Noticeboard format

Course formats ::: format_noticebd
Maintained by Gareth J BarnardGareth J Barnard, Marty Jacobs
A topic based course format with the latest post in the news forum displayed at the top.

Noticeboard format 2.9.1

Moodle 2.9
Released: Friday, 5 June 2015, 12:50 AM

Introduction

Topic based course format with the latest post in the news forum displayed at the top.

Required version of Moodle

This version works with Moodle version 2015051100.00 2.9 (Build: 20150511) and above within the 2.9 branch until the next release.

Please ensure that your hardware and software complies with 'Requirements' in 'Installing Moodle' on 'docs.moodle.org/29/en/Installing_Moodle'.

Supporting Noticeboard development

If you find Noticeboard useful and beneficial, please consider donating by:

PayPal - Please contact me via my 'Moodle profile' (above) for details as I am an individual and therefore am unable to have 'donation' / 'buy me now' buttons under their terms.

Flattr - https://flattr.com/profile/gjb2048

I develop and maintain for free and any donations to assist me in this endeavour are appreciated

Installation

  1. Ensure you have the version of Moodle as stated above in 'Installation Requirements'. This is essential as the format relies on underlying core code.
  2. If upgrading from a previous version of the format for Moodle 1.9 or 2.0 you should remove the old 'nb' folder in '/course/format' and continue.
  3. If upgrading from the Moodle 2.3 version, make a backup of the old files in the 'noticebd' folder, clear it out and replace with all the files in this version.
  4. Put Moodle in 'Maintenance Mode' on 'docs.moodle.org/en/admin/setting/maintenancemode' so that there are no users using it bar you as the administrator - if you have not already done so.
  5. Copy 'noticebd' to '/course/format/'.
  6. Login as an administrator and follow standard the 'plugin' update notification. If needed, go to 'Site administration' -> 'Notifications' if this does not happen.
  7. Put Moodle out of Maintenance Mode.

Uninstallation

  1. Put Moodle in 'Maintenance Mode' so that there are no users using it bar you as the administrator.
  2. It is recommended but not essential to change all of the courses that use the format to another. If this is not done Moodle will pick the last format in your list of formats but display in 'Edit settings' of the course the first format in the list. You can then set the desired format.
  3. In '/course/format/' remove the folder 'noticebd'.
  4. Put Moodle out of Maintenance Mode.

Usage

  1. When creating a new course, select the course format as 'Noticeboard format' from the list of available options.
  2. To change an existing course, edit the course settings (http://docs.moodle.org/29/en/course/edit) and select the 'Noticeboard format' from the list of available options.

Notes

  1. Only administrators can add, edit and remove activities and resources (whilst in the format) from the general section (section 0), as to prevent accidental deletion of the 'news' forum upon which the format relies. If it is deleted, then a page refresh will recreate the forum but all previous posts will be lost.
  2. Any title and summary that has been previously set for the general section will not be shown.

Version Information

Version 2.9.1. 1. First version for Moodle 2.9.

16th November 2014 Version 2.8.1 1. Stable version for Moodle 2.8.

10th November 2014 Version 2.8.0.1 - Release Candidate 1. Release candidate for Moodle 2.8 - NOT for production servers.

20th May 2014 Version 2.7.1 - Stable. 1. Stable release for M2.7.

23rd April 2014 Version 2.7.0.1 - BETA 1. First beta version for Moodle 2.7beta.

18th November 2013 Version 2.6.1 1. Stable release for Moodle 2.6.

14th November 2013 Version 2.6.0.1 1. Initial BETA code for Moodle 2.6. 2. Changes for 'Accessibility' based upon MDL-41252. 3. Implemented MDL-21097.

14th May 2013 Version 2.5.1 - Stable 1. First stable version for Moodle 2.5 stable.

12th May 2013 - Version 2.5.0.2 - Beta 1. Changes for MDL-39542. 2. Updated 'print_multiple_section_page' from base class.

8th May 2013 - Version 2.5.0.1 - BETA 1. First beta for Moodle 2.5beta. 2. Removed '.jumpmenu' from styles.css because of MDL-38907. 3. Added automatic 'Purge all caches' when upgrading. If this appears not to work by lack of display etc. then perform a manual 'Purge all caches' under 'Home -> Site administration -> Development -> Purge all caches'.

24th February 2013 - Version 2.4.1.2 1. Changes because of MDL-37976. 2. Changes because of MDL-37901.

21st January 2013 - Version 2.4.1.1 1. Changes to 'renderer.php' because of MDL-36095 hence requiring Moodle version 2012120301.02 release 2.4.1+ (Build: 20130118) and above.

7th November 2012 - Version 2.4.1 - STABLE 1. Updated 'version.php' to indicate that the format is stable after testing.

6th December 2012 - Version 2.4.0.1 - BETA 1. First rewrite version for Moodle 2.3.2 at 'Beta' for user acceptance testing.

4th November 2012 - Version 2.3.1 - STABLE 1. Updated 'version.php' to indicate that the format is stable after testing.

1st November 2012 - Version 2.3.0.2 - BETA 1. Added styles in 'styles.css' to tidy up layout in different standard themes and IE8.

25th October 2012 - Version 2.3.0.1 - BETA 1. First rewrite version for Moodle 2.3.2 at 'Beta' for user acceptance testing.

License

This file is part of Moodle - http://moodle.org/

Moodle is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Moodle is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with Moodle. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.

Credits

Credit goes to the original creator of the format 'Marty Jacobs' (moodle.org/user/view.php?id=95155) who originally published the format on 'moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=13&rid=1717'. I have rewritten and redistributed the format under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 (www.gnu.org/licenses/) which applies to all code written for Moodle.

Rewrite funding gratefully received from 'Schools of Isolated and Distance Education' (www.side.wa.edu.au).

G J Barnard MSc. BSc(Hons)(Sndw). MBCS. CEng. CITP. PGCE. Moodle profile: moodle.org/user/profile.php?id=442195. Web profile : about.me/gjbarnard

Version information

Version build number
2015051100
Version release name
2.9.1
Can be updated from
2.8.1 (2014111600)
Can be updated to
3.0.1 (2015122201)
Maturity
Stable version
MD5 Sum
6b1d969d1c323642c472c11aa94c08d0
Supported software
Moodle 2.9
  • Latest release for Moodle 2.9

Version control information

Version control system (VCS)
GIT
VCS repository URL
VCS branch
master
VCS tag
V2.9.1

Default installation instructions for plugins of the type Course formats

  1. Make sure you have all the required versions.
  2. Download and unpack the module.
  3. Place the folder (eg "myformat") in the "course/format" subdirectory.
  4. Visit http://yoursite.com/admin to finish the installation