General developer forum

Re: Getting the list of courses for a teacher (with access to gradebook)

Hubert Chathi — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:08:55 GMT

by Hubert Chathi.

Without knowing more about what you're trying to do, if it's gradebook-related, perhaps the moodle/grade:edit, moodle/grade:manage, or moodle/grade:viewall capabilities are what you want to check?

Re: Modules in 2.0 Require "intro" field?

Mike Churchward — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:57:42 GMT

by Mike Churchward.

Renaming just means finding all the places in the code that use the old name and changing it (probably not many - view, index, backup/restore and the form). And, adding elements to the restore library to deal with the old uses. And changing the database scripts. All doable - just have to be done.

Is the "introformat" also required as well?

Not sure this documented anywhere in the 2.0 module migration pages though. This will impact a lot of third-party modules (all in fact if "introformat" is required too).

mike

Re: Best backuplib and restorelib to copy for new module

Matt Bury — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:51:24 GMT

by Matt Bury.

So does this mean that if I have a course with activity modules on a testing server (i.e. http://localhost/), and I back it up and then restore it to a public server (i.e. http://mysite.com/), that Moodle will rewrite any site specific URLs? That sounds good!

I'm guessing from the code of the modules I'm looking at, that you have to specify which text areas to check and convert, hence the bit of SQL: "SELECT r.id, r.alltext, r.summary, r.reference
FROM {$CFG->prefix}resource r
WHERE r.course = $restore->course_id", and the following code. Is that right?

Re: "Google Closure: How not to write JavaScript"

sam marshall — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:32:45 GMT

by sam marshall.

My opinion remains that micro-optimising code for a particular compiler (or lack of compiler) is usually not a good idea. If the compiler changes - for example, if switch is now faster than a hand-rolled jump table - you've made the code worse, and probably slower into the bargain. Leave micro-optimisation to the people who build compilers - it's their job.

Instead, if required, worry about larger optimisation, like (at the CPU side) 'should this data structure be a hashtable instead of just a list' or (higher-level still) 'can i achieve this with a fewer database queries'. The compiler can't optimise those decisions away for you - and in most cases, structuring your code to achieve these optimisations is actually part of working to ensure a clear organisation of code (rather than obfuscating it, as some micro-optimisations can do).

PHP is maybe an argument against this way of thinking because it's so appallingly slow (in cpu terms) that we might see it like back in the days when you'd hand-craft assembly in the middle of your C routine because you could do a better job than the compiler. (Yes I have done that - nowadays, (a) you don't need to, and (b) the compiler has a good chance of doing it better - it may depend on the exact cpu you're running on, etc.)

But even in PHP, I've never really had problems with cpu use. When developers on my team produce code that's not 'sweetly performing' it tends to be because they've made said code, e.g, run one database query for every single line in the log table, or something. [Naming no names...] Not because they've done for($i=0; $i<count($a); $i++).

--sam

Re: deployment: how to empty the database up

Frank Ralf — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:20:28 GMT

by Frank Ralf.

You might find some more information via Database FAQ.

Frank

Re: missing shortcut in ECLIPSE

sam marshall — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:30:40 GMT

by sam marshall.

I am running Eclipse 3.5.1 with 'EPP PHP Feature' 1.2.1, which I think is latest last I looked. I can confirm it doesn't do what you suggest (i.e. change the selection to include code between the braces). Like Tim I also never knew it did that.

The behaviour does still work when editing Java files in the same version of Eclipse, so I presume this change is a PHP issue rather than an Eclipse one.

When (single) clicking to place the cursor immediately after an opening brace, I do see the following:

a) The matching brace is indicated with a grey box.

b) [When using object-oriented code] The extent of the current function is highlighted (blue dotted pattern) in the left-hand ruler. (Actually, this should apply wherever you click, but it doesn't always do so, due to, erm, other bugs.)

--sam

Re: deployment: how to empty the database up

D 2G — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:26:58 GMT

by D 2G.

Thank you both for the tips.

Tim, that looks awesome. This is exactly what I need if I understood how it works. Moodle, on the installation will do it by itself once I have generated the corresponding files(I have done a test and looks easy at a first glance) as referred to on the doc through the XMLDB editor.

Frank, What I was looking for was the way of leaving the database as it is once you have installed moodle, that is to say, with the information needed to have moodle up and running.

Re: deployment: how to empty the database up

Frank Ralf — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:49:23 GMT

by Frank Ralf.

Hi,

phpMyAdmin provides the option to backup only the structure of your database:

6.4 How can I backup my database or table?

"Click on a database or table name in the left frame, the properties will be displayed. Then on the menu, click "Export", you can dump the structure, the data, or both. This will generate standard SQL statements that can be used to recreate your database/table."
http://www.phpmyadmin.net/documentation/#faq6_4

hth
Frank

Re: NanoGong and 1.9.5 (Solution)

Nicolas Dunand — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:06:04 GMT

by Nicolas Dunand.

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback. You're very welcome.

Re: deployment: how to empty the database up

Tim Hunt — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:01:52 GMT

by Tim Hunt.

Hopefully this page: Development:Installing_and_upgrading_plugin_database_tables on Moodle Docs answers your question. If not, get back to us with more questions.

deployment: how to empty the database up

D 2G — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:49:03 GMT

by D 2G.

Hi all,

I have been developing a few extra things that we needed for Moodle through a SVN. My questions are:

1.- I have modified the database as well as the code. The moodledata directory is not important at this stage. How could I deploy the whole system with a clean database as if it was the first time I installed Moodle. Obviosly this database has to keep the changes that I have done.

Solution 1:

I run a mysql script with the alter clauses for those tables, once the installation is done.---> I afraid I would to make the manually because it does not exist such a script.

Solution 2

I deploy everything and empty up the database so that it appears as it was just one second right after I finished a fresh installation but with the structures changes in the database. The million dollar question is, How could I achieve this please?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Best backuplib and restorelib to copy for new module

Mihai Sucan — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:29:11 GMT

by Mihai Sucan.

I have worked with the Moodle backup/restore code myself these days.

If I am not mistaken, the restore_decode_content_links() function handles the rewriting of URLs in all text fields of all modules, blocks, courses, etc. Basically, when you backup something the URLs are those pointing to your Moodle installation. However, when you restore the data, Moodle performs URL rewriting such that you don't get broken links - they will point to the new Moodle installation address.

Re: where to find the navigation menu

Murad Jamal — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:20:05 GMT

by Murad Jamal.

thank you Frank for your kind help

Re: Moodle Messaging 2.0

Stuart Mealor — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:59:47 GMT

by Stuart Mealor.

Judging by the number of positive comments here (http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=137041) I believe there is great interest in an improved Messaging module - one that follows Moodle coding standards etc.

This is actually quite a low-visibility area, many teachers would not even see this conversation because they do not install non-standard mods.

If this project could be developed to a position where it could be included in core I would not anticipate many users saying "No, we do not want these improvements" !?!?

Stu

Re: Adding a Icon to Blocktitle

Filzah Alwi — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:39:49 GMT

by Filzah Alwi.

Hey, can anyone help me with the same problem Heidi is facing?

regarding putting icons to blocktitle?

i really do need help as my coding skill is very poor.

can anyone give me a very specific solution?

thanks!

Re: Best backuplib and restorelib to copy for new module

Matt Bury — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:38:48 GMT

by Matt Bury.

Hi,

I've managed to get backuplib.php to work. I had a look at /label/ and /resource/ modules and worked it out from there. I've looked at the generated moodle.xml file and the data from the FLV Player module instances is there, as expected.

I'm curious about this part of restorelib.php:

function resource_decode_content_links_caller($restore) {
global $CFG;
$status = true;

if ($resources = get_records_sql ("SELECT r.id, r.alltext, r.summary, r.reference
FROM {$CFG->prefix}resource r
WHERE r.course = $restore->course_id")) {

$i = 0; //Counter to send some output to the browser to avoid timeouts
foreach ($resources as $resource) {
//Increment counter
$i++;
$content1 = $resource->alltext;
$content2 = $resource->summary;
$content3 = $resource->reference;
$result1 = restore_decode_content_links_worker($content1,$restore);
$result2 = restore_decode_content_links_worker($content2,$restore);
$result3 = restore_decode_content_links_worker($content3,$restore);

if ($result1 != $content1 || $result2 != $content2 || $result3 != $content3) {
//Update record
$resource->alltext = addslashes($result1);
$resource->summary = addslashes($result2);
$resource->reference = addslashes($result3);
$status = update_record("resource",$resource);
if (debugging()) {
if (!defined('RESTORE_SILENTLY')) {
echo '

'.s($content1).'
changed to
'.s($result1).'

';
echo '

'.s($content2).'
changed to
'.s($result2).'

';
echo '

'.s($content3).'
changed to
'.s($result3).'

';
}
}
}
//Do some output
if (($i+1) % 5 == 0) {
if (!defined('RESTORE_SILENTLY')) {
echo ".";
if (($i+1) % 100 == 0) {
echo "
";
}
}
backup_flush(300);
}
}
}
return $status;
}

What does this function do exactly? Is this for handling/filtering the contents of certain types of DB field? An explanation or a link to the relevant docs would be great.

Thanks in advance!

scorm freezing up

sue jones — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:02:24 GMT

by sue jones.

I am using metamorphosis to create a scorm, and some people have no problems but other have issues with the freezing.

I have put the links for IE8 and Flash 10 on the front screen, however there are still problems with the freezing and it is all over the place can be half way through the presentation or half way through the questions and in different lessons.

do I need to tell them to enable javascript and pop ups? My mine site is presenting this for the first time tomorrow. and we need to have it working.

Is there anything to do through moodle or would it be the metamorphosis talking to moodle issue.

Re: Curriculum Mapping

Ralf Hilgenstock — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:18:17 GMT

by Ralf Hilgenstock.

Dear Ravishankar,

I agree with you when you say that we have to look for the audience. In German Primary schools students learn in class 1-4 to work with weekly learning plans. up to 50 % of the learning time they work in such a way. But this is a special situation in primaries. In the next years at school this isn't a standard learning situation.

If we add only one learning tasks to a competency it will lead students. But normally you don't get a competency with one activity. Often it is a combination and sometimes its combined with non formal learning activities outside of school.

Did you see the plans for dependencies of activities in Moodle 2.0. You can define exactly what a student should have done if he will start an activitiy or read an ressource. This is exactly what is defined as learning path.
And did you see the LAMS system http://wiki.lamsfoundation.org/display/lams/Home? You can integrate it as a course format or as an activity in Moodle.

Ralf

Best backuplib and restorelib to copy for new module

Matt Bury — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:45:30 GMT

by Matt Bury.

Hi,

I'm developing a couple of very simple Moodle modules which have already become quite popular in their beta forms, however, I haven't included backup and restore functions in either. It's about time I got around to implementing it.

The simplest project, the FLV Player module, installs a single DB table that holds all the parameters. It also links to video, image, audio and XML files in the moodledata course directories.

So my question is, which existing modules in Moodle are the most similar to this so that I can study them and try to replicate their functions for my modules. Some good advice here could save me a lot of time and problems ;)

Also, any other advice you can give me would be very gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

Re: where to find the navigation menu

Frank Ralf — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:39:12 GMT

by Frank Ralf.

Hi Murad,

There was a similar discussion on Overriding the $menu / $button variables.

The Introduction to Moodle Programming course provides information on the folder structure, the most important libraries, and the global variables of Moodle.

And Developer FAQ might also be a good starting point.

hth
Frank