In working with third party module developers to integrated their module actions into the Active Social journal, as well as my own projects that leverage the API has become clear that most people don't have a way to visualize or even just "test" out how a journal entry might work and then look on the journal. What started out as some simple code I created to test specific journal integration ideas continued to be developed into a stand alone DNN utility module that lets anyone install it on their test portal so they can try out different journal API options and literally "see" what happens between a module and the journal based on the options you've chosen.
The module, once installed, allows you to:
- Select a Journal Type
- Select a User (impersonation)
- Select a Group (for group journal posts)
- Choose a custom journal type
- Enter in a URL, Short Text, Long Text
- Select a journal security option
- Generate the code required to post to the journal
- View the values of your selections and content in that code
- Post to the journal
I'll be posting this as a free download on dnnOsphere and codeplex (complete with source) shortly...but in the meantime you can get a short video walk through here:
http://dnnosphere.com/videos/player...ity-module
I'm hoping as the journal migrates into the core code, this module as well as some other AS related utility modules I've been working on will help make it easier for module developers and admins to leverage the journal API within their own projects and make it easier for Admins to test out journal templates and ideas before committing to code.