How About a "Blog" Feature?

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
Some members have begun creating lengthier works here on the Festool Owners Group -- extensive tool reviews, step-by-step development of projects, or "experience" postings.  Sometimes, these postings appear in a series over many days, and they tell a story.  It's great that the forum is evolving to the point where we have deeper content!

That got me thinking...what could I build into the forum that makes it more natural for members with extended material?  I did some research, and found a "blog" feature that I could install to the forum.  With this system, members who are interested in creating extended works can have their own blog space.

Perhaps you just want one blog page for a single experience or project?  Or maybe you want to post regularly, for example weekly chapters in the lives of the Swensons (apologies to Per and Bob), or a day in the life of a Festool Dealer.  However it goes, the "blogger" would have more room and more features to tell the story.

Before I get into the technicalities of how this would integrate into the forum, I'd be interested in hearing from people if this is something you would like to have.

Always looking to make this a more creative place!

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[danrush]

Sound great for the extended projects.  I think it would be fun to watch a job in progress. 

Dan

 

[The Woodentop]

As a 'reader' rather than a 'writer' where projects etc are concerned I would not require blog space but I would enjoy looking at some of our gifted contributors. Matthew, I think this is a great idea.

I must say, the other day I was reading pf some of Franks Pellow's activities......it makes me tired just thinking about it........where does he get his energy? If I remember correctly he made a comment like 'there was enough light for another half hour's gardening' this in addition to all his handiwork. Yes, I would find it inspirational.

Larry

 

[monte]

Matthew,

Sounds like a great idea!

Some technical questions,

> how would the photo upload process be in regards to file size and the quantity of photos?
> would there be a response section possibility or would there then be a parallel thread to mirror the blog?
> I guess I wouldn't have to "parking space block out posts" for future reviews or projects.

........there are more questions, but I gotta run at the moment.

Roger

 

[Eli]

I have a blog and a build photoblog, but I could see myself posting some content on a fogblog.

 

[Bob Swenson]

Matthew,

Sounds good, I could start with a description of how I repaired the deck of
the Ark and go from there.  Boy, did that ship smell.  :

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
I'm in the process of installing a blog system in our Test Forum, so you can get an idea of how it works.  But essentially, it would be like this...

Creating a blog:
Any member who wants to start a blog on the FOG simply presses a "BLOG" button on the main menu, and then clicks on another button to start a new blog.  From there, you just type your entries.  It can be text, photos, and other attachments.  The blog software has a WYISYG editor for making entries.  This is a very nice system for typing that is more like using Microsoft Word.  You can make entries as often as you want.  The blog has whatever title you want for it.  Everything you do is saved in the system, and your forum avatar is used as an "identity" for the blog.  As the blog creator, you will have the option to activate or deactivate various options.

Reading the blogs:
As people create blogs, they are all saved in a blog area of the forum.  Anyone who clicks on the "BLOG" button in the main menu is taken to a page with a matrix of little icons (avatars) for each blog.  You can click on any of the avatars to read the blog.  You can read anyone's blog, comment on it, or use other options the blog creator chose.

By the way, one of my inspirations for this idea was Roger Savatteri's postings on the JointMaker Pro.  That's an example of something that would work well in a blog, and would be easier for the poster to manage.

I think this idea has a lot of potential for opening up member creativity.  I'll provide more details as I develop this.  But I would like to continue hearing from members who want to have this feature.

Matthew

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
I have just installed the "Blogging" feature in the Test Forum.  For those of you who wish to try it out before I install it here, please jump over to the test forum.
Just click on the "Blogs" button in the main menu.  From there, you will see options to create your blog!

To sign into the Test Forum, just use the following details:
Address: www.festoolownersgroup.com/TestForum
Username: test
Password: test

If you like the way it works, I will install it in the real forum.

Hope you like it.  And please report back here after you give the blog feature a try!

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Warrior]

I just found this thread and would like to try it. It seems to be down at the moment.

Eiji

 

[Eli]

Matthew has been a little bit distracted.  ;D ;D
He told me he was going to get on that in the next few days.

 

[Overtime]

Commence Blogging

Captain's Blog stardate 2008 ;  Destination Rotex , Kapex in the Green galaxy max speed

No pressure Matt  ;D

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
I'm testing a couple of details of the blog feature now, and will have it installed soon -- like within the next two days!
For now, collect your material.  That way we can have a nice launchl
Matthew