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We've just rolled out a software update for Hoop.la, UBB Forum, and QuestionShark that focuses primarily on adding a number of user interface (UI) improvements.  Here's the detailed list of the newness:

 

1.  Slideshow Option for Photos in Clips Widget

 

This is a Hoop.la-only feature. If you have a photos-only Clips widget, you can now display the photos as a slideshow in the widget.  

 

  Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.34.14 AM

 

To utilize this new option, create or edit a Clips widget and make sure you limit the "Clip Type" to "Photos" only. Then, choose the "Slideshow" option under "Style".  You can optionally autoplay the slideshow in these settings as well.  See the widget edit example below.

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.25.15 AM

 

 

2. Unified Posting Button on Home Page

 

This is a Hoop.la-only feature. On the Hoop.la "home" page, we've added a new "Post Content" button on the top right so your members can create content immediately, without having to go to a specific content module first.  On click of that button, the member will be presented with a list of all possible content types that they are permitted to post. (For instance, if they are not permitted to make blog posts, they will not see that option.)

 

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.40.29 AM

 

 

3. Disable Community Rank Option

 

Some sites prefer not to display any kind of rank for their members.  Previously, you could use custom CSS to hide most of the visible components of community rank on your site, but now we have a one-click setting (in the Member Settings section of your Admin Control Panel) that allows admins to completely remove all references to Community Rank.

 

4.  Admins Can Now Register Members

 

Admins can now register members themselves.  This does not replace normal member registration, but it provides a means for admins to register on behalf of others.  This option is available as a submenu item in the Manage Members control panel and is also an option (that only admins can see) on the Members Directory.

 

5.  Alternate Clips Interface and Control Over Supported Clip Types

 

This is a Hoop.la-only feature.  Sites that use clips for documents more than photos and videos, may want to utilize the new "Simple Rows" format for displaying clips on the Clips page.  This is a more simplified interface than our default "swatches" interface.

 

Here's what the "Clip Swatch" interface looks like:

 Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 11.16.43 AM

 

And here is what the new "Simple Rows" interface looks like by comparison:

 Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 11.20.41 AM

 

You can control this format on the Clips control panel page (Admin Control Panel > Modules > Clips).  In addition, and on the same control panel page, you can also now determine exactly which types of clips you want to support on your site.

 

For example, if you don't want any photo clips, now you can simply disable that clip type so that no photos will be displayed or accepted.

 

clips-settings

 

6. Improved Tag Details Page

 

Previously, when you clicked on a tag link, you were taken to a complicated page that displayed the content associated with that tag in segregated boxes that differentiated by content type.  We've vastly simplified that interface now and made it part of our "Search" page.  This is also gives you a lot more control over drilling down through tag content.

 

7.  Blog Quick Post Widget

 

This is a Hoop.la-only feature. We added a new standard widget: Blog Quick Post. This is nothing more than a simple way to quickly post to a blog as a short-form blog entry (with no title).

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.58.53 AM

 

 

Note that as part of this we also refined our BlogEntries widget so that can you specify which kinds of blog posts you want to showcase (regular blog posts, short-form blog posts, and tweets).

 

8.  Admins Can Place Members Into Groups Via Manage Members CP

 

If you have enabled groups for your account, your main site admins can now add or remove members to/from specific groups via the Manage Members admin control panel.  

 

9. Theme Editor Improvement

 

Previously, the custom CSS and custom HEAD code fields for a theme were found inside the "Page Shell" section of the theme. That didn't make a whole lot of sense, so we've split the old "Page Shell" section into two new sections that are better named- "Custom CSS/HEAD Code" and "Page Background", as shown below.

 

Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 3.42.50 PM

 

10. Support for custom widgets and custom pages in Groups

 

This feature is for Hoop.la and UBB Forum sites only.  Groups can now have custom widgets and custom pages.

 

As with most releases, there were numerous other small minor improvements and bug fixes in this software update.

 

Enjoy!

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  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.25.15 AM
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.34.14 AM
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.40.29 AM
  • clips-settings
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 10.58.53 AM
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 11.16.43 AM
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 11.20.41 AM
  • Screen Shot 2014-04-22 at 3.42.50 PM

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Comments (8)

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No, I wasn't blocked. I just noticed that in the past if I signed up as a new member under my IP address on my hoop.la site using a different email address as a test member, I could not send a dialog to that test member & I attributed that to having the same IP since I was also the Admin because the system shows the registration IP & the last IP used to login. If the system however is not wired to see that as a conflict, then something else was blocking my ability to receive a dialog as my own test member on the site at the time. When I get around to retrying such a thing under your new improvements, I'll see if I continue to have issues with that & submit a ticket.

L

Hi Lhisa,

 

Hoop.la doesn't do any checks based on IP address that would prevent you from sending a dialog to another user. Users can choose to prevent others from sending them dialogs, however (assuming you are talking about dialogs).

 

Thus, the new feature that allows you to register users through the control panel should behave the same way. The only difference is that you will not be logged in as the new user (as you would have previously).

 

Without knowing exactly what error you're getting, it's hard to comment further. If you run into any issues with the new tool to register new members, please submit a support topic regarding that, and we'll further assist in identifying any potential issues

 

Regards,

 

Brian

Brian Lenz

I'm glad we can now add members in the backend. In the past I've attempted to do this refreshing obsolete accounts with new personage to take over the account, but when I'd open a dialog with them, the system wouldn't allow me to message the member due to the same IP I guess. So I'm wondering, will I have the same problem under the new release if I register people.

L

Always appreciate your releases but disappointed you've stopped giving them creative names. 

 

We implemented your suggested CSS code to suppress the new Post Content button. Our Reason: at our site it would likely  invite too many improperly located or duplicate topics.

 

I do like the idea of encouraging posts, however, so I'm wondering about a widget that features the current "hot topic" (as determined by activity/views/whatever) and has a 'reply now' button to catch interest on the home page. Special looking buttons would be nice too. 

neil

Hi Jon,

 

This release went out to all Hoop.la, UBB Forum, and QuestionShark customers.

 

We've had numerous requests for slideshow functionality over the past year or so (I don't have an exact figure to give). We support slideshows now via the Clips widget Ted mentioned as well as on the Clips page itself.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Brian

Brian Lenz
Last edited by Brian Lenz
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