CUNY Academic Commons

As I mentioned in my recent update on the feature (#2163) associated with this request, I have a few observations/reservation to point out before moving forward with the addition of this plugin.

First, I see no "problems" with adding this plugin.

But I'd like to make it clear that this plugin relies on associated Post or Page template files in the theme's directory to work. Please see the plugin's repo page for specifics. Basically, a theme author needs to create the templates that they'd like to choose from the dropdown list that this plugin makes available. Paul, do you plan on creating these templates? If so, they need to be included at the time I add this plugin to the repo for the next release. This plugin would be useless without them.

Please let me know how you'd like to proceed, if the template files are being created now, or will be soon, there should be no problem getting them into the 1.4.7 release (next Thursday the 11th). If not, you may need to find a different plugin that provides similar functionality without the need for custom php template files.

Dominic,

I understand that a post template will have to be created. I'll attach it to this file by Monday. I don't think there is an alternative plugin that doesn't require a custom php template file.

Paul

Great, I just needed to make sure all the requirements were understood.

Monday leaves us plenty of time to get all the files in for the 1.4.7 release next Thursday. I will add the appropriate files once you've added the template file you'd like included to this issue thread.

If the template file contains any sensitive information let me know, we can exchange the file over email since discussions here are public.

Thanks.

Also, note that any additional template files placed in a network-enabled theme will also be available to other sites on the Commons using the theme.

Also, note that any additional template files placed in a network-enabled theme will also be available to other sites on the Commons using the theme.

Another option, Paul, is that you could create a child theme and we could make that child theme available only to your sites.

After all this, it looks like Matt's idea is the best. I've never programmed with .php or customized the wordpress UI, so I was unaware the custom post type would affect everyone else with the theme (Thanks Boone). But, after some serious fooling around with everything, I was able create the custom post using a child theme and create some custom taxonomies that will allow people at the same institutions and with the same interests to link to each other. I have four .php files that can be thrown into a child theme folder and we're all set -- no plugins necessary. You also do not have to make the theme exclusive to the ESA site unless you think a custom arras theme would be confusing for people.

Tomorrow morning I'll email the files to you, Dominic.

Thank you everyone

Very cool, Paul -- I'm excited to hear about your successful experimentation with child themes!

Paul,

Everything looks good with your php templates. I only had to change the name of the arras parent theme in your style.css because on our site the parent theme folder is named arras-theme not just arras. I didn't see any additional errors created by the child theme.

I was able to do some basic testing in my local dev env but obviously the real test will be on the live gcenglish site. I don't have all the categories, menus and widgets setup just like you so testing is difficult.

I want to make sure I understand correctly before closing this out and pushing the child up for tomorrows release. Is it correct that this child theme now removes the need to install the two original plugins you requested?

Dom,

Yes, the child theme removes the need for the two plugins.

Paul,

I apologize, I was just coming back here to say that I re-read your email and it answered all the questions from my last comment.

I am pushing your code up to the repo now. Boone will notify you once the release is live.

Also, if you don't mind would you shoot me an email once you've had a chance to try everything out? Custom post types and taxonomies are still a corner of WordPress that I haven't had to work with, so I'm very excited to see your code in action.

Hi Paul. The 1.4.7 release is now live. I've enabled the theme on the gcenglish site; you'll have to activated it yourself. Thanks!

Thanks Boone. I was able to activate the site no problem. It looks like most of the features are working -- the custom post type shows up with its custom taxonomies and the [display-posts] short code I added to the functions is working. However, when I click on a profile link it doesn't show up. I've double checked the addresses and that doesn't seem to be it. My best guess is that there's something not working with the profile-single.php or the profile-content.php file. Since I can't access these files I can't be sure. So close!

To see what I mean, follow the steps below:

http://gcenglish.commons.gc.cuny.edu => Meet => Students => Hebert, Paul => leads to a 404 Error

Hey Paul,

Could you do me a favor and open a new issue for this 404 error? It will allow us to keep this issue closed within the release it was associated with, and move forward on a specific fix for the link issue.

Boone's pretty busy with The Commons in a Box project, but I would be more than happy to assign myself to the new issue so we can work out this little kink together.