Adding profiles for categories and characters

I'm not quite sure how efiction works in this regard. Within the user profile template I am allowed to use {image} for the image there. This is not currently available to me for characters. I plan on adding entries to the sql database accordingly.

<div class="tabber">     
<div class="tabbertab">       
<h2>Character Profile</h2> 

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  
<tbody>
<tr>   
<td class="sectioncontent" rowspan="4" width="110" align="center" valign="top"> 

<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biotitle">
<strong>Name:</strong> {Character} <!-- ALREADY EXISTS IN MYSQL -->
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>   
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Played by</strong>: {actor}<br /> <!-- WHAT VOICE AND/OR REGULAR ACTOR PORTRAYS THEM -->
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Alias</strong>: {alias}<br /> <!-- THIS WILL SHOW OTHER ROLE/S THE CHARACTER IS KNOWN AS -->
</td>  
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Cast in</strong>: {casts} <!-- THIS WILL LIST LINKS OF SERIES HE/SHE IS IN -->
</td>
</tr>  
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<div id="profile">
</div>

<strong>Gender</strong>: {gender} <!-- MALE, FEMALE, OTHER -->
</td>   
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Origin</strong>: {origin} <!-- THIS GIVES CHARACTER'S ORIGIN -->
</td>  
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">&nbsp;</td>  
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div class="tabbertab">
<h2>Biography</h2> 
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  
<tbody>
<tr>    
<td class="sectioncontent" width="110" align="center" valign="top"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" <!-- IMAGE AGAIN -->
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>   
<td class="sectioncontent" colspan="2" valign="top"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">{description}<br /> <!-- THIS ONE EXISTS ALREADY::WORKS-->
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>  
</tr> 
</tbody>
</table>      

</div> 
</div>

So, if I can add more fields to the form and subsequently more data to the mysql table. Then add more variables to the code so I can upload the above copy saved into a character.tpl or a variant for categories.tpl in a skin then I'll be in business.

This looks very interesting. Did you develop it any further or are you still using this version on your current archive with eFiction 3.5.1?

I'm using 3.5 at the moment and am thinking about looking into your idea for the character pages. I really like that a lot.

Not sure I am able to do more than applying the tabber mod to character and categories. it becomes terribly slow and bulky if you have over 100 cats. I tried like 1000 and it was humorous to say the least. didn't crash at least.

Thanks for the info. Good thing I only have a small, rather private Archive and only a couple of categories, characters and visitors. 😉 So I guess mine won't get too slow or make any other problems.

you could just add the lins manually. if you add the tabber html code into the bio via mysql you will be on your way there

I reread w hat I posted, look slike wishful thinking, so as I said, you'll need to do much by hand, so no variables or .tpl files to help

I'm doing a lot by hand right now as I'm moving everything from my original site to a double-installation with joined authors table, rearranging categories and everything I have to edit a lot of stuff in the database 😉 So that's not really a problem for me. I just want to finish moving all the data before adding new features and stuff 😉

Thanks a lot again. I really appreciate your answers.

Well, not that I recommend this. call it a .1 alpha build.

I added characters.tpl to my skin folder. it's basically the code I have above for profiles with adjustments

I added

$tpl->assignInclude( "characters", "./$skindir/characters.tpl" ); //addition

to browse.php after

else $tpl->assignInclude( "listings", "./default_tpls/listings.tpl" );
$tpl->assignInclude( "header", "./$skindir/header.tpl" );
$tpl->assignInclude( "footer", "./$skindir/footer.tpl" );

Also

<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : characters -->

After {output} to browse.tpl. I'm not sure that's the right location or method.

I post this because what I did did nothing at all. No errors, no output, nothing. So unless you have an inkling how to make it output, not sure you should bother with it just yet.

okay. assigning a template makes sense (so that works?)

But sorry if I'm just stupid or what ... The thing with the block won't do you any good, will it? The characters thingy is not a block it's a mod, right? for that include to work you'd have to initialize a block for characters. And I don't think you did that nor do I think that's what you actually want.

Just trying to sort out the information from the docs. Again: Sorry if I'm wrong.

Like I said before: I won't add this thing right now because I want to set everything up and fill in the data first, then get the site(s) online again and then I'll try adding some mods and such. As for this one: giving it a good thought, I really love the idea, but I want to have one skin without too many pictures and js and other stuff for people with older computer/browser or slower connections. So I think I leave it for now as this solution is not optional and can't be switched off for seperate skins if I'm not mistaken ...

doesn't mean I'm not going to play aorund with this, though 😉 just not on my live site.

Oh, no. If this works correctly, it'll only use whats available. So, you can have a different one for each skin or none. This is a mod, but it will use the skins as you mentuion. Yes, don't use it yet, too soon. I just want to get a dialogue going, thanks.

I'm always up for a dialogue, just can't help you too much, yet ... unfortunately 🙁

Hmmm. I'm a little confused now, to be honest ... when you copypaste the whole information and everything (the tabber and such as you suggest in your first post) into the profile field for each character, it'll always be there, right? it's in the database so for the profile-page to display correctly you would need the tabber javascript and such ...

of course i understand, this is still in development and you're trying to improve it.

There is, btw., a field with "image" in the characters table. It's just not in use, yet. Just found that when I was studying the different tables. 😀

Ah you are quite right, if this alpha actually worked, then each character would have 2 profiles showing, but its the kind of success I was looking forward to. The sql information would need to be dropped as characters.tpl would act just like profile.tpl

Yes, image is there, but as you can see here http://fanforge.net/browse.php?type=characters&charid=1

Well, i'll do more tests

--

I'm not seeing in the sql any location of some of the blocks mentioned in the tpls i posted there. so it is said to be a block, but I'm not confident I need to add it to the sql to work.

--

Note, this is stil alpha, maybe .2 now. It won't do anything yet

Updated characters.tpl

<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : header -->
<div id="chaprofile">
<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : chaprofile -->
{adminoptions}
<div id="sort">{sort}</div>
</div>
<div id="tabs">
<!-- START BLOCK : paneltabs -->
<span {class}>{linkcount}</span>
<!-- END BLOCK : paneltabs -->
<div class="cleaner" style="clear: both;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
{output}
<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : listings -->
<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : footer -->

I'll need to use this code

if(file_exists("$skindir/characters.tpl")) $tpl = new TemplatePower( "$skindir/characters.tpl" );

but I don't know where. There is no uniformity between users, characters and categories design wise although I'd like there to be.

Also, I tried in browse.php

if(file_exists("$skindir/browse.tpl")) $tpl = new TemplatePower( "$skindir/browse.tpl" );
else $tpl = new TemplatePower("default_tpls/browse.tpl");

after

if(file_exists("$skindir/characters.tpl")) $tpl = new TemplatePower( "$skindir/characters.tpl" );//added
else $tpl = new TemplatePower("default_tpls/characters.tpl");//added

broke it, so I commented it out for later

Updated chaprofile.tpl

<!-- START BLOCK : chaprofile -->
<div class="tabber">     
<div class="tabbertab">       
<h2>Character Profile</h2> 
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  
<tbody>
<tr>   
<td class="sectioncontent" rowspan="4" width="110" align="center" valign="top"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" 		 
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>   
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biotitle">
<strong>Name:</strong> <br />
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Voice Act</strong>: <br />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<strong>Alias</strong>: <br />
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Cast in</strong>: <a href="""></a>," <a href="""></a><br" />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<div id="profile">
</div>
<strong>Gender</strong>: 
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<strong>Origin</strong>: Japan<br />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">?</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div> 
<div class="tabbertab">
<h2>Biography</h2>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr> 
<td class="sectioncontent" width="110" align="center" valign="top">
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
<td class="sectioncontent" colspan="2" valign="top">
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent"><br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr> 
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<!-- END BLOCK : chaprofile -->

An alternate method, but again it is not calling the variables. This works half way, so you can test it if you wish.

browse.tpl

<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : header -->
{output}
<div class="tabber">     
<div class="tabbertab">       
<h2>Character Profile</h2> 
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  
<tbody>
<tr>   
<td class="sectioncontent" rowspan="4" width="110" align="center" valign="top"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" 		 
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>   
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biotitle">
<strong>Name:</strong> <br />
</div>
</div>
</div>   
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Voice Act</strong>: <br />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<strong>Alias</strong>: <br />
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked"> 
<strong>Cast in</strong>: <a href="""></a>," <a href="""></a><br" />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<div id="profile">
</div>
<strong>Gender</strong>: 
</td>
<td class="sectionlinked">
<strong>Origin</strong>: Japan<br />
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">?</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div> 
<div class="tabbertab">
<h2>Biography</h2>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr> 
<td class="sectioncontent" width="110" align="center" valign="top">
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">
<a href="" http://fanforge.net/user.php?action=manageimages">{image}</a> ;" 
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
<td class="sectioncontent" colspan="2" valign="top">
<div id="profile">
<div id="bio">
<div id="biocontent">{bio}<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr> 
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<!-- START BLOCK : sortform -->
<div id="sortform">{sortbegin}{categorymenu} {charactermenu1} {charactermenu2} {pairingsmenu} {ratingmenu} {classmenu} {sortmenu} {sortend}</div>
<!-- END BLOCK : sortform -->
<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : listings -->
<!-- INCLUDE BLOCK : footer -->

A note, I'm seeing fundamental differences between browse.tpl and profile.tpl, browse.tpl use {output} which displays the sql data it is assigned to display. If I can drop this method and instead use what profile.tpl uses, I'll be set. Where in the code should I look?

I edited profile.php in the user folder so character pages work the same way. I know I'll need to add more sql. Also submission in the categories.php page within browse. Still, I'd love a hand in this. It's coming along fairly well, but all i'm doing is reverse engineering. It is still alpha code, so testing will cause breaks. This is also using the tabbed profile mod.

<?php
// Build the character's profile information
if(!defined("_CHARSET")) exit( );
$tpl->newBlock("chaprofile");
$result2 = dbquery("SELECT * FROM "._CHARACTERTABLE." LEFT JOIN ".TABLEPREFIX."fanfiction_characters as ap ON ap.charid = "._CHARIDFIELD." WHERE "._CHARIDFIELD." = '$charid' LIMIT 1");
$charinfo = dbassoc($result2);
$charnameinfo = "";
if(!empty($favorites) && isMEMBER && $charinfo['charid'] != CHARID) {
$fav = dbquery("SELECT * FROM ".TABLEPREFIX."character_favorites WHERE uid = '".CHARID."' AND type = 'AU' AND item = '".$charinfo['charid']."'");

if(dbnumrows($fav) == 0) $favinfo .= " [<a href=""user.php?action=favch&amp;uid=".CHARID."&amp;add=".$charinfo['charid'"]."">"._ADDCHARACTER2FAVES."</a>]";

if(dbnumrows($fav) == 0) $favinfo .= " [<a href=""user.php?action=favch&amp;add=".$charinfo['charid'"]."">"._ADDCHARACTER2FAVES."</a>]";
}
$tpl->assign("add2fav", $favinfo);
$tpl->assign("charname", $charinfo['charname']." ".$nameinfo);
$tpl->assign("alias", $charinfo['alias']." ".$charnameinfo);
$tpl->assign("gender", $charinfo['gender']." ".$charnameinfo);
$tpl->assign("voice", $charinfo['voice']." ".$charnameinfo);

if($charinfo['bio']) {
$bio = nl2br($charinfo['bio']);
$tpl->assign("bio", stripslashes($bio));
}
if($charinfo['image'])
     $tpl->assign("image", "<img src=""".$charinfo['image'"]."" border="1" vspace="2"></a>");
else $tpl->assign("image", "<img src=""images/unlined_noimg.gif"" border="1" vspace=2"></a>");
if(!empty($dynamicfields)) $tpl->assign("charfields", $dynamicfields);
?>

The gain in having this mod are images, adding your favorite characters, more details on a given character for those not familiar with them.
Edit:Saw an error, userinfo should be charinfo

you're really working hard on this, aren't you? I'm trying to get my head around the whole php stuff a little at least before trying to mod away 😉 Won't find much time today anyway. Will hopefully get to play around later on ... Wednesday or so. I hopefully will have sime time by then 🙁