Extensions Micro Blog
Micro Blog
The microBlog module is our own spin on the latest news module. This version of the module has been created especially for Organica as a way to show your content in a popup box using the facebox Jquery script.
The micro-blog module also allows you to display the rest of the content item using the fancy zoom to a query light box pop up. The example below shows the fancyzoom lightbox in action.
Example: For more examples please visit Strata showcase to see different variations in layout available for the micro-blog module.
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features
- Works like the default latest news module, but adds more functionality
- You can choose what order the items are displayed
- The first image of the article can be automatically included as a small thumbnail
- Displays the intro text for the article, or limit the text based on number of words
- Integration with lightbox, to open the content right there or links to the article layout page
- Can choose to show the date of the news
Instructions
First make sure you install the module using the Joomla Installer in the administration, and then that you've published the module into the position you desire. Then you will be ready to change and configure the settings. Please take the time to review the following information and see the documentation for your specific template for further information.
before you begin
Microblog doesn't work without some content, so the first thing you will need to do is create some articles. If you have a quickstart package that includes Microblog, you can view the demo content for an example.
You should first create a new category or select one that you wish to display articles from. Then place new articles into it with your content. Make sure to provide intro text and if you wish an image, as these are what is used to display the snippets.
Once you have your selection of content ready, you can then start to work with Microblog.
general options and layout
Module ID
You need to specify a different number for each module copy you create, especially if there are multiple copies on the same page. It helps prevent conflicts.
Layout Type
This setting determines the layout of the content within the module. You can select between flat list, column, leading with links or Title and Date. See the demos on this page for an idea of the differences of these layouts.
content retrieval settings
The settings in this block are the same as those found in the core Joomla modules for latest and popular news items. Select the category to display the items from, their order, the number of items and whether or not to display front page items.
Category
You can select only one category with Microblog, and sections are not supported. Select the category you created for Microblog.
Ordering of Content
Here you can specify what order the content should be in, based on most recent, popularity, etc.
Item Count
This is the number of articles to show in the module.
Show Frontpage items
This allows you to include or exclude articles that are tagged also for the frontpage. This can be useful if you don't want articles to display twice on the homepage if you have the microblog on a page with the Frontpage layout.
content display settings
This section controls how the items are displayed.
Enable Date
This option determines whether the date is displayed in the module output.
Date Format
This option determines the layout of the date if the date is enabled in the setting above. You can select from the following date formats: 15 Sep, 09; Sep 15, 09; September 15, 09; 15 September, 09; September 15, 2009; 15 September, 2009; 15/09/09; Tuesday 15 September, 2009; Tue 15 Sept, 09.
Display content item in fancybox?
When set to yes each link in the content item will trigger the display of the content item intro and full text in a popup above the website. Please see the FancyBox settings below for further parameters for changing the appearance and behaviour of the fancyBox popup.
Title as a link
This setting means that all content item titles also behave as a link.
Display readmore link
If set to yes then the readmore link will appear in column, flat list and leading layouts.
Introtext Word limit
This setting sets the maximum number of words to appear in the output. This setting is only relevant for column, flat list layout and to the leading article in the leading layout option.
Allowed Tags
The html tags entered in this textarea are those tags that are included in the output of the intro text. You can use this to sanitise the output of the intro text eg remove tags that may become broken as a result of the introtext word limit above.
Items per row
This option relates only to the module when its in column mode and determines the number of content items that appear in a row before a new row is created.
fancybox settings
The settings in this block relate to how the fancyBox popup behaves and appears to the user. These settings are only relevant if the fancyBox option is enabled above.
Display the fancyBox title
This option when enabled displays the title of the content item at the bottom of the overlay.
Popup Gallery
When enabled this option links all content items for that module in a popup gallery that allows navigation between the content items.
Use the overlay?
This option enables a transparent overlay that floats above the main website in between it and the popup box.
Overlay Transparency
This option sets the transparency for the overlay. 1.0 is full opaque while 0 is invisible.
Overlay Padding
This option creates a padded buffer between the content of the fancyBox and the the edhe of the FancyBox popup.
Popup Width
Determines the width of the popup
Popup Height
Determines the height of the popup.
image settings
This block of settings controls the display of the first image in the introtext of the content item in question.
Display Images in the module
When enabled the first image from the content item is displayed in the module output. If the image is displayed in the module as a result of including the <img> tag in the "allowed tags" option above then images will display in the module output but will not be affected by these settings.
Width of the resized image
This setting specifies the width of the resized image.
Height of the resized image
This setting specifies the height of the resized image.
The width ratio of the image
This setting specifies the width ratio of the resized thumbnail image in relation to the height ratio.
The height ratio of the image
This setting specifies the height ratio of the resized thumbnail image in relation to the width ratio.
Main image fade on hover
When set to yes this setting enables a fade effect on the thumbnail when the image is hovered over.
miscellaneous module options
These two settings are general settings that you will find in most Joomla modules.
Module class suffic
This allows you to apply a unique CSS style to this module, if you desire and have the style set in the template.
Cahce module
Normally this should be set to yes, which means that it will save a copy of the output from the module rather than running the program every time someone visits. It helps to reduce load time, and unless your posts are changing by the minute, its good to leave this on.
troubleshooting
My images aren't getting resized, or are throwing errors
There are a few reasons that this might occur and its best to troubleshoot using the web developer toolbar in firefox or image tools in Safari. Please check if you can do any of the following:
- View the original file eg mysite.com/images/stories/image.jpg
- Check to see if the imagecache folder is writable. You can do this by navigating in your browser to modules/mod_microblog/image.php. If the file is writable you will get an error stating that there is no image specified. If it is not writable then you will get a 404 permissions based error in the browser.
- Right click on the alt text and try to view the image. If there is a permisisons mismatch then you will receive an error stating that the imagecache directory is not writable.
