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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Hi everyone,
I am just getting started with Umbrac (have spent about 5 hours with it so far). I really like the package (have not seen the ocurse yet, but the install looks cool), but am looking for a fully functional Blog as well. I did download and install the Blog package that comes with the download, but the comments don't seem to work and there doesn't seem to be an archive feature etc. Is there an updated package that I can install? I did see a post at the end of 06 that asked the same question but with no real answer.
If there aren't, how can I get started on extending the current one. After having read a lot of the books and other material, there doesn't seem to be a comprehensive Developer Guide. That's too bad, espcailly for people who are just venturing into .NET and could use something like that. I come from a Java background, so all this is a little new for me (VS.NET, solutions, etc.) If anyone can recommend more detailed tutorials/documentation, I would really appreciate it. I would love to use Umbraco as it looks like a cool (and fairly well adopted) solution to CMS.
Thanks again!
-- Nik
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Rank: Aficionado
Joined: 10/30/2007
Posts: 149
Location: Bellingham
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Nik - I can assure you the Blog Package does have a comments and an archive feature. There is a pre-requisite for the Comments section - you need to install the Utilities Package which has the Auto-Form you need. The archiving is accomplished via a slick action-handler (which is a great example, by the way, if you're looking to do anything similar) installed along with the Blog Package. Finally, there's a relatively new, and very well done, PingXMLRPC Package which can update all the Blog Ping Services when you make a new Post - also in the Package Repository. The documentation for Umbraco start-up is a common source of pain for brand-new folks, but hang in there a bit and use the Umbraco Community Search and you'll find there's more documentation than it looks like. -Paul
motusconnect.com :: level-2 certified :: MVP 2008/2009
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Thanks for the response. My biggest issue is I don't even know where to start. Am I better off trying to write my own Blog entirely from scratch?
One of the challenges is that my client is currently implementing Umbraco for thier external Web site with another company. I handle all Intranet related items and they are asking that we explore using Umbraco on the Intranet rather than the current ColdFusion solution. So, if I can't deliver on that, then I am not sure how long I will be kept around! :O( Scary thought....
I was looking at MojoPortal for example. There seems to be a lot of documentation on where to get started, how to extend projects, etc. Does anyone have anyting like that for Umbraco? It would be sooo helpful.
I downloaded the source and startted a new VS 2008 project (which doesn't build...). Here is an example of what I would like to do:
Use the existing Blog package, but modify it so that it can satisfy some additioanl requirements like; not showing the comment form unless someone is 'registered and logged in', providing, provide a topic drop down in the comments form, and some other customization.
Please help! :O)
Thank you all so much.
Best,
Nik
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Rank: Addict
Joined: 2/19/2007
Posts: 564
Location: Belgium
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Hi Nik, The way I would do it is: No fidling with the umbraco sourcecode but installing a fresh umbraco with the umbraco blog package. Next would be to drop the autoform ( that is used to submit comments ) and to create a custom usercontrol for making posts ( that way you could check if the user is logged in and add other features ...) Cheers, Tim
Umbraco tips and tricks: http://www.nibble.be - umbraco mvp 08/09 - certified level 1 & 2 professional
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Great, you're actually the second person to suggest that. I think that sounds like a good plan, however, how do I interface with the datasource and write data to the cms tables etc? Someone suggested developing Web services for this. Are there existing interfaces to Umbraco to accomplish this?
Thanks again!
-- Nik
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Rank: Addict
Joined: 2/19/2007
Posts: 564
Location: Belgium
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Sure there is, First reference the necesary dll's then using umbraco.cms.businesslogic.web; using umbraco.cms.businesslogic.property; Code:
DocumentType voteDocTyp = DocumentType.GetByAlias("Vote");
Document vote = Document.MakeNew(txtEmail.Text, voteDocTyp, new umbraco.BusinessLogic.User(0), movie.Id);
vote.getProperty("emailaddress").Value = txtEmail.Text;
vote.getProperty("subscribe").Value = cbPromotions.Checked;
vote.Publish(new umbraco.BusinessLogic.User(0));
Should get you started Cheers, Tim
Umbraco tips and tricks: http://www.nibble.be - umbraco mvp 08/09 - certified level 1 & 2 professional
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Rank: Addict
Joined: 2/19/2007
Posts: 564
Location: Belgium
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If you like I could send you some sourcecode just drop your email
Umbraco tips and tricks: http://www.nibble.be - umbraco mvp 08/09 - certified level 1 & 2 professional
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Rank: Fanatic
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 409
Location: NL
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I think I was the one that suggested it.....but a question first:
Why would you want to write diectly to the cms tables? Is that for inputting pages like new blog-items?
If so, you can login to the umbraco back-end and create new posts there, no need to write directly into the cms-tables.
As suggested before: try the binaries, install the blog-package, let it create a sample-blog and take a look at the front and at the back how things are set up.
PeterD
FOR EACH brokenitem EXCLUSIVE-LOCK:
RUN FixBrokenItem.
RUN ImproveBrokenItem.
END.
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Hi Peter, the things that I would like to write to the database are the related comments to a blog post for example. Doesn't that require an entry in a table belonging to Umbraco? Perhaps there are completely separete table that make up the Blog. Tim, if you would please send some sample source that would be awesome. My email is nwahlberg@gmail.comThanks all! -- Nik
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Rank: Fanatic
Joined: 10/9/2006
Posts: 333
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another great way to add blog posts to an umbraco blog is via livewriter or word2007 via the metablog api... i agree with Peter... set up an out of the box umbraco install with blog package and see what you see...
bootnumlock - aka bob baty-barr [ http://www.baty-barr.com] Level 1 Certified!
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Rank: Aficionado
Joined: 10/30/2007
Posts: 149
Location: Bellingham
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Nik - The thing with AutoForm is that it takes care of writing the data to the database for you - this is a good thing, right? Also, further to Bob's mention of using LiveWriter (or Word) with Umbraco Blogs here are some posts that do offer step by step: http://umbraco.org/documentation/books/using-livewriterhttp://motusconnect.com/blog/2007/11/14/using%20windows%20live%20writer%20with%20umbraco%20(3.0.3).aspx-Paul
motusconnect.com :: level-2 certified :: MVP 2008/2009
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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That's really cool. Thanks for sending that as well. And I agree, as long as AutoForm will satisfy all of the necessary requirements than that is the best route. I have a couple of other fields that I need to add to the form, so in this case I don't think AutoForm will help, correct? I am just getting to all the juicy article that are posted on Tim's blog as well. There is some good stuff there that I hadn't seen previsouly, like the article by Niel and so on. I will keep plowing through that material and post questions as they arise. I appreciate everyone's help. Thanks, Nik
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Rank: Fanatic
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 409
Location: NL
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With autoform you specify a document-type which should be presented as fill-in form.
If you want to add fields, just add those fields to the document-type. (You can find the document-types in the Settings-section)
Once added there, they should pop up nicely in the form as well.
Note that you need to adjust the Wordpresslistcomments.xslt (Developer-section) as well to display them when viewing the item.
I'm glad you are getting on track now, I (and others as well) pointed you to the binaries because in most cases there is no need to get your hands dirty on the umbraco-source code :)
And, yes, please keep asking questions if you get stuck somehwere, we all do :!:
FOR EACH brokenitem EXCLUSIVE-LOCK:
RUN FixBrokenItem.
RUN ImproveBrokenItem.
END.
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Rank: Aficionado
Joined: 10/30/2007
Posts: 149
Location: Bellingham
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Nik - Actually, using AutoForm you can add in any number of fields. It's up to you to define these. I'd just install the latest AutoFormPlus and try it out - it's quite straightforward. -Paul
motusconnect.com :: level-2 certified :: MVP 2008/2009
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Yeah, this is great. I don't think I will need to make any code changes at all! Although I am a programmer at heart so I will roll up my sleaves and get into the source as well. When it comes time to converting the existing intranet 5000+ pages I have to imagine that there will be a couple of customizations. There are currently a lot of features on the Intranet that are not just 'content' related, like featured news in a Flash scroller etc.
:w00t:
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Rank: Fanatic
Joined: 7/20/2006
Posts: 409
Location: NL
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Glad your starting to like it :D
In my experience it will be enough to just extend umbraco instead of modifying the source-code though.
Extending is very easy by creating usercontrols or webservices.
Keep in mind that when you alter the source-code, it will be very hard to upgrade to future versions. If you just extend it, you can do this easily.
Just my 2cts :cool:
FOR EACH brokenitem EXCLUSIVE-LOCK:
RUN FixBrokenItem.
RUN ImproveBrokenItem.
END.
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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That is very true. So, in the scenario when you are extending rather than altering, wouldn't you need to have multiple interfaces t oedit the various pieces of content? For example, creating cutom forms for non authenticated users to submit classified ads. Where is that information stored versus altered?
Also, does Umbraco support workflow? So that content can be added but not published until approved? Here's a scenario that we currently have:
- Person enters a classified ad (like apartment rental or whatever)
- The ad is put in a queue
- The ad is reviewed by a content writer
- The content writer approves/edits the ad
- The ad is available in a public list
Would this be doable using Umbraco?
Thanks,
Nik
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Rank: Aficionado
Joined: 10/30/2007
Posts: 149
Location: Bellingham
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Nik - Yes, of course Umbraco does workflow. Some folks have set up quite complicated workflow, but a simple Submit-Review-Approve like yours is a cinch. Have a look at this post for the specifics: http://forum.umbraco.org/extending-umbraco/simple-workflow-Paul
motusconnect.com :: level-2 certified :: MVP 2008/2009
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Rank: Enthusiast
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 10
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Aaahh, very cool! So, per some of the postings, is a listing of 'documents awaiting approval' now part of Umbraco?
Thanks,
Nik
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