A Downloads Mod

[yautja_Cetanu Jamie]

Something we're developing.

We don't really have anything that looks that good yet. http://www.thevr.co.uk/test/test_downloadsmod is our in development site.

We've thought of a new method using permissions. We create a new category of "User's forum permissions" called Downloads. And we have these permissions:

-Can see downloads
-Can read downloads
-Can post downloads
-Can reply to downloads

This sets the topic type up as a "Download" in a similar vein to announcements and stickies (not exactly though). This means you have alot of control on how you want to sort out storing the downloads. (Permissions are all to do with storing them). You could make a forum where you can't see the forum but you can read stuff in it. You can see, read and post downloads. Meaning you'd have to access downloads through a downloads page (Similar to the CH calender mod).

You could set a board where people can post downloads and normal topics. Or only downloads. Or set up a board that doesn't allow conversation (some people can post topics) but allows you to comment on downloads. Eventually we'd want a mod that automatically sets up a poll for the downloads so they can be rated.

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This standard of permissions could also apply to other mods in a similar vein. You could have an "Articles Mod" which harvests articles from an articles board and displays them in a method more similar to a wiki. You could have a calender mod where people can discuss dates like a normal forum if they go through index.php but when they click a "Calender" button, the data is harvested in a calender view. These mods would involved lots of metadata in tabs in prosilver (Would look messy in subsilver unfortuantely). These tabs would need to be context sensitive.

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Then we have a "View Downloads" page. We're still working on this. Initially all the downloads forums will just be displayed in a flat structure. But we'd like to make some kind of Admin Content Management tool which would allow you to re-organise your downloads page however you like. So all information would be stored via phpbb3, it can be discussed via phpbb3. But then it will be viewed and organised by totally seperate mods.

[Semi_Deus]

'page cannot be found'...

but btw, if im right with what i am thinkin what it is..then AWSOME! i so need this!!
if you have the mod, you can make a page, were files can be uploaded, and then only downloads are displayed right??

if it is what i just thought^, then PERFECT, if not, then ill request it:P

feature req.: when you upload a file for others to download, ad a box where a little description can be added. and also make it automaticaly get the uploaders username and place it with it..

[yautja_Cetanu Jamie]

Sorry, updated the link

Actually we're making a Forum where downloads can be uploaded. Then you can access those downloads through two places:

1) Through the forums, where you'll see a "Downloads forum" like every other forum (similar to phpbb.com's Mod releases) where downloads can be discussed.
2) Through a "Downloads page" where all the downloads are listed in a format that would make sense for a download's page. The actual information is pulled from a forum but displayed differently (and only downloads would be displayed).

Through Permissions this will allow powerful customisation as shown above. So you could easily have a page invisible on index.php that handles downloads so the downloads page will appear to be seperate from the rest of your board.

We're unsure exactly how a "description" is handled. In my oppinion I want to keep as much as possible in phpbb3 the same. Therefore when you upload a download you'll put the download name in "Subject" and the description in "Post text". In a Forum this will be displayed normally. But in the downloads page you'd see the column heading as "File Name" and "File Description".

My friend who is helping to develop this prefers an upload downloads page that is different to a "Posting" page. So you'll have titles like "Download Description". We're hoping to support an integrated tagging system, integration with a content management system, a powerful method of organising downloads on the downloads page, and advanced downloads permissions, works with many different file and download types (will function slightly different for word documents, programs and podcasts for example) and ability through prosilver to intuitively add metadata (as well as tags, for example audio files may include artist information).

We're hoping to release a version of this in the next couple of weeks for Taiwai. It will be much simpler in terms of organisation (He only needs 4 categories) and will include a couple of features just for his site which we won't release to the general public (available on request but not supported). Include integration with Highway's points mod (being rewritten at the moment) so downloads have to be "bought". A "Your Downloads page" that shows everything you have downloaded (and bought in the past so is now free) and then some downloads statistics. This mod will be available for subsilver2 only but eventually our mod will work much better on prosilver (Because of its amazing use of tabs on the posting page).

also make it automaticaly get the uploaders username and place it with it..

Yeah definitely.

[Semi_Deus]

when can i be active to download it you think?

[yautja_Cetanu Jamie]

Well I'm actually away on a trip for 3 weeks. So maybe in a month. (I'll come back in 1 month and update everyone).

Untill then you can go to http://www.thevr.co.uk and look at the CMS development. The people actually making it are there called andrewbelcher and reekingofrandomness.

[jdh]

this sounds pretty awesome! I know for sites that hand out MODs or Styles this would be awesome to list all of what they are offering. Can't wait to download it and try it out!

[ameeck]

Well, if well understood, it would create a page, where all the downloads are shown...


We did something simillar in the past week on our portal, it takes all topics with an attachement and lists it neatly sorted, with links to comment the MOD and to go to the MODs topic, the number of downloads and so on, i guess if we found some time, we could edit it for a full-scale MOD for this.

Our first test version is here for an example: http://www.phpbb.cz/moddb/ (all is automatic, and pretty simillar to what is here at STG), its in czech, but i think the main idea is clear...the list is generated directly from the forum, now it is limited to this single forum: http://www.phpbb.cz/viewforum.php?f=46, but it shouldnt be a problem to enlargen it..

[ameeck]

We're creating something on this matter here, if anyone is interested

http://www.phpbb.com/community/viewtopi ... 0&t=572311

Feature suggestions would be appreciated :-)

[Tom@S Tomá?]

i will waiting for this mod i need somethink like never before because it is perfeckt for phpbb support forum

[yautja_Cetanu Jamie]

Well Development with this mod is definitely still happening Tom. However we've really slowed down this holiday so Taiwai gave up waiting for us and found an alternative ! You may want to speak to him or ameeck about alternatives to our mod if we're taking too long.

Currently we may be working with: http://www.startrekguide.com/forum/view ... =&start=10 so making a "Content Management System" with automatic module installation. The Downloads mod would be part of that potentially if things work out.