Creating different applications

[Sharpiemarker]

Hi, a new Nabble User here.  My question is:

If I want to use a different app, I would have to sign up under a different account from let's say the blog app I signed up for?  Also for the blog app is there a way to not count oneself in the # of views counter?

Thanks,
sharpie

[GregChapman]

Once you have created a forum, or blog, or any other app from Nabble, you are free to change it to another application. Indeed, you can create a "sub-forum" or "sub-category" (It term depends on which application type you are using) and make that new application one of any other type. In most of my own forums, I make the top-level application "Mixed" and sub-forums of the type "Forum".

By default, Nabble will count all page views. You would need to edit the NAML code that generates the page to get it to avoid counting your own views. This is quite possible for someone with some coding experience, but you might need to pay for "Premium Support" if you want one of the Nabble Team to do it for you.

[Sharpiemarker]

GregChapman wrote

Once you have created a forum, or blog, or any other app from Nabble, you are free to change it to another application. Indeed, you can create a "sub-forum" or "sub-category" (It term depends on which application type you are using) and make that new application one of any other type. In most of my own forums, I make the top-level application "Mixed" and sub-forums of the type "Forum".

Thanks for your reply.

But if I want to maintain a blog and a forum, and say, a mailing list, I'd have to sign up separately for each app, correct? I'm not able to maintain multiple apps under one account in general?  I signed up to use the blog but I'd like maybe have a forum as well.

GregChapman wrote

By default, Nabble will count all page views. You would need to edit the NAML code that generates the page to get it to avoid counting your own views. This is quite possible for someone with some coding experience, but you might need to pay for "Premium Support" if you want one of the Nabble Team to do it for you.

Cool, I'll look into that.  Thanks again.

[GregChapman]

Sharpiemarker wrote

But if I want to maintain a blog and a forum, and say, a mailing list, I'd have to sign up separately for each app, correct? I'm not able to maintain multiple apps under one account in general?  I signed up to use the blog but I'd like maybe have a forum as well.

I assume you wish the same audience to have access to all three applications. If you create three separate ones then your users would have the pain of three separate registrations/subscriptions to deal with - a right pain for them (and you).

Far better to have them sign up to a single forum, to which you remove almost all permissions so that not even you can post and within which you create blog, forum and mail list sub-apps. to which the right people may post.

However, there is normally absolutely no need for a separate mail list, since with Nabble any user can interact fully by email, with the "Subscribe via email" option (providing you set the "Create_topic" and "Reply" permissions for them).

[Sharpiemarker]

GregChapman wrote

Sharpiemarker wrote

But if I want to maintain a blog and a forum, and say, a mailing list, I'd have to sign up separately for each app, correct? I'm not able to maintain multiple apps under one account in general?  I signed up to use the blog but I'd like maybe have a forum as well.

I assume you wish the same audience to have access to all three applications. If you create three separate ones then your users would have the pain of three separate registrations/subscriptions to deal with - a right pain for them (and you).

Far better to have them sign up to a single forum, to which you remove almost all permissions so that not even you can post and within which you create blog, forum and mail list sub-apps. to which the right people may post.

However, there is normally absolutely no need for a separate mail list, since with Nabble any user can interact fully by email, with the "Subscribe via email" option (providing you set the "Create_topic" and "Reply" permissions for them).

Yes to have access to all apps that I choose to create under one account.  

Okay, right now I have a created blog and may want to add a forum in the future but still keep the use of the blog.  Am I able to add a forum within the account I created my blog with?  It doesn't seem like I can because in the blog Admin, there's no option to add another app to my account so I would have to go to the Nabble homepage and click 'Start a Forum' correct?  Or do I need to delete my blog, then do this:

GregChapman wrote

Far better to have them sign up to a single forum, to which you remove almost all permissions so that not even you can post and within which you create blog, forum and mail list sub-apps. to which the right people may post.

?

Because I do not want to switch my blog into a forum.  I would like a blog AND a forum.

[GregChapman]

Sharpiemarker wrote

Okay, right now I have a created blog and may want to add a forum in the future but still keep the use of the blog.  Am I able to add a forum within the account I created my blog with?

Yes! Go to:
Options > Structure > Create New Subcategory.
and complete the screen there. That will create another blog application, but it is an easy matter to go to:
Options > Application > Change Application type
and select Forum.

However, as I said before, if you plan on adding these additional applications for exactly the same audience, I'd strongly advise you to create a further application as your top level application and use it just as a menu to your "real" applications, so your blog becomes a sub-app. Your forum, when you create it, would also be another sub-app of the top-level application. This is because the blog's layout, is not ideal as a simple menu indicating the various applications to which they have access once registered. Having a container app will be more intuitive for your users to navigate around, after they register or login.

If you start with a blog and only add sub-categories later to act as your forum and mail list you you will be mixing both your blog posts, which will fill most of the screen. with your menu of other applications insignificantly in the sidebar  This will be less intuitive for users.

I do not want to switch my blog into a forum.  I would like a blog AND a forum.

I am not saying turn your blog into a forum. I am saying create an additional container app into which you place your blog and forum. I picked a Nabble "Forum" as that container app, but actually the "Category" app is better for the container-app purpose as it shows both the sub-app name and description fields in a simple uncluttered list. i.e. once your visitors login or register  they will be presented with a list showing all the applications that they can now access with the address and password used.

You don't mention if you plan to embed your blog and forum in another separate main site, but if you do, bear in mind that the two sub-apps can be embedded separately on different pages of your main site.

This is another reason for needing a container app with a simple uncluttered menu appearance, as when you login you will always be taken to the top-level app. If that is the blog, your users will find themselves always ending up at the blog page, which could be confusing if they were on the forum page of your site when they logged in.

[Sharpiemarker]

Ah hah! Now we're getting somewhere.   This is exactly what I want know.

Thanks Greg, you've been a big help and I will take into consideration your recommendations.

Cheers!

[Sharpiemarker]

Another question Greg,

If I need an additional app to serve as the top level as a better way to have a blog and an forum under one log-in for the audience, should I switch my blog app to a "Mixed" page or "Forum" and then add a sub-app under that?

Thanks!

[Sharpiemarker]

Nevermind, I think I figured out the top level app bit now.  But when you said I can embed the different sub apps on different pages; I went to the blog's embed app page and used the code but it goes to the top-level app though and people would have to click the blog title to get to it.  It is possible to embed directly to the blog and skip the subcat page? I'll have to try it again with the 'Category' app because I tried embedding the blog when I selected the 'Mixed' app as my top level app.

Edit:  Yeah, I embedded the blog code into my page but it still goes to the 'Category' app and users will have to click the blog's title in order to see the blog.  I think the embedding code for sub apps should go directly to that app and bypass the top-level app or am I missing something.  I embedded the blog's code but it still goes to the top level or parent app.

And yes, I would embed the different apps on 2 separate pages

Edit 2: Uh oh, wait a min...I think its working.  Its finally going direct to the blog!  Probably a browser refresh/cache issue!  Its all good now!

[GregChapman]

Glad you got it working. Yes, does sound like a cache issue.