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[DanO]

I'm considering making an updated version of the Meta Calendar plug-in and would like some feedback before I start. Is there anything in particular users of the current Meta Calendar mod would like to see in the next version?

Let me know before I get started and I'll see what I can do.

Dan O.

[Brent]

I'm just setting up the Meta Calendar. I've been using Calendar Script for some time now and want to say I appreciate your work and support. Are donations specifically for Meta Calendar or Plugins in general?

The features I'm looking for so far are:
- ability to select individually if an event get posted and if the description gets posted. At times I only want the event title and not the description.

- when selecting List view on Meta Calendar, show calendar name associated with event. Don't want to have to click on each event to find the person I'm looking for.

- I'm also looking for a way to have two Meta Calendars, one Public and one Private with the ability to select if an event gets posted to one or the other or both.

Thanks.

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[DanO]

** when selecting List view on Meta Calendar, show calendar name associated with event. **

From the plug-in's documentation:    

quote:OPTIONS:

There are some new variables available on the meta calendar output, (but only on the calendar designated as the 'meta calendar').

In the "Grid View", $EVENT->{'details'}->{calendarref} contains the calendar key the event was found on. This could be used to colour code the event titles on the grid view, etc.

In the "Grid View", $site_cal->{$EVENT->{details}->{calendarref}} will contain the calendar name the event was found on.

You simply need to edit the default.html template file and print them where appropriate. I'm not certain but I can't see why they wouldn't be available in List view as well.

** I'm also looking for a way to have two Meta Calendars, one Public and one Private with the ability to select if an event gets posted to one or the other or both. **

Multiple meta calendars is the main reason for the next version but it will not control *where* an event is "posted". The Meta Calendar only controls the *displaying* of events. I do hope to add an additional screen which if someone attempts to post to the meta calendar (which may not be wanted), it will offer a choice of which real calendar to post it to without leaving the meta calendar.

If you want to limit who sees what events (even in the current plug-in version), post them to a separate calendar and only give view permissions for that calendar to those you want to see those events. From the current plug-in's description:    

quote:The meta calendar will only display events from those calendar(s) the particular user has permissions to view.

You can also see if the previous forum message "Public/Private Events" has anything you can use to customize your calendar(s) yourself.

** - ability to select individually if an event get posted and if the description gets posted. At times I only want the event title and not the description. **

Set up a separate calendar with only the fields you want posted defined (eg. delete the description field). The new Meta Calendar will not do what you're looking for as it is beyond the scope of what it is all about (ie. the displaying of events).

** Are donations specifically for Meta Calendar or Plugins in general? **

Donations go to support the efforts I've but into the plug-ins I've created and made available and for maintaining the Unofficial CalendarScript - Mods and Plugins site. I've actually received very few donations which is why most new plug-ins I create will probably no longer be free to 'try before you buy'.    

Dan O.

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited October 01, 2004).]

[musicvid]

These ideas would help with creating a master/satellite calendar scheme, such as in an organization with specific projects/groups:

-- Ability to post events directly on a master (meta) calendar.
-- Ability to choose to post/not post events or categories from outlying calendars to designated metacalendars.
-- Ability to post across domains to a metacalendar, poss. through a write-referrer list in the metacalendar code.

I don't know if these fit within the scope of your plan. They can be accomplished manually through a modified "Import Events" function.

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[This message has been edited by musicvid (edited September 30, 2004).]

[DanO]

** -- Ability to post events directly on a master (meta) calendar. **

That can already be achieved with only slight editing of the existing meta calendar files. The problem I see with that is as follows:

You have several calendars for sporting events, baseball, football and hockey. For convenience all events are being displayed on a meta calendar.

Now someone viewing the meta calendar sees that a hockey event is missing and adds it to the meta calendar because that is what they are viewing. Now a hockey event is on the meta calendar but not on the hockey calendar where it should be.

That is precisely why adding of events to the meta calendar is restricted.

** -- Ability to choose to post/not post events or categories from outlying calendars to designated metacalendars. **

That is the main reason for the next version, to be able to choose which other calendars show up on the meta calendar. It will also be possible to have multiple meta calendars defined, each will be able to have different combinations of included calendars.

Of course, the meta calendar already only displays events from those calendar(s) the particular user has permissions to view. If you don't want users to see a particular calendar's events, don't give them 'View' permissions for that calendar and that calendar's events won't display on the meta calendar... for them.

** -- Ability to post across domains to a metacalendar, poss. through a write-referrer list in the metacalendar code. **

Doing anything across domains is problematic and will not likely be even attempted by me. It might be possible to implement a meta calendar across sub-domains (on the same server) but since that is not something the general population would be interested in, I doubt I'll attempt it either. Customization on a personal need my be possible.

I don't really know what you mean by "write-referrer" but I remind you that "posting" to the calendar is not the function of the meta calendar mod, the displaying of evens is. If you want to be able to post events from a remote host to the calendar, that is a job for a separate plug-in IMO.

Dan O.

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited September 30, 2004).]

[Brent]

I wrote:
- ability to select individually if an event gets posted and if the description gets posted. At times I only want the event title and not the description.

Sorry wrong place for the question. What I wanted was an option on the individuals calendars to post/not post an event and individually post/not post the event description to the Meta Calendar. ex: Title - Out of Office Descrip - Gone Fishing. Don't want "Gone Fishing" posted to the Meta Calendar. Please point me in the right direction.

Suggestion: Put a Donation button next to each plugin. I understand Buy vs. Donation, but I got lost in what/who I was donating to on the Plugins page. (If you use it, support it.) I've always felt that if I got some benefit from someones efforts I should contribute. If I'm wrong in how this site is structured I appologize, otherwise how do I contribute for my use of the Meta Calendar?

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[DanO]

** ex: Title - Out of Office Descrip - Gone Fishing. Don't want "Gone Fishing" posted to the Meta Calendar. **

You would have to do something like the "Public/Private Events" link I posted previously or the message "First attempt at customization" linked from there (maybe call the options show/don't show) and then put a conditional in the default.html template to negate printing of those events when the meta calendar is being viewed. There are examples of conditionals in the meta calendar installation file for the latter test.

** I got lost in what/who I was donating to on the Plugins page.  **

There is this message in the meta calendar installation instruction:      

quote:This plugin took considerable time and effort to create. If you find it useful and decide to use it, a donation for my efforts via PayPal to {my email address here} would be appreciated. Just enter the URL below into your web browser and follow the instructions.

{link URL here}

And this at the bottom of the Mods and Plugins site page.

   

quote:Help Support the Unofficial CalendarScript - Mods and Plugins site
         

I had the same notice at the top of the page but it didn't help to generate any more donations.

** Put a Donation button next to each plugin. **

That wouldn't be fair to others whom have contributed to the collection as I don't want to have to manage their donations' links too. I figure if someone would appreciate support, putting the appropriate message in the plug-in's instructions should be enough?

JFYI

Dan O.

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited October 16, 2004).]

[musicvid]

"Now a hockey event is on the meta calendar but not on the hockey calendar where it should be."

I see the problem. Perhaps Administrator-only posting priveleges on the metacalendar? I'm thinking of things like board meetings that only need to show up on the central calendar.

"possible to have multiple meta calendars defined, each will be able to have different combinations of included calendars."

Could it be possible to filter which events or event types get displayed from the included calendars? For instance, event_type 'Games' would show up on the metacalendar but event_type 'Practices' would not.

" It might be possible to implement a meta calendar across sub-domains (on the same server)"

If we had ourhockey.org and oursports.org in the same web folder on the server, would it be possible to have events from the ourhockey calender show up on the oursports metacalendar? I can see some security ramifications here, maybe best to put all the calendars in the same place and call them from the other domains... just thinking out loud.

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[This message has been edited by musicvid (edited October 03, 2004).]

[DanO]

** Perhaps Administrator-only posting priveleges on the metacalendar? **

I may make that an option but it should be easy to achieve even with the current Meta Calendar version with just a slight bit of editing.

** Could it be possible to filter which events or event types get displayed from the included calendars? **

I was planning on adding a user selectable sorting feature and also one where they could choose to display just a subset of the total events. One option in the latter will definitely be per calendar but I may be able to include some user defined fields as well (most likely only ones defined as a select list).

**  would it be possible to have events from the ourhockey calender show up on the oursports metacalendar? **

As long as one web space's scripts had direct access to the other web space's files, I would think it may be possible. That is usually the case when using subdomains but would depend on the server's set up.

BTW. I won't be attempting anything like that in the plug-in I plan to make available. It would require customization.

Dan O.

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[DanO]

** Perhaps Administrator-only posting priveleges on the metacalendar? **

I updated the current Meta Calendar plug-in's installation instruction to show how that can be achieved.

JFYI

Dan O.

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[musicvid]

Thanks, Dan!
Looking forward to your next release version.

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[Geoffrey]

Dan -

I currently am using CalendarScript with your Meta Calendar Plug-in on a project that has 8 subprojects: 3 managed by one manager, and 5 by another.  The way it is now, the meta calendar lists events for all projects.  And that is the desired condition for *some* of our project team.  However, others in the team are only interested in the first 3 projects and do not want to see events from the other 5, while still others want to see only the 5.  

Essentially, what we need is nested meta calendars:  a metacalendar of 2 metacalendars.  People could then chose from one of the 3 metacalendars: all A, all B, or ALL.

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Geoffrey H. Goldberg
Pittsburgh

[DanO]

** People could then choose from one of the 3 metacalendars: A, B, or ALL. **

That should be possible to accomplish in the next Meta Calendar plug-in I am planning.

Dan O.

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[Geoffrey]

What is your timeframe like?

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Geoffrey H. Goldberg
Pittsburgh

[DanO]

** What is your timeframe like? **

When I get board or have nothing else more pressing to do, CalendarScript is just a hobby. I may get to it by the beginning of next year.

Dan O.

[This message has been edited by DanO (edited October 12, 2004).]