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quick review

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Thu, 08/14/2008 - 20:27 — Anonymous

Hi

Quick review, mainly on aspects where - to me - might be room for improvement.

I think this could be a top module, inc as can display text (titles could be good; as well as nodes)
Initially, though, I'm mainly interested in a random images module.

Like it that it's possible to create several blocks. For me, I have in mind header images block, also images block for left side, and maybe one or more with random titles/teasers.

Trying for images:
bit confused re whether I should also indicate a content type; maybe separate, more clearly, pure images, from content of nodes/teaser types. (Also, I'm not sure what a "container" is - maybe missed within Drupal; when I tried image container, got image plus some text. Some more explanation re nodes/teader type content might help: with something like Panels, I can imagine this being real help - maybe have varying teasers to new blog posts; or titles of latest articles / forum posts etc [a block where could have, say, list of latest five forum posts, then changing to another list of five, might be nice, if forum busy [my forums not so busy!])

I saw re header image block n patch; but thought I'd try for header images within ddblock. But, images 1200 pixels wide seem to be displaying in around 183 pixel wide block, no matter if enter width.
Not sure where I can override this; and then add a block to site header.

Odd when seeing various images appearing as page loads, before module starts working. Not sure if can make them only load as and when required.
Seems they load with each page, even if stay on website, and ddblock just same. [cachable?]

With Safari, just seen it halt, with all images simply displayed one above the other.

Also: found that didn't like files with a hyphen in name; like main-2.jpg (didn't appear); when changed to main2.jpg, worked fine.

Well, only short notes here; hope that of some use.

Martin Williams

‹ HOW TO
Fri, 08/15/2008 - 10:36 — admin

Thanks for the review

I agree with you that some of the settings are not clear just using the module (not enough help in the screens.) We will try to improve this). I think if you read the documentation of the module it becomes more clear. (but this should not be needed to use the module).

We have made a list with possible improvements, some of them coming from your review.

I am not sure what you mean which
"Some more explanation re nodes/teader type content might help: with something like Panels,"

To show the images with the height and width you want to set, Enter height and width for content container and for the image.

We can only test safari on windows (seems to work) , is this on windows or an a mac?

Not being able to use a hyphen in a file name.
Bug in our regular expression to match files.

Well, only short notes here..., but very helpfull for us.
Thanks very much for your effort and time.

Hope this also answers some of your questions.

regards,

Module Maintainers

Fri, 08/15/2008 - 16:22 — Anonymous

use w panels etc

Thanks for the prompt reply; glad you are set for more improvements. And yes, answered several of my questions.

My unclear bit should have been in two parts.
I felt the instructions could be improved for content that's not just basic images - maybe teasers, maybe nodes. [yes, I should have a look at instructions, inc on this site]

The Panels note: I rather think that if can divide a home page into various display sections, as Panels can do [not yet to Drupal 6], can have something like basic introduction to site; but also a block [maybe not on left of page) with rotating images, another with rotating titles/teasers - such as showing titles of forum posts/articles.
So, could have a page with various elements to it - via Panels - and can make this page look dynamic with help of dymanic blocks. Right now, I have ideas for this as home page; but can imagine it looking good for other pages within site. Not sure if will really work in practice.
- pages such as this maybe fairly easy for expert coder people; but not for me!! (and numbers of other users)

I did try putting sizes in both image and container sections, but still found my block was around 180 wide; not 1200 wide as per images I tried for block in header position. Not sure why; looked at source code for page but couldn't see anything there. Don't know if could be my theme, Zen.

I have Mac, so Safari on Mac. Otherwise using Firefox.

Regards,
Martin

Sun, 08/24/2008 - 15:04 — Anonymous

Also stuck at 195px width

Not sure what is causing this to be set

Tue, 08/26/2008 - 08:52 — Anonymous

CSS bug: Change the width in your style.css stylesheet

If you make a dynamic display block it will not have a width bigger than 195px.

This is caused by the CSS of the module

.block-ddblock{ 
  margin: 0; 
  padding: 0; 
  width: 195px; 
  overflow: hidden;
}

You can override the CSS by copying it to your style.css file of the theme you use and
change the width. 

.block-ddblock{
  margin: 0; 
  padding: 0; 
  width: xxxpx; 
  overflow: hidden;
}

In the next version of the Dynamic display block the CSS in totally changed.

Hope this helps for now?

Sat, 08/30/2008 - 15:43 — Anonymous

thanks re width

Thanks for this - solves the mystery!

Just tried deleting line re width, to see if then get blocks as wide as specified in block settings (using widths of images); quick check and seems ok.

I've a page with a 1200 pixel wide ddblock at the top, as part of header; also a random thumbnails ddblock 180 px wide in left column, and both look just fine width wise.

Still a bit quirky when load a page, and briefly see all the images appear before page settles, so not using for visitors as yet. (Not sure if caching can help here; or call images as and when need them)

Martin

Sun, 09/28/2008 - 07:57 — Anonymous

All images appear at page loading.

I am having is effect as well, where all 4 banner images appear one above the other as the page loads (then disappearing and the block works fine).

Using Drupal 6 and it occurs in all browsers I tested (Firefox 3, Safari 3.1, IE 6 and IE 7).

Great module except for this little hitch.

Sun, 09/28/2008 - 08:58 — Anonymous

Re: All images appear at page loading.

There are some workarounds for this problem:

Here is one:

In the CSS of the module add visibility:hidden to the contents div

.ddblock-contents {
visibility:hidden; /* make visible with jQuery when ddblock cycle starts */
}

With the CSS visibility setting the space for the contents div is reserved but the contents of the div and all child elements are not shown on the page.

To make the contents visible when the JavaScript starts to work add:

$script .= ".css('visibility', 'visible')\n";

to the ddblock.module where the script is made just before the line:

$script .= ".addClass('ddblock-processed')\n";

Hope this solution helps you solving your problem,

ppblaauw

Fri, 10/24/2008 - 09:57 — Anonymous

thanks!

Thank you for the fix; looks to be working as planned
Hope this will be included in future versions.

Whilst here: I'd appreciate chance to have longer between transitions; this especially for header images, which I would like to stay around for rather longer before changing.

The enhanced version you're working on looks impressive!

Martin

Sat, 11/29/2008 - 11:46 — Anonymous

not in latest version

seems this fix wasn't in latest official version; just re-edited file (tho css file was ok)

Hopefully in the forthcoming, more exciting versions of ddblock

Martin

Wed, 10/22/2008 - 23:54 — Anonymous

Same problem?

I have installed the modules:
ddblock-6.x-1.0-rc1.tar.gz
jquery_update-6.x-1.1.tar.gz

It works fine when I log in as admin and authenticated users. But for anonymous users, it display flat out all pictures and no effect.

Any idea will be appreciated.

NSL

Thu, 10/23/2008 - 00:15 — Anonymous

Effect work ONLY as admin

Actually it works ONLY when I log in as admin. None others work. If this relates to permission issue, please advise.

NSL

Thu, 10/23/2008 - 03:36 — Anonymous

Answer my own question

I enabled the Block Cache. After I disable it, it works fine. Thanks all.
NSL