Here is my issue. And I hope I make this clear.
I have an opportunity on my new site to host Published Authors teasers. This feature will be a pay for service, nominal fee of like $5. per post. My problem is that I want too keep these separate from the Fanfiction and Original unpublished fiction on the site. Also. The authors don't need all the options currently in the 'post new story' section. All they are going to post is a dust jacket image, name of book, brief summary,perhaps warnings, a link to purchase the book, and a teaser chapter.
Also, I want to have a featured story indicator for these so that they can be featured SEPERATELY from the fanfic/original fic, on the front page. I'd like the featured story for these authors to include the dust jacket image, name and author, brief summary.
I've been messing around for days, and I think I need to create new blocks, but I can't seem to figure out how to do this.
Can anyone tell me if I can do this?
It can be done, though I've never done it so I'm not quite sure how. As far as the other aspects of what you're looking at, you might find this helpful: https://efiction.org/wiki/index.php5?title=List_of_%22hooks%22
Thanks, Lyndsie. I'll take a look at the link and let you know...
Okay, I've checked out the wiki, but I'm not sure what to do with all that. How do I use it and where?
Take a look also at the blocks wiki page if you haven't already.
https://efiction.org/wiki/index.php5?title=Blocks
My suggestion for creating custom blocks would be to also look at some of the existing blocks to look at the coding.
Becca, I started to do that, but I'm not sure what to include in the block and where else that needs to be defined.
It's more than a matter of creating new blocks. You're going to have to modify the script to store the information you want in the database and then pull it out when you need it to display on the page. It's not as easy as you think.
That being said, I think you should look at the recommendations module ( https://efiction.org/forums/index.php?topic=4557.0). From my understanding of the module, it will do basically what you want however, I have never used it.
Thanks, Carrissa! However, the link to the module is not working.
Okay. I'm not sure why this is such a big deal. I'm not asking for new fields in the database, except maybe a new image file for the dust jacket. The published authors can use the current author name 'penname' the curret story title, the current story file. ALL I want is a new block that pulls only those required fields and a new block for the published authors to post and display. AND I need to know how to make it so the published authors see a paypal custom page before they post. This really doesn't seem that complicated, I just don't know how the blocks relate and how to create a block.
You're asking for something that does not exist. You can't do it like you're thinking, it's just not that simple. You're wanting people to pay you which means you'd need limited access, and you're wanting at least one new field, and to eliminate some other fields. That requires a new submission form, even if you store the data in an existing table. You can't use the old form because it requires fields to be filled in that you're not even using.
It's really a lot more complicated than you think.
I'm beginning to see that, Carrissa. I did have another thought, perhaps you could tell me if this is doable. I was thinking that I could just use a function like the {welcome} and just have admin hardcode the display for author advert on the front page, the published authors will just have to use the current poststory form. However, I would need to define that. Do you think that's an option?
Also, I would need a custom page to pop-up when a user selects the add new story option from the Account menue.
Anything is possible if you have enough time and know-how. Here's the bottom line: what you're asking for is a mod. Making variables (like {welcome}) is not difficult but it's not super easy either. Making custom pages is not hard but the submission form is complicated and unless you have a lot of php and html knowledge, you probably won't be able to do it.
The first thing I would do if I were you is either IM Tammy or reply in the thread I linked to with the recommendations module. I'm not sure what happened to her site and she may not even be aware there's a problem. The recommendations module does pretty much what you need (minus the picture of the dust jacket) and would be a good place for you to start. Why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to?
If that doesn't work out for you, then you'll need to make a post in the mod request forum. Your request is pretty limited in scope, so I'm not sure anyone is just going to do it for you, but we can give you advice on how to do it yourself and possibly help you along the way.
I'm not trying to be mean or off-putting, but I don't think you fully understand the implications of what you're asking (and how could you, being very new to the script?). It's not a matter of spending a few minutes changing a line or two in the code--it's a major modification and you're wasting your time asking for support in this thread because so far, none of the people who have replied (including myself) have the php ability (as far as I know) to provide you with the quick answer you expect. I have however, been working with eFiction a long time and understand a good bit of the underlying structure which is how I know what you're asking for won't be simple.
Clabby, if you want the recommendations module, I have the most recent one on either my flash drive or external hard drive, so if you email me I can send it to you.
