Articles Viewable by Guests in Private Forum

[omapie]

How do I make articles viewable by guests in a private forum? I've searched and searched this forum and it's probably obvious solution but I am just NOT "getting" it.

The articles I want viewable by guests since that should help tell them if they "want" to be there... but I don't want them to be able to get into the forum unless they sign up since people should have a "reason" to be there... so to speak (it's a school alumni site)!

The forum is at: http://jmhs-classmates.net

I thought the info in this post (http://www.tinyportal.net/index.php?topic=15785.msg133904#msg133904 ) would help me since you can a lot of times just do the opposite to achieve the opposite result... however... I am still just NOT "getting" it. Very frustrating. I suspect it's some "little" thing I must be overlooking but... I've been working on this for days and... well... it's not working! And I can't find an answer here. ugh!


Help!?! TIA!


Lori

[Nokonium]

Put your guest only article into a frontpage block and use the blocks membergroup permissions to make it viewable only by guests.

[omapie]

doesn't seem to be working. What could I be doing wrong?

augh.

TIA!

Lori

[omapie]

Under Manage Blocks
I made both the "Welcome" article and "Who's This Group For?" viewable by Guests (only block checked, used the "one article" block).

They're both under Front page blocks and turned on.

Under the articles themselves, I've also got them set to show on the Front Page.

[Nokonium]

You can only have one article in the block and you have to specify which article the block is to display, in the dropdown menu below in the Block Manager.

If both are html articles and you want the text from both, paste it into a bbc-html block. If either contains javascript, a script block, or php into a phpblock.

[omapie]

sorry. Either I wasn't clear or I don't understand!

I had 2 separate blocks -- each with one article set from below in the dropdown menu, in the Block mgr. Both articles set to be viewable only by guests.

Anyway, I changed it back so there's only the one block now. sorry to confuse the issue. I need to worry with just getting the one article showing on the front page before I worry about anything else. Sorry, sorry, sorry. augh!


Anyway, I removed the one article. The other still doesn't show; it is set in an html article so I haven't tried the other yet...

will go try that now...



Thanks again!

Lori

[omapie]

OK. I set it in an html/bbc box, set it viewable only by guests on a front page block.

Under settings, for front page blocks, I had it set for Featured article and front page blocks.

I also tried it with:
Normal, frontblocks are shown alone
Frontblocks are added first

But nope. Nothing. Frustrating. (especially since you KNOW it's somehow operator-error. ugh)

Thanks for the ideas.


Lori

[bloc]

Its the overall setting in SMF that automatically goes to login screen if you set the whole forum to be closed for guests. For the pure forum its ok to have it, but as a portal also has other sections, its a hindrance. I am however looking into making that better. The problem is not to deprive SMF of anything, ...thats to say: not making the "normal" way of the forum malfunction in any way.

[omapie]

so it's not just me?! LOL


I've been struggling with this for days -- trying all SORTS of configurations -- and it's been driving me just INSANE!

I wouldn't care about making it a public forum so much except that the members need to feel safe about putting out personal information within a set community.

Anyway, I'm thinking I'll do a short version of the article and maybe I can set it in a sideblock since those are showing and it'll show since other ones are showing ... will try that now! Who knows!



Thanks! Take care!

Lori

p.s. -- BTW -- Bloc -- I just love your work. Thank you for all you give to this community. Incredible.

[omapie]

Okay. It seems to "be okay" with me putting it in the center block (which I didn't want because I only want it on the front page) or in a side block but NOT on the front page block. OY!

I've got it set for viewing only by guests but it's showing even when I'm logged in. sigh. Oh well. At least it's showing! (whoohoo!) LOL

Hey. Whatever works! LOL

Again, thank you!



Lori