Classified Ads: a simple path to self-expiring classified ad content

The Drupal Classified Ads module provides a quick and easy way to host textual classified ads on your Drupal 4.7 or Drupal 5.x sites. If you run multiple sites, or don't want to be bothered with installing flexinode/CCK or other modules to piece together a classified ads system, this may be just the ticket.

This module creates a drop-in, plug-and-play textual classified ad node type (ed_classified) with no need to use CCK or flexinode. This module has been in use on several production sites for a while now. It provides the following features:

• cron-based automatic expiration (on expiration, the classified ad node is moved to unpublished state, but is not yet deleted/purged so it can be 'renewed') and after an admin-defined 'grace period', previously expired ads are purged (deleted).
• Expired ad renewal: Users with proper permissions may 'renew' their expired but not yet purged ads during the 'grace period' by checking the 'renew ad' checkbox in the edit form.
• Simple taxonomy-based browsing similar to that provided by image.module galleries. (I lifted some of the code from image.module, and modified it for use here.)
• Several useful blocks (latest ads, most popular ads, and stats including total number of unexpired ads and number of new ads in last 24 hours).
• Per-user classified ads lists (under each user's profile, visible to all users with 'access user profiles' permissions).
• Administration list of all classified ads, sortable by expiration date, with direct edit link to the ad.
• Length-limited body text with live, javascript-based counter showing characters used and remaining while user enters the body text - no need to hit submit and wait for an error message.
• New Feb. 25 2007 Version 5.x-1.5 and 4.7.x-1.5 - Ad expiration varies by taxonomy term. Now you can control ad duration depending on category selection

Overview and rationale at http://exodusdev.com/drupal/modules/ed_classified.module

Project page and official releases: http://drupal.org/project/ed_classified

Live demo site: http://gigs.exodusdev.com - sign in with your drupal user id and start creating ads (and if you are a drupal developer, you can tell the world about your services.)

Paid classified ads may be implemented by installing the lm_paypal module and limiting ed_classified node creation to paying users. Other schemes may work as well, but the ed_classified module does not handle paid ad creation for you - this is beyond the scope of the module at present, although lm_paypal integration is planned for a future release.

Photo ads may be implemented using image.module, upload_image, and other image modules. I use upload.module, image.module and upload_image combined on my sites, and that combination works pretty well. If you have upload.module, the ed_classified module will allow you to override the attachment form description text on classified nodes, supplying administrator-supplied text - this helps users understand what to do in order to create a photo ad.

Coming soon:

• Installation and configuration
• Setting new ad durations based on selected taxonomy terms (categories) - as of version 1.5, you can set new ad durations based on the taxonomy term(s) chosen for the new ad.
• Basic and advanced taxonomy for classified ads
• Implementing Image/Photo ads - third-party modules
• Paid ads - using lm_paypal
• Taking advantage of Views integration
  ads expiring soon, sortable lists, etc.
• Helping visitors contact advertisers: contact forms, privatemsg module, and contact_default module
  (and http://drupal.org/node/122428, http://drupal.org/node/66648#comment-130975