https://forums.webwiz.net/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:01:00 +0000 Thu, 05 Aug 2004 21:10:32 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.08 360 https://forums.webwiz.net/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=11446 https://forums.webwiz.net/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://forums.webwiz.net/ https://forums.webwiz.net/interesting-implementation-of-wwf_topic11446_post63253.html#63253 Author: lowgenius
Subject: 11446
Posted: 05 August 2004 at 9:10pm

Well, I've managed to get WWF working well - and even upgraded from theAccess to SQL version right off the bat with very few problems.

I'm using the WWF package in an interesting manner, which I want toshow people and see if they can do the same thing, but I've also got acouple of minor feature issues/requests I'd like to address quickly,that I didn't really hit on in my registration messages...

• It would be awfully cool if there were a way to change thedefault text, table background, and link colors, fonts, sizes, etc fromwithin the administration menu.  The code for some of the pagesalmost looks like this is being slowly implemented, but I don't find aplace in the Admin interface to deal with it.
• The character restriction on subject lines should be longer or atleast modifiable from the admin interface.  I frequently findmyself having to find new ways of writing things because my intendedsubject line won't fit.
• Integration with existing site layouts should be easier.  Iended up just customizing the pages myself instead of putting them intothe format of the rest of my site (which is all based on Dreamweavertemplates containing multiple nested tables).  I almost got thereonce, but any attempt to insert the necessary table codes in the headerand footer files results in the graphics in the page bodies renderingvertically (both the navigation menu and the control panel for the RTEdo this).  I posted about that hear earlier, but didn't get anyresponses, and so I just went forward without integrating...whichprobably works out better anyway, because I'll eventually break my WWFapplication off into a separate domain.

So, this interesting implementation:  I'm using the WWF as aengine to create an user-driven knowledge base.  In this case, theknowledge in question relates to a series of PC roleplaying gamescalled the Elder Scrolls series, which I realize that many people hereprobably don't care about, but I think it's a pretty innovative way ofusing a discussion forum application.

You can see it in action at http://www.lowgenius.com/esdb/forum

Of particular interest to WWF administrators (maybe) is the way I'veset up two ladder systems - one for normal users who just want to usethe discussion area, and one for 'contributing users' who will beadding informational posts to the knowledge base. 

This definitely increases administrative overhead, as I have to advancethe 'contributing users' by hand based on their submission quantitiy inthe information forums, but it allows me to create what is basically acompletely separate application within the discussion board -discussions over here, knowledge base over there - and then my userswho don't care to write information articles just advance up theautomated ladder.

You can see how incredibly complex this notion can become by readingthe 'Who's Who' post in the About ESDB forum at the above URL - I have17 user classes (and 72 forums, with more on the way!  Good thingI went to SQL server right from the nstart, eh?).  6 areautomated, and 11 are designations set by hand (regular users aredesignated contributing users on request).

It's a little clunky right now, IMO, primarily because there's just noway to automate the second ladder system without doing a BUNCH ofcoding, including some pretty intense structural changes to thedatabase table structure and relationships...and if I wanted to dothat, I wouldn't be using a package in the first place! 

Also, the number of forums (the game series is over ten years old andthere is an outrageous amount of information to be collected) makes thefront page look terribly cluttered, which I believe will be addressedin the next version of WWF - I notice that this board allows formultiple 'levels' of forums in order to have a cleaner front page,which will be VERY nice for my application.

And just for the record, I will definitely be purchasinga key for this application when I get a little spare change in mypocket.  What an excellent, excellent tool!  Thanks, -borG-!

Best regards,
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John Henry
Webmaster
LowGenius.Com

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