Retractable categories - Features?

[Dave Smulders]

I have started working on a expandable/retractable categories mod, but I want to know the general opinion how this should work.

• All categories opened by default, or should you be able as admin to set certain boards retracted (closed) by default?
• A little circular button on the right in the category-bar to open and close it, or the whole bar to click on? Button can stay as open/closed indicator, in both cases.
• Remember the settings for each category (open/closed as the user last used them)? And if so:  for the length of the session / always, via a cookie/ always, stored in the database for each user ?

[ArtfulSpider]

All categories opened by default, or should you be able as admin to set certain boards retracted (closed) by default?

I would prefer to set certain boards OPEN by default, and lockable that way... and the others configurable by the users, according to their preference, and yes, with memory of last setting..

A little circular button on the right in the category-bar to open and close it, or the whole bar to click on? Button can stay as open/closed indicator, in both cases.

When closed, button for "EXPAND" or "OPEN".. when open, button in same place, except for "COLLAPSE" or "CLOSE" catagory.  Button would be better than the whole bar clickable, as it's easier to for the user to identify the function, and is label-able for the admin, to explain it.  If the whole bar were clickable, where would you post the explaination of the function?

[Remember the settings for each category (open/closed as the user last used them)? And if so:  for the length of the session / always, via a cookie/ always, stored in the database for each user ?

I suggest always, stored in the db, but is it possible to add an admin function that would override all... so if you wanted to ... for example.. display a new board with important content to ALL users, regardless of whether they have that catagory closed... this would open it, and sort to the top... if that makes any sense at all. hehe..

Cool mod project you've taken on there... will be curious to see how it works out... could come in very handy.
Have fun.

RR

[Alan Cramer]

I also started this mod, but mine was different.  But I haven't really got far, while looking for bugs in YaBB SE 1.1.0. So I will let you handle it.  But can you also add this choice aswell (which I was going to do) to allow a choice in the Mod Settings page for either Standard Board, Retractable, or Show One Board by URL?  The third option is where in the url an option like boardurl?cat=1;hideall=1 can only show just the one category on the board and the others aren't even shown.

[KenTeamBG]

What?  Now this is changing hands?  Argh!

Anyway, you can see my simple version of this mod already done (and slightly enhanced since my first verion) at:

http://neverwinternexus.com/teambg/forum/?opened=5

[Dave Smulders]

Sorry, I didn't see you were working on this already. As far as I know, this mod was assigned to Joseph a while ago, but since he's on the other side of the world for a while, I wanted to finish some things before he gets back.

The direction I wanted to take with this mod is a bit different, since I wanted the opening/closing done with javascript. That's quick, and does not need reloading of the page. However, for browsers who do not support that (IE 3.0 and lower, NS 3.0 and lower, and wbrowsers with javascript turned off) I'll have to use the reloading type, as yours does.

I like the functionality in yours, since it only shows one category. I think I should make this an option too, question is: Should that be admin or user choice?
I personally think it should be user choice, but that would add a setting to his/her profile, or there should be yet an extra control on the screen to switch it.

Anyways, since there are a lot of people with ideas for this mod, we can put our efforts together? I'm busy with the javascript type of opening/closing for a while, so if you want to make the reloading-type, or the Show-One-Board-by-URL option, feel free to contribute  

[Godai]

I like the java solution, is easy, looks cool and speedy

[KenTeamBG]

JS solution is potentially problematic.  Not only due to older browsers, but the divergences between MSIE4+, NN4.0x, NN4.5+, NN6.x+

Good luck with that.

Additionally those that have the proper browser version that would normally have no problem but turn off JS support, so at least leep that in mind.

[KenTeamBG]

BTW, this feature infiltrated this topic and I have posted the code:

http://www.yabb.info/community/index.php?board=141;action=display;threadid=4108;start=15

[Dave Smulders]

I already mentioned browsers with javascript turned off, those will be taken care of.
Cross browser compatibility is no problem, I know what I'm doing  

[Godai]

I already mentioned browsers with javascript turned off, those will be taken care of.
Cross browser compatibility is no problem, I know what I'm doing  

And i trust in you

[Dave Smulders]

Well, at least I hope that I know what I'm doing  

[KenTeamBG]

Egos?  What egos?  

[Dave Smulders]

I have no ego, I'm just good  

Anyway, enough crap, on with the features

Alan: your one-board-only-via-url feature...I think the choice could be: Retractable on/off, and one-board-only-via-url on/off.
That way you can always use the one-board thing when enabled, by url, and use the board in normal mode also.
We could let the category names link to the one-board views when the feature is enabled.

Please let me know what you think about that.

[Godai]

I really think is a good idea.

[Jeff Lewis]

Please remember to add it to modSettings as well so it can be disabled by those that don't want it  The rest we spoke about over ICQ