Hi Cliff.

It isn't out yet. I just selected that by mistake. I'm using 1.9.

My main perception of AS is that with just a few extra bells and whistles my entire world will change for the better. It's very impressive software/modules and I by no means can develop something on my own as complex. 

However, UI has to be the prime consideration. Sometimes developers get tunnel vision and have to step back and pretend as if they're a new community member joining a website. It needs to have more of a "Walk you by the hand" feel. Little things like the "Edit Profile Picture" page doesn't have a "I'm Finished" or "Back To Profile" button. I integrated this myself, but it's amazing how little things left out can throw people off.

For example... Personally I'm familiar with breadcrumbs, menus, using the back button on the browser, etc. But when I get a family member or friend on the website to kick the tires, the little things that hang them up with confusion is astounding. 

We need to look at Apple as a good example, and the ease of use found within their products. They focus on end-user functionality and make it as clean, crisp, simple, and easy as possible to use.

Since this thread is about the UMG integration, UMG offers a lot of image/media flexibility that would be wonderful if implemented 100% within AS. Right now it simply posts to the journal. What I'd like to see is UMG literally woven within AS.

DNNCorp should highly consider adopting this as a mutual project with Pengtsen/Bizmodules and compile a new release with UMG, UVG, and even the Article module all completely integrated within AS, possibly even without purchasing a bunch of separate modules. 

Bizmodules by far offers the greatest media/video solution for DNN.

I hope DNNCorp/AM takes off with this idea.

Just my thoughts.

- Patrick

I've invited Pengtsen to this thread. I hope to see some feedback from him within a day or so.

I'm glad to see you are interested in this integration.

Regarding to the journal security when UMG post jounral entires to Active Social, currently UMG use "2" as the security option, I'm not sure how it means because I'm not familiar active social, however, you can change it if necessary.

To do this, find JournalSecurity node in UMGDefaults.xml, make changes and restart your website.

I would like to notify you at first a major change in the latest version of UMG before giving you any suggestions, UMG 8.1 allows you to integrate with AS in 2 ways:
1, post as a journal entry, as designed by active modules. in this case the JournalSecurity option discussed above takes effect.
2, actually adds the image(must be a image, other kinds of medias will not work), in this case UMG calls the AddPhoto method which is not directly exposed by active social, the photo should be displayed as the photo was uploaded in active social itself.


I noticed some peoples mentioned another kind of integration, they expect to manage photos in UMG, but get UMG displayed in a tab of active social, I didn't do this before but I guess the Profile Integration mode should be able to do this, if someone setup it in this way but it doesn't work as expected, you can email me your host password and I would be glad to do a live check, I don't have a local example because I dont' know how to run UMG is a tab of active social :)

thanks.

I've been working with UMG.

It seems we really need the following integrated in UVG and UMG if Pengtsen would be willing to do so:

1. When uploading videos IN UVG, a user needs to be able to define AS security controls: (ie: Friends Only, Public, Private)
a. I think it would be great to have this functionality per/video uploaded, and series.

2. When uploading photos IN UMG, a user needs to be able to define AS security controls: (ie: Friends Only, Public, Private)
a. I think it would be great to have this functionality per/photo, or even per/gallery, both, etc.

I can see the work flow of this as follows:

In UMG and UVG, a setting right below the Active Social Integration that says:
a. Utilize Active Social Security Permissions: [  Checkbox  ]

By taking this approach, and by using Jeff's example of changing the links to point directly to the "Add Gallery" or "Add Photo" everything should run smoothly, and profile integration could be seamless.

I've also heard comments about eliminating UVG due to the growth of UMG, but I disagree. If it was strictly a profile based website, I can see this. But the functionality and many modules that are incorporated with UVG are perfect for presentation and creating more of a Youtube experience.

I'll forward this post to Pengtsen for his review.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or have already found a solution? It seems that the security permissions are the biggest issue, as I totally agree with Jeff.

- Patrick

I'm writing this post before my previous one has been approved. I thought about the security functions and comments that I made on the previous, and perhaps even a simpler integration would be better and easier at first. Perhaps each and every photo and video is not necessary, but more like the current album integration that allows you to select the visibility.

Is there any way to add this in the "My Settings" section of Active Social after a video tab or new photo tab is created? Can the Active Social security/view permissions be created per tab/level? That way if a "Video" tab is created, if it's private.. perhaps it simply says as such: This person has made their videos private.. etc.

I don't know.. I'm just frustrated because I would really like to see UMG and UVG more integrated with AS due to the amazing potential I can see. I mean, people compare facebook a lot, but if this integration was possible.. This functionality would be way more impressive than what facebook seems to offer. . TO have the community pages, and individual profile pages, with pictures.. etc.

Anyway.

I'm burned out for the weekend.

- Patrick

2, actually adds the image(must be a image, other kinds of medias will not work), in this case UMG calls the AddPhoto method which is not directly exposed by active social, the photo should be displayed as the photo was uploaded in active social itself.

Hi Pengtsen,

I am writing some AS Journal integration and would like to include an uploaded photo.
Do you have an example of using the AddPhoto method you could share?

thanks

Patrick, I understand your concerns of the deep integration between UMG/UVG and AS, but please understand since these 2 products belongs to different companies so it may be pretty hard to integrate so deeply.

Personally I would like to add it as a simply option, and allows you to change the security option in some manner, as what UMG offers now.

Posted By fatgeorge on 09 Jan 2012 10:03 AM

2, actually adds the image(must be a image, other kinds of medias will not work), in this case UMG calls the AddPhoto method which is not directly exposed by active social, the photo should be displayed as the photo was uploaded in active social itself.

Hi Pengtsen,

I am writing some AS Journal integration and would like to include an uploaded photo.
Do you have an example of using the AddPhoto method you could share?

thanks

Check the API of the AddPhoto method in Visual Studio Object Browser, you can find out what parameters this method require.

The key is it accepts the image in HttpPostedFile format.

@fatgeorge

Before you choose to use the AddPhoto method, make sure to read this post:

http://www.bizmodules.net/Support/t...fault.aspx

The key is it accepts the image in HttpPostedFile format.

Thanks, yes I saw that on the API.

My problem is that the file will have been uploaded before my form is submitted and I was wondering what was the best way to deal with a file which is already sitting on the server?

Any thoughts?

thanks again.

@Jeff

Hi Jeff,

I just wondered what version of AS you tried this with?

I am testing with AS1.9.5 and only the [AS:JOURNALINFO:DI:BODY] appears to support html tags.
i.e. render the html when displayed on the summary journal.

Just want to note that I also vote for a deep integration with UVG and UMG. Both are awesome products and Active Social can be also the central part of end user modules integration and the cornestone of the multifunctional social sites. I think it will be the best product for the creating social sites not only among .Net application but around the world