re[2]: [Rainbowportal-devel] Re: Enhancing navigation options...

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<DIV>Take a look at <A href="http://www.premiervillas.net">http://www.premiervillas.net</A>
 and notice that the tabID does not change
 from&nbsp; looking at the list to looking
 at the property. What I have built is an
 XML-based system (so that "content" is managed
 entirely separately) and a XSLT-driven display
 module that is "reactive", i.e. it displays
 a list unless a specific property is requested
 (via the .aspx pagename actually). Would
 this technique help any? Generalising, I
 think this is the technique you should follow:
 i.e. 1) separate the content from its display
 and 2) use a module which can display different
 "results" based on parameters pased in the
 url. Naturally all of this works as a DLL
 add-on for standard Rainbow. In your scenario
 the module would have three "states": search,
 list and details.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Let me know if you're interested (JohnM
 knows something about it too) and I'll explain
 more and/or send you code.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Jeremy (Jes1111)<BR><BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY:
 Tahoma">
<DIV>----------------------- <B>Original
 Message</B> -----------------------</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><B>From:</B>&nbsp;James Steward <A href="mailto:ho...@gm..."><FONT
 color=#0000ff>&lt;ho...@gm...&gt;</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B>&nbsp;John Bowen <A href="mailto:bow...@gm..."><FONT
 color=#0000ff>&lt;bow...@gm...&gt;,</FONT></A>
 <A href="mailto:Rai...@li..."><FONT
 color=#0000ff>Rai...@li...</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><B>Date:</B>&nbsp;Mon, 10 Jan 2005 16:59:52
 -0800</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:&nbsp;<U>Re: [Rainbowportal-devel]
 Re: Enhancing navigation options...</U></B></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>Hi John, Thanks
 for the ideas! However, I've already considered
 the second one, and whereas it does actually
 work, it's a bit too restrictive for exactly
 the reason you state, that being if there
 is more than one of the modules in the site
 it will be unreliable. We do have a couple
 of cases where we will need to use the same
 module on different pages (Search being the
 main one because we need to be able to do
 Rental Property searches from different parts
 of the site). The first idea I think would
 defeat the purpose of using Rainbow ;-) It's
 too restrictive for what we need to do. I'm
 really in a bind on this. If it doesn't get
 added to the core (or another solution is
 found), We're either going to have to look
 for another CMS or fork from Rainbow and
 continue developing on our own. Neither of
 these appeal to me. I know we're new and
 haven't contributed to the community yet,
 mostly due to just getting our implementation
 spec'd out, but we have plans of doing a
 fair amount of work on Rainbow in the coming
 months as we are planning to use it as a
 core of our business. Let me know if you
 come up with anything else. Thanks! - James
 On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 19:13:35 -0500, John
 Bowen <BOWENWEB@GMAIL.COM>wrote: &gt; Hi
 James. I'm facing this same issue on two
 different projects...one &gt; of which sounds
 *exactly* the same (even in the same industry...rental
 &gt; home management!). &gt; &gt; Anyway,
 I have two possible solutions...one that
 works but is pretty &gt; limiting, and one
 that is better, but may or may not work.
 &gt; &gt; ** The first (the one that works,
 but has limited functionality): &gt; Instead
 of hosting a module that describes a single
 property on a &gt; 'Tab', you can build a
 separate page (an aspx file) that handles
 that &gt; display. You can still inherit
 Rainbow.UI.page, and your new &gt; homeOverview.aspx
 will retain the theme and menu of the site.
 It just &gt; won't really 'be' a tab in the
 portal...think of it as a fancier &gt; version
 of the print.aspx page that comes with Rainbow.
 &gt; &gt; ** The second (untested idea...but
 I *think* it should work :) ): &gt; When
 your datarepeater is loading (and building
 links to the &gt; homeOverview tab), you
 could run a sproc to 'find' which tabID hosts
 &gt; the homeOverview module for the portal...something
 like... &gt; &gt; SELECT Top 1 rb_tabs.tabID
 FROM rb_tabs ...inner joining rb_Modules
 &gt; and rb_GeneralModuleDefinitions as necessary...WHERE
 &gt; rb_GeneralModuleDefinitions.GUID = {yourhomeOverview
 Module's GUID} &gt; and rb_tabs.PortalID
 = {thePortalIDOfTheCallingSite} &gt; &gt;
 I know that SQL is pretty ugly (wrong field
 names, etc.)...I don't &gt; have an RB installation
 in front of me to use for &gt; reference...hopefully,
 you get the point) &gt; &gt; Once you have
 the correct TabID, you can use it with UrlBuilder
 to &gt; build the links from your datarepeater
 control. This way, if the &gt; TabID of the
 homeOverview module changes, your datarepeater
 will &gt; automatically pick up the change
 and refer visitors to the correct &gt; Tab.
 &gt; &gt; This solution would eliminate the
 need for changes to the core...and &gt; should
 still provide good flexibility. The only
 hang-up I can see (at &gt; first glance)
 is if a user put more than one instance of
 that module &gt; type in their site...the
 datarepeater module might refer visitors
 to &gt; the 'wrong' one. Maybe there's a
 way to prevent site owners from &gt; adding
 more than one instance of that special module?
 &gt; &gt; What do you think? (...and let
 me know if my rambling doesn't come &gt;
 through clearly) &gt; John &gt; &gt; On Mon,
 10 Jan 2005 14:30:58 -0800, James Steward
 <HOMISH@GMAIL.COM>wrote: &gt; &gt; I'm very
 disappointed that this enhancement will not
 make it into the &gt; &gt; Rainbow code base.
 This is pretty critical to our being able
 to use &gt; &gt; Rainbow as a solution. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; Perhaps I can get some feedback
 from the rest of the developer &gt; &gt;
 community on how we might be able to solve
 the problem. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; First, is
 anyone using Rainbow to host multiple websites
 on the same codebase? &gt; &gt; If so, are
 you using common modules or common "Pages"
 on multiple websites? &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 What we need to do is be able to navigate
 from one page in the website &gt; &gt; to
 another page in the website. Normally, you
 could do this with &gt; &gt; HttpUrlBuilder
 if you know what the TabID is. However, when
 you are &gt; &gt; running multiple websites
 you can't hard code the TabID because it
 &gt; &gt; will change from site to site.
 &gt; &gt; You might say, you can find the
 page by looking at the TabSettings &gt; &gt;
 object to get the TabName. This would be
 fine if the TabName was not &gt; &gt; also
 the Display Name of the Tab. It's possible
 that the TabName could &gt; &gt; be different
 from site to site, but the modules that make
 up that page &gt; &gt; are the same. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; My proposal, including code
 that works, is to add a TabLookupName &gt;
 &gt; field to the rb_Tabs table and update
 TabSettings, TabStripDetails and &gt; &gt;
 the appropriate sprocs. This would give us
 the ability to set a common &gt; &gt; identifier
 for a type of Tab that we can use on multiple
 websites. &gt; &gt; Then we can add to HttpUrlBuilder
 a method (public static int &gt; &gt; getTabId(string
 TabLookupName)) that will return the TabID
 from the &gt; &gt; TabLookupName which then
 can be used to build the url for that page.
 &gt; &gt; The way I've written the enhancement,
 if you don't need it, it doesn't &gt; &gt;
 break anything. The TabLookupName defaults
 to the TabName (including &gt; &gt; UI on
 the Edit Tab page), so there's nothing you
 need to do &gt; &gt; differently if you don't
 want to use it. &gt; &gt; Any module would
 be able to use this. You could use this to
 build menu &gt; &gt; controls without needing
 to go through the hierarchy of &gt; &gt;
 TabStripDetails among many other uses. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; If anyone can think of a way
 to do this differently I would appreciate
 &gt; &gt; the insight. &gt; &gt; Thanks.
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; -- &gt; &gt; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 &gt; &gt; James Steward &gt; &gt; Homish@Gmail.Com
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Hi, &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 I have discussed a little with team. We cannot
 include right now in &gt; &gt; current base
 as it seems to specific. This change only
 can be used in &gt; &gt; private modules
 with a special requirements and I think that
 probably &gt; &gt; this can be made into
 the code for the special module. &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; You may add to backlog tracker
 and we can consider for future &gt; &gt;
 releases. (You may attach code if you like)
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; http://support.rainbowportal.net/jira/secure/BrowseProject.jspa?id=10060
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Having people that require
 this change to be implemented may improve
 &gt; &gt; chances that it will be included
 in future. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; ------------------------------------
 &gt; &gt; Emmanuele De Andreis &gt; &gt;
 Technical Manager &gt; &gt; DUEMETRI &gt;
 &gt; Internet Solutions Provider &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; From: James Steward &gt; &gt; Sent:
 Wednesday, January 05, 2005 2:39 PM &gt;
 &gt; To: 'ma...@du...' &gt; &gt;
 Subject: Enhancing navigation options...
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Hi Manu, &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; Back in November I submitted a suggestion
 to enhance navigation &gt; &gt; options for
 use with multiple portal sites (see thread
 below). I'm &gt; &gt; attaching the files
 that I've changed to make this work. I've
 been &gt; &gt; using it on my implementation
 of Rainbow and it works well. I can't &gt;
 &gt; add them to the source because I don't
 have access. I've signed up on &gt; &gt;
 SourceForge and my user name is james_steward
 if you want to give me &gt; &gt; developer
 access. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; I've been having
 problems with our company email filtering
 out some of &gt; &gt; the messages (both
 sending and receiving) for the dev mailing
 list, so &gt; &gt; I'm sending this to you
 directly. If you could add this to the project
 &gt; &gt; I would really appreciate it. I'll
 send documentation on what I've &gt; &gt;
 done in a separate email and post it to Jira
 if you agree that these &gt; &gt; changes
 are ok. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; In the folder
 you will find the files (in the folder structure
 that &gt; &gt; Rainbow currently uses) that
 have been changed. Also you will find a &gt;
 &gt; folder called Sprocs that has the changed
 Stored Procedures that need &gt; &gt; to
 be implemented. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; A change
 to the rb_Tabs table will also need to be
 made. You will need &gt; &gt; to add a column
 called "TabLookupName" and copy the values
 from the &gt; &gt; TabName column into the
 TabLookupName column (for legacy reasons)
 and &gt; &gt; set the TabLookupName to not
 accept nulls. By default, if someone adds
 &gt; &gt; a new tab and does not fill in
 the Tab Lookup Name, it will use the &gt;
 &gt; Tab Name. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Let me
 know if you have any questions. &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; Thanks! &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; -James
 Steward &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; P.S. What you
 suggested will not work for what I need.
 The &gt; &gt; implementation I have done,
 while more complex, is the best solution
 &gt; &gt; that I've been able to come up
 with. I've discussed it with others &gt;
 &gt; here and we can't come up with a better
 solution. Thanks for the &gt; &gt; suggestion
 though. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Hi James, &gt;
 &gt; you can do it in a very easy way. &gt;
 &gt; We can just add a setting to base tab
 class. &gt; &gt; No sproc change not other
 changes. &gt; &gt; You can easily lookup
 through tab setting collection or directly
 from &gt; &gt; db (rb_TabSettings) and get
 the corresponding tabid &gt; &gt; What about?
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Manu &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 15:57:33 -0800, James
 Steward <HOMISH_@HO...>wrote: &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 Ok, here"s my idea for a change on how we
 could enhance navigation in &gt; &gt; &gt;
 Rainbow: &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Scenario: We are
 looking to use Rainbow to build websites
 for the Vacation &gt; &gt; &gt; Rental Home
 Management industry. We will be using Rainbow
 to set up many &gt; &gt; &gt; sites on the
 same code base. All of the sites will have
 a base set of &gt; &gt; &gt; functionality
 and structure. For example: &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 Home Page &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Property
 List/Search &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 List of Homes available to rent / Search
 for Home &gt; &gt; &gt; based on various
 criteria &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Property
 Overview &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 General description of individual Home &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Images &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 Pictures of Home and surrounding area &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Location &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 Map of area, driving directions etc. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Amenities &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 Features the home has, like Hot Tub, Internet
 &gt; &gt; &gt; access, etc. &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; Availability &amp; Rates &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 How much does the Home cost to &gt; &gt;
 rent based &gt; &gt; &gt; on dates/guests
 etc. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Agency/Admin
 &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Administration
 page to allow Management Company to make
 &gt; &gt; &gt; changes to site (protected)
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Contact Us
 &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Contact
 page with phone numbers email addresses etc.
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Optional Pages
 &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Could have
 any number of other content pages. &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; I have a custom module that displays
 a list of Properties (Houses, Condo"s &gt;
 &gt; &gt; etc.) using a data repeater control.
 I need to be able to create a link for &gt;
 &gt; &gt; each property in the repeater to
 the Property Overview page so it shows the
 &gt; &gt; &gt; information for that particular
 property (by passing the PropertyID). &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Currently, the way
 I understand how the HttpUrlBuilder works,
 I would need &gt; &gt; &gt; to know the TabID
 for the Property Overview page or at least
 know the &gt; &gt; &gt; TabName of the Property
 Overview page so I can look up the TabID
 from &gt; &gt; &gt; TabStripDetails. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; This would work
 fine if I only had one portal website because
 I would know &gt; &gt; &gt; what the TabID
 and the TabName are. It"s a problem if I
 have multiple &gt; &gt; &gt; websites that
 use this module. The problem being, the TabID
 will change from &gt; &gt; &gt; website to
 website, and the TabName could be different.
 For instance, one &gt; &gt; &gt; site may
 want to call it Property Overview, another
 might just call it &gt; &gt; &gt; Overview
 or Summary or whatever they want to fit the
 design of their &gt; &gt; &gt; website. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; There are other
 examples of where this is a problem, but
 I think this &gt; &gt; &gt; illustrates my
 point. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Description of Change:
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; What I would
 like to propose is the addition of a non-nullable
 column in the &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_Tabs table
 called TabLookupName which would hold a string
 that could be &gt; &gt; &gt; used to identify
 a tab. Because the TabID is the primary key
 it will &gt; &gt; &gt; obviously change from
 website to website and the TabName is used
 as the &gt; &gt; &gt; display name in menus,
 we need another way of accessing a Tab that
 is not &gt; &gt; &gt; dependant on these
 two. I would also like to propose that we
 change the name &gt; &gt; &gt; of the TabName
 column to TabDisplayName for clarity. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; If this change is
 approved, I will take care of all of the
 code changes &gt; &gt; &gt; (listed below,
 please let me know if I missed anything).
 The only thing I &gt; &gt; &gt; might need
 help on is making sure the Setup scripts
 are taken care of for &gt; &gt; &gt; the
 DB changes. I haven"t looked into what needs
 to be done about that. &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Affected
 areas: &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_Tabs
 table in the Rainbow DB &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 Add column TabLookupName nvarchar 50 &gt;
 &gt; &gt; (nulls not allowed) &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_Tabs table in the Rainbow
 DB &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Change
 TabName to TabDisplayName for &gt; &gt; &gt;
 clarity (I understand this would cause legacy
 problems, just a suggestion) &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; HttpUrlBuilder.cs &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;"
 Add public static int FindTabID(string tabLookupName)
 &gt; &gt; &gt; that returns the TabID for
 the supplied TabLookupName if it exists in
 the &gt; &gt; &gt; current website. &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; TabStripDetails.cs
 &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Add support
 for TabLookupName &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; TabSettings.cs - Add support for TabLookupName
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; PortalSettings.cs
 &#195;&#162;&#226;&#8218;&#172;" Add TabLookupName
 to ActiveTab, TabStripDetails, &gt; &gt;
 &gt; PortalTabsXml and RecursePortalTabsXml
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; Stored Procedures
 that need to be updated: &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; rb_AddTab &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; rb_UpdateTab &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; rb_GetPortalSettings &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_GetTabsByPortal &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_GetTabsFlat &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_GetTabsinTab &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; rb_GetTabsParent
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; So, what do you think? &gt;
 &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;
 &gt; &gt; - James &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; RAINBOW
 PORTAL &gt; &gt; Main portal - http://www.rainbowportal.net
 &gt; &gt; Sourceforge / CVS - http://sourceforge.net/projects/rainbowportal/
 &gt; &gt; Support Forums - http://www.rainbowportal.net/ASPNetForums
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 &gt; &gt; &gt; -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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