FAQ_Ask - "Ask the Expert"

This module is an add-on to the FAQ module that allows users with the 'ask question' permission to create a question which will be queued for an 'expert' to answer.

For more about why this module exists, please read "Ask the Expert" or Advice Column.

Viewing of the completed question and answer pair is done by the FAQ module.

Installation

Normal module installation applies.

Settings

In order for this module to support multiple experts, it requires that the FAQ module be set to "Use Categories."

The settings are on a new tab in the FAQ Settings page. One selects the roles to be considered experts; then one is given a choice of users within those roles to associate with the FAQ categories. The expert role(s) need to be given the "answer question" and "edit faq" permissions.

Note: until one or more experts are set up, the module does almost nothing except generate a few warning messages.

Menus

The module creates a menu item for "Ask a question" (see "Usage Notes" below). There is an abbreviated version of the FAQ form without an answer field. The category choice is not an actual taxonomy selection, but it looks the same. The node is created without the 'published' attribute.

Blocks

There is a block that will show the unanswered questions to the 'expert' (generally, this requires a separate role). The user who created the question is also allowed to edit it until it's answered. (After that, standard FAQ permissions take over.)

If one is an expert with unanswered questions, those will be shown first. After those have been answered, if the user has asked unaswered questions, those will be shown. Finally, users with "administer nodes" and/or "administer faq" will see all unanswered questions.

Notifications

If notification of question creation is needed, use the Subscriptions module set for the appropriate terms (FAQ categories).

Usage Notes

While this module does supply an "ask a question" menu entry, I typically disable it and use an FAQ "shortcut" instead (that is, "Ask Nancy" points to "http://www.myexample.com/faq/999").

The other shortcut I use is to set up the taxonomy term description something like the following. This puts an "ask" link right at the top of the FAQ page.

Since FAQ now supports the Taxonomy Image module, I also create a picture of the expert to go with this term. This, however, requires a bit of CSS tweaking and, as of this writing, a patch to TI. I will be happy to provide more details upon request.

Please post questions about using this module, bug reports, or feature requests on the module's project page.