I have installed the module 4.5 in a 4.6.2 implementation. It appears to be functioning but I can't get it to do much of anything.

1. I found reference to a patch that will add help text. The patch fails when I try it. I also tried to get the most recent CVS and that didn't provide much help. It would be nice to have help text and if it is supposed to be there, could someone please tell me what I might have done wrong?

2. The readme file falls a little short on how to use the module. Many of you that are discussing the module seem to have this knowledge. Where did you get it? Could someone provide actual real world examples beyond the just put this [[]] in the post. An example showing exactly how freelinking works from beginning to end would be great.

3. How does this module differ from the context links. I think knowing that would be good for the average user.

I have searched this site and read all the documentation that comes with the module. Any additional assistance would be greatly appreciated.

gtoddv
http://www.scvotes.org

CommentFileSizeAuthor
#8 freelinking_2.module6.25 KBeafarris
#7 freelinking_1.module7.14 KBeafarris
#6 freelinking_0.module5.11 KBgtoddv

Comments

eafarris’s picture

eafarris commented

I'll try to take your comments point by point:

0. If you're using Drupal 4.6.2, please use the 4.6 version of the module. The CVS version no longer works with 4.6. I know the drupal.org website says that 4.5 is the "latest" version. That's simply a lie, and a long-standing bug in the project.module. Get the 4.6 version of freelinking.module here:
http://drupal.org/files/projects/freelinking-4.6.0.tar.gz

1. Help text has been built in to the module for quite some time. If the module is enabled, you should see short help text under the input format selection radio buttons. Longer help text is available at http://yourdrupalsite/?q=filter/tips .

2. Perhaps I should work on the README.TXT file, to show some examples. Basically, once the module is enabled and added to one of your input formats, it works like this:

  • You post some content, using double square brackets enclosing node titles that may or may not exist, [[like this]].
  • When the post is shown, the words "like this" will be linked to the freelinking system. In the example above, the space would be expanded and the target url would be http://yourdrupalsite/?q=freelinking/like%20this .
  • When a user clicks on this link, the freelinking system will look for content called "like this" and present that content to the user. If such content doesn't exist, freelinking will try to present the content creation form, with the title "like this" already filled in.

As such, freelinking.module is one way to build a wiki of sorts within Drupal, by allowing links to content that may or may not exist, attempting to create the content as necessary. Freelinking.module also supports an extended syntax where the linked text can differ from the actual target, like this [[look for this content title|show this link text]]. In addition, freelinking.module also supports linking to external URLs with the same syntax.

3. I confess that I'm not familiar with contextlinks.module, but basically it looks like it can create styled links that are set up by the site administrator. Freelinking.module endeavors to provide a relatively simple syntax to link to content by title, in a wiki-type fashion.

I hope that this is helpful. I look forward to your comments.

gtoddv’s picture

gtoddv commented

Very helpful stuff. Thanks very much for taking the time. I will be messing around with it today and then will come back for information about the use of CamelCase!

Great support! Thanks

(I will say this, I tried it with a word that i know repeats a number of times throughout the site and it didn't catch any of it, it went to the node creation feature.)

Again thanks,

gtoddv

eafarris’s picture

eafarris commented

CamelCase works the same, except that you don't have to use the [[ ]] delimiters. Just using a CamelCase word in your content is enough to turn it into a potential link to a node with the name of your CamelCase word.

As of this time, freelinking.module only looks for an exact title when trying to find a destination. So, your example of trying to link to a "word that repeats a number of times throughout the site" won't work, unless that word is the exact title of a node.

I'm very willing to hear suggestions on how this module can be made better. Thanks very much for trying it out and giving me feedback; I look forward to any comments you may have.

gtoddv’s picture

gtoddv commented

OK, the more we go back and forth the more this is making sense to me. The CamelCase is a cool idea.

I am hoping the freelinking module will suit the needs of a statewide Intranet site I am currently buildling. The ease of linking would be great for an average user. As long as I can describe the functionality ;-). I also have a public site, http://www.scvotes.org that might also benifit from the module.

I have downloaded and installed the 4.6 version per the link you posted. I still can't find the help text. Not a huge deal, just an anoyance that is probably due to my thick skull not being able to find it. If you have any hints, my feeble brain would appreciate it!

I think the use of EXACT title is good. Of course things could get out of hand otherwise. Besides, I use the Glossary module and there could be potential conflicts if they are both search and linking the same word(s).

Thanks again for your quick and helpful responses! I will keep offering up questions or suggestions as I continue to use/test this great module.

gtoddv

eafarris’s picture

eafarris commented

Hmm. Not sure why the filter tips aren't being shown. As long as the module is enabled in admin/modules, and the input filter is turned on for one of your input formats (admin/filters), it should appear under the "Input format" box in the content creation screen. Verify that the function "freelinking_filter_tips" exists your freelinking.module, it's in the 4.6 version so it ought to be there.

Do you see the filter tips for the other input formats you have?

gtoddv’s picture

gtoddv commented
StatusFileSize
new freelinking_0.module5.11 KB

I do see the filter tips for the other filters.

No the module contained in the link you referenced above does not contain the function "freelinking_filter_tips". There is also quite a bit commented out having to do with camel case. I will attach the file below.

thanks

gtoddv

eafarris’s picture

eafarris commented
Assigned: Unassigned » eafarris
Status: Active » Fixed
StatusFileSize
new freelinking_1.module7.14 KB

Well, I humbly apologize. It looks as though I never did add the filter tips to the 4.6 version of the module, just the CVS version. I just committed a version of the 4.6 module with the filter tips, but I've also attached it here for your convenience. The .tgz file only gets generated once per day, so it will probably have the old version in it if you try to get it from there.

I am sorry. I thought for sure that I had done this for both versions. I was wrong.

I've marked this as fixed. If you still need more information, please move the status back to "active." If this fixes your problem, please move the status to "closed."

eafarris’s picture

eafarris commented
StatusFileSize
new freelinking_2.module6.25 KB

And the screw ups continue. The filter tips function now reflects the (more limited) capabilites of the 4.6 version. Please use the attached module.

gtoddv’s picture

gtoddv commented

OK now we are getting somewhere! ;-)

What a difference 20k of code can make! I have the filter tips now. I will play some more and open new issue if one arises.

Thanks for everything.

gtoddv

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Status: Fixed » Closed (fixed)