Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 6:28 PM

At long last I have managed to get this theme working properly in Moodle 2.3.1 - The bad news is it will only work in a specific copy of Moodle 2.3.1 and that was released on Thursday. $version = 2012062501.02) $release = (Build 20120712) The good news is that it will work on all subsequent versions including Moodle 2.4 when that is eventually released.

I can tell you it has been a real struggle fixing one theng then another, but I am pleased to say all my sleepless nights paid off.

I have done quite a lot of recoding, made CSS changes too. You will also find that the profile bar is slightly changed, this is because I was trying out something new. If you don't like it tell me, I can always change it to do something else, or go back to how it was originally. In fact if you have any bright ideas for what you want adding into the profilebar just let me know and perhaps I can build it into the next update?

Thanks to all who encouraged me, pestered me and helped me get this all done, especially Ruslan the Moodle developer who fixed Moodle so that the moving blocks function would work in a custom theme. See MDL-33890 for more insight.

You can download it from HERE

Thank you one and all...

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 8:36 PM

Thanks Mary

What you have changed almost mimics what I had done previously to this theme.

One thing however, if there are no blocks in the right colum, it seems to be reserving the space rather than expanding the centre column to fill the space.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 8:59 PM

That was the last thing I did before uploading the new version. The fix is in the bodyclass settings which you will find in the top of aardvark_postit/layout/default.php

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 9:06 PM

Let me download again and check as I downloaded from the link above.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 9:09 PM

You could try Purging all caches in Site Administration > Development > Purge all caches that will clear out any previous settings.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 9:15 PM

default.php file I have is exactly the same as in latest download package, purging all caches didnt help. Me and Moodle aren't getting on at all lol

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 11:02 PM

I'm not a coder but I think the problems with this code

$bodyclasses = array();
if (($haspbarpre || $haspbarpost) && $showsidepre && !$showsidepost) {
$bodyclasses[] = 'side-pre-only';
} else if (($haspbarpre || $haspbarpost) && $showsidepost && !$showsidepre) {
$bodyclasses[] = 'side-post-only';
} else if (($haspbarpre || $haspbarpost) && !$showsidepost && !$showsidepre) {
$bodyclasses[] = 'content-only';
}
if ($hascustommenu) {
$bodyclasses[] = 'has_custom_menu';
}

If I am reading it correct you are checking if profile bar has blocks in all conditions and for any page that doesnt have a block in the profile bar, the either column never gets hid even if there are no blocks.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 14 July 2012, 11:43 PM

Hi,

It IS the code and this is what happened originally, which I fixed by removing the block-region class from the div container. Since the new code was added to Moodle core, the block-region class is a requirement otherwise you would not be able to move any blocks into the two new regions.

There has to be a way round this.

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Sunday, 15 July 2012, 7:29 PM

Maybe the only way around it is to add more if clauses?

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Monday, 16 July 2012, 12:57 AM

I have concluded in the end the best solution for me is to hard code stuff in these areas, since there isn't sticky fields anymore if I allow students to customise their my moodle page it deletes all the blocks I want to be permanent there.

Thanks again

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 1:54 AM

Mary,

Good Morning! I installed the latest $version = 2012071200 for Moodle 2.3.1 and I'm having the following issue: blocks in the right column disappear after two seconds when I click on 'turn editing on.' I have replicated the issue as admin in the main page after login and as an instructor in a course.

Here it's an attached pic.

Thanks for your help.

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Tuesday, 17 July 2012, 2:29 AM

Have you checked to see if the Calendar and My Courses blocks are in the dropdown section in the header?

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 4:41 AM

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I had checked. I don't have them in the dropdown.

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 4:53 AM

There is all kinds of things going on in Moodle we dont seem to have control over. Since they introduce this drag-n-drop using AJAX the blocks are behaving strangely.

I need to get help from the HQ developers as it is beyond a joke.

So sorry for the inconvenience.
All I can suggest is that you use another theme for the time being.

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Wednesday, 18 July 2012, 5:30 AM

Mary,

You're great! I really love your theme and will wait for your feedback.
Were you able to replicate the issue? I can send you the credentials to our test server.

Thanks,
Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 12:26 AM

Hi Mary,

Any news from the HQ developers? We're planning to go live this Fall.

Thanks for all your help.

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 12:54 AM

No chance!

The only thing you can do if you still want to use Aardvark Post-IT is use the one I uploaded the other day that has no blocks in the profile bar just icons and two postit note to add your own messages via the setting page.

You can download it from the Moodle Themes directory.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 1:00 AM

Are you talking about the Moodle 2.3 DRAG-N-DROP (Build: 20120714) (2012071202) or the 2.2 Post-IT (2012051100) version?

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 1:14 AM

No...the new one is called POSTIT NOTE for Moodle 2.3

http://moodle.org/plugins/pluginversions.php?plugin=theme_aardvark_postit

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 4:42 AM

Mary,

I installed it and the blocks are working fine. This is good but I'll keep my eyes open for the developers update.

I just have a question, with this Posit it version I lost the header for the authentication page. I have attached an image in how it looks. It's basically just the two links without header or footer. Any ideas.

Thanks,
Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 6:46 AM

Hi,

How would I get to that page? Can you give me a map starting with....

Site Administration >

Thanks

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Thursday, 26 July 2012, 11:59 PM

Hi Mary,

Go to: http://mdltest2test.fuller.edu/ and click on the Login link. You will hit the page.

Thanks,
Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Friday, 27 July 2012, 3:24 AM

Sorry, the website mdltest2test.fuller.edu cannot be found

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Saturday, 28 July 2012, 1:08 AM

Hi Mary,

Can you please try again? Access to mdltest2test.fuller.edu has been granted.

Thanks,
Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 28 July 2012, 5:01 AM

Hi,

Is the URL correct as it just times-out...server is not responding.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Miriam Laidlaw - Sunday, 29 July 2012, 5:41 PM

I am getting this exact same response when I try to visit the site. Problem loading page: The connection has timed out.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Wednesday, 8 August 2012, 5:14 AM

Hi Mary,

Let's try it one more time. Let me give you a different server:
http://moodleupgrade.fuller.edu/login/index.php

Thanks,
Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Wednesday, 8 August 2012, 5:40 AM

That is because it has a simple login page. Everyone seemed to want a blank page with just the login. If you want the header too, you need to change aardverk_postit/config.php in the login section under $THEME->layouts...

All you need to do is rename login.php to default.php.

    'login' => array(
        'file' => 'login.php',
        'file' => 'default.php',
        'regions' => array(),
        'options' => array('langmenu'=>true),
    ),

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Thursday, 9 August 2012, 1:18 AM

It worked! Beautiful!

We're live on 2.3.1 now. I'm still working in fixing some other issues but everything is looking good. Thanks a lot for your great support.

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 9 August 2012, 2:09 AM

Hi Thelma,

All I can say is WOW! It looks fantastic!

Let's hope they fix the moving blocks issue soon.

Thanks
for using the theme, and for making it look so nice on your site.

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Saturday, 11 August 2012, 2:34 AM

Hi Mary,

Thanks for your comment it made my day!

Your theme is awesome and hope the HQ can fix the blocks issue soon.

Have a great weekend!

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 7:02 AM

Hi Mary,

I've been trying to find a way to customize this code but I think I am taking the wrong direction and I need your help...

Here is the scenario:
Is there a way to modify the font size and color for JUST the My Courses tree branch (depth_2) as well as the expand/collapsed items (depth_3) in our case Quarter categories (Winter 2013, Fall 2012, etc) under the Navigation block instance (left column) without changing the properties for My home, My Profile, etc.? <see image below>

I installed the 'My Courses' block but it was impossible to make the categories and enrolled courses display in the right way. We opted for disable it and are considering a new solution through the Navigation block.

The Logic behind:
Students and Faculty login to our Moodle. It may easier for them to find their courses; otherwise, they are always requesting support in how to find their classes.

Thanks,

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 8:25 AM

Not easily there isn't. If the links were a standard set it would be possible to code it using the link as a selector, but they are not standard, as each person has different set of links, so this make it impossible.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Miriam Laidlaw - Thursday, 19 July 2012, 12:48 PM

Hi Thelma,

Having this same issue with Aerie. It appears to be a Moodle core problem with any themes that have custom block areas, and nothing we can fix at the moment. We're all waiting so that we can continue using the themes we like (like Aardvark PostIT).

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Thelma Polanco-Perez - Friday, 20 July 2012, 12:02 AM

Hi Miriam,

Thanks for your comment! It makes me feel I'm not the only one with this issue. Yes, we will need to wait for the Moodle developers feedback.

Thelma

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Richard van Iwaarden - Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 7:19 PM

Hi Mary,

Is there any chance we can get a 'my courses' in the topbar menu? I tried to make this myself but couldn't get it right.

Would be great if you could include this.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Wednesday, 15 August 2012, 11:34 PM

OK...I will see what I can do.

Thanks for the idea!

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 16 August 2012, 12:13 AM

Hi,

This was easy enoght to do just following the tutorial, but adding it to the aardvark_postit theme rather than make a separate theme. The only things I needed to do was

add $THEME->rendererfactory = 'theme_overridden_renderer_factory';
to aardvark_postit/config.php
add the renderers.php from the tutorial to aardvark_postit/renderers.php
making sure to change coursecategorymenu to aardvark_postit
add $string['courses'] = 'Courses'; to aardvark_postit/lang/en/theme_aardvark_postit.php

And that was all!

Easy-Peasy!

PS: I have added renderers.php so you ca have a go. Just follow the above simple 3 steps.

Mary

renderers.php

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Richard van Iwaarden - Thursday, 16 August 2012, 6:58 PM

That works like a charm. Did I tell you already that you really rock? Well, you do!

Thanks!

[edit]

Although you still rock, I noticed that my students see all courses instead of the ones they are enrolled in. I thought they would just see the courses they are enrolled in? Did I misunderstood the use of 'my courses'?

[/edit]

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Thursday, 16 August 2012, 9:26 PM

After I uploaded that file I realised I added the wrong one. There are two. The one you want is My Courses the one I gave you was All Courses!

I'll try and do the My Courses later...OK - then you can decide which to use.

Rock on!

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Richard van Iwaarden - Friday, 17 August 2012, 7:19 PM

Take your time, school only starts next week

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Saturday, 18 August 2012, 3:59 AM

Hi...I did it!

This gives you all Courses before login and My Courses after!

But you will need to add...

$string['mycourses'] = 'My Courses';

in lang/en/theme_aardvark_postit.php

renderers.php

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Richard van Iwaarden - Saturday, 18 August 2012, 4:19 PM

Excellent! My Students will thank you forever

Perhaps one extra feature would be to leave the categories intact in this menu, like you did with all courses.

Now the menu is flat, it could also be like this:

Science

Math
Chemestry

Languages

English
German
French

Expression

Art

Just a hint to make it a little better when students have like 40 courses or so, the menu get's prety big

But nevertheless, you still rock!

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Sunday, 19 August 2012, 12:21 AM

O good...glad it works ok.

As for the changes..I will see what I can do...but no promices!

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Saturday, 18 August 2012, 6:35 PM

Mary

There seems to be a problem with this theme in two areas.

The login page doesnt show the site header/footer

If you enable tracking on an assignment, it all of a suddent becomes unaccessiable, what I mean by this is students cant click on it and it can't be edited anymore.

Thanks

Gary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Sunday, 19 August 2012, 12:35 PM

Ok it's 5.30am and I solved the login page bit I didnt like, but still having problems if I enable completion tracking.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Sunday, 19 August 2012, 10:55 PM

Hi Gary,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

The login is easy to fix, which you have probably figured out...by just changing this line in aardvark_postit/config.php

    'login' => array(
        'file' => 'login.php',
        'file' => 'default.php',
        'regions' => array(),
        'options' => array('langmenu'=>true),
    ),

The completeion tracking problem is CSS related. To fix this you need delete the Completion Tracking CSS from aardvark_postit/style/core.css

See...http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=207529

reports same problem...

Cheers

Mary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Monday, 20 August 2012, 12:19 AM

Thanks Mary, this is one of the best themes for Moodle, and easy to match to the theme I have for the new company site aswell, so hate not to use it over something like this.

Gary

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Monday, 20 August 2012, 12:24 AM

Is it working OK now?

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Gary Moncrieff - Monday, 20 August 2012, 1:54 AM

From my limiting testing since I changed it yes.

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Re: Aardvark Post-IT (Requires Moodle 2.3.1 $version 2012062501.02)

by Mary Evans - Monday, 20 August 2012, 4:30 AM

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