Newbie How To Questions

How can I change the menu that shows on the left?

For example if I wanted to take out an item like the 'Help' link or if I wanted to change the title of 'Query' to something else?

The left menu that appears at each page is just an ordinary article. Authenticate as an associate, then go to the Site Map, select the special section entitled Menus. The top item of the list is the current menu. You can edit it directly, or prepare a new one. If you create a new menu, it won't be used until you publish it.

How do I totally get rid of the header thing?

I don't want it to show at all. What I mean is the site name and slogan at the top of the pages.

You have to derive a skin of your own from an existing one. For example, if you have selected the skin boxesandarrows, create a new brother directory my_boxesandarrows. Copy all files from skins/boxesandarrows to skins/my_boxesandarrows.

To activate the new skin go to the control panel and click on the Configure command. Select the radio button for my_boxesandarrows and save the new configuration. Load the home page to ensure the copy is ok.

Then edit the file skins/my_boxesandarrows/template.php and remove the header. Save your updated file. Within your browser reload the home page to check your changes.

How can I change the items that show in the right hand menu?

For example maybe I don't want the language portion there because all my content will only be in English. Or maybe I don't want the Reference This Page section there.

Some items on the right are created manually (articles put into the Extra Boxes section of the site map). Others are automatically inserted (the category of Featured articles). Finally, some are put there on each page by the template itself.

The translation box is from the yacs template. To get rid of it, you can either use another template, or derive a my_yacs template without this element, as explained in the previous answer.

Is there a complete list of template/skin tags anywhere and what they do?

Sure. Every YACS server has an index of its documented skins. Go to the Control Panel. On the right, click on the link to Skins. Here you are.

Specially for you, lucky guy, here is a shortcut to the 11 reference skins included in the YACS archive: Which skin will you wear today?.

Is it possible to see more of the incoming RSS feeds?

What I mean is I want more than just a headline.

Also, is it possible to put the external feeds in the middle section and not only have it on the right menu?

On each feeded item YACS creates a new record with a link, a title, and a description field. Look at the function tick_hook() in feeds/feeds.php.

But for rendering in the right panel, we are asking only for a headline. Look for the string Feeds::get_remote_news() in index.php.

I suppose we should add a new configuration parameter to the Configuration Panel for skins (i.e., skins/configure.php) to display feeds in the middle of the page...

Added to the todo list...

Is it possible to have an article where anyone can see the first intro part but only members can see the rest of it?

Yes! Bracket some text with keywords [restricted]...[/restricted] to make it visible only to authenticated members, and with keywords [hidden]...[/hidden] to let only authenticated associates view it.

If I don't want the ability to make Word/PDF etc. how can I take that option out so it doesn't show up?

At the moment, you can't. I suppose this should be an option set in the Configuration Panel for skins (skins/configure.php) and checked in the rendering script (articles/view.php)

Also added to the todo list...

I noticed in the PDF creation thing that it doesn't include pictures that may be included in the article. Is there a way to include them?

This is a bug that has to be fixed... The PDF script is quite new you know...

One thing I would want to change is the blurb about if you're a member of another community you can use that log in.

Even if someone is a member of another community I would still want them to register with me. How can I change that?

Even on remote authentication a user profile is created at your site. This is a regular user profile, except that it has a URL instead of a password.

Therefore, when someone uses its remote account to visit you, you will have a record for him anyway, and be able to track user details (description, avatar, etc.)

Think to it, and let me know if have to add something on top of that...