A suggestion for TP to give to members....

[technodragon73]

I don't know if this has been suggested before, but after about 20 pages my eyes started to cross so I figured I would ask/suggest.

Would it be at all possible to add a feature that would allow members to choose their own blocks to display?

The admin would create a bunch of different block and decide the features of them (like recent post count, etc) and then the members could go into their profile and select the blocks they want for left, right, and center from drop-down menus...kinda like the theme box.  Of course there would be default ones that would show if noone chose.

Is this possible or would it involve too much coding?

[TwinsX2Dad]

Would it be at all possible to add a feature that would allow members to choose their own blocks to display?

Setting the upshrinks via cookie would do it - much like collapsible categories on various message boards.

The rest would entail drag & drop of the blocks.

[technodragon73]

Would it be at all possible to add a feature that would allow members to choose their own blocks to display?

Setting the upshrinks via cookie would do it - much like collapsible categories on various message boards.

The rest would entail drag & drop of the blocks.

Not exactly what I had in mind...the admin would set up (kind of like the themes box, but more complicated) several blocks for each category, then the members wouls choose from each category to decide what they want for righ, left or center...not choose where they want the blocks, but what blocks they want for each part.

[TwinsX2Dad]

Ooh - even more complicated than I had in mind.

You sure don't ask for much, do you?   

[technodragon73]

Ooh - even more complicated than I had in mind.

You sure don't ask for much, do you?   

Me?...never!

Though I did come up with a simpler way to describe it...

User (in his profile) has a link to clik that would be portal preferences...in it he is given three lists of block...one for each of right, left, center.  They then chekc off the ones they want to appear.  those lists are generated by the admin who decides when he makes the block, not only what groups can see it, but also which ones are selectable from the profile.

[Moocat]

the already implemented collapsible blocks isn't what your looking for? i'm not sure how much of a difference this would make if i'm misunderstanding plz explain

[technodragon73]

the already implemented collapsible blocks isn't what your looking for? i'm not sure how much of a difference this would make if i'm misunderstanding plz explain

posted at exactly the same time...lol

[Moocat]

what i'm asking is what's the differnce between what you are asking and collapsible blocks? the blocks stay collapsed after leaving the site, and it's much easier than going into profile and changing it. i'm just not sure what exactly the purpose of all this is lol

[anunlike]

I think he's asking for the option to allow members to pick and choose via drop down menus in the profile area which blocks can even show up, as per their personal preferences.

The admin chooses the overall blocks and what blocks the members can even have access to and so forth, but every member, in the profile area, can customize the look and layout via the drop down menus with the blocks that the admin allows.

Correct?

[bloc]

I have been thinking of user-selectable blocks..but I like to avoid too much extra checking just to display the blocks...since it will be expansions on blocks in other areas, such as which page they should display on.

The upshrink is one way to make it more personal, and the admin decides already now which can't be shrinked - making them stay up all the time. User-selectable blocks would really be just the same..but instead of upshrinked, they are hidden. Making an option to hide completely any "upshrinked ones" could be something..they would need to go into the profile and change it back if they want it on again of course. A small notice could also be set that "there are blocks hidden" or something.

But personally I like the simple feature of just upshrinking better.

Then there is the option of laying them out differently. That too is very much decided by admin, and as such will need new positions values and a "stay/change" check as well. I am not sure the benefits outweighs the added resource use here. It should be applied  for a reason imho..just the "coolness" effect of it is a little thin.