Question

This question specifically relates to the TopicClassificationAddOn.

When creating a new topic and filling out the TopicForm at the bottom, I'd like to be able to either choose from one of the predefined SubjectAreas or create a new one right there.

The format I'm thinking about would be similar to the forms a user fills out when describing where they heard about such-and-such product.
Something like the following where the [ ]'s are checkboxes:
[ ] Newspaper
[ ] TV
[ ] Other [ textarea ]

So for TCAO it would allow the user to select from a predefined list or create a new subject area.
Something like:
[ ] Subject1
[ ] Subject2
[ ] New subject [ textarea ]

This is just an example format, a link or twisty the user can click to create a new subject while the user is editing the topic would also work.

I think it might be possible to do something like this by creating my own RenderAddClassification and TopicForm, but I'm not entirely sure.

Had anyone done this? Is it possible to submit a new topic while also creating the Subject it is filed under?

Environment

-- TWikiGuest - 21 May 2007

Answer

If you answer a question - or someone answered one of your questions - please remember to edit the page and set the status to answered. The status selector is below the edit box.

An additional comment. This might actually be a question more about TWikiForms than TCAO. TWikiForms are just too static for the applications I wish to build using TCAO. If TWikiForms weren't just limited to the data in a table this would be ok.

The application I'm wishing to create is a knowledge base that allows users to create new topics and subjects. For example, topics would include FAQ, HOWTO, etc. Subjects would be something like: Word, vim, Firefox, etc..

So a user could create a HOWTO guide on vim. Or create a FAQ for a subject that hasn't been created yet. With the current TCAO or any TWikiForm the user would be required to make 2 steps to accomplish this. First step is to create the new subject, next is to actually create the FAQ topic. All I want to do is while the user is filling out the classification form of the topic at the bottom of the page, allow them to create a new subject to file it under. I can't believe no one hasn't run into this limitation before. Either I'm using TCAO for something it really isn't meant for, or others have just taken a more flexible approach.

-- TWikiGuest - 22 May 2007

Yes, the issue you are pointing to really has to do with TWikiForms rather than TCAO, per se, or even somewhat broader than that. What you are describing is the ability to initiate two different actions as the same time: creating the current topic and also creating a separate SubjectArea topic at the same time. TWiki doesn't have a mechanism for that at present.

TCAO was designed to allow catagorization of topics such as you describe, but i didn't design it to be quite a free-form as you describe. For example, I didn't design it such that every user would be able to add new TopicTypes or SubjectAreas. I have considered adding a more free-form, tag-like feature. If you want to explore this, feel free to contact me.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 22 May 2007