Saving posting drafts, spell-checker

I know that it is not the intention of anyone to make an egg-laying-wool-milk-sow out of mlf, and that high-level features are not the goal of development. I have two questions which have been generated in discussion with users on my system which I'd like to be able to answer, and which are probably more relevant to the new beta system than to earlier versions:

Saving drafts: When generating long postings which cover complicated topics, it's currently necessary that the text be finished and submitted without going to the toilet, or to the kitchen to get a beer, or maybe even quitting and continuing later. Is the implementation of a "save your work" feature under consideration? It would be very useful imo.
Spell-checker: My users are understandably unwilling to copy their entire message text over to other software to check spelling, is a feature like this potentially within the realm of mlf?

I'm not trying to push, and I don't feel that these issues need be part of a setup like mlf, but I would like to be able to provide some answers to my folks.

All the best,
Ralph
ralphdn

Dear Ralph,

Saving drafts: at least on a Windows-machine - [Ctrl][A] - [Ctrl][C] and fire up Notepad

I'm not trying to push [â€¦] but I would like to be able to provide some answers to my folks.

OK, tell them that the coding of the scripts is done by one single person (Alex) in his sparetime; everybody is heartily invited to support the project.

--
Cheers,
Alfie (Helmut Schütz)
BEBA-Forum (v1.8β)

Hi,

Saving drafts ...

IMHO: Much effort for little gain.

Spell-checker ...

Why reinvent the wheel? Use a good browser:

[image]

Alex

[*]Spell-checker: My users are understandably unwilling to copy their entire message text over to other software to check spelling, is a feature like this potentially within the realm of mlf?

WBOSS from http://dontpokebadgers.com/spellchecker/ works nicely. Download and install per instructions. mlf modifications are as follows:

Modify templates/default/main.tpl by adding the following to the HEAD section:

 
{literal}
<script src="/speller/spellChecker.js"></script>
<script>function openSpellChecker() 
{  
var text1 = document.postingform.subject; 
var text2 = document.postingform.tags;
var text3 = document.postingform.text;
var speller = new spellChecker( text1, text2, text3 ); 
speller.openChecker();
}
</script>
{/literal}

Modify templates/default/posting.tpl.inc starting at line ~203

 
<td colspan="2"><input type="submit" name="save_entry" value="{#message_submit_button#}" title="{#message_submit_title#}" tabindex="8" onclick="return is_postingform_complete('{$smarty.config.error_no_name|escape:"url"}','{$smarty.config.error_no_subject|escape:"url"}','{if $settings.empty_postings_possible==0}{$smarty.config.error_no_text|escape:"url"}{/if}'{if $terms_of_use_agreement},'{$smarty.config.terms_of_use_agree_error_posting|escape:"url"}'{/if})" />&nbsp;<input type="submit" name="preview" value="{#message_preview_button#}" title="{#message_preview_title#}" tabindex="9" onclick="return is_postingform_complete('{$smarty.config.error_no_name|escape:"url"}','{$smarty.config.error_no_subject|escape:"url"}','{if $settings.empty_postings_possible==0}{$smarty.config.error_no_text|escape:"url"}{/if}'{if $terms_of_use_agreement},'{$smarty.config.terms_of_use_agree_error_posting|escape:"url"}'{/if})" />&nbsp;<input type="button" value="Check Spelling" onClick="openSpellChecker();"/>&nbsp;<img id="throbber-submit" style="visibility:hidden;" src="templates/{$settings.template}/images/throbber_submit.gif" alt="" width="16" height="16" /></td>

The code added above is

Try it here: http://appbbs.com/mlf/index.php?mode=posting

Thanks a lot Peter! I just have a couple of questions:

What is meant by "The code added above is:" followed by "<input button..." ? I can reconstruct the other patches but I don't understand what's meant here.

I visited the "Try it here:" link but it doesn't work, the message "Fehler auf der Seite" appears in the status line.

Also: What mlf version are the positions for the changes (line numbers) related to?

What is meant by "The code added above is:" followed by "<input button..." ? I can reconstruct the other patches but I don't understand what's meant here.

Sorry, that was an awkward way to show the changes, but I couldn't highlight a section of text in the code block to show what I added. The "<input button..." code was the code ADDED to the block of code above it. Look through it and you will see it hiding in there somewhere. :waving:

Here is another way of showing where to add the code. In my editor it starts at line 203:

 
<td colspan="2"><input type="submit" name="save_entry" value="{#message_submit_button#}" title="{#message_submit_title#}" tabindex="8" onclick="return is_postingform_complete('{$smarty.config.error_no_name|escape:"url"}','{$smarty.config.error_no_subject|escape:"url"}','{if $settings.empty_postings_possible==0}{$smarty.config.error_no_text|escape:"url"}{/if}'{if $terms_of_use_agreement},'{$smarty.config.terms_of_use_agree_error_posting|escape:"url"}'{/if})" />&nbsp;<input type="submit" name="preview" value="{#message_preview_button#}" title="{#message_preview_title#}" tabindex="9" onclick="return is_postingform_complete('{$smarty.config.error_no_name|escape:"url"}','{$smarty.config.error_no_subject|escape:"url"}','{if $settings.empty_postings_possible==0}{$smarty.config.error_no_text|escape:"url"}{/if}'{if $terms_of_use_agreement},'{$smarty.config.terms_of_use_agree_error_posting|escape:"url"}'{/if})" />&nbsp;

Add this right after the above code:

<input type="button" value="Check Spelling" onClick="openSpellChecker();"/>&nbsp;

I visited the "Try it here:" link but it doesn't work, the message "Fehler auf der Seite" appears in the status line.

I don't know German, but I think that means "Error on site." Mmmm...maybe my shared server was having problems? It's working now for me. Please let me know if it still doesn't work.

http://appbbs.com/mlf

Also: What mlf version are the positions for the changes (line numbers) related to?

I'm using the latest version.

I *think* those were the only mlf-specific changes needed to make it work; it's been a while since I installed it. If it doesn't work, let me know. I may be forgetting something. (I was dropped on my head as a baby.)

I can't seem to make it work, I still get no response when I click the spell check button at the test site. But no big thing, I'm sure it has something to do with my environment, or I'm making some error.

If it's ok with you I'd like to get back in touch with you when the subject becomes active with my mlf users, hopefully I'll be able to reach you at that point. I need some technically competent support on the issue...

Thanks,
ralphdn

I can't seem to make it work, I still get no response when I click the spell check button at the test site. But no big thing, I'm sure it has something to do with my environment, or I'm making some error.

Run the index.html file located in the speller directory; e.g., yourdomain.com/speller/index.html. Does it work?

If so, and there is no response at all from mlf when clicking the Spell Check button, I'm guessing there may be a pathname problem referencing the spellChecker.js file. It should be directly off the root directory; e.g.,

yourdomain.com/speller

and not in your mlf or other subdirectory. If you have located it somewhere else, either move it directly off the root or change the Javascript in the header of the main.tpl file to reference its location; e.g.,

Are you using the latest version of mlf? If not, I strongly recommend upgrading.

If it's ok with you I'd like to get back in touch with you when the subject becomes active with my mlf users, hopefully I'll be able to reach you at that point. I need some technically competent support on the issue...

No problem. I'm sure we can get figure it out.

Just so you know why I can't answer more quickly: I'm going to be on vacation away from my PC for two weeks. But I've kept all of your recommendations so that I can deal with the issue later if necessary. Thanks again for your help!

All the best,
Ralph

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