Hi Gang,
Correct me if I am wrong about this but the driving point that caused us to get this started is that we wanted to provide an alternative to Avectra's SharePoint offering. Therefore, I think we can agree that one element of the bas functionality is that we are able to easily produce web sites that pull data from netFORUM.
IMHO, this means we need to start with a multi-layered structure for web sites with the basic structure, presentation layer, and content separated. I envision a similar approach to csszengarden.com where the theme/display is easily changed by using a different CSS file. The main difference would be that, since csszengarden is designed to showcase the power of CSS, there is no content management functionality there. We need to be able to push content management to the content producers.
Do we agree that this is the most basic starting point for our endeavor?
Thanks,
Paul
Comments
Ultimate output?
One of the topics I've seen rattling around the edges that I wanted to bring up, is what is the ultimate product of the group? My frame of reference is centered around the modules so my first thought is that the output is more or better modules that people are free to use on their existing Drupal sites alongside any custom work or other 3rd party modules.
It sounds like some of the discussion and topics are about how to produce more than just a few modules and output something closer to a complete website. Kind of like Acquia (http://acquia.com) or CiviCRM (http://civicrm.org/), is that closer to what you had in mind?
Drupal already has a lot of structure, presentation, and content separation as well as content management built in so as long as anything produced builds on that I think we're pretty set for the basic starting point.
Hi James, I think we are
Hi James,
I think we are looking to assemble some basic (read "common") modules with functionality integrated - perhaps "connected" is a better word - to/with netFORUM. For example, shopping cart functionality tied to netFORUM's shopping cart but the content isn't pushed to NF until 'final'.
I think it would also be great to have the ability to 'shop' for booth space. CHA puts on 2 trade shows/year and booth sales are our main source of revenue. The shows generate >80% of revenue. We might need to integrate the shopping cart with a floor plan system, or move all booth shopping to a floor plan system. I don't know.
Other functionality 'included' in the 'baseline' system could be for workshops/sessions at a conference with the ability for a member to submit either course material/description & parameters and/or presentations (ala Abstracts).
The intent of this thread is to determine that 'baseline' functionality that we would all want in our system.
It is also, IMHO, important to build it in such a way that it would be relatively easy to replace one module with another of the same functionality - ie Ubercart vs Zencart (or something... I didn't look for other Drupal shopping carts). That same 'modular' approach should be applied to the other end... making it relatively easy to replace netFORUM with another AMS if the forces of nature decide to take Avectra down a path that would be unacceptable to us.
I don't see that happening but I like to plan for all contingencies. It would be nice to build this in a way that ensures we will not waste our investment.
Regards,
Paul
Regards,
Paul
Multi-level authentication
Multi-level authentication is required. Authenticate via eWeb login and additional content visible only if 'receives member benefits' is true.
Regards,
Paul
Regards,
Paul
Periodic checking of Drupal
Periodic checking of Drupal "role" vs netFORUM member type & "active" (receives member benefits). Ideally automatically run on schedule but minimally manual run.
Regards,
Paul
Regards,
Paul
Baseline behavior
In the D5 version of the netFORUM Authentication module, every time a user is loaded (which occurs on login and user profile view/edit) their roles are checked and updated. This could be changed to run on a schedule with not too much effort.
Hi James, I was not aware!
Hi James,
I was not aware! That's great! I don't think an extra periodic check is necessary.
Thanks!
Paul
Regards,
Paul