5.1 is out, so I want to take the time to introduce some of the features you might not notice.
Search-based categories should be useful to a lot of people, I think. In essence, it allows you to create a category which doesn't accept submissions, but is instead filled with anything from the rest of the site that meets a search criteria. Previously you might have tried to simulate it with a custom template and a toplist, but this way it fits in more naturally. The filtering condition is a mysql filter, same as for toplists, specified on the submit category page (you can't edit an exiting non-search category into a search category, though you can edit the search condition on a search category). Feel free to ask for help composing a filter.
The "custom pages" area makes WSN into more of a natural CMS, allowing you to add new pages like an about page or whatever without having to go through the complications of custom templates.
The "link ratings w/comments" switch enables amazon-style reviews, where the star rating is associated with a text comment. Useful for reviews sites.
You can now import large CSV files.
WSN Gallery has a redesigned details page with back/forward thumbnails.
Search result maps and driving directions extend the mapping possibilities.
The shopping cart option is big if you want to do a shopping site, of course.
Full new feature list: - There are now three setup modes: simple, recommended, and kitchen sink. - Style designer. Modify the style/colors without learning CSS. - Type manager. Set up your link types without having to dig into the templates. - Custom pages system. A more intuitive way to add new pages to your site. - Autocomplete for simple searches, member list search, postal codes, editing the owner of a listing, sending a PM, quote authors. (Any other spots you can think of where it'd be useful?) - Click-to-insert lists of template variables with descriptions for template editor, toplist generator, etc. - Switch to enable leaving a text comment while rating a listing -- suitable for a reviews site. - The category slideshow is now per-attachment, and available in all scripts (previously just WSN Gallery). The slideshow link in a category opens up a slideshow of all image attachments in said category. - Added switch for category link counts. By switching this off, you can remove the "(25)" from "Category Name (25)" without touching templates. - Added switch for new/updated icons. By switching this off, you can remove the "new" and "updated" icons by categories and listings without touching templates. - Added an option to set the guest default time since for the 'new links' page. - The thumbshots.org code language item now accepts any link variables you insert in it. - {MEMBERREPLIESRECEIVED} is now available to count total comments made to links you own by people other than yourself. - {LINKISSAVED} is now available to check whether the link is saved by the viewer. This is now used in the default link bit so that the "Save to list" link only shows when the link isn't already saved. - The instant messanging system is now refreshless. - Added a 'can create album' usergroup permission. - A tweaks editor for the admin panel. Some -- though not all -- tweaks.php values can now be set there without having to edit the file directly. - Manual payment processing. If you recieve a payment through a means other than the supported payment processors, you can now enter it manually. - Added host name search to the search ips page. - Date picker. For date fields, select desired date visually from a calendar. - Size-variant, newest-first tag cloud. - If summaries are switched on, but the listing has no summary filled in, the first part of the description is now repurposed as the summary. - Toplist generator is now multi-step. - Toplist generator now prompts directly for a link type to filter to. - Updated fckeditor to 2.6.4, switched default skin to office2003. - WYSIWYG now supports wider variety of formatting options. - Image uploads now work in WYSIWYG editor by default in apache mode. - Added illiteracy detector options to require validation and exclude categories. - Sponsorship settings page has been redesigned with an easier interface. - Sponsorship now asks for $_ per _ days on each level instead of making you do arithmetic. - All sponsor levels now automatically show up without need to customize display template. - Added a switch for aliasing to secondary categories. - When the indirect linking switch is on, the linkbit link to the details page no longer uses the external links appendage. - City/state/country search options now on advanced search page when applicable. - The submit/edit category page now includes options to set custom submit/edit listing templates. - Distinct empty/full folder images for categories. - Some button beautification work. - Number currently online in category now hidden when the number is zero. - Option to add/remove custom ratings table fields. - Date format for shouts. - Flat-file imports now processed in chunks to hopefully support larger files. - "Show untranslated language" now excludes some of the language associated with switches that are off. - The incomplete submission notification area is now more eye-catching. - Asterisks by required/incomplete fields. - Option to block spammers based on stopforumspam.com blacklist. - Submit/edit link/category pages now refresh when category changes, so category conditionals can be used safely. - <!-- RESTRICT FROM GROUPS 1,2 --> syntax to lock out only particular groups, instead of having to use longer REVERT TO list. - Add and delete language items from all languages at once. - Rating a comment is now refeshless. - Upload multiple attachments without having to press a button and wait. - On adding a new usergroup, permissions now default to those of a regular member. - Clickable link to find the members in each usergroup. - Category usergroup permissions now formated as table of radio options. - Removed {L_, {P_ and {PALL_ language items for better compatability with languages such as German which have different capitalization rules. - 'Search' switch to turn off whole search system for a plain directory. - 'Sponsorship' switch to remove from menu and template list and automatically remove all sponsorship levels. - For integration with other WSN scripts, usergroup can now be edited. - For integration with other WSN scripts, usergroups from the integratee script which aren't in the integrater are automatically copied over and mapped. - Category sponsorship is now done via the sponsorship settings page instead of edit category. - Implimented canonical tags where appropriate for SEO. - Style, template and language selectors on registration and edit profile now hidden when there's only one option. - Prompt to force people to deal with situation of having apparant leftover uncustomized copy of default style or template set. - Options to delete styles and template sets from the admin panel. - Added member home main spot to show/edit future listings not yet effective. - When the link-associated feeds switch is on, any feed at the link url is now automatically associated. - Author field in RSS feeds where applicable. - When there are no traditional results, simple-searches for exact title (as in autocomplete) redirect to the listing and simple-searches for a username redirect to the profile. - edit/regenerate options in details template - autoincluded PNG fix for IE 6. WINE is broken such that it doesn't appear to work, but I believe it actually does work, I need somebody to verify for me. - converted all .gif images (except ones likely to be animated) to .png in order to make prettier images more practical - switch for google map on search results page - custom subdirectories of base automatically kept accessible by rewriting - support for rewriting & as and while also using and in names - sponsored types listed on suggest page, with "x costs $y per z days" in the labels column. when selected, redirects to sponsorship page. - complete simpler page titling system on the "page titles" page - automatic path updates on moving directory - search-based categories - driving directions with the maps - shopping cart
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Comments on 5.1 Release
developer
Usergroup: Administrator
Joined: Dec 20, 2001
Location: Diamond Springs, California
Total Topics: 61
Total Comments: 7868
Posted Sep 15, 2009 - 9:39 PM:
5.1 is out, so I want to take the time to introduce some of the features you might not notice.
Search-based categories should be useful to a lot of people, I think. In essence, it allows you to create a category which doesn't accept submissions, but is instead filled with anything from the rest of the site that meets a search criteria. Previously you might have tried to simulate it with a custom template and a toplist, but this way it fits in more naturally. The filtering condition is a mysql filter, same as for toplists, specified on the submit category page (you can't edit an exiting non-search category into a search category, though you can edit the search condition on a search category). Feel free to ask for help composing a filter.
The "custom pages" area makes WSN into more of a natural CMS, allowing you to add new pages like an about page or whatever without having to go through the complications of custom templates.
The "link ratings w/comments" switch enables amazon-style reviews, where the star rating is associated with a text comment. Useful for reviews sites.
You can now import large CSV files.
WSN Gallery has a redesigned details page with back/forward thumbnails.
Search result maps and driving directions extend the mapping possibilities.
The shopping cart option is big if you want to do a shopping site, of course.
Full new feature list:
- There are now three setup modes: simple, recommended, and kitchen sink.
- Style designer. Modify the style/colors without learning CSS.
- Type manager. Set up your link types without having to dig into the templates.
- Custom pages system. A more intuitive way to add new pages to your site.
- Autocomplete for simple searches, member list search, postal codes, editing the owner of a listing, sending a PM, quote authors. (Any other spots you can think of where it'd be useful?)
- Click-to-insert lists of template variables with descriptions for template editor, toplist generator, etc.
- Switch to enable leaving a text comment while rating a listing -- suitable for a reviews site.
- The category slideshow is now per-attachment, and available in all scripts (previously just WSN Gallery). The slideshow link in a category opens up a slideshow of all image attachments in said category.
- Added switch for category link counts. By switching this off, you can remove the "(25)" from "Category Name (25)" without touching templates.
- Added switch for new/updated icons. By switching this off, you can remove the "new" and "updated" icons by categories and listings without touching templates.
- Added an option to set the guest default time since for the 'new links' page.
- The thumbshots.org code language item now accepts any link variables you insert in it.
- {MEMBERREPLIESRECEIVED} is now available to count total comments made to links you own by people other than yourself.
- {LINKISSAVED} is now available to check whether the link is saved by the viewer. This is now used in the default link bit so that the "Save to list" link only shows when the link isn't already saved.
- The instant messanging system is now refreshless.
- Added a 'can create album' usergroup permission.
- A tweaks editor for the admin panel. Some -- though not all -- tweaks.php values can now be set there without having to edit the file directly.
- Manual payment processing. If you recieve a payment through a means other than the supported payment processors, you can now enter it manually.
- Added host name search to the search ips page.
- Date picker. For date fields, select desired date visually from a calendar.
- Size-variant, newest-first tag cloud.
- If summaries are switched on, but the listing has no summary filled in, the first part of the description is now repurposed as the summary.
- Toplist generator is now multi-step.
- Toplist generator now prompts directly for a link type to filter to.
- Updated fckeditor to 2.6.4, switched default skin to office2003.
- WYSIWYG now supports wider variety of formatting options.
- Image uploads now work in WYSIWYG editor by default in apache mode.
- Added illiteracy detector options to require validation and exclude categories.
- Sponsorship settings page has been redesigned with an easier interface.
- Sponsorship now asks for $_ per _ days on each level instead of making you do arithmetic.
- All sponsor levels now automatically show up without need to customize display template.
- Added a switch for aliasing to secondary categories.
- When the indirect linking switch is on, the linkbit link to the details page no longer uses the external links appendage.
- City/state/country search options now on advanced search page when applicable.
- The submit/edit category page now includes options to set custom submit/edit listing templates.
- Distinct empty/full folder images for categories.
- Some button beautification work.
- Number currently online in category now hidden when the number is zero.
- Option to add/remove custom ratings table fields.
- Date format for shouts.
- Flat-file imports now processed in chunks to hopefully support larger files.
- "Show untranslated language" now excludes some of the language associated with switches that are off.
- The incomplete submission notification area is now more eye-catching.
- Asterisks by required/incomplete fields.
- Option to block spammers based on stopforumspam.com blacklist.
- Submit/edit link/category pages now refresh when category changes, so category conditionals can be used safely.
- <!-- RESTRICT FROM GROUPS 1,2 --> syntax to lock out only particular groups, instead of having to use longer REVERT TO list.
- Add and delete language items from all languages at once.
- Rating a comment is now refeshless.
- Upload multiple attachments without having to press a button and wait.
- On adding a new usergroup, permissions now default to those of a regular member.
- Clickable link to find the members in each usergroup.
- Category usergroup permissions now formated as table of radio options.
- Removed {L_, {P_ and {PALL_ language items for better compatability with languages such as German which have different capitalization rules.
- 'Search' switch to turn off whole search system for a plain directory.
- 'Sponsorship' switch to remove from menu and template list and automatically remove all sponsorship levels.
- For integration with other WSN scripts, usergroup can now be edited.
- For integration with other WSN scripts, usergroups from the integratee script which aren't in the integrater are automatically copied over and mapped.
- Category sponsorship is now done via the sponsorship settings page instead of edit category.
- Implimented canonical tags where appropriate for SEO.
- Style, template and language selectors on registration and edit profile now hidden when there's only one option.
- Prompt to force people to deal with situation of having apparant leftover uncustomized copy of default style or template set.
- Options to delete styles and template sets from the admin panel.
- Added member home main spot to show/edit future listings not yet effective.
- When the link-associated feeds switch is on, any feed at the link url is now automatically associated.
- Author field in RSS feeds where applicable.
- When there are no traditional results, simple-searches for exact title (as in autocomplete) redirect to the listing and simple-searches for a username redirect to the profile.
- edit/regenerate options in details template
- autoincluded PNG fix for IE 6. WINE is broken such that it doesn't appear to work, but I believe it actually does work, I need somebody to verify for me.
- converted all .gif images (except ones likely to be animated) to .png in order to make prettier images more practical
- switch for google map on search results page
- custom subdirectories of base automatically kept accessible by rewriting
- support for rewriting & as and while also using and in names
- sponsored types listed on suggest page, with "x costs $y per z days" in the labels column. when selected, redirects to sponsorship page.
- complete simpler page titling system on the "page titles" page
- automatic path updates on moving directory
- search-based categories
- driving directions with the maps
- shopping cart