It is my understanding that DNN Corporation is breaking through the threshold of delay and about to make huge steps in delivering the next generation of Active Social/Forums. 

Moved to General discussion so it is more visible. Thanks for getting this started!

I have a prototype module that I've been working on for dotnetnuke.com that is very similar to UserVoice for collecting, commenting and voting on feedback. Maybe I should install it on this site and see how it works?

Excited as well!

I don't have any that I know others will not say or they are already working on.

BUT

I would really like to get much better test cycles/fewer bugs. I love everything about AS/AF...just seems like lots of little 'gotchas' everywhere. I am hoping with more staff/backing that we can knock that back a bit.

I've added the feedback module to this site. It isn't bug free, but it will allow us to better collaborate on individual feature requests. The module I'm using will be used on dotnetnuke.com very shortly, but this will allow us to get started in the meantime. The module is setup very similar to UserVoice. You can submit an item and others can comment and vote.

http://www.activemodules.com/Commun...dback.aspx

This is very nice.

Posted By Will Morgenweck on 12 Jan 2012 10:50 AM
I've added the feedback module to this site. It isn't bug free, but it will allow us to better collaborate on individual feature requests. The module I'm using will be used on dotnetnuke.com very shortly, but this will allow us to get started in the meantime. The module is setup very similar to UserVoice. You can submit an item and others can comment and vote.

http://www.activemodules.com/Commun...dback.aspx

Okay dang it! Will I want that module for my site! What will it take? 

Thanks. I know the Make a Suggestion button doesn't really stand out, but here is a direct link to the page for anyone that wants to submit a suggestion.
http://www.activemodules.com/Commun...fault.aspx

I like the UI on the Suggestion module. But for now I think I will stick with Ventrian Feedback Center for my particular purpose since it is a pretty mature product and integrated into AS journals. I am very interested in a couple of items that are more AF related and this assumes an integration with AS journal posting. Also have a wish list for social stuff as well.

1. I need the ability to do an Active Forums based Q&A module similar to Yahoo Answers or maybe Stack Overflow. I know that Will has put a lot of thought into this in the past and I think some plumbing was already done as well. Not sure if / how any of this is being ported into new DNN Forums.

2. I need a task tracking system similar to what is on Active Modules but maybe a little more robust. That would allow me to take the Suggestions from my members that get the most positive support and load them into a development pipeline that is visible to members.

3. We really need some type of first class points tracking that can integrate with a variety of modules and a formal badging system based on members achieving milestones. I am successfully using DNN Roles / Icons and XMod to do some basic badging but the role assignment is a manual process right now.

4. We need great profile and group statistics that are easy to access and display throughout our site.

I could go on forever, but these are at the top of my list for now.

Will, I know the Q & A (Feedback module) is a prototype...but I just submitted two ideas...in both cases I was returned to the main page. My suggestions are indeed there...but I had to click on My Suggestions to see them. It might make sense to return a form submit to that tab....for a while I thought nothing happened (no confirmation).

Also, I thought each submission would consume at least one of my own votes but I think that expectation might come from User Voice. Perhaps this is configurable.

In any case...I'm looking forward to posting ideas for DNN Social.

Good decision since the Suggestion module isn't going to be publicly available anytime soon


Did you see the Community newsletter today? We announced a new module called DNN Q&A that is already on codeplex. Unfortunately, the launch on dotnetnuke.com didn't go as smoothly as the community team had hoped. Hopefully you will be able to see it in action tomorrow.


You should have posted those in the Suggestion module

Hmmm....let me check something. Thanks for letting me know.

@Steven,
Looks like an issue with moderation option. I've turned that off for the moment.

Looks like I'm getting two emails for each suggestion....pretty much identical...one says "A New Suggestion Has Been Submitted." and the other says "Your Suggestion Has Been Received."

I'm betting this is because I subscribed to new posts...but didn't expect to get notifications on my own submissions.

Posted By Will Morgenweck on 12 Jan 2012 03:00 PM

1. I need the ability to do an Active Forums based Q&A module similar to Yahoo Answers or maybe Stack Overflow. I know that Will has put a lot of thought into this in the past and I think some plumbing was already done as well. Not sure if / how any of this is being ported into new DNN Forums.

Did you see the Community newsletter today? We announced a new module called DNN Q&A that is already on codeplex. Unfortunately, the launch on dotnetnuke.com didn't go as smoothly as the community team had hoped. Hopefully you will be able to see it in action tomorrow.

I could go on forever, but these are at the top of my list for now.

You should have posted those in the Suggestion module

For some reason I haven't gotten the newsletter yet. But I did find a post on the DNN forums about the Community Exchange and I cannot wait to check this out. I hope that it can be polished and packaged as a module soon.

I took your advice and started posting suggestions.

Have to say that this is the most activity we have seen in months on these boards. It makes me feel good and hopeful that great things are coming soon!

Instead of posting to long threads that have been discussing this, I thought it would be a viable option to start over and clarify some things, especially considering the upcoming advancements of AS in2012.

I've been waiting 2 years to launch a site for pretty much the same reasons - security, photos, videos. The purchase of AS by DNN threw quite a wrench in my plans because I don't know its going to look like when the integration is released. I've been waiting patiently, but its definitely taking longer than I hoped or expected. UMG and UVG are great products, but they don't integrate well into the security model. They also lack some user-friendliness since they were both built to be used by site administrators and not social site users. I've tried to integrate them, but they just wouldn't work to my satisfaction without modifying the source. And, I didn't want to do that in case Pengsten made updates in the future that I really wanted (or fixed issues related to DNN upgrades).

I know this doesn't help, but you're not alone. Hopefully Will can give us some direction on this - timeline for AS integration, photo/video features, ease of integration with UMG/UVG if necessary.

Will's participation in this thread brings up a question for me.

My perception is that DNN is going to work hard on integrating AS into the core. Once that is done you will then start on new features. Which seems like the most logical path and therefore my best guess. However, I am wondering if DNN is planning on developing new AS features at the same time they are doing the integration work???

Really good question. As I've said before, we are not just dropping Active Social as is into the core. We are working on a major overhaul which include performance testing, scalability, UI design and user experience. I wouldn't say that any many features will be added. Although there are some very significant enhancements in the Journal, Profile and Messaging areas.

We shouldn't be talking about Active Social features. We should be talking about what features are necessary for successful collaboration.

Social is no longer something you just add-on to a website and I'm not talking just about DotNetNuke. Social represents the way communicate and engage with others. You see it on almost every website now. Yes, there are key pieces to make this happen, but in order for this to truly be successful you have to stop thinking about Social as a module or something you just enable for a website. It's not just a single section of your website or a few pages--it's a strategy for you web presence.

Social is no longer something you just add-on to a website and I'm not talking just about DotNetNuke. Social represents the way communicate and engage with others. You see it on almost every website now. Yes, there are key pieces to make this happen, but in order for this to truly be successful you have to stop thinking about Social as a module or something you just enable for a website. It's not just a single section of your website or a few pages--it's a strategy for you web presence.

You have, for me, validated my frustration and dilemma.  My business strategy is more than a social network, but without a great social network its not nearly as effective.  Where I, and I presume some others are, is that we don't and never have seen social as just an add-on....we have been working on building businesses/sites that are centered on social networking. We have been patiently waiting for the social foundation to be available through AS or someone else. Speaking purely for myself, I've only been waiting for AS, and not looked elsewhere, because I liked the initial product and the support I received for a long time. I thought the product would evolve at a more aggressive rate than it did.  And that's not just wishful thinking on my part.  Approximate dates were given, sometimes "by" dates were given, but I don't think in nearly 3 years more than a couple of those were ever met.  I'm in the business, so I know sometimes dates slip. I've accepted that for a long time.  But, I've never really gotten responses that help me make a business decision.  That's what I'm ultimately getting frustrated about.  It seems to me it takes insults to get a real response.

Active Forums must have split topic option. It was in version 3.x and after that gone and was promised to return...

Thanks for the reply Will.

I may be somewhat critical regarding DNN issues from time to time but one thing I am quite sure of is Will knows what social is, what it should be, and how to make it so.

I also agree that social is not just a module. And integrating it into the core is no easy task since quite a few modules need to interact with it.

My reason for asking the question that I did was along the lines of the issues Total is speaking of.  IF my guess of 3rd to 4th qtr 2012 for AS integration is right then most of the features we're talking about here will be sometime in 2013.  I think people need to know that the wait might be so long that their plans/ideas may no longer be relevant by the time the tools actually get here.

Total says he has been waiting for two years - I have been waiting since 2007 when the new DNN Corp. announced at the first Openforce that social would be coming in 2008. (Bonus points for whomever can remember what they called it back then - I've forgotten)

Yes, it's a big job but I know for a fact there are several seriously talented individuals on the DNN payroll. Ability is not the issue.  I don't know what the issue it but I'm starting to feel like a dog chasing a car - DNN social may be something I never catch and if I finally do will I have a use for it by then??