By gurlinthewurld on
hi all,
(I am re-posting this under theming, as I've not gotten any responses under post-installation).
I am customizing the forum topics that a user can select before posting their forum. I have created a Category called "other" and I'd like to have the user have a text field to enter their specific topic. (a nice step to add would be to have a "moderator" approve it for creation to live site).
Can anyone point me to some documentation? So far I've not found anything specific, but some general related topics.
I appreciate any resources! thanks -gg
Comments
You can turn "comment subject
You can turn "comment subject field" on/off. This control can be found under the comments section, under content types for your forum.
If you need addition to this, I think you can create an additional text field using CCK. Though I havn't used CCK for this as yet, so can't advice from experience using forums module.
thank you for replying,
thank you for replying, AscentiOn. Hmm, I need some clarifying.
If I go to Admin Panel › Content management › Forum topic
I see Comment settings
Comment module form.
But I actually need to add a form field. I believe I have to edit a tpl file to do this, and am wondering if there's a resource to show us how to allow a user to enter in a field the name they want to give their forum topic. (Ideally, I'd like the entry to go to a moderator first before the topic goes live). Please let me know if I still have to clarify what I'm trying to do. Thanks! -gg.
To turn on comment/post
To turn on comment/post titles for printing, use this URL: /admin/content/node-type/forum.
from there scroll town till you see: 'comment settings', under which you will see 'Comment subject field'. This can be enabled or disabled.
it is displayed via your page.tpl.php or page-forum.tpl.php, with a statement similar to:
If you want to create an additional field, create a new CCK field.
To have use of a moderation facility, you could install a module called 'forum access', you may also need to install modes, 'ACL', and something like 'content access'. You will need to be careful though with how access to forums and posts are granted.
If you are seeking advice other than the above, I'm sure I don't know what you are talking about ;)
still not resolved: need to add custom Topics
this is helpful in allowing users to add a unique subject while replying to an already existing Forum topic/thread; thanks, for that AscentiOn. However, what I'd like users to be able to do is to create their own forum topics. So when they click on Create Forum Topic (node/add/forum/0), as of now they must enter a Subject (which is a required field, and can be unique), and then must select from the drop down menu, an existing forum topic (not unique, but would like it to be). I have placed a 'container' called 'Other' in that drop down field, and would like a field to pop up once that is selected, where they can enter their unique topic. Any ideas from anyone?
I am also curious about the CCK field thing you mentioned up top, and if you could elaborate, AscentiOn.
Thanks very much, gg.
I think what you're
I think what you're describing is allowing user create their own forums? Allowing users to post their own custom forum topic is built in to the basic functionality of the forum module, creating their own forums is a different beast.
The organization of a basic forum is: Forum Containers (optional) Forums (lists of topics) > Forum topics/threads > Comments (thread replies, also optional).
Creating a new forum topic (node/add/forum/0) will post a topic in the selected Forum topics/threads. A user can select what Forum topics/threads they want their forum topic/thread to appear in by selecting it from the drop down menu you described earlier (where your "Other" container shows up).
Like Ascenti0n I'm not quite sure what you're asking so a little clarification would help.
That's my quest: for users to create their own "forum"
...So when they go to create a forum topic, they can be given a form field to enter the name of their forum after they've selected "Other" from the forum drop down. And from what you're saying, and what I've seen in administering the module, there is no built in functionality. But I would like to create a form field for that in a tpl file-So I need some guidance from anyone with experience doing that: Can it be done with the tpl file (in the realm of theming), or do I need to use form_hook_alter (or some other type like that...in the realm of module development)....Any resources would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance, gg.
Ok then...
I guess I'm just confused by why you'd want users to be able to create their own forums (topic lists), which isn't at all a forum topic (what you asked about originally). A forum (topic list) doesn't really have any content of its own, no author information, no post, no content, it's just a list of topics, a container (which can have it's own container...). I honestly don't really see much of a use for such functionality.
It also brings up a ton of UI considerations, as users will expect the New Forum Topic to post a new topic, not an entirely new forum altogether. You'd have to throw out the body field, the title field, and just about everything the default New Forum Topic link gives you to begin with. You'd also have to create a new setup to allow users to post actual, true Forum Topics, and not new forums. You'd be better off trying to create a new system for users to create their own forum rather than hijacking New Forum Topic.
To do what I think you're asking, the easiest path would probably be to ignore the built in forum module all together and build your own using CCK and a lot of theming. I'm rather new to drupal myself so such an undertaking is beyond my experience, although I'm sure it's quite possible. Honestly I think you should reexamine what you're trying to do and why you're doing it.
If what you're really trying to do is let users post their own Forum Topics (with their own custom titles), in the standard, used everywhere, traditional sense, you're going about this completely the wrong way.
If anyone out there reading
If anyone out there reading this has any ideas/resources on instruction for me, on creating said module or how to use the hook_form_alter to create a new form entry I would really appreciate it...thanks wcameron on your idea about using CCK + theming. -gg