What's the Easiest Solution to Configure OG in D7?

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Toriea's picture

I originally tried OG several months ago and everything pretty much went up the creek; so much so that I got vexed with it and deleted that Drupal installation. After a few month break I am now back and ready to give it another try.

My question is basically thus: what's the simplest way for me configure OG in my D7 install so that I can actually use it?

I'm running D7.15.

Comments

Guess i depends on what

rasmusknabe@gmail.com's picture

Guess i depends on what functionality you need OG to provide for you? - Can you describe that a bit more detailed?

Otherwise these links might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFZGM9BvqDc

https://www.lullabot.com/articles/organic-groups-drupal-7

I also agree that 7.2

PlayfulWolf's picture

I also agree that 7.2 contributed modules are with many bugs, also - much have changed from 6.x and 7.1, so older screencasts and documentation are not correct.

drupal+me: jeweler portfolio

Microsites

Toriea's picture

Rasmus,

There are two main reasons why I want to use OG on my site. Firstly, I'm too ecclectic for standard forums to work: this is mostly due to the fact that my interestes are many and varied.

Secondly, I've been told that OG is a great way to create microsites; which is what I'd like to do with my main domain, with each area of interest getting its own dedicated 'site'.

Ta very much for the links.

Tor...

Microsites

adanbouzoua's picture

I am testing microsites creation using Drupal 7.14 and OG 7.2.
OG 7.2 is relatively stable (recommended by Drupalize.me).

I am using some additional modules OG Theme to switch theme based on OG (Themekey module can also do the trick via Context).
You can add og_theme field in OG field setting.

I am using also OG Menu Version 7.x-3.x (compatible with Organic groups 7.x-2.x) in order to setup menu per OG group. This module is in dev, after some test i have made it works

When its come to build the front:
The Context module allow you to do the magic by allowing you to set some conditionals behaviors per OG group (Theme block etc..)

I am also using Omega theme and Delta module to go bit further, but I am not front developer.

The idea there is to duplicate and overwrite Omega theme /sub-theme Site setting per Microsite.
Delta is making a select field available in Context

Now I am trying Panelizer. It says to be the standard for front layout.

Example I would like to find a flexible way to replace Site Name with OG group title on microsite (I will probably need to do this time a hook little script).

I am suggesting you to go through drupalize.me OG tutorial :
http://drupalize.me/series/organic-groups-drupal-7

Modules for OG 7.2:
OG Menu
http://drupal.org/project/og_menu

OG Theme:
http://drupal.org/project/og_theme

Using Omega for contextual layout :
http://developmentgeeks.com/blog/using-delta-contextual-layouts

@ adanbouzoua, do you have

PlayfulWolf's picture

@ adanbouzoua, do you have working example, with OG 7.2 AND add content block (any type and module) AND group details block?

I can guess that no. You are talking theory. In the last few weeks I ran into most of the bugs of og 7.2, og_extras and similar modules. It is far from stable and production ready.

drupal+me: jeweler portfolio

Configuration Error

Toriea's picture

I've followed along with the instructional video that Rasmus suggested, but I seem to have somehow done a FUBAR. I created the http://www.toranshaw.org/announcements group, but the browser window is completely blank: I mean all it's showing is a white screen. I cannot even go in to edit it. Has anyone else come accross this, and or knows how to fix it?

Configuration

iaine's picture

What do the error logs say? This might give you a clue as to what is happening.

Can you please let me know

Toriea's picture

Can you please let me know how to check what they do say? I do not know to use the error logs yet.

Error logs

iaine's picture

@toriea, this node will help you on this: http://drupal.org/node/158043/

Fixed: I got this message

Toriea's picture

I got this message ...

Fatal error: Cannot use object of type OgGroup as array in /.../toranshaworg/modules/og_theme/og_theme.module on line 57

This error message has now been sorted. Apparently I had 7.2 version of themes, when I should have had 7.1.

@ PlayfulWolf

adanbouzoua's picture

You maybe right that modules have bugs

I wanted to test the microsites using OG, instead of using multisites.

This is the result of my test.
I have 3 microsites there, not looking pretty but behave almost the way I wanted

http://dev.og72.gotpantheon.com/

I'm currently working towards

btopro's picture

I'm currently working towards an install profile that just bundles together everything to make a micro-site management system. The major issue I'm having is spaces_og compatibility with OG 2.x. The space I'm working in for all these best practice modules is http://drupal.org/project/ulmus so please lend your voices there for things to include / not include towards this goal of a micro-site system.

OG Extras looks great, I'll be adding that into my make file for the distro now!