Managing articles, books and other references

[marccouture]

I'm looking for ideas to build a module that would help users manage lists of paper articles, books, and other such references using WB.  I've searched for this and while many so-called "reference managers" exist, they are all way too complex.  All I need is a simple way to build a flat-file, sortable database that includes the following fields in each entry (APA style):

- Author(s)
- Article or book Title
- Year of publication
- Edition (or "revision")
- Place of publication
- Publishing entity
- Summary description

Requirements:

- All fields must offer the possibility of WYSIWYG editing (using the standard WYSIWYG editor installed)
- Admins and editors should be able to manage which fields are optional or required in each entry (same as with the form module)
- The list output must be sortable, using existing fields, and preferably more than one field at once
- Listings should be searchable, using simple keywords or keyword entries in field boxes
- If possible, lists should be exportable in text format, following APA citation guidelines (for example, as outlined here: http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/apa/APA05.html).

Basically, I want a WB module that looks and behaves the same way as a flat-file database I could build in, maybe, 10 minutes using Filemaker Pro on my PC or Mac computer... or again under Moodle using its "database activity" module (if WB had this, it would help many others build their own applications).

That's it.  I thought of using an existing module and hacking the %$/?""! out of it (starting with the "bookmarks" module, for example), but it seems to be much more complicated than starting from scratch...

I am willing to pay for the development of such a module (total budget available: about 250$), and once done, provide the module to the WB community under the GPL licence.  If you are interested, PM me.

Thanks.

[Luckyluke]

Hoi,

Did you take a look at the address module from Aldus?
Maybe you can change some items like "street" to "place of publication" etc?
-->  http://www.websitebaker2.org/forum/index.php/topic,10934.0.html

Grts,
Luc

[erpe]

Hi,

I think there are some more possibilities.

Look at the category modules/listings at AMASP and try members, catalog, mediablog and some more. Beneath that, the amazon shop might bring a good solution.

rgds

erpe

[pcwacht]

I would start with the form module, it has the most essentiel keys elements you need
making fields and determine their type.

Then start modding the form's view.php so it will show in the backend so you can use it to enter/edit data
The save routines etc just need some tinkering to make the data go where you want it

Then the new view.php needs to be created, so it will show the list and detail pages. Look for the news module to get the idea.

Have fun,
John

[marccouture]

Sent you a PM, john, thanks for the tip.  As I mentioned in my message, more I think about it, the more I believe the module should actually be a modified version of the "form" module to help WB admins build flat-file databases, in the same style that is done under Moodle ("Database Activity"), in simplified form of course (no need for all the controls available in Moodle, just the parts where you can mix and match fields and output templates).

For more info, go here: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Database_module

Here is a video tutorial on the module itself: http://treadwell.cce.cornell.edu/moodle_doc/database_moodle/index.html

Cheers!

[marccouture]

Not sure if this is relevant to chio's recent thread on managing articles, but since I am looking outside of WB to implement this for a project I am working on (at least for the time being), anyone interested in working on this would be great.  Thanks!

[pcwacht]

What I would do

1 - modify form module so fields etc would go to admin only section
2 - form->view (normal frontend) to backend to create/modify/delete records
3 - use some class like phpmyedit or datagrid or simular to show data on frontend
(with the latter it is allso possible to add/modify/delete records, thus protectingbackend for webusers)

Could help but am in total lack of time, still no 48 hours a day these days.
with 1 and 2, have something working somewhere, think 2 versions, if you can read and modify code your welcome to get a copy, must warn though there are some bugs there.
with 3 am using datagrid 4.2.x (wich still works with php4) at work.
for 3 one could allso create ones own output


John

[marccouture]

Anything you have at hand, I'll use.  I appreciate your taking time to reply, I know how it is when you have a regular job and work on side projects as well, LOL.

[pcwacht]

k will hunt all local and all work drives and pm.

[pcwacht]

mailed you.

[marccouture]

Super, I'll keep you posted on my progress.  Cheers!

[pcwacht]

Yes please, do!

Am curious to see what you come up with.