Organic Groups - content types and access control

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Graeme Smith's picture

First, if I may, allow me to apologise if this is the wrong place to ask this kind of question. The question certainly doesn't relate to any 'issues' - unless my own ignorance and stupidity can be classed as 'issues' (blush).
I'm currently trying to add a facility to a test site, as a preliminary to making it live on a production site I set up for a group of colleagues. On first impressions, OG looks like it might be an effective way to add the facility, but as anyone who know me will tell you - I'm an Idiot (blush). So I could be wrong :-).
The site as it stands is, essentially, a Forum based site. As admin, I set up Forum containers and Forums, and the user base post Forum content and comments. What I want to add is:

1: The ability for Registered Users to create their own Groups.
2: The ability for Registered Users who have created a Group or Groups to post Book-type content (the users are all published or soon to be published writers) in those Groups.
3: The ability for members of Groups to post Comments to Book pages posted in the Groups of which they were members.
4: For anyone not a Group member (Registered Users or Anonymous) to see a list of currently established Groups and be able to (Registered Users only) request membership.
5: For anyone not a Group member (that is, whether a Registered User or Anonymous) to be able to see the site general content (Forums, Comments - although Forum Access is currently in place to allow restrictions), but NOT to see Group Content (Book pages or Comments).

My initial assessment is that OG might fit. But I don't know if a 'Book' type content is possible for OG - or indeed a 'Forum' type content. I also don't know if I can set the access permissions in (4) and (5).
I'd be interested in any comments or views on the viability of OG for the purpose and also (while I work though the online documentation :-) ) whether anyone knows of any OG-based books (paper of e-pub, wide market or small) that might help my understanding.

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