Hi Derek, Thanks for your message about this post - I didn't reply to it specifically as i felt it was answered with the other posts in the discussion. But here is my reasoning.
I, and other members of staff, often have a large number of external files such as Word documents and Powerpoint files (and many other types). This can result in 10 or 20 (or more) resources listed in every section of a page. As an example I teach 10 lectures on a module which is made up of 12 different subjects in one section each- it is validated as a single module so is required to be a single Moodle course on our system. If I have 3 or 4 resources for each lecture, I have 30-40 resources listed in my section under summary and with any labels I add into the section.
My prefered method is to add these resources into a 'spare' section at the end of the page which is then hidden from the students by reducing the number of visible sections. The resources are then linked using hyperlinks within the section summary or labels - either within the text or by icons. This makes a much more appealing and attractive way of accessing those lists of resources (imagine every one of the 12subjects having 30/40 resources listed in each section). While there are obviously alternative ways of organising the entire thing (so that each subject had its own moodle course within an overall course page for example) this is not an option the way the relationship between moodle courses and validated modules in our university currently works. Neither is setting up additional courses as holding pages for those materials.
Moodle2 has no course files folder to put these resources in out of sight (they need to be attached to the course not in a private files area for access by other lecturers on the module) and the normal hiding of resources, or sections prevents access to those resources. I want the editor/teacher to haveaccess to those resources (they are visible when editing is turned on) but for the sake of appearances on the page I want them 'hidden' from the students and to me, the method of putting them in a spare section that is then not visible by reducing the number of sections seems to me to be the most intuitive option available.
The idea then of forcing those resources to be moved into another section (which may be completely unrelated to the section they actually relate to) deleting those resources, or forcing any other action would remove that option, while not -as far as I can see- providing an alternative manner to store those resources.
Like you, I would prefer the situation where the unexposed sections are left as they are rather than the resources put into a single 'orphaned activities' section which seems to fit in with Darko's comment of being able to see those orphaned sections in edit mode. My biggest concern with the original proposal was the suggestion that those resources would be randomly moved to another section or even deleted. I don't see the need for a warning message - it'll be obvious as soon as it happens and should be easily reversible - but if it was felt necessary then so be it. And if the decision is to continue putting all the resources into an Orphaned Resources section, then I don't particularly like it, but I can accept it.
But my main point from the OP options and those in the tracker is please do not just decide that all resources must be visible on the page - even in a different section - and definitely do not delete resources in these sections!!! Some of us have valid reasons for using non-visible sections.
If anyone can provide a more intuitive alternative to this issue then I'd be happy to hear it and try it out.
Richard
