8 replies to this topic

[Computer Candy]

Hello, I have IP.Board (the old Perpetual License) and currently use MKPortal as a CMS. However, I really just use MKPortal as more of a portal wrapper. MKPortal is dead now and I'm looking for a replacement. IP.Content seems like it could be the perfect solution. However I have a few questions first. I'm really hoping I can get some authoritative answers if at all possible.

• Side Columns and Layout: What I'm really hoping to do is re-create the layout I have at my current site; home page layout, universal side columns and universal header and footer. I've spent a large amount of time getting it nearly just the way I want and would like to closely re-create the layout as painlessly as possible. I hope that makes sense.
  
  • Can I use IP.Content as a universal wrapper for my Board. I mean, can I have left AND right collapsible side columns that will show universally on every page? To see an example of what I mean (currently achieved with MKPortal) see my site here. Notice that when you click on a link and go anywhere within the site, the side columns, header and footer are all universally the same.
    
  • If YES to 1a, is there a semi-reasonable way to set the collapsibility of each side column with group permissions? I would like the left column to be collapsible by any user group but the right side column to only be collapsible by select user groups.
    
  • In this 3-column scenario, am I able to use the center column on the main home page for content blocks whereas the center column would be replaced by the forums when within IP.Board. See my site again for an example of what I mean. Main home page here. (center columns if for content blocks) Forum pages here. (center column is for the forums)
    
  • If these things are possible but not all of what I would like to do come out of the box this way, how easy is it to get help making the changes?
• What exactly is included in IP.Content as far as preloaded modules/plugins/whatever? It seems to be somewhat of a CMS but I'm sure it does not include a Board since IP has IP.Board as a seperate product. Same goes for Blog, Gallery, Downloads, etc. So does it include anything like this or is IP.Content really more just for pages and blocks?
  
  
• Finally, how long am I allowed to download updates and upgrades for IP.Content if I decide to buy it? The lenght of my IP.Board license? I didn't see those terms in the license description. Maybe I just missed it, though.

Sorry for such long winded questions. I hope it all makes sense. Thank you so much to anyone who can help answer any of these.
-CC

[Alex K.]

IP.Content is very much a DIY product, and as such these answers assume you have a decent knowledge of HTML/CSS (enough to code the layouts yourself).

1a) No, IP.Content inherits the template from IPB (or optionally allows you to create your own wrapper). If you made template edits to the IPB wrapper to achieve this, this would also follow through to IP.Content, assuming you set it up to use the IPB wrapper.
1b) This would be possible with a simple template conditional.
1c) This would be reasonably simple to do.
1d) You can request help in the peer-to-peer support forums, and there are plenty of paid coders here who could code what you want relatively easily.

2) IP.Content doesn't include much in terms of preloaded content; essentially, there are example pages and blocks to show you how to accomplish the basics, but for the rest it's assumed that you'll want (and know how) to customize it. It's both more and less than a CMS: You need a pretty good knowledge of HTML/CSS to accomplish more than basic text pages that can be accomplished with the BBCode editor, however if you have this knowledge, it's vastly more powerful than a traditional CMS.
It's mostly focused on the creation of pages and blocks; if all you want is to create a main page and custom column layout, you may be better off just using the built-in portal and some template edits.

3) There is a $15 renewal charge every 6 months, which follows the same terms for renewal/downloads/support as the current IP.Board standard license; you must have renewed within the last 6 months to receive support or download it, but you can renew at any time regardless of how long the contract's been expired for. This operates separately from your IPB license.

[Computer Candy]

I am no pro but very familiar with HTML/CSS and ok with PHP. With a bit of help it looks like I'll be able to do what I need.

It sounds like i should be able to build the universal wrapper i want complete with left and right side columns, header and footer with just the IPB template. I think I might still need the power of IP.Content, though, for several custom blocks and pages that I would like to have. But now i know i can build my wrapper first and add IP.Content later when i am ready for it. Thank you.

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1a) No, IP.Content inherits the template from IPB (or optionally allows you to create your own wrapper). If you made template edits to the IPB wrapper to achieve this, this would also follow through to IP.Content, assuming you set it up to use the IPB wrapper.

So just to be clear, 1a is possible but just not via IP.Content but rather the IPB template? But since you stated, "or optionally allows you to create your own wrapper" it sound like I can do it with either the IPB template -or- IP.Content. Or did you just mean I can optionally create my own wrapper from within IPB?

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What I'm really hoping to do is re-create the layout I have at my current site; home page layout, universal side columns and universal header and footer. As seen here.

It sounds like with a bit of know-how and some help, I should be able to re-create what i'm looking for?

And finally one last question... I think, hehe... Since there is a renewal fee for IP.Content, will older version of IP.Content work with future releases of IP.Board or will I be forced to upgrade IP.Content every time I upgrade IP.Board and in turn have to pay the renewal every time, should it be after the 6 months? (super run-on sentence, hehe, sorry)

Thank you so much for all of your answers. Sorry for my confusion. It's late here and I'm a bit over-tired, hehe.

[Computer Candy]

Dupe post, sorry.

[Zero Omega]

I think I've already made something fairly similar to what you're after in IP.Content

Check out my site (links in the sig).

I'm sure you can make them collapsible if you wanted to. But one thing is you gotta have cms and html knowledge to work IP.Content.

[Computer Candy]

Yes, that is very similar to what i'm looking for. I would just need the side columns to be on every page and be collapsible. (and with group permissions) Thank you.

If you look at my site, it has a very similar layout. But the side columns carry over to every page.

Computer Candy, on 15 March 2010 - 10:57 PM, said:

Main home page here. (center columns is for content blocks) Forum pages here. (center column is for the forums)

[Computer Candy]

Computer Candy, on 16 March 2010 - 01:13 AM, said:

<--snip-->
And finally one last question... I think, hehe... Since there is a renewal fee for IP.Content, will older version of IP.Content work with future releases of IP.Board or will I be forced to upgrade IP.Content every time I upgrade IP.Board and in turn have to pay the renewal every time, should it be after the 6 months? (super run-on sentence, hehe, sorry)

Thank you so much for all of your answers. Sorry for my confusion. It's late here and I'm a bit over-tired, hehe.

If anyone could let me know about this last question, i would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[bfarber]

That's a really hard question to answer.

Sometimes, when we release an update for IP.Board, it means our addon applications need to be updated as well. A specific function call may change, or the way a specific class works may have changed, and in turn IP.Content may need to be updated. Sometimes when we release an IPB update, there is no requirement for the addon application to be updated. There's no way to give you a definitive answer, as it's different for each version.

Generally speaking, major releases (i.e. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.0, etc.) require the addon applications to be updated, while minor versions (3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3) do not. But this isn't a guarantee of any sort.

[Computer Candy]

Ok, thank you for that. I realize it is hard to say for certain but your answer certainly helps give me enough information.

Thank you, again!