Welcome to the BLOX Digital (formerly TownNews) customer community! Connect with other BLOX Digital customers—and with us—to suggest features, share best practices and ask questions.
Though BLOX Digital representatives often participate in discussions, this is not a customer service site. For immediate help, call 800-293-9576 or submit a support request via our online ticketing system.
No similar topics found.
0
Keyboard shortcut for inline notes
In switching from Django to Blox, I've noticed that while both CMS have an in-text notes feature, Blox doesn't have a keyboard shortcut for inline notes (Ctrl+Shift+N in Django). Having this keyboard shortcut would be very helpful, especially in longer assets that require numerous brief notes relating to facts and proper names. Is there any way a similar set of keystrokes could activate inline notes mode in a future Blox release?
Thanks,
Will
Thanks,
Will
0
Answered
Set up Flex on a url with a custom application skin
Is it possible to set up a custom application skin with Flex so we can use it based off of the url?
Answer
Christine Masters
10 years ago
Hi Craig!
A few issues with this:
1. You can only have one active global folder at a time so that could potentially cause problems. Technically Flex doesn't have dependencies on global, but I'm not sure if there would be conflicts. You definitely wouldn't get customizations and code from that global.
2. Your header and footer from Zen would not work on Flex. Flex would not ask for those files.
3. Any variables set on Zen would not work on Flex (we have purposefully namespaced them) and vise versa.
It MAY be theoretically possible (I haven't tried it) to have a Zen site running a non-standard Flex skin such as Live e-Edition (which has no header and footer or theme options like the rest of the site). However, since Zen and Flex Live e-Editions are very similar, I'm not sure why you'd want to.
A few issues with this:
1. You can only have one active global folder at a time so that could potentially cause problems. Technically Flex doesn't have dependencies on global, but I'm not sure if there would be conflicts. You definitely wouldn't get customizations and code from that global.
2. Your header and footer from Zen would not work on Flex. Flex would not ask for those files.
3. Any variables set on Zen would not work on Flex (we have purposefully namespaced them) and vise versa.
It MAY be theoretically possible (I haven't tried it) to have a Zen site running a non-standard Flex skin such as Live e-Edition (which has no header and footer or theme options like the rest of the site). However, since Zen and Flex Live e-Editions are very similar, I'm not sure why you'd want to.
0
Completed
Did you miss this month's First Thursday webinar?
At our May 2015 customer webinar Christine Masters (director of product management) discussed exciting new features, updates and helpful tips. Topics included reformatting your front page for breaking news, new and improved workflow features and much more!
Don't miss it again - click here to watch it today!
Don't miss it again - click here to watch it today!
+3
Under review
Support for Disqus commenting
Blox already has an option to turn on Facebook commenting. Now how about including the option for Disqus, which is an incredibly popular commenting system.
Moreover, Disqus has built a single sign-on solution into its API that, though it's a bit complicated, could be integrated with Blox logins, making the experience seamless for users.
At the very least, the option to use the free Disqus commenting should be one that's included.
Moreover, Disqus has built a single sign-on solution into its API that, though it's a bit complicated, could be integrated with Blox logins, making the experience seamless for users.
At the very least, the option to use the free Disqus commenting should be one that's included.
0
Under review
How do a I change the size of marketplace logos?
I know I can change the size of the image with css but it stretches the logo beyond it's actual width. So is there a way to tell the back-end to display a logo with a larger width? I tried the "Logo preview widths" and uploaded a new image but it still gave me a width of 200px that ends in ".preview-200.jpg" When I change the number in that just to test the file it doesn't find an image.
+2
Multiple print publications on single TCMS asset
I'm cross-posting this here at the suggestion of the customer service tech to see if other TotalCMS sites would be interested.
We have run into a situation where we have obituaries (in the form of article assets) that need to run on more than one day in print. Because of the budgeting limitations in TCMS, you can't assign an asset to more than one edition of a single publication -- just one print placement.
I'm arguing that TCMS should allow us to schedule a single asset to as many print placements as needed or desired, rather than us having to create multiple copies of an asset (each with its own publication placement) or simply having to remember to change the publication on the original asset day-to-day.
I'm all for a solution that keeps a single asset in the system, rather than duplicates, which run the risk of transferring over to the hosted Blox side, where multiples of the same asset could cause confusion for front-end users (especially in searches.) Imagine searching for grandma's obituary only to find three copies of it online, one for each day it ran in print -- each with its own comments and URL.
Anyone else second this? Have a suggested solution for our workflow?
We have run into a situation where we have obituaries (in the form of article assets) that need to run on more than one day in print. Because of the budgeting limitations in TCMS, you can't assign an asset to more than one edition of a single publication -- just one print placement.
I'm arguing that TCMS should allow us to schedule a single asset to as many print placements as needed or desired, rather than us having to create multiple copies of an asset (each with its own publication placement) or simply having to remember to change the publication on the original asset day-to-day.
I'm all for a solution that keeps a single asset in the system, rather than duplicates, which run the risk of transferring over to the hosted Blox side, where multiples of the same asset could cause confusion for front-end users (especially in searches.) Imagine searching for grandma's obituary only to find three copies of it online, one for each day it ran in print -- each with its own comments and URL.
Anyone else second this? Have a suggested solution for our workflow?
0
html child assets in rss feed
How can I include a child html asset in a rss feed? I created a custom search skin to include it.
http://www.theintell.com/search/whiz-test/?q=&t=article,collection&l=20&d=&d1=&d2=&s=start_time&sd=desc&c[]=sports/high-school*,sports/high-school/varsityrap,-sports/high-school/agate,-sports/high-school/scoreboard&f=rss&fulltext=unionall
Here is an article from this feed that has a child html asset.
http://www.theintell.com/sports/softball-william-tennent-stuns-abington-with-four-run-th/article_47fb4684-090b-5fcc-8d5f-dd5e92d16985.html
http://www.theintell.com/search/whiz-test/?q=&t=article,collection&l=20&d=&d1=&d2=&s=start_time&sd=desc&c[]=sports/high-school*,sports/high-school/varsityrap,-sports/high-school/agate,-sports/high-school/scoreboard&f=rss&fulltext=unionall
Here is an article from this feed that has a child html asset.
http://www.theintell.com/sports/softball-william-tennent-stuns-abington-with-four-run-th/article_47fb4684-090b-5fcc-8d5f-dd5e92d16985.html
0
Under review
Sorting assets with children first
I know there is a query rule to only display assets with child assets but is there(or will there be) a sorting rule to show assets with children first? Often times only a few of our local articles have photos. The editors are supposed to give articles priorities each night to ensure the ones with photos display at the top but that doesn't always happen. This can be troublesome, especially on the weekends when I'm much more concerned with enjoying my time off than checking BLOX.
0
Collection > Pesentation (Series)
For collection with presentation set to (Series), is there a way to make the thumbnail size larger?
0
First Thursday Webinar
At this month's FREE webinar, we'll discuss exciting new features, important updates and helpful tips. Topics will include:
- How to quickly and easily reformat your front page for breaking news, special events and more!
- Boosting your editorial efficiency with our new and improved BLOX CMS workflow features.
- Auditing your Google, Facebook and Twitter API settings to keep social media broadcasting and federated login running smoothly.
0
Answered
Add Survey Form to New Asset types
I'd like to have an Input Form available thru BLOX CMS New Asset types so that community youth sports coaches can send in their box scores and provide a brief comment to a few simple questions. Questions would vary according to season/sport. About half of coaches feel comfortable sending me an email, but the other half need prodding to get a comment out of them -- an essential for a story. I don't have time to chase them all down each week. Here's an example that I helped set up with one local sports team:http://www.seiunitedsoccer.org/Default.aspx?tabid=846271. When they complete the form and hit the Submit button, the info should come to me in an email. This should actually be easier than the Poll asset that's already available, but the answers would vary instead of multiple choice. Can we do this? Thanks.
Answer
Christine Masters
10 years ago
Hi Christopher!
Looking at your example, this looks very much like something you should be able to build with BLOX Forms. You can set up a new questionnaire, set yourself as the recipient, e-mail the link to the coaches. The submissions would then be e-mailed to you, as well as be available in the Form Submissions panel for review (in case you are on vacation and someone has to fill in, etc.)
Here are our docs:
http://docs.townnews.com/kbpublisher/Forms-Manager-Overview_6417.html
Hope this helps! =)
Christine
Looking at your example, this looks very much like something you should be able to build with BLOX Forms. You can set up a new questionnaire, set yourself as the recipient, e-mail the link to the coaches. The submissions would then be e-mailed to you, as well as be available in the Form Submissions panel for review (in case you are on vacation and someone has to fill in, etc.)
Here are our docs:
http://docs.townnews.com/kbpublisher/Forms-Manager-Overview_6417.html
Hope this helps! =)
Christine
+1
Geolocations and Blocks
What is the best way to query a block based off of someone's currently location. So if I am in Doylestown PA then the block would only bring in news tagged for Doylestown.
0
Under review
Google Surveys + paywall integration
Christian Ramirez 10 years ago
in BLOX CMS
•
updated by Rich Griffin | Product Manager (Product Manager) 10 years ago •
3
I would like to see the ability to integrate both Google Consumer Surveys with a paywall. Offering a fallback to customers who would like to opt out of surveys for a subscription fee.
0
Fixed Navigation of E-edition Viewer
When viewing e-editions on all types of media, is there a way we can make navigation fixed? that way the viewer doesn't have to scroll to the top of page to go to next page?
0
Avoid outages: Update your Google, Facebook and Twitter APIs today!
It's spring, and new APIs are in the air. Google, Facebook and Twitter are updating their authentication procedures, and you may need to take action to ensure that these services continue to work properly with BLOX CMS.We've created a set of handy docs to guide you through the process of updating your authentication settings:
• Our broadcast settings document gives step-by-step instructions for configuring Facebook and Twitter social media broadcasting to use the new APIs.
• Our user authentication doc will guide you through the process of switching to new federated login APIs for Google and Facebook.
Google and Facebook have both set late April deadlines, after which services like federated login and social media broadcasting may fail. Twitter hasn't announced a deadline yet, but why wait? Spring clean your APIs today to sidestep future problems.
In most cases the changes should be painless, but if you have any questions please call TownNews.com customer support at 800-293-9576.
Customer support service by UserEcho
