glorify

Sonic, I know what you're talking about. I just think that if IPS included a full functioning site that includes everything that was possible with IP.C, such as including a site that uses databases, blocks, modules, CSS and the like, that other less knowledgeable clients would be able to closely look at the code and learn by example on how to create their own.

Sometimes I have a hard time in coming across but just about everyone within the IPS community are far more experienced in coding their own site together via the IPS framework. For an average joe trying to figure out how to use IPC, they're going to get lost in a quick second. Having a basic site included with IPC, and I'm not referring to that generic blogging tool that it currently comes with, it's just impossible for someone new to CSS and PHP to figure it out.

I guess the easiest way to explain it is like handing someone a math book on advanced Algebra, when they know nothing about Algebra, and telling them they have an hour to figure it out.

With IPC, there's no explanation of how to create your own site, the documentation that is available here on the Resources site is so generic that it basically says ",you can create a site with the software but we're not gonna tell you how." That kind of documentation doesn't help someone to learn how to use IPC or create a site with it. You would expect some kind of examples, like examples of code on creating databases, modules and blocks and what kind of code links them together. The documentation is like trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle that has no solution.

Shoot, even IPB comes with some kind of understandable documentation and how to set it up. IPC doesn't come with anything, if you're trying to make the software easier to use for the average IPS user.

Oh I understood his comments perfectly. Yet, time and time again, some good suggestions seem to be discounted just because vB does it that way. I can understand some suggestions being rejected due to coding requirements, but it seems that many good suggestions are rejected just because "someone else" does it that way. That's a poor excuse for rejection, and one that is remembered for a very long time.

Sorry I missed this

There is an error in the second edit I posted, it should be:

	IPSText::getTextClass('bbcode')->parse_html							 = 0;
			IPSText::getTextClass('bbcode')->parse_nl2br							= 1;
			IPSText::getTextClass('bbcode')->parse_bbcode						   = 1;
			IPSText::getTextClass('bbcode')->parse_smilies						  = 1;
			IPSText::getTextClass( 'bbcode' )->parsing_mgroup					   = $row['member_group_id'];
			IPSText::getTextClass( 'bbcode' )->parsing_mgroup_others		= $row['mgroup_others'];
			$row['comment_content'] = IPSText::getTextClass('bbcode')->preDisplayParse( $row['comment_content'] );

It's got me beat..........

It's fair to say I have never put so much into something for so little.

The title of this thread is not entirely accurate. I can see that this is an awesome program. It's not so much that it is failing as much as it has a failing. IE, many people will not be able to use it. This takes nothing away from those who can or the program itself.

I feel that as a minimum you need to be able to read and write html. I think it may be a bit misleading to say a "little code ability". To create anything here you will need to input a good amount of user generated code. Correct me if I am wrong, but everything I have been able to do here leads to a blank page or box where one is expected to create code. I have made a number of blocks. They give you a code to input into a page. Next step.  Where next? Templates? What do I choose for the dropdowns? What do I input to the blank boxes?  ( the guessing part doesn't make things any easier)  I am familiar enough and capable enough to use many CMS's, but this is not exactly a CMS and as versatile as this product is, I can't get past the code creation requirements.

I don't want to knock this product because I can see the capabilities. I get the gist of it, I just lack the abilities to make it go.  I have to force myself not to compare it to vB's CMS because they are different products and if vBCMS worked as advertised, I wouldn't be here in the first place.

But it is inescapable that for all it's faults, I was able to quickly and easily generate all the pages I needed for my purposes. It is also frustrating to me that after 2 months it looks like the conversion process is at a dead end and IPS can do no more to bring my content from my vB board to my IPB. (I have gotten far more from them than what I paid in the effort, but it is just not to be) That leaves me in a bind. No way will I go back to the vB board, but I am stuck with much less content than I had before.

I don't want to start a long list of comparisons, or flaws with one and strengths with the other.

I have a simple suggestion which if possible or plausible may help myself and others.

Brandon stated that everything that was possible with his old mods is also possible with IPContent and while that may be true, the difference is that I could do things with the old stuff I can not figure out with this product. I am more than willing to learn, but unfortunately, I have many other pressures that take precedence over taking a course in IPContent 101. The toughest part about the old stuff was installing the mods in the first place. Once installed they were easy to use. But how in the world could a pasty-faced 46 year old kid fresh off the newb boat (in 2004 ) manage to make sometimes complex script edits, skin edits and the occasional mysql query in the first place? The install.html of course.

The one thing novices and advanced users seem to agree about this app is the learning curve is steep. Why? Documentation, or more accurately the hunt that seems to be necessary to compile it. I run into stumbling blocks just trying to get information about how to use this because I am unfamiliar with much of the terminology. A listing of posts, blogs and articles about this still leaves me dumbfounded because I don't really grasp what they are addressing.

Why not create an html document like the ones included in most mods that take you step by step towards the creation of a portal page. bfarber said what I described earlier was simply a portal page, but that is essentially all I need. I can manipulate a simple multi column, multi block page to do virtually anything I might need to do. Sure, it's not as elegant as a created from scratch page. But I can't do that anyway. Give me a page I can choose the number and widths of columns, let me create and place blocks in those columns and I can go happily on my way towards creating the content I need to keep my users happy. The html doc should have code boxes where someone can copy and paste the code into the appropriate areas. The step by step process should be able to get anyone started more quickly with this program. Simply giving each page a new name will allow anyone to use this many times in creating multiple use pages.

Quite frankly, the only way I would be able to use this app is with code and instruction provided from someone else. There is no way I can do much more than copy and paste and then maybe customize a little. A little commenting in the code can go a long ways toward letting people customize things.

You don't need to dumb down this program for people such as myself to use it. You need to give us a way to get started. Most likely the more people using this app, the more help will be availble on a peer to peer basis. Right now there are far too many people just scratching their heads.

The way I look at IP.Content is that it's like those flatpack wardrobes that you can get at superstores. It looks great on the box, but when you get it home you realize you have to be some DIY expert to get it moving.

The problem I have with this is that DIY experts will probably just make their own wardrobe from scratch anyway so would have no use for a flatpacked product. And those that aren't end up with either something cobbled together, the doors falling off, or they get fed up and don't ever use it.

I've had to hire someone to make sense of IP.Content and even they are tearing their hair out. And they have a long history of working with IP Board.

It might not be failing - but im sure many might have purchased it and then never really used it - im a person in that camp it just seems far too difficult for an average user to use.

Jυra, on 04 August 2010 - 07:19 PM, said:

This is the same exact attitude that kept me from participating at vbulletin.com forums for years. Apparently, there are people here that don't want to hear other peoples suggestions either. Maybe you don't mean to sound offensive...but that's how some of us will take it. And that's why you won't see others reply with their support or suggestions, too. They don't want your kind of responses on their opinions.

It would be different if you replied once. I already read that you don't support this idea. But, replying to anyone who supports the idea is a bit much and comes off offensive to some.

Just trying to explain my view...and going off the topic (ugh!) to do so....Sorry...maybe I should just keep quiet or look for other solutions elsewhere....or go back to using my vbulletin licenses.

glorify, on 04 August 2010 - 08:30 PM, said:

Thank you and have a splendid week*

bfarber, on 04 August 2010 - 09:46 AM, said:

People find wordpress easy to use because of the easy to install plugins, one click updater, movable widgets, easy theme installations, tagging, multiple category display, caching support via plugin, and built in calendar block that sorts through entries. These are just some of the features. The common denominator is that it is easy to use by people who do not know what HTML stands for.

Pity there isn't a kind of "Tab Manager" built into IP board where you could just point a new tab to a file location and sort the tab order.

Lockjit, on 15 July 2010 - 02:05 PM, said:

I'm surprised you were even able to connect to the internet...  

Did they really cancel it though? I randomly found this thread from searching Google for Android things related to IPB.

cafeboricua, on 15 July 2010 - 01:27 PM, said:

They have cancelled it... because there are too many topics about it  


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This post was made from my iPhone 4  

A few sites Ive done.

http://www.glcreatio...dex.php/glctest My new homepage

http://www.glcreations.co.uk/ my old home page

http://www.glcreatio...p/leadwerkstest one for a client.

http://www.eodc.co.uk/ car forum home page

http://www.glcreatio...p/wedribbletest (A very basic one)

http://www.glcreatio...index.php/veror Template im working on for everyone to use at the moment.

Finally made my site live today: Composer Focus

I'm using IP.Content to power the articles. It took some time, but I got it to look how I wanted to. (Thanks to the IPB staff for answering my many questions).

You adjust the number of results per page by editing the database. It is the last setting on the options tab.

HTHs

I'm sorry - re-reading my reply it is rather confusing huh.

The link I gave was merely meant to illustrate that pagination is built in already.

i.e. at this page http://community.inv...rd-3x/skinning/ you see this



Now, the "Media Demo" database is nothing more than a standard database in IP.Content, but using customized templates (the idea being, to give people an idea of some of the ways they can customize their templates so that they don't look identical to everyone else's).  So, going back to the original post

1) No tutorial is needed because in DEFAULT database templates, pagination is already there.

2) With a little usage of the tools available, it's quite easy to add actually.  I've made a short video showing how to do it exactly.

http://www.screencas...45-9431b32044b7