Problem: Blocks on Front page

[espressoguy]

This looks like a bug at this point....

In a previous thread, I had been discussing a problem with getting blocks to show on the front page when they are moved to the "Front Page Blocks" group in Block Manager.  So I ripped-out my demo installation entirely and did a fresh install of:
SMF 1.1.5
TP 0.983                 (...and nothing else!)

Immediately after install, note that the "Search" block is visible on the front page left side panel.  Now go to Block Manager and move the "Search" block to the "Front Page Blocks" group.  Then go to "Settings>FrontPage" and click :
"ShowOnFrontPage>FeaturedArticleAndFrontPageBlocks"

Note that the "Search" block is not visible.  And I have not found a way to make it visible on the front page (without moving it back to the "Left Blocks" group ) .  Isn't this a bug? 

Another question that occurred to me is : if a block is in the "Front Page Blocks" group, what determines whether it shows up on the Left, Right or Center?

[Ianedres]

Other than checking your on/off setting for the block, I can only think that if other front blocks are being displayed it should also display the search. Though I have an existing installation, I am able to view the search block in either the left or front panel without any problem when I created the block and moved it from one to the other.

As for the last question, first understand that blocks for left, center, and right are typically displayed on each page (as per permissions and settings for themes, actions, language, etc. allow). There are additional options to not display the panels in the forum itself, or in the admin, profile, personal messages, and member list areas.

The middle area is where either the forum, articles, modules (such as downloads), or front blocks are displayed. Your admin panel (in the TinyPortal section, Settings/Front Page) has options for how to set the page up (i.e. your 'home' link) with respect to what panels are displayed, as well as how what is shown (articles/forum-posts/front blocks/forum, or combinations)...

[espressoguy]

Other than checking your on/off setting for the block...  ...I am able to view the search block in either the left or front panel without any problem when I created the block and moved it from one to the other.

With what frontpage settings ... "Show Featured article and front page blocks" or  "Show Front page blocks" (or...?) ?

I can make it show up on the front page when I set my frontpage settings to "Show FrontPage Blocks" (it shows up in the center) but not when I set it to  "Show Featured article and front page blocks" ...that should work, shouldn't it?

[Ianedres]

I believe we have resolved this via on-site work through the admin panel. Looked to be an issue with the featured article setting for the default article superseding the front blocks; by turning off the 'featured' option in the article, the front page displayed as intended.

[espressoguy]

Actually what I had been trying to do was to get a "Front Page Block" to show in the left panel of the Front Page.

So unless I hear otherwise, I'll assume that it's not intended to work that way and that a "Front Page Block" can only show in the center panel.

Thaks alot for the help!   

[Ianedres]

Front blocks are indeed for the 'middle' area, in which the left, center, and right blocks appear in their respective areas.

[espressoguy]

Also: If I have two "articles" and two LEFT "blocks" articleA, articleB and blockA and blockB, there's no way to have blockA only show when articleA is showing and blockB only show when articleB is showing ....right?

[Ianedres]

Look at the bottom of the page while adding/editing your block; there is an option ('Show when viewing this article') where you can select the article in which to associate the block for display.

By coordinating your blocks and articles, you can achieve what you are asking.