I've looked at Tammy's online block and decided to write the new one, which add some stats to the existing online block from Tammy.
Finished the block, but still testing it.
Everyone can download the version 1.0 here:
http://forum.writingcenter4.info/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=11723
This block for eFiction 3.0 displays which of your members is currently online and how many guests are visiting the site as well. In addition to the standard
{blockname_title} and {blockname_content}, this block also adds {guests} as the number of guests and {onlinemembers} as the hyperlinked list of members online.
Further, this block displays the number of users in certain key pages:
1. Admin page
2. Index page
3. View Users
4. Read Story
5. Browsing
6. Author pages
7. Top 10 lists
When the visitor is reading a fic (readstory), it displays the number of visitors reading the fic as well (it excludes your own presence at the current fic).
This is the basic mod (the best I can do in php). The next version will have the connection to the profile, where an additional field will be added, which indicates if the user wants to show his/her username or not. If there are users, who are online, but don't want to show the username, it will be grouped under Hidden). But that is so far version 1.1 and after I have finished the profile filters.
That version will also have more types of actions (like browsing in recent, etc.). But it will be differently written.
This block also does not contain script to create the table automatically. You need to add the changes in the database yourself. It's explained in the readme text.
I decided to release several online blocks.
The simple ones with only counters online (members and guests) without using any names, neither page names and the more advanced ones.
For the advanced ones, which will contain full information, there will be also different types, but those will be configurable.
Are you designing this block to appear on every page? I know that a lot of people might not have room for that in their skins, so maybe think about toggling the 'how many are browsing the current page' part.
My concern is really the IP address information. Showing that to admins is one thing, but showing it to everyone else is another, and I'm not sure what you've got planned. SMF actually works on that model. This forum is an SMF forum, and if you look at the bottom of the index page there's a link to take you to a page like you're describing ( https://efiction.org/forums/index.php?action=who). If you notice all that space after the username, it's because admins will see the IP addresses right behind it. (I see them on other SMF forums that I run.) I think if you did display the IP addresses to every person, a lot of people would get upset.
Yes, and you are absolutely right. But I needed it for debugging the block.
At the end, the only thing everyone sees is where the guest guest is at the moment, that is all.
And it is also a problem, because when you would display extended information about the guest, and it is a busy site, the info will go on for ages and disturb the display.
I'm almost ready for the release of the first version of the block.
You can see it in action at the http://ficdom.net
Any further ideas you want to add to the block, let me know here.
Wim
And it is also a problem, because when you would display extended information about the guest, and it is a busy site, the info will go on for ages and disturb the display.
*thinks of my site* My main site isn't as big as Kali's Jonas Brothers site, for example, but we do have lots of members (~15,000, because we require an account to view the highest rated fics). I am really interested the opt-out feature, though.
For yours, maybe it's because it's a new/devel site and thus only guests are on, but so far the "Online" and "Who's Online" blocks look almost identical. I was going to try to give you info about what I see for helping purposes. :
Thank you, Lyndsie.
I've got a problem at the moment, but hope to have finished it next week.
I continue with this block.
I've finished the block itself already, but did not work on the display. I see what each member is doing (internally).
The block will display:
* The members, the guests and the invisible members on the current page
* A page, where you can see what everyone is doing at the moment (similar as SMF http://forum.writingcenter4.info/index.php?action=who)
Now the block is finished (version 1.0) and ready for testing and the site to see the block in action is here: http://ficdom.net
I updated the block with some minor error fixes.
There is a 'brother' block for all of you interested.
The block displays the stories currently read, using the same table as this block.
http://forum.writingcenter4.info/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=11735
There are some changes in the block itself. First of all, I removed a very irritating bug.
Secondly, the related block is People Also Read is changed.
It displays a combo with all people who are reading a story currently. Their penname is visible and the title of the story. People can choose the user and story and they navigate to the story. At the moment I placed that block on the ficdom.net, I suddenly saw the people were using that block the most.
Before people were using mainly the Most Recent function to get their preferable stories to read, now the majority are using the People Also Read block.
The next step I wanted is to change the profile so that people had the ability to hide their penname from those blocks. But many people pointed out that they thought it was a waste of time, because when you want privacy, change the penname into something else. I agree with those people.
Anyway, the block Whoisonline will have some changes (more options) today. I post an update when it is ready and tested.
The next step I wanted is to change the profile so that people had the ability to hide their penname from those blocks. But many people pointed out that they thought it was a waste of time, because when you want privacy, change the penname into something else. I agree with those people.
I think that's a little short-sighted. Right now I have a site with 15,000 members and growing, and several thousand of these accounts are defunct. In our TOS we specify that each user can only have one account in part because of resource factors. So for instance under this model if I want to post stories under my username that people know me by, but not have what I'm browsing show up, then I'd have to have two separate accounts, and would be violating my own TOS.
The site I'm talking about is a special case, but it seems less confusing to have an opt-out so that every person needs to have only one account.
(Haha, obviously I have a strong opinion about this.)
The next step I wanted is to change the profile so that people had the ability to hide their penname from those blocks. But many people pointed out that they thought it was a waste of time, because when you want privacy, change the penname into something else. I agree with those people.
I think that's a little short-sighted. Right now I have a site with 15,000 members and growing, and several thousand of these accounts are defunct. In our TOS we specify that each user can only have one account in part because of resource factors. So for instance under this model if I want to post stories under my username that people know me by, but not have what I'm browsing show up, then I'd have to have two separate accounts, and would be violating my own TOS.
The site I'm talking about is a special case, but it seems less confusing to have an opt-out so that every person needs to have only one account.
(Haha, obviously I have a strong opinion about this.)
Alright, Lyndsie.
Because we are talking about a block here, the change of the Hidden or not hidden username is a bit wrongly placed here.
We must talk about a mod, which displays the penname or - when it is set to be hidden in the profile - the class Hidden (just like guests).
It will be a mod with many changes in the eFiction software (like the hyperlink for categories).
I will implement that one after the hyperlink for categories are completed if you don't mind.
Not really. Adding a yes/no profile field should be the only thing you need to do.
Thanks, Tammy. Will implement this today as you suggested.
I finished the change (with username is hidden) and it is now in beta testing at the http://development.ficdom.net/index.php
You can take a look at the beta site and if you guys want to download the version with the change.
http://forum.writingcenter4.info/index.php?action=mgallery;sa=item;id=12411
It's called Who's online, version 1.1 Beta
There might be problems within the script, so look out and don't add it to a production site.
The instructions are in the download page.
Wim
