A member has asked for a feature to choose specific topics to display on the FrontPage. Topic is here ...
http://www.tinyportal.net/index.php/topic,30567.0.html
You seemed to like the idea. Just thought I would remind you of this. I was thinking about this and thought that this might be a good use of the Tag System in TP. Read my post here ...
http://www.tinyportal.net/index.php/topic,30567.msg246791.html#msg246791
ZarPrime
Its a good idea, but I wonder..is it enough to do this for "topics only" for frontpage? or to also mix both articles and the chosen topics?
This is probably going to take some more thought. You can pretty much already do it for articles but there really isn't a way that you could select individual topics or posts from the Forum to display. Perhaps I'll ask for more feedback in that topic where this was requested if you haven't already asked.
ZP
I think for this to work well, it's going to have to be quite complex, but simple at the same time.
For example, you can set areas (I would normally say blocks, but don't want to confuse this with normal TP blocks) on the frontpage, and then define what goes into each area.
You could have a top 'headline' area, where you can explicitly set a topic to be shown.
You could then have 'sub' areas below the headline area, where tagged topics can be selected from certain boards.
'sub' areas could be selected topics from either one board, or a selection of boards.
headline areas would contain the topic title, along with an extract from the topic.
sub areas would simple contain the topic title.
Then there is the actual layout.
To keep it simple(r), it could be a simple case of having a list of headline/sub areas, all the same width.
Or you could go the route of developing an area layout system, whereby you can mix the blocks up more, for example, a headling area, with two or three sub areas side by side below.
For even more complexity, images could be added.
The problem I see with this mod, is where do you stop?
Develop it enough, and you'll essentially be developing an almost full blown CMS frontend for SMF, and verging into WordPress/Joomla territory.
I think the best way then, is to add this to a frontpage module I have initially started working on. It will be detailed about what goes where, and use both tab-based "areas" and normal full-width. For those that want complete control this will be better, but for others TP's built-in will be more than enough I think, especially since its easy to add more layouts for the frontpage in beta 5.
Option 4 of it actually use attached pictures in first posts as "illustrations" instead of the static ones.