.
Report Item and Reputation
You can now report an entire blog entry, or just a single comment. You can now also give someone a reputation increase/decrease in comments.
There are also countless other improvements and enhancements. Keep in mind that this is very much early beta software so expect bugs! Please report them in the tracker as usual.
36 Comments On This Entry
Matt
19 November 2009 - 03:34 PM
Remember to delete your internet temporary files / cache if you find it rendering incorrectly. Same goes for JS.
SecondSight
19 November 2009 - 04:21 PM
Hello ! 
Is it possible not to have two columns for the posted entries ? I need only one column because if I have two, the pictures in the posted in the blog are too big and it doesn't look good...
Thank you !
Is it possible not to have two columns for the posted entries ? I need only one column because if I have two, the pictures in the posted in the blog are too big and it doesn't look good...
Thank you !
seax
19 November 2009 - 04:31 PM
Is anyone having problems deleting their own blogs on here? since the upgrade? mine won't delete, although it has told me they have actually been deleted.
Ohn03s
19 November 2009 - 04:33 PM
I'm impressed This will add a lot more value to the blogging system Thank you!
This will add a lot more value to the blogging system Thank you!
Lewis P
19 November 2009 - 04:43 PM
I posted this on Twitter, but I'll post it here as well.
I'm not a massive fan of Blog (seems a bit OTT imo) but after seeing this, I've almost convinced myself that I'm going to put Blog back on our forums and start making use out of it.
Good work guys!
I'm not a massive fan of Blog (seems a bit OTT imo) but after seeing this, I've almost convinced myself that I'm going to put Blog back on our forums and start making use out of it.
Good work guys!
Morrigan
19 November 2009 - 04:58 PM
Must admit all the hubaloo in Twitter from Matt and it's nothing like what I expected! Dude you did a great job! I <3 it! Can't wait until I play with it!
Matt
19 November 2009 - 05:05 PM
Thanks, all
I've just added a 'Banish' button to the excerpt on the home page so you an 'banish' test blogs and such from appearing on the home page. So if your test entries vanish from the homepage, you'll know why.
I've just added a 'Banish' button to the excerpt on the home page so you an 'banish' test blogs and such from appearing on the home page. So if your test entries vanish from the homepage, you'll know why.
AtariAge
19 November 2009 - 10:44 PM
Awesome, I'm glad to see this live on the forums here! Now to spend some time testing it out.
..Al
..Al
Trekkiemelissa
20 November 2009 - 03:01 AM
Looks great. The only thing so far, I am not to keen on is that there is no list option as far as I can see. Other than that, I like what I see.
Axel Wers
20 November 2009 - 08:38 AM
Wow, the first sensation is very good. You made perfect blog system, now it looks much more better than previous versions. New features are great 
AtariAge
20 November 2009 - 02:49 PM
Matt, can you make it so that when you use the comment pagination links, the page jumps down to the comments anchor? Right now it's a pain to have to scroll down to find the comments each time you go to a new page of comments (especially for long blog posts, such as this one).
Thanks!!
..Al
Thanks!!
..Al
