Some adjustments to more clearly see Ask a Question in Q & A 1.2.1 (new discussion button).

peregrine · May 2014

The Big Button option part A

add this to class.qna.plugin.php

public function DiscussionsController_Render_Before($Sender) {
      if (C('Plugins.QnA.UseBigButtons')) {
         $QuestionModule = new NewQuestionModule($Sender, 'plugins/QnA');
         $Sender->AddModule($QuestionModule);
      }

      if ($Sender->Data('Discussion.Type') == 'Question') {
         $Sender->SetData('_CommentsHeader', T('Answers'));
      }
   }

above this

   /**
    * Add 'Ask a Question' button if using BigButtons.
    */

add these lines to your config.php

$Configuration['Plugins']['QnA']['UseBigButtons'] = TRUE;

$Configuration['Modules']['Vanilla']['Panel'] = array('MeModule', 'UserBoxModule', 'GuestModule', 'NewDiscussionModule', 'NewQuestionModule','DiscussionFilterModule', 'SignedInModule', 'Ads');

you should now see a big button Ask a Question directly below the "New Discussion button".

maybe this will help you guys

@AbhinavG @MasterOne @der_k @JanHoos

in reference to

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/26809/q-a-plugin-not-working

peregrine · May 2014

The big Button Option Part B

you also need to change QnA/modules/class.newquestionmodule.php

from

echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), '/post/discussion?Type=Question', 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');

to

echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), '/post/question', 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');

peregrine · May 2014

Either do the steps above in the previous two comment or this below

Drop Down Option (not the additional Big Button

The discussion - new question scroll down option with dropdown menu on add discussion

Another option if you don't want to use big buttons but have a scroll down like the current vanilla site.

you would change class.qna.plugin.php (uncomment it essentially)

from

//   public function Base_BeforeNewDiscussionButton_Handler($Sender) {
//      $NewDiscussionModule = &$Sender->EventArguments['NewDiscussionModule'];
//
//      $Category = Gdn::Controller()->Data('Category.UrlCode');
//      if ($Category)
//         $Category = '/'.rawurlencode($Category);
//      else
//         $Category = '';
//
//      $NewDiscussionModule->AddButton(T('Ask a Question'), 'post/question'.$Category);
//  }

to

   public function Base_BeforeNewDiscussionButton_Handler($Sender) {
      $NewDiscussionModule = &$Sender->EventArguments['NewDiscussionModule'];

      $Category = Gdn::Controller()->Data('Category.UrlCode');
      if ($Category)
         $Category = '/'.rawurlencode($Category);
      else
         $Category = '';

      $NewDiscussionModule->AddButton(T('Ask a Question'), 'post/question'.$Category);
  }

peregrine · May 2014

BTW. this was tested in vanilla 2.1

and one needs to cut and paste correctly. If your cutting and pasting skills are not honed, you may have troubles.

you may need to use the older version of plugin for 2.0.18.x

peregrine · May 2014

To debug, if you get a white screen or a bonk, or a whoops, or try back later

add this line to your conf/config.php

$Configuration['Debug'] = TRUE;

in your conf/config.php to reveal full error messages.

you can set it to FALSE if you are done debugging.

JanHoos · May 2014

Awesome! It works like a charm. I went for the double button option to make sure my users won't be able to mis it

peregrine · May 2014

thx. Awesome. always good to get at least one person who can use the mods and provide positive feedback.

MasterOne · May 2014

@peregrine, thanks a lot, of course it can't work if commented out. Just uncommenting those lines and the drop down is back.

AbhinavG · May 2014

@peregrine‌ , thanks . @MasterOne‌ , just uncommenting those lines fixes the plugin ?

peregrine · May 2014

@peregrine‌ , thanks . @MasterOne‌ , just uncommenting those lines fixes the plugin ?

yes for the dropdown box option. http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/208152/#Comment_208152

if you want buttons - then you use the first option parts a and b

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/26902/some-adjustments-to-more-clearly-see-ask-a-question-in-q-a-1-2-1-new-discussion-button/p1 first two posts.

you have to be using 2.1 and you might need to make the other fix if you get a fatal error when trying to enable the plugin prior to making modifications.

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/207522/#Comment_207522

Ionmarcu · May 2014

Problem solved here using the copy paste steps, thank you

peregrine · May 2014

revision of comment...

this may work better.. (for setting category button automatically, when "Asking a Question" within a category)

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/comment/208151/#Comment_208151

The big Button Option Part B (revised)

you also need to change QnA/modules/class.newquestionmodule.php

~~from~~

~~echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), '/post/discussion?Type=Question', 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');~~

to

~~echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), '/post/question', 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');~~

this may work better..

change from

   public function ToString() {
      $HasPermission = Gdn::Session()->CheckPermission('Vanilla.Discussions.Add', TRUE, 'Category', 'any');
      if ($HasPermission)
         echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), '/post/question', 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');
   }
}

to

       public function ToString() {
          $HasPermission = Gdn::Session()->CheckPermission('Vanilla.Discussions.Add', TRUE, 'Category', 'any');

      $Category = Gdn::Controller()->Data('Category.UrlCode');
          if ($Category)
             $Category = '/'.rawurlencode($Category);
          else
             $Category = '';
     if ($HasPermission)
             echo Anchor(T('Ask a Question'), 'post/question'. $Category, 'Button BigButton NewQuestion');
       }
    }

r0obert · May 2014

@peregrine said:

Either do the steps above in the previous two comment or this below

Drop Down Option (not the additional Big Button

The discussion - new question scroll down option with dropdown menu on add discussion

Another option if you don't want to use big buttons but have a scroll down like the current vanilla site.

Perfect, works like a charm! The drop-down option is the sexiest one by far, thanks @peregrine !

deelaka6 · September 2014

can u tel me in where this code add in to class.pna

public function DiscussionsController_Render_Before($Sender) {
if (C('Plugins.QnA.UseBigButtons')) {
$QuestionModule = new NewQuestionModule($Sender, 'plugins/QnA');
$Sender->AddModule($QuestionModule);
}
if ($Sender->Data('Discussion.Type') == 'Question') {
$Sender->SetData('_CommentsHeader', T('Answers'));
}
}

peregrine · September 2014

@deelaka6 said:
can u tel me in where this code add in to class.pna

https://github.com/vanilla/addons/blob/master/plugins/QnA/class.qna.plugin.php#L940

rotaecho · December 2014

Big Button method A & B worked for me with 2.1.6 and plugin 1.2.1. I didn't attempt the other method, as I wanted the buttons.

Vanillaplus · August 2015

@peregrine Please tell me how to change the order of these 2 buttons?

peregrine · August 2015

@Vanillaplus said:
peregrine Please tell me how to change the order of these 2 buttons?

via module sorting in config.php

$Configuration['Modules']['Vanilla']['Panel'] = array('MeModule', 'UserBoxModule', 'GuestModule', 'NewQuestionModule', 'NewDiscussionModule', 'DiscussionFilterModule', 'SignedInModule', 'Ads');

vs.

$Configuration['Modules']['Vanilla']['Panel'] = array('MeModule', 'UserBoxModule', 'GuestModule', 'NewDiscussionModule', 'NewQuestionModule', 'DiscussionFilterModule', 'SignedInModule', 'Ads');

there are numerous discussions on module sorting, a tutorial on sorting in tutorials category and a plugin that does module sorting.

see FAQ question 28

http://vanillaforums.org/discussion/28420/faq-what-frequently-asked-questions/p1

unfortunately the FAQ is not in the Tutorials category, but you will have to live with it until it is moved.

Vanillaplus · August 2015

@peregrine It's working.. thank you..!

collents · May 2016

This works thanks, I got the 2 buttons showing and the separate "Ask a Question" button knows which category it's in when it's clicked (as explained in your revised comment here) but I still have the little drop down arrow in the "New Discussion" button.

Is there any way to show the top button without the drop down arrow if you have a separate Question button?

As a suggestion for a future update What I would actually prefer is a normal discussion button with a pair of yes/no radio buttons underneath defaulting to "no", with some text asking if it is a question, like this:

I think the users on my particular forum will get confused about which button to click (and I'll get fed up trying to explain it to them) but they'll soon get the hang of choosing "Yes" if they want to be able to select the best answers.

collents · May 2016

On reflection I decided I didn't like those 2 big buttons up there so I've gone with this for the time being - I just changed the button text to make it a bit more apparent that there were more options hiding behind the arrow.

I'm ashamed to say that was a bit of a hack for my own benefit - it would be good to know if there is a safe way to change that button text?

I'd still prefer an arrow-less button with some radio buttons or an option slider below it, as in my post above.

Thanks again for the Q&A plug-in... it's a huge help for what we're trying to do with our community.

Some adjustments to more clearly see Ask a Question in Q &amp; A 1.2.1 (new discussion button).

The Big Button option part A

Comments

The big Button Option Part B

Either do the steps above in the previous two comment or this below

Drop Down Option (not the additional Big Button

The big Button Option Part B (revised)

Either do the steps above in the previous two comment or this below

Drop Down Option (not the additional Big Button

Some adjustments to more clearly see Ask a Question in Q & A 1.2.1 (new discussion button).