Moodle Plugins directory: Collapsed Topics | Moodle.org
Collapsed Topics
An interchangeable topic or week (day for 2.3.1+) based format that solves the issue of the 'Scroll of Death' when a course has many topics / weeks. All sections except zero have a toggle that displays that section. One or more sections can be displayed at any given time. Toggles are persistent on a per browser session per course basis but can be made to persist longer by a small code change. Full installation instructions, code adapt-ions and credits are included in the 'Readme.md' file.
If you have a course with more than fifty two sections then currently the toggle persistence will not work for the fifty third section and above. Then you need to upgrade to the Moodle 2.5 version+.
Support:
The format comes with NO support. Please see the 'Support' section in 'Readme.md' file that comes with the format. This is because the format is complex and I regret that I don't have the time / resources to freely assist with questions pertaining to specific enhancements / changes / knowledge improvement.
I will investigate genuine bugs and issue fixes in a timescale set by myself. When reporting issues you MUST clearly state the full version and release of both Moodle and the Collapsed Topics format as contained within their 'version.php' files - if not it takes me longer to figure out, often resulting in me asking for the details anyway and slowing the process of solving your problem down. It really helps to read the 'Reporting Issues' section in the 'Readme.md' file and upload and describe in detail the issue you are having on the 'Course formats' forum.
Book:
NEW: 'The Complete Guide to Collapsed Topics' (and 'Blurb') book is now available, covering: installation, upgrade, uninstallation, course and global features, resetting, capabilities, language strings, overriding icons / styles in a theme and adding a new icon set.
NOTE: The latest version incorporates functionality to support new UK / EU Cookie Law which is implemented as a user acceptance in the 1.9 version and no 'cookie' is used at all in 2.x versions.
Screen casts:
Privacy API support starts with V3.3.1.2 for M3.3 and V3.4.0.2 for M3.4 where the API has been implemented in the minor release of Moodle.
Screenshots
They are set to white because the toggle section background default colour is set to blue, being #1177d1.
Gareth
This is a wonderful plugin with too many good settings. I have used it for many years; in Moodle 3.11 it was fine with no issues; now I installed in Moodle 4.1 & Moodle 4.3, each with it's own version of the plugin, but in both columns are only show in 2 columns even if I change the setting to anything else, tried with resetting everything, but did not work at all.
Is these anything I can do to fix it?
On the other hand, how possible is to make a section has the column setting, so that one section for example may have 2 columns and another section may have 1 column and so on.
Also when referring to another course format under structure, could it be possible to an addition that allows using another course format other than the default? As when installing another course format.
Thanks,
If its restricted to two columns then likely you're viewing the course on a mobile / tablet device. The format detects and enforces a max of two columns.
Section column setting = difficult.
Gareth
Object { message: "Exception - Call to undefined method format_topics::get_shown_sections()", errorcode: "generalexceptionmessage", backtrace: "* line 94 of /course/format/topcoll/classes/external/get_state.php: Error thrown\n* line 2159 of /course/format/topcoll/lib.php: call to format_topcoll\\external\\get_state::execute()\n* line 243 of /lib/external/classes/external_api.php: call to format_topcoll_override_webservice_execution()\n* line 83 of /lib/ajax/service.php: call to core_external\\external_api::call_external_function()\n", link: "https://pktest.amu.edu.pl/moodle/course/view.php?id=5", moreinfourl: "https://docs.moodle.org/405/en/error/moodle/generalexceptionmessage", debuginfo: "\nError code: generalexceptionmessage" }
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backtrace: "* line 94 of /course/format/topcoll/classes/external/get_state.php: Error thrown\n* line 2159 of /course/format/topcoll/lib.php: call to format_topcoll\\external\\get_state::execute()\n* line 243 of /lib/external/classes/external_api.php: call to format_topcoll_override_webservice_execution()\n* line 83 of /lib/ajax/service.php: call to core_external\\external_api::call_external_function()\n"
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debuginfo: "\nError code: generalexceptionmessage"
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errorcode: "generalexceptionmessage"
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link: "https://pktest.amu.edu.pl/moodle/course/view.php?id=5"
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message: "Exception - Call to undefined method format_topics::get_shown_sections()"
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moreinfourl: "https://docs.moodle.org/405/en/error/moodle/generalexceptionmessage"
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It would be great to get a fix out for this asap. Thanks.
Thanks for the reports. I've hidden the versions for now and intend to put out a fix when I can.
Kind regards,
Gareth
You can always revert back to the previous version by clearing the 'allversionshash' - though this comes with risk, so really a test server thing only.
G
For anyone stuck, you can either download the zip file OR visit your moodle's Site administration -> Server -> Update notifications page and drop the value to "Release Candidate".
I disagree. The maturity in the plugins database and the 'version.php' file needs to match otherwise there is a value discrepancy for the same thing. The value of 'Release Candidate' is correct in both respects and indicates the state of the code as published. If I were to state it was stable and not a release candidate then that would be misleading for those wanting only 'stable' plugins on their system, a lie.
The 'Readme' file has stated since the 10th of August 2012 "Ensure you have the version of Moodle as stated above in 'Required version of Moodle'. This is essential as the format relies on underlying core code that is out of my control." for both installing and upgrading. Thus to be considered as a part of your upgrade planning and procedure.
Kind regards,
Gareth
The UI of the plugin's database is out of my control. However, clicking on a release tells you information about it, including the maturity towards the bottom, such as https://moodle.org/plugins/format_topcoll/502.0.1/41282 under 'Version information'. I almost always make a release post on the Courses and Course formats forum -> https://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=47 - in there I stipulate the maturity and have been doing so for quite some time. For example: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=473955.
Kind regards,
Gareth