Re: greetings...

hey scott, thanks for responding so quickly and verbosely.  allow me to
respond in turn.

On Mon, 2002-09-09 at 13:15, Scott Kindley wrote:
> Welcome!
> 
> 
> 
> You can control blocks on a per module basis...but this is not being
> implemented until about 1.0.2 or so...I have played with the system and
> it is indeed brings a new level of control not found in any other CMS.
> 

yeah, i just noticed that functionality will be implemented with the
NoMoreBlocks module.  i'm eager to see it's final inclusion in 1.0.2. 
Powerful shit.  kudos!

> Encompass does utilize templates. They are the .tpl files.

i read the customization guide you wrote, however i was dead tired when
i did so i might have missed the part that detailed how modules and
blocks utilize .tpl's.  is there indeed a section on that document which
covers how to do this?

 
> I can write up a doc claiming that "X" system will do this, and do that.
> However until the "talk" ceases and results are produced it is
> speculation at best.
> 
> The only known publicly available installation of PN .8 utilizing
> Blocklayout is available at (according to rumor that is):
> 
> http://mikespub.net/pn_800/index.php
> 
> If it indeed does utilize BL then it does not live up to even one one
> gabillionth of the hype that surrounded it's announcement some 5-6
> months ago. In fact it still uses the traditional three column layout
> and does not do anything special that can't already be done with
> Envolution (or PostNuke for that matter back to the .64 days) in terms
> of layout.

can't argue with that.  i'm still waiting to hear from people involved
with its development on the current status of its implementation.  also,
with both postnuke and projectx both pursuing the development of
blocklayout, i'm confused on how all that's going to work.  i don't see
how postnuke can continue development on it if all the core developers
left.  

> 
> One of the BL creators does not even run his own BL code on his personal
> website:
> 
> http://www.thedragonsforge.com/

yeah, i believe he bailed on postnuke, didn't he?

> 
> I don't even see anything remotely unique about the "project X" folks
> website either..in fact as of today at 1430 EST I don't see where it
> runs ANY CMS let alone BL.
> 
> http://www.dinerminor.com/

nobody really knows what these guys are up to, as it appears that they
are in a sort of stealth mode.  i had no intention of waiting for their
release anyway.  i don't have that kind of time on my hands.  

> 
> So the approach you have mentioned is nothing more than a concept which
> is STILL not feasible today...and there is no indication, short of words
> on a api file, that it can be in the future.

well i won't argue the feasibility of it, considering my limited
knowledge of the platform.  however, i'm inclined to believe that it
would be feasible had there not been all the drama.  but feasibility
isn't my concern, availability is.

> 
> However on a more positive note you can break the three column layout
> with the current Envolution solution. You can have as many columns as
> you would like...we even ship an inside block location which is unique
> to Encompass/Envolution. 

yeah, i figured out that much.  it's what aroused my curiosity about
your product in the first place. 

> 
> You can choose to have no columns, 3 columns, 2 columns, 10 columns, 100
> columns or whatever you decide..all you have to do is create the
> template to implement it and assign it a zone. Zones are the locations
> on the page and the templates are the HTML that appear in the zone. You
> can create new zones as well...as many or few as you require..the
> limitation is your own ability and creativity.
> 
> However, the three column paradigm is a standard for good reason. Think
> about it a little. Television screens are square or rectangular in
> shape. I presume one could manufacture a totally round TV screen if they
> wanted....but short of niche markets would the general population
> receive it well...or even want it??
> ...

i appreciate the metaphorical lesson in UI design, but it wasn't all
that necessary. luckily, sarcasm doesn't offend me and i actually
laughed.

> Let's bring it back a little closer to internet related things for a
> moment.
> 
> ...

while i'm in agreement with everything you mentioned in regards to
content format and delivery, you didn't take into consideration that
there instances when design elements, a horizontal bar for example, span
the width of two or more columns in places other than the header or
footer.  such is the case with the project i'm currently working on. 
the UI is broken down into two main columns, but there are some design
elements that need to span both of them.  follow me?  i also have a
footer that spans both columns, and it must also contain 3 separate
blocks as well.  my point is, you have to take into consideration that
there is a lot of room for creativity, even within the constraints of
published standards.

> Ask away!

got any plans for establishing and documenting an internal development
process, coding standards, QA process, etc?  listening to users and
implementing feature requests is good, but how will the burden of doing
so be managed?  how will priority be established?  it's understandable
if you don't have those answers yet, it's a new team.  but what's your
general feeling on how it will all work?

> Sure what uname did you subscribe as??? Email me privately and I will
> fix this for you if you still have not received it.
> 
> 

on it's way...again, thanks for your response.  i'll be installing
envolution later on today.  i'm sure i'll have lots to say about it. 
until then!

cheers,
josh