Tutorial Composition...

[wossname]

How about a hidden forum for tutorial authors where they can put stuff while they are writing lengthy articles?

By that I mean that it can take a few hours to fine-tune a tutorial to have the right VBulettin markup and uploads (images) appended in the right places.

It would be sweet if we could start a tutorial thread in a hidden space where we can save half-finished stuff until its ready for proper release as as new thread.

I realise this would not be for the regular users, because it would be abused. But I'm just thinking aloud anyway. Maybe tutorial authors could register for the extra service?

The tutorials I'm thinking of doing would require several uploads during composition and it would be handy to have a time-limited storage area so we could spend several days authoring it.

As I write this I am thinking of a linux console tutorial and I can see a bunch of images and quote blocks and bold blocks and other stuff. It would be neat to have a temporary storage that has a preview feature.

Just thinking aloud though

[MartinLiss]

You could use the Forum Test Area.

[wossname]

Yeah but its publicly visible.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Sure, it is publicly visible, but anybody who browses that forum is such a desperate loser that you really needn't worry about them.

[RobDog888]

Well any other way of doing what you are asking would require a Hack as you probably know is avoided like the plague.
I have had a member or two post to the Forum Test Area to construct their FAQs. Its really the best option for what we have to work with.

If anyone posts to the thread when it is time to move it the Mod you ask can "clean" it up for you. Maybe add something to the first post temporarily stating "Dont post while its under construction of you will get the wrath of SandPaper™ applied to you".

[RobDog888]

Oh just remembered. I did this before becoming a Mod. You can post to your private calendar. Then no one can see it and you can format it with tags etc. Just attach any images to a thread in the Support Images forum.

[penagate]

Rob, I just tried posting something to my calendar and it said it wouldn't appear until approved by a moderator.

Did I do something wrong?

[RobDog888]

The Private Calendar?

Edit: found it and approved it. Hmm, maybe its changed since the upgrade. I post to my private calendar and get no queueing.

[penagate]

Well I selected Private from the jump box and then went to Add New Event -> Single, All Day Event, and it said Private when I was posting it.

Strange, it's appeared now. Maybe it's updated on a cronjob.

Edit: Oh, OK.

[RobDog888]

If the members are ok with it queueing then the PC is good, just a bit to work with due to the queue. If thats too much to deal with then the Test Forum Area is best.

[penagate]

I'm sure it didn't queue before as I used it once or twice as a PowerPoster.

[RobDog888]

You know we all kid around with "Hack" vs "hack". But I'm sure you can see I was referring to a code work around.

SH, can you test the private calendar and see if you get the queue?

[Harsh Gupta]

Hey, if I try to add an Event in my calender, it is denying the access to me:

Harsh Gupta, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:

1. Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2. If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.

[penagate]

Did you go to Private? Sounds like you were trying to add an event to the Public calendar, which is disabled.

[RobDog888]

Ok, looks like we have a new issue then. So until or if it does get fixed, the Test Forum Area is the preferred location for constructing Tutorial and FAQ threads.

[wossname]

My forum debugging consultation fee is £800 per hour. I look forward to your cheque.

[Shaggy Hiker]

You know we all kid around with "Hack" vs "hack". But I'm sure you can see I was referring to a code work around.

SH, can you test the private calendar and see if you get the queue?

I see my Hack--ed off post (which was clearly chit-chat) was removed.

I did try the calendar, and also got the notice that the post would not show until approved by a moderator, same as PG.

[RobDog888]

I validated your event Shaggy. I think the process should be to use the Forum Test Area and if the member wants to keep it private then the private calendar may be used but keep in mind the queue.

[Shaggy Hiker]

I understand that new users get posts to all forums queued at the moment (for the first two-three posts, or so). Since that was my first post to the calendar (I didn't even know it was there, and now that I do know, I'll promptly forget), could there be a separate, but similar validation event between new posts to one of the other threads and new posts to......uh...whatever it was we are talking about.

In other words, could I be effectively a "New Member" as far as...uhhh...scheduling thingy.....posts are concerned. Could it be a different manifestation of the same feature.

[RobDog888]

Not sure but I do understand the question.

I think we will have to wait until Joe or Brad can check on why they are going to the queue to make sure its not a bug first.

[dclamp]

i think that we should have a Tutorial Subforum within the other forums (Vb, PHP, ASP, etc...) Because i am going to be making alot of PHP tutorials, and i want them reconized, and not just going into archive from people not looking at them