32 replies to this topic

[Michael]

One of my current projects is a massive overhaul of my Tutorials modification, cleaning up a lot of code, and adding a ton of new features.  I decided that since this is already one of my most popular modifications, and that so many non-Premium Members have asked about this mod, I'm going to open it up for sales to all Members instead of just the Premium Members group like it is now.

This mod will go on sale as soon as version 2.0 is complete and tested.  The sale will last for 30 days from that date.  I plan on upgrading here first, to allow people to time to give me feedback on potential bugs.  Once I have all the kinks worked out, I'll put it up for sale.  Remember, if you already purchased the version of this mod for IPB 2.2 or 2.3, you get this upgrade to version 2.0 of the mod for free; I'll be sending those upgrades out to all licensed customers as soon as version 2.0 is ready.

The cost of the mod is, and will continue to be, $40.  All standard rules about the minimum 72 hour hold time for new customers' initial transactions will stay in place too.  But if you've always wanted this mod and didn't want to spend money elsewhere to get that promotion to the Premium Members group, this will be your opportunity.

Here are just some of the new features that I hope to entice you with:

• Tutorials will have support topics on the forum.  You get to choose which forum those topics get created in for each category.  Tools will exist to create support topics for your old Tutorials as well.
  
• Tutorials can have files attached to them using IPB's file attachment system.
  
• A 'Random Article' block on each page, which can be disabled.
  
• Options for tutorial authors to open a tutorial as hidden, or open it under a different member's name.
  
• Ability to preview a tutorial before submitting it.
  
• Download a tutorial in .html or .doc format.
  
• Ability to copy an existing tutorial to a different category.  Handy if the same tutorial applies to multiple categories in your board.
  
• More dynamic page titles, for SEO purposes.
  
• Ajax tutorial rating
  
• Staff can give tutorial submitters a reason why they are rejecting a newly submitted tutorial.
  
• ACP text moved to a language file, for easier localization.
  
• And many more!

Keep your eyes on this topic for further updates.  And be sure to let me know if you have any questions.

[Tom]

Quote

More dynamic page titles, for SEO purposes.

Greeeeeeeeeeat! Looking forward to get v.2.0

[OuttaHere]

I think this mod should be for sale to everyone all of the time.

As a Premium Member it doesn't bother me at all who you sell your mods to, the more the merrier, maybe you could then get rid of the heap you drive around in.


I remember a Tutorial Mod from years ago, I think it was for IPB, that had a separate part that the submitter filled in. It came up as a separate section at the top of the Tutorial.

The submitter was asked what software was needed, which files, if any, were edited, what skill level the tutorial was, and a few other questions I can't remember. Only the questions answered showed up in that section.

I think it also had what images were needed, and what they were named.

It looked very professional, and you knew straight away if this was for you or not.

[Michael]

I've always liked to keep a few mods separate from the general populace as sort of a perk for being a Premium Member, and this was one of those.

[Soul Destroyer]

Really nice bro,

Cant wait for the update, all sounds very cool.

[Gaz]

This wil be amazing, do you have any idea when the first release will be?

-Gaz

[Michael]

As soon as I get all of my ToDo list items complete I'll upgrade it here on this board and let people give it a once-over to make sure I haven't missed anything.  I can't give a firm date yet, because I don't know how much time I'll have for working on this from one day to the next, but it'll be as soon as I can.

[smallblockfuelie]

Awesome news.  I am looking forward to it.

[Michael]

Expect to see version 2.0 up and running on this site this weekend, all of my planned features are coded into my development copy, I just need to get the installer files tweaked for this new version.  Once I upgrade here I'll add a forum onto the site for feedback and bug reports.  Going to be nice to finally get this version complete, it is a huge upgrade.

[Telemacus]

Quote

Ability to copy an existing tutorial to a different category. Handy if the same tutorial applies to multiple categories in your board.

I was wondering whether it would be possible (maybe for a future version) to make this in such a way that one wouldn't actually need to copy it to the different categories, but it would still appear on those categories.
The thing is, if we physically copy it into, say, 3 or 4 different categories, if we introduce a change to it, we'll actually have to edit all the 4 entries.
Perhaps a workaround would be to add the ability to insert "linked" articles instead? so, even if an article did show on a given category, it actually "lives" on another.
I know I haven't explained myself too well, sorry.

Anyway, great news to see you updating this script.

Edited by Telemacus, 26 April 2008 - 01:35 PM.

[Michael]

Yeah, I tried to do that feature as I would have liked it as well, but I couldn't think of a good way for it to then work with the support topics.  Since the same tutorial would show up in multiple categories, and each of those categories could have their own forum for support topics, where would the support topic for this tutorial go?

[Telemacus]

Sorry, I'm not sure whether your last question was rethoric or  not. If it was, then my answer is quite silly.
If it wasn't, well, the way I see it, if someone wants to look something up, it would seem to make more sense to look at the tutorial first rather than the support topics (doing it the other around kind of defeats the whole purpose of a tutorial system: why not just have support topics?).  
That being so, I guess that if we had to "sacrifice" something, it would be to create support topics: only create it in one category forum to avoid confusion. Another option, automatically creating a support topic in one category + topic links  in all the other category forums pointing at the main support topic, sounds like science fiction.

... Yes, I agree that the whole thing sounds very complicated to be worth the trouble.

Cheers.

[Michael]

Which was what I concluded as well, too much trouble, and so I just added the ability to copy tutorials to new categories instead.

[Michael]

Sorry, I didn't have a chance to get this up here this past weekend, way too busy fixing up our old house trying to sell it, then I had horse issues as well.  Will try to get this upgraded tonight after work.

[RainbowViper]

Hell, Micheal, you don't owe anyone an apology. Family and Real Life comes before this.

[Owner]

RainbowViper, on Apr 28 2008, 10:49 AM, said:

Hell, Micheal, you don't owe anyone an apology. Family and Real Life comes before this.

I second that!

Also, looks like tutorials have been been updated and is in the process of converting the categories over!  Good Job Michael!  Can't wait till final release

-Owner

Edited by Owner, 28 April 2008 - 10:05 PM.

[Michael]

Correct, it has been, and the Feedback & Bugs forum is available now too, so feel free to post issues you have in there.  Got a few of my own I need to post.

[AmgedOsman]

Edit :  Note the right place to post

Edited by Sacred, 30 April 2008 - 05:13 AM.

[Michael]

I made a forum for feedback on the Tutorials system, that's where you can post issues like this (it's already been reported there).

[Amichan]

Awesome to bad I will not have any money to get it.
But still good job.