My big RANT about editing resources in MODx. (There has to be a better way!)

As an addendum to my previous post, I should note that any external software used to accomplish something like this, though interesting and potentially handy, is outside of the scope of the MODx project IMO. OpenGeek’s revelation in this thread about upcoming virtual resources is a much more sensible solution for the community.

Quote from: OpenGeek at Oct 15, 2007, 02:52 PM

As for the future, built-in to 0.9.7, you will be able to maintain virtual resources that look like current MODx documents in your tree, but point at physical file resources on the filesystem to make this technique easier to manage and use.

1) is this feature already there and working in the current 0.9.7 branch?

2) I have to start a site: do you think I could start it using version 0.9.7 or is it too much unstable/incomplete/non-working now? Is it so much different from 0.9.6 that I will not able to handle it without the docs and the forum support? (given I know the 0.9.6 pretty well)

3) upgrading from the current 0.9.7 to the released 0.9.7 (when it will be) would be easier or same than upgrading from 0.9.6, or not?

Thanks for eventual replies.

Here’s some info originally sent via PM, but probably would benefit everyone thinking about 097 and wanting an idea on its status.

My initial gut reaction is that it’s probably a little bit early to build in SVN 097 without having total understanding of how to fix bugs for it. But similarly, we really need folks pushing the boundaries and testing in 097 to get it to the point that it is ready for broader public consumption. I personally would love to see folks testing, submitting fix patches to Trac and helping in this respect. (See Trac active tickets: http://svn.modxcms.com/trac/tattoo/report/1 )

Static resources (files on the filesystem mapped as content in MODx) are working, but I don’t think the UI for managing them is ready. I’ve been meaning to get the UI done so the real developers can implement it, but food-on-the-table jobs keep getting in the way.

There will also be other areas that will break at this stage, and others that will likely be re-factored requiring some manual command-line upgrades that won’t be remotely as smooth if you’re accustomed to the 096 upgrade process.

In short, we really need to have folks contributing towards 097 via documentation/tutorials, submitting patches to fix things, porting resources over to the new API as needed, and finish implementing those little corners of the manager that aren’t quite done. Personally, I’ve always found it easer to test and break thing by building real sites. Maybe some folks would be willing to "build in parallel" on 096x and 097x and help us make it a better experience in the 097-area.

Any takers?

I’m up for it. I already built one small site in 0.9.7 and verified that SPForm works (except for the veriword functions -- still working on that).

I’m on the road now and using a laptop with limited resources. I’ll have to try install XAMPP on it and get cranking sometime next week. If HP ever gets my big laptop working and gets it back to me, I’ll be in business for sure.

[off topic]
If you ever have trouble with an HP computer, just shoot yourself in the head (or throw it away) rather than sending it to HP for repair. Two months and no end in sight.
[/off topic]

Bob

Quote from: OpenGeek at Oct 15, 2007, 02:52 PM

As for the future, built-in to 0.9.7, you will be able to maintain virtual resources that look like current MODx documents in your tree, but point at physical file resources on the filesystem to make this technique easier to manage and use.

What’s the progress on virtual resources feature?

1) Is it currently available in some version of modx Evolution?
2) Is it currently available in some version of modx Revolution?
3) Will it be available in some version of modx Evolution?
4) Will it be available in some version of modx Revolution?

I know it’s something hard to get done, but again... are we able to use it now in some way, or how much time we should wait yet?

Quote from: insert_nick at Sep 21, 2009, 05:44 PM

1) Is it currently available in some version of modx Evolution?

No.

2) Is it currently available in some version of modx Revolution?

Yes. They are called "Static Resources". They’re available in the latest beta, and in SVN.

Quote from: splittingred at Sep 21, 2009, 05:59 PM

Yes. They are called "Static Resources". They’re available in the latest beta, and in SVN.

Sorry but I’m still not convinced: in Revo’s docs wiki, I read:

What is a Static Resource?

A Static Resource is a Resource abstraction of an actual file on the filesystem. You can point a Static Resource to any file on your webserver; this allows you to manage these Resources externally.

But, there it’s not clear if those Static Resources are the answer to the rant of the first post. That is, say, can I edit a file which is "mapped" to a chunk, or a document, or a snippet, etc.? The problem here is having to deal with edits of the database (through the manager ui) while we would like to edit files mapping stuff stored in the database (and use, for example, svn).

Quote from: insert_nick at Sep 21, 2009, 06:36 PM

Sorry but I’m still not convinced: in Revo’s docs wiki, I read:

What is a Static Resource?

A Static Resource is a Resource abstraction of an actual file on the filesystem. You can point a Static Resource to any file on your webserver; this allows you to manage these Resources externally.

But, there it’s not clear if those Static Resources are the answer to the rant of the first post. That is, say, can I edit a file which is "mapped" to a chunk, or a document, or a snippet, etc.? The problem here is having to deal with edits of the database (through the manager ui) while we would like to edit files mapping stuff stored in the database (and use, for example, svn).

You can do so for Static Resources. They just point to a file on the filesystem. You can choose whatever editor you want to edit them. Elements (chunks, templates, etc), however, are not yet able to be static. They will be by Revolution 2.1.

Quote from: splittingred at Sep 21, 2009, 06:51 PM

Elements (chunks, templates, etc), however, are not yet able to be static. They will be by Revolution 2.1.

Ok, that’s fine.
A pity we can’t have full coverage in Revolution 2.0 already.
But I’ll wait faithully.

Quote from: insert_nick at Sep 22, 2009, 03:54 AM

Ok, that’s fine.
A pity we can’t have full coverage in Revolution 2.0 already.
But I’ll wait faithully.

I’m sure with more help that could happen in 2.0 release...