I went ahead and tested this. It works nicely so far.

It did raise one question:

How hard would it be to have a Category Menu item type include an option to pick multiple categories instead of just one ?

See attached screenshot to see what I mean ;-)

Thanks
Danny

Hi Danny,

I am sorry for the delay of this reply. You can choose the All Categories menu and filter it by category you want by:
1. Click Menus>Main Menu>New>Menu Item Type>All Categories
2. Click Advanced tab>Filter by Categories
please refer these screenshots

Hi,
Thanks for your reply but I am referring to EasySocial here (not EasyBlog menu types).
It's confusing cause I am using EasySocial as a blog platform for curated content (so far it works perfectly).
Danny

I believe the Group Category menu item can do this with some front end CSS tweaking. However, I can't filter groups with this menu item; it's all groups by default.
Danny

Hey Danny,

EasySocial was designed to be a social network extension and blogging isn't really one of it's strengths. Having said that, you could still tweak it to look like a blog if you really want to but since you own an EasyBlog subscription, why don't just use EasyBlog for it?

Hi Mark,

If EasyBlog would scrape content like EasySocial does, then I would gladly use it.

The idea here is that we operate portals that curate content from a ton of other websites. The EasySocial paste URL function which scrapes the image, video and teaser content from existing external blogs is just wonderful and server almost perfectly to be used as a curation type blogging tool.

The cool thing is we still use EasyBlog to showcase our own articles/blogs but we'd use EasySocial to curate it in our own website. In other words, we're using Easysocial as the teaser layout that leads out to either our full EasyBlog layouts or our curated external sources.

So far, it's pretty darn perfect.

I'm still evaluating the SEO impact of this however.

And as you see, there's still a few tweaks needed to display proper/filtered groups in the frontend.

I know this is not the website associated to our subscription but feel free to have a look here to see how it works for us

http://martialart.zone
Our home page, all entries here are EasySocial posts (all groups)

http://martialart.zone/index.php?option=com_easysocial&view=groups&layout=item&id=2:karate&Itemid=204
Ou karate subsection, all entries here are EasySocial posts (single group -> karate)

Notice the first post is a link to our EasyBlog section (internal). The others are all curated out to external sources.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this approach as I value it very much

Thanks
Danny

Hey Danny,

EasyBlog's built in composer editor does scrape links like what EasySocial does. You need to use the "links" block to scrape the contents from an external site but I guess it all depends on how / what you want to achieve.

Scrapping links isn't really a "blog" per se because you aren't really authoring anything at all. Authoring and pasting links is actually 2 different process altogether

When we talk about "authoring", we really mean "authoring" to the extend where one could control a lot of the other features of a post. For instance: publishing date, unpublishing date, categorization, tags / topics etc.

In my opinion, you are probably looking for a "micro posting" option where users could share links and if that is the case, EasySocial would definitely be the way to go It's simple and intuitive.

Thanks for the reply (as usual ;-))
I will test the link block some more. You're right in claiming that this could be a better way of authoring content. I am not 100% sure that's what I want to do here for the external content though (what I refer to as curated).
I'll update you later today
Thanks again!
Danny

No problem Danny

Hi,

In continuation to this topic:

As you know, i am still testing EasySocial as a micro blogging platform. So far, so good.Really, it's almost perfect for it!

I have a setup where I created some groups meant to be posted in solely to display that stream in the public site as a blog like listing.

Currently, there’s only a few drawbacks to working like this:

No multi level groups / categories

There’s no menu item that will allow us to display posts from multiple groups. Yes, we can use the category to regroup groups into, that would probably work well because we could use the Category menu item. Then again, there’s only one level of categories so there’s no way to create a real multilevel structure of groups here. I can work around this by creating individual groups for parent levels and dual post the content so it appears in each one respectively. Not optimal but it would work.

For example:

All posts (all groups)
-- Group category A
-- -- Group 1
-- -- Group 2
-- Group category B
-- -- Group 1
-- -- Group 4

Currently, if I want to achieve this, I need to create a group for every level here and duplicate the post into every level I want it to appear in. Again, this will work but it’s not optimal.

Limited group ACL (open, invite or locked)

We would need a special ACL level that allows guests to see posts from a group but limit posts to it’s members.

Currently, in order for us to display the posts (stream) in the frontend of the site, the groups need to be set to open. This means that any member wanting to post there can (this is a problem for us obviously).

Is there a way to limit posting to an open group so that only it’s admin members can or better yet, is there a way to only display post in a stream that are done by specific users ?

Again, thanks for your insight into this topic. I know this is not a "stantard" support request. This is a potential cool use of EasySocial though so I figure it's a win/win discussion.

Thanks
Danny

Hey danny,

I am really sorry for the delay of this reply,

Yes, currently we do not have multi level in the Easysocial group category.

You can limit the post not visible to everyone set it from your composer, you can refer on my attached screenshot below.

Currently, in order for us to display the posts (stream) in the frontend of the site, the groups need to be set to open. This means that any member wanting to post there can (this is a problem for us obviously).

If you are referring the Easysocial group, it should only allow this group member and superadmin have the permission to submit a blog post in this Easysocial group. In other word, the non-member of the group, they do not have the permission to submit a blog post in the group.

After I tested in my locally, it seems that was a bug, can you download my attached files and replace into following files and see how it goes?
JoomlaFolder\media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\views\groups\view.html.php
JoomlaFolder\media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\themes\default\groups\default.php

Hi

Thanks for the reply

OK for the multi levels. Thanks. Perhaps we should be so lucky to have that in v2 ? I set up a voice for it ;-)

For the Group permission thing:

In reality, what we need is for a group to be open in order for their stream posts to be viewed by non members on the site. In our case, this works perfectly. Our problem is that because the group is open, anyone can join and automatically post in it. Ideally, we would want to limit specific members to post in an open group.

Danny

Hey danny,

I am sorry for the delay of this reply,

OK for the multi levels. Thanks. Perhaps we should be so lucky to have that in v2 ? I set up a voice for it ;-)

It would be best if you can submit a feature request regarding this in our voice page -> http://stackideas.com/voices/easysocial , so everyone else could vote for it, the more people request on this, and we will priority consider it.

For the Group permission thing:

In reality, what we need is for a group to be open in order for their stream posts to be viewed by non members on the site. In our case, this works perfectly. Our problem is that because the group is open, anyone can join and automatically post in it. Ideally, we would want to limit specific members to post in an open group.

Currently that was not possible to achieve this, perhaps you can assign one of the member to `Admin` privileges in the group, so that only group Admin and Site superadmin have the permission to submit post in this Easysocial group. If you would like this, you can download my attached changes file and replace into JoomlaFolder\media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\themes\default\groups\default.php

OMG that would be amazing !!!
Thanks !

PS: I don't have that full directory
media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\themes\default\groups\
Should i create it ?
Danny

Hmm, I thought you already install group blog app in your Easysocial.

You can refer on this app from our app store : http://stackideas.com/apps/item/2937-group-blog (before you purchase it, you have to double check is it meet your current requirement)

After you install it, you have to replace back above 2 attached file in your site.
JoomlaFolder\media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\views\groups\view.html.php
JoomlaFolder\media\com_easysocial\apps\group\blog\themes\default\groups\default.php

Interesting.

Is there a demo of this somewhere so I can see what it does before i purchase it ?

Will the app allow us to post:

1) a blog entry in an EasySocial group

or

2) a social post in an EasyBlog page

Currently, we show the actual EasySocial group stream in the public part of the site (acting like a blog listing). I don't mind inverting that concept and displaying EasyBlog listings if these mean I can scrape content like EasySocial does.


PS: I really appreciate your commitment to this thread. You're helping us out fantastically here !

Thanks

Hi,

OK so i went ahead and purchased it anyway.

In a nutshell, I won't be using the APP to post blog content per say unless I can figure out how to use the EasyBlog 5.0 editor in there ? Currently, the APP only allow the person to post plain text into an existing EasyBlog category which then requires you to edit it through Easyblog to get a cover image and other elements ?

Anyhoot, I figure so long as it allows me to block posting in a group to admin or SU then it's worth it but even after updating the 3 files you sent in this thread, I don't see where to set this posting limitation. I tested it with non admin user (that's not the group admin either) and i was still able to post in the group.

The idea again is really just about limiting posts in an EasySocial group to admin/SU.

Thanks

Hey there,

I am really sorry for the delay of this reply as it is a weekend for us here.

Is there a demo of this somewhere so I can see what it does before i purchase it ?

Will the app allow us to post:

1) a blog entry in an EasySocial group

or

2) a social post in an EasyBlog page

Currently, we show the actual EasySocial group stream in the public part of the site (acting like a blog listing). I don't mind inverting that concept and displaying EasyBlog listings if these mean I can scrape content like EasySocial does.

Hm, It seems like we missed up this in our demo site, I will update this to our demo administrator on Monday.

Yes, it allow user submit a blog in Easysocial group.

May i know what do you mean for the `social post in an Easyblog page`?

OK so i went ahead and purchased it anyway.

In a nutshell, I won't be using the APP to post blog content per say unless I can figure out how to use the EasyBlog 5.0 editor in there ? Currently, the APP only allow the person to post plain text into an existing EasyBlog category which then requires you to edit it through Easyblog to get a cover image and other elements ?

Anyhoot, I figure so long as it allows me to block posting in a group to admin or SU then it's worth it but even after updating the 3 files you sent in this thread, I don't see where to set this posting limitation. I tested it with non admin user (that's not the group admin either) and i was still able to post in the group.

The idea again is really just about limiting posts in an EasySocial group to admin/SU.

Actually you can temporary switch your blog editor to use Joomla editor e.g. Tiny-MCE editor from backend > Easyblog > settings > general > composer .

I think you referring the Easysocial story panel `Write blog post` icon right?

If you install `group blog` app into your Easysocial, you can directly go to your Easysocial group > click on the blog filter from the left sidebar > click on the `new post` button, it will directly show the composer layout allow you upload the cover and add all the block inside the content. (You can refer on my attached screenshot below.)

Can you replace again on this attached file in your site and see how it goes? I afraid you override my above old file in earlier reply. (default.php file)
http://stackideas.com/forums/how-to-use-es-as-a-blog#reply-274771
By right, it should allow Group admin and superadmin to post in the group.

Hi,

Actually, i'm doing all this in the reverse way the APP works

I am using EasySocial to micro-blog. I use it's magnificent and simple scraping feature to create blog like listings.

In a nutshell, our portal teams will occasionally compose their own blog post and then we'll use EasyBlog for that but in 95% of the time, we will use EasySocial to fetch content from the outside. This works great as the rules for curating content imply we need to refer the visitor out to the content source and an EasySocial post does exactly that.

This method of micro-blogging with EasySocial has a few small limitations which I will reiterate here

1) We're missing a Group that would be a hybrid; it would need to be the Invite Only Group but it would need to allow un-logged users to view it's content when the stream is displayed in a Single Group Menu Item. Currently, we use the Open Group which works nicely but still allows anyone to join and post (that's a problem for now).

2) In order to display Group streams a bit like a blog listing, EasySocial offers a menu item call Simple Group Listing. This is quite good but we would need an evolved version of this for multiple groups which essentially would do the same but allow the admin to choose more than one group of stream to display in the menu item (selectively). The Category listing does this but it's limited to all categories at the moment.

3) A few small management utilities would be of great use too, for example; (A) the ability to reorder posts, (B) the ability to post a post to multiple groups at once, (C) Set featured posts ...

I know my subscription here is set to use DecoPatio.ca so you can't really see what I am trying to explain here from that portal (eventually, I will convert it to use this logic though). If you want, you can see this way of micro-blogging in it's true form on MartialArt.zone.

http://martialart.zone
The frontpage is a Category listing menu item

http://martialart.zone/practical/striking/karate
The Karate discipline page is a Single Group Listing menu item

I manage the content of groups directly in the Community menu (top right) and I use the group owner to post to it.

As a note to your team, this is an almost perfect way to micro-blog. I would seriously consider offering EasySocial as possible solution for this. I personally tweaked the frontend CSS so the stream posts look like blog listing and I'm really happy with this.

So far, I've found this to be the fasted way for me to populate my portals with content. It works great!

All this also leads me to a small favor I need to ask of you:

I will not be using the EasyBlog Group APP i purchased this weekend. I bought it thinking it would solve my Open Group permission problem but it doesn't. I really don't need this APP in retrospect. Is it possible for you to accept a return on this (credit me) ?

Thanks for everything
Danny

Hey danny,

I am really sorry for the delay of this reply,

1) We're missing a Group that would be a hybrid; it would need to be the Invite Only Group but it would need to allow un-logged users to view it's content when the stream is displayed in a Single Group Menu Item. Currently, we use the Open Group which works nicely but still allows anyone to join and post (that's a problem for now).

My above fix file should work this way, perhaps you can provide us with your Joomla backend and FTP access so we can better have a look? By right, it only allow group owner and Superadmin to post blog in the Easysocial group.

2) In order to display Group streams a bit like a blog listing, EasySocial offers a menu item call Simple Group Listing. This is quite good but we would need an evolved version of this for multiple groups which essentially would do the same but allow the admin to choose more than one group of stream to display in the menu item (selectively). The Category listing does this but it's limited to all categories at the moment.

Yes, currently the system can't achieve this.

3) A few small management utilities would be of great use too, for example;
(A) the ability to reorder posts,
(B) the ability to post a post to multiple groups at once,
(C) Set featured posts ...

(A) the ability to reorder posts,
- You can configure this from the Easyblog backend setting.

(B) the ability to post a post to multiple groups at once,
- Yes, currently that was not possible to post to multiple Easysocial group.

(C) Set featured posts ...
- You can only set this from Easyblog page.

I will not be using the EasyBlog Group APP i purchased this weekend. I bought it thinking it would solve my Open Group permission problem but it doesn't. I really don't need this APP in retrospect. Is it possible for you to accept a return on this (credit me) ?

Perhaps you can let me check on your site as you mentioned `but still allows anyone to join and post (that's a problem for now).`?

Hi Guys!

I've pretty much concluded my EasyBlog vs EasySocial for microbloging.

Here are my findings:

EASYSOCIAL

PROS
• Simplest interface to post content with
• Fully respects content curation rules

CONS
• Can’t post to multiple groups (categories)
• Can’t display multiple groups in one menu item
• Groups need to be “Open” which in theory allows anyone to post to them
• Social sharing isn’t great … Leads back to the group (and groups are the source problem with this method)
• No method of reordering, dating, editing …

EASYBLOG

PROS
• Fully SEO optimized
• Allows proper authoring which mean curation is perfect

CONS
• A little more tedious to post content with
• Category Listing view doesn’t display LINK block content (image preview, title and teaser)

In my opinion, it's probably better to use EasyBlog for microbloging as it's core function was made for blogging and it's categorization and editing capabilities where designed with that in mind.

In both cases. some tweaks are required but I can now safely say that the ones required for EasyBlog are simply to get done that the inverse.

Thanks to the whole team at StackIdeas for helping me get to this conclusion. You've all been very helpful!

Danny

Hi there,

You are most welcome. Glad to hear that your issue has been resolved now.

As a gentle reminder, kindly start a new thread if you have any other issue in the future so it will be easier for us to manage your inquiry. I will lock and mark this thread as resolved.