TWikiGuest Comments Restrictions

Overview

It is natural that TWikiGuests can't comment in topics when DENYWEBCHANGE is set. This is to ensure that only TWikiUsers are able to create topics, edit, and comment on topics. But there are Webs, especially the ones from BlogPlugin, where it is appreciated to involve TWikiGuest to be part of the wiki culture without the hassle of registration.

Solution One

Current potential solution is JS-Kit's comments script.

A javascript that enables a developer to insert a small script in the HTML

<script src="http://js-kit.com/comments.js"></script>

This script embeds a widget that enables users to comment anywhere in a page. Functions include: threaded comment, email notification, saved user information, delete, and css styling.

See Sandbox.JsKitCommentTest if you want to try it out.

(Potential) Issues

• Data is stored remotely. - consider saving locally somewhere
• Heavy on javascript - further stress site loading

Solution Two

Using existing capabilities of TWiki. (See SvenDowideit's comment beneath)

1) Create a CommentWeb that is TWikiGuest writable
2) Hide it from WEBLIST and obscure access using apache
3) Use %COMMENT% tag with JSPopupPlugin, where comment entries are INCLUDED to the first topic using SEARCH

(Potential) Issues?

• Each posts will be posted as TWikiGuest - possibly overwrite it?
  • A new user may be created without a login? Main/NewUser is created with minimum user data?
• User data is not saved - cookie to save the day?

Decision?

Uncertain. Need testing. Pending till mid-Jan.

-- Contributors: KwangErnLiew - 04 Jan 2007

Discussion

I created JsKitCommentTest to test it out. Looks neat. Data is sitting at sombody else's server, question of long time availability.

-- PeterThoeny - 04 Jan 2007

Hm, can't this functionality be implemented by a CommentPlugin template using some TwistyContrib wizardry?

-- FranzJosefSilli - 04 Jan 2007

Not really Franz. If I'm not wrong, TWiki's architecture is Web specific rather than topic specific, unless a topic has explicit allow command. Though I hope I'm wrong.

I know for sure it doesn't work with BlogPlugin.

-- KwangErnLiew - 05 Jan 2007

or, you could just use the already existing TWiki methods.

JSPopupPlugin can be triggered with a %COMMENT% tag, which creates a comment topic in the 'Comments' web. Comments are then INCLUDED into the first topic using a SEARCH.

while you have to create a Comment web that is TWikiGuest writable, you can hide it from the WEBLIST, and otherwise obscure its access (for eg, useing an apache re-direct for URLs going to that web (as the data is accessed using an internal TWiki INCLUDE.

-- SvenDowideit - 06 Jan 2007

The JS-Kit looks neat, but without being able to store the comments on the twiki server this seems a no-starter to me. I agree that this type of capability should be able to be generated in the style Sven describes.

-- ThomasWeigert - 06 Jan 2007