We have been asked about this a number of times and now it's becoming a real demand. Simply put the question is "Is there a way for visitors to the website to quickly see where there is updated content?"
That means, a module that could go maybe on the home page, automatically updated, whenever a module somewhere on the site has been updated. I will cover off the requirements in more detail later but for now, here's how the conversation went today (3-Oct-2011) on Twitter:
@JSheely
@JohnJRoyle Not that I'm aware of. But that would be an easy module to write. You could also use modules out there like OWS to do it. #dnn
@Codemypantsoff
@JohnJRoyle - there used to be a whats new module
http://bit.ly/mQ3jl6
@JohnJRoyle - i think its so specaialized that its hard to build - each module would have to have a query to tell whats new in its tables
@JohnJRoyle - yeah - i dont think it would be 'hard' just hard to think of all modules a site might have
@TimoBreumelhof
@JohnJRoyle There used to be the "What's new" module, I think it's still on codeplex somewhere no idea if it still works...
@noikiko
@TimoBreumelhof @JohnJRoyle realy missing this as an api of some sort that moduledevelopers can implement, we used db triggers
@TimoBreumelhof
@nokiko @JohnJRoyle Agree this should be made available somehow..
OK so this is interesting and clearly not yet addressed properly.
Here's our initial requirements list for a 'What's New' module.
- Should pick up updates on modules (understand that it might only be text/html modules but that is a restriction we live with in other areas). Obviously with click through.
- Templating/token capability to provide flexibility. E.g. Page Name, Module Title, date updated, by whom.
- Time horizon. I.e. how far back does it look for updates.
- How many updates to display.
- Would be nice to have a page/module inclusion/exclusion function (ie, include/exclude updates from these pages or modules)
- Would be nice to have a 'sort by' function.
- Page or Module logos would be nice.
So, who can make this happen? We'd be happy to provide some seed funding and see it go back into the community.
If you are interested, get in touch.
Best wishes,
John
John.royle@glanton.com