e_page module

Currently I have two ways to put page-specific educational content into a block. The method implemented on this site, the so-called Page Extras, is a bit different from what I have installed on my client's sites. Going forward, I will probably only pour development hours into the e_page module.

Page Extras

My first ever module. It actually is not self-contained, which is the bad side, but it has some flexibility that I like, because I use CCK fields to store the data, and the module just writes block content based on that. The nice thing is that I can go to other content types and drop in the appropriate CCK fields. I will need to get that functionality into e_page at some point. I've seen other modules that let you pick content types to add fields to. I'm not 100% sold on that approach, but it's certainly better than limiting yourself to a single content type when you want side-panel content to appear.

E-Page

This module is self-contained, and includes the same glossary, self-test, notes and narration functionality as Page Extras. It does not include the media types. I'm going to have to put some very serious thought into what I want to spin out for enabling enhanced content types in a Drupal page. Be cool if I could clone some of the Pachyderm content. Something to think about.

One thing I'd like to do is make the existing self-test option more flexible. Off the top, I'd like it to have two modes, maybe three. Conversation, Quiz and Self-Test. Conversation and Self-Test would be functionally very very similar if not identical, but have a different look.

The other thing I still need to play with is submitting data to a webform from an e-page. I'm thinking I could put in one of those node reference links that would just tell which webform to link to. Then I could dynamically insert a copy of the page. hmm.

The webform thing works, but now that I have data storage and retrieval working without it, I'm less inclined to go that route.

Next step, make the epage forms appear in other content types?

Progress

Moved epage stuff into a fieldset. Brian made it possible to disable some fields and enable others.

Set up dependencies with swftools and lightbox2. Now that I have those, I think I will rewrite my flash wrapper fn, but I'm in no hurry to do that.

DONE- I think I'm set to update the db from flash without worrying about page refreshes. I have set this up, but not tested it. I might be able to read data into flash using the same trick. have to test that idea very soon.

Results:

Calling php functions from Flash works. Just use LoadVars.sendAndLoad().

reading data into Flash works with ExternalInterface. The trick there is to send the arguments properly. Leave () off of the function name, and move args into next property.