Creating and Modifying Blocks.... What the... ???

I a couple weeks in now using Dolphin (a client's choice).   I'm from a Wordpress background and I have to say I am frustrated.  I just don't get how the Blocks system works.   I'm using Deanos Tools to insert/edit PHP Blocks but, REALLY, what the heck...  some blocks work, some don't, there is no documentation (that I could find) - I feel like I'm just hacking my way around HOPING that something works.  Then I read that some blocks only work on some page and we have to just try it and again hope it works.  Am I missing something here?   This makes me love Wordpress all the more...

That is correct.

Most cases only blocks of type PHP, HTML or RSS can be copied to other pages. Most of dolphins blocks are special blocks that only work on the pages they were designed to be placed on.

They only work on those pages because those block types only display content that is generated by code that in in the page the block is used on. Other pages do not contain the code needed to make the block work.

So to make a long story short, blocks are not something that is self-contained and thus would work on any page. Blocks are containers for content that can either be generated by code within the block(such as php blocks) or by code within the page the block is use in.

something like me. when i first start with wordpress after meeting the dolphin i got amazed with its easy settings and customization but both are good on there own road.

If someone first use wordpress and then dolphin it will look frustrating if you compare them.

Wow, quick response - thanks!

Here's what I want to do on this page:

http://knowledgeoutfitting.com/community/page/Archery

Using Morzzz's Ultimate Articles I'm able to show Articles with a category of Archery.  That's working fine.

Now what I want is to add a Category search block below the shown articles.  I was able to add the block but it didn't work.  Sounds like you're saying that this just isn't possible.  

is this category search feature is built in that mod.

Yes, in the latest release.  And, is a very manual process of building a block that will be a search a single category.

you mean to say that you have to create a block and add the codes to create a category search?

if yes than any special instruction from developer about where to put that code. 

Exactly...  from the developer's help.txt file:

To load a specific category of Articles in a page Block, use the following :

return BxDolService::call('articles', 'category_block', array('my category',10));

In the above, 'my category' represents the name of your Category and 10 the number of Articles to display at a time.

this code is for displaying a specific category in a block and you want a block to search a specific category. am i right?

Any specific place to where you have to put this code or anywhere inside dolphin?

i use Deano's Tools to create the blocks...

This topic is a bit off track...   My original request was for specific information/documentation on the Special Blocks and what can be used where?   Is this documentation available anywhere, and if not, how does one figure it out!

is this what you want on article page http://knowledgeoutfitting.com/community/m/articles/search

then you can try this create the block in admin panel on the right page.

open phpmyadmin - dolphin database - sys_page_compose and find Articles Search block.

edit this block and the one you created in admin panel and copy its content everything (may leave the name) its maybe a system block.

try this and tell if it works.

i don't know any doc for blocks and i believe it doesn't exist. 

Searched the entire database and don't fine "Articles Search".   This is why this is so impossible to make Dolphin do as I wish.... sigh.

sorry my mistake its must be using some lang key. you should open sys_page_compose and look on for this one by one or maybe on the last page if this is the last mod you installed or second last or you get it.

Edited: or maybe its code is in its modules files in modModule.php in classes directory. its not gonna be easy.

Can't waste anymore time on trying to add Search Block to a Page.  Apparently can't be done..

Thank God I'm not the only one!!! I'm with you RRWD! I, too, am checking this out at a clients request.

The more I delve into it the more I'm saying to myself "my god...what the...*that* problem was fixed over 10 years ago, and they're re-opening it again? What? It makes no sense. It's not even needed for the package to run."

Right. Keep in mind this isn't WordPress. I don't think any of you would be because it was almost 12 years ago now....but for those of you that might remember...yes. This is the same "Bort" from Nukeplanet / Futurenuke  php-Nuke Platinum. I have been out of the game for a few years now, I'm now running a hosting company and enjoying life without the busyness supporting a CMS package with thousands of end-users entails. I have a deep respect for anyone brave enough to do what the devs here are doing. But I do also have to agree that there are a lot of things that need improvement and fixing. Some of which makes no sense at all because the holes they open were plugged up and closed almost a decade ago and are not absolutely needed for a package like this to run.

Thanks Bort.

Now my client wants sidebar modules on the Article's Recent, Top Rated, Popular, etc. pages.  I've been told it's a "Custom Development" job.   Amazing!   In Wordpress it's just add a sidebar widget and get on with content.  in D7 it's develop and program the crap out it and then if you're lucky the content will work as the client requests.

It's the same with any other CMS too. Adding blocks is in most cases super simple (upload, activate, go!) and there's a module for almost anything you'd want to do. Granted some require a donation or SMALL payment (like $1 - $5 usd) but they do exist and they are there and it's easy to do. 

You have to program the crap out of nearly everything you want to do with Dolphin. Even putting a new link in the navigation menu which is super easy and simple to do with any other system, although there's a largely-known-to-be-super-buggy Ajax system to put the pretty little rectangle where you want it (aw! Neat!) you still have to add code to a file or it doesn't even show up. Dumb, backwards, and definitely not easy or simple. Creating a link is just one of probably hundreds of examples I could come up with that turns me off and makes me try to steer clients away from it let alone the security risks it not only creates, but requires you subject yourself to. 

I have yet to find something in D7 that's not only easy for end-users who don't know a thing about coding to complete but also works reliably and continues to work the way it was created.

The "what the..."s continue.

p.s. AND you need to double space? What the....?!?! Come on guys! Fix this schitt! My god...

 there is a bit of a learning curve in trying to learn dolphin, and quite frankly , you are mistaken in regards to having to touch a file if you want to add a navigation link.

on a comparison, you will not find anything as robust as dolphin. though it seems you wish to take the easy route, with mentioning wordpress, but you could never have a social networking environment with wordpress.

wordpress is a good tool, dolphin is a good tool, and where it may not be 100% of what you are looking for, and meet every requirement and nuance that you or your client would prefer, yes it provides the option for custom programming.

if there is one open source program that comes remotely close to what dolphin can do, please share, because i have been on this trek for 8+ years, and where i dont agree with dolphin logic 100% of the time, fact of the matter is they are providing something that is not available elsewhere.

dolphin is a foundation, a starting point, no developer could write an application that would satisfy every requirement on every site.

so from the beginning, having a defined scope of work, with wireframes on what is required resolves most of what you are complaining about. knowing how to budget, and having resources to utilize are key to success when providing a service to your clients on the dolphin platform.

most of what i read here from your posts is that you have the problem with dolphin, and i will admit the first time i installed dolphin, i was terribly put off by it. that was several versions ago, and once you dig into and grasp how this beast is written, it becomes clear that the coding methodology is as unique as dolphin itself.

it will never be a 1, 2, 3, let me get paid for standing up your social networking site, and where there is room for improvement in several areas on dolphin, there is also nothing available that would compare to what is provided to you in regards to the default installation of dolphin.

patience is a virtue on this thing, and if lose patience, you ultimately lose focus.

good luck in all that you do, and hopefully things will pan out for you.