[Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties

Fri Nov 2 10:12:57 GMT 2012

good point - i was just thinking allowing a model to make external queries
might freak University IT support people.

On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 10:06 AM, Julian Tenney <
Julian.Tenney at nottingham.ac.uk> wrote:

> Would it be worth putting together a prototype and making sure we’re on
> the right lines before refactoring what is quite a lot of code?****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
> xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] *On Behalf Of *Smith, John
> *Sent:* 02 November 2012 10:01
>
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties****
>
> ** **
>
> Sorry Fay, I know it’s gonna be a lot more work but I think it will make
> all the difference.****
>
> ** **
>
> In terms of what Julian says, most of the common stuff (Narration, etc) is
> in Xenith.js already so I think the models are as lean as they could be,
> only thing I think we will need in there other than what is already there
> is some code to manage JSONP requests since these will be the only way to
> get external data into xenith due to same domain policy. I’ve already found
> something that will give us a starting point there also, with some good
> further reading from Douglas Crockford (and others) who is a well-respected
> expert in all things javascript. Leave that bit to me though since I’m the
> main one pushing JSON just now.****
>
> ** **
>
> http://javascriptweblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/json-and-jsonp/****
>
> ** **
>
> Regards,****
>
> ** **
>
> John Smith****
>
> Learning Technologist****
>
> School of Health & Life Sciences****
>
> Glasgow Caledonian University****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Fay Cross
> *Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2012 9:10 AM
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties****
>
> ** **
>
> I wish I’d done it like this to begin with as I get why it would be
> better.  Not entirely sure I get how to do it well enough to change stuff
> quickly though.  I’ll spend some time today looking into it and trying
> stuff out.****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk<xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>]
> *On Behalf Of *Pat Lockley
> *Sent:* 02 November 2012 00:08
> *To:* For Xerte technical developers
> *Subject:* [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties****
>
> ** **
>
> I've only ever scoped in plugins for mozilla (they care), but anything
> that modularises makes sense. Scope seems to be part of this (the php needs
> it too).****
>
> ** **
>
> I don't have a preferred approach, or a say, as I am not coding this****
>
> ** **
>
> On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 9:35 PM, Smith, John <J.J.Smith at gcu.ac.uk> wrote:**
> **
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm just reading all these emails properly just now and I agree that
> something has to be done to protect scope. Fay has done a great job
> creating xenith and all these models and it's the quality of the codebase,
> how well the whole thing works and meeting all you guys that has made me
> want to get involved so heavily. But now i'm begining to see areas which
> could cause problems with scope. Especially now that I've created a few
> models that use JSONP requests. These work by Padding JSON objects inside a
> callback function and loading it straight into a <script> tag in the
> <head>, so all in global scope, as do all the model declarations...
>
> But while each of the different ways you guys have mentioned of achieving
> this has their merits, I would definitely recommend that we consider the
> Yahoo JavaScript Module Pattern. This is used by many experienced
> JavaScript programmers and gives us private and public variables and
> methods. I would definitely recommend that any interested in developing the
> xenith code read a GREAT article about it here
> http://www.adequatelygood.com/2010/3/JavaScript-Module-Pattern-In-Depth
>
> I think in for Xenith, this module pattern will allow us to do some great
> things:
>
> Protect xenith variables and methods
> Augmentation (Loose or Tight) to split up Xenith for manageability
> Sub-modules - this is where I see the page models sitting
>
> So we'll have something like
>
> var XENITH = (function (my) {
>         // code and stuff here
> }(XENITH));
>
> Then the models are added like this
>
> XENITH.summary = (function () {
>
> }());
>
> XENITH.table = (function () {
>
> }());
>
> XENITH.rss = (function () {
>
> }());
>
> etc.
>
> Obviously it will be a lot of work to port Fay's code over and to be
> perfectly honest with you i've only used this a few times and NEVER on a
> project of this scale this but I definitely think it will benefit the
> project to do this early on because as more models are added and multiple
> pages of the same type are added to projects I anticipate there being
> conflicts that we might struggle to work around.
>
> What does everyone thing? Have any of you seen this before?
>
> Regards,
>
> John Smith | Learning Technologist
> Room A251, Govan Mbeki Building | School of Health & Life Sciences |
> Glasgow Caledonian University
> Cowcaddens Road | Glasgow | G4 0BA
> ________________________________________
> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [
> xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Fay Cross [
> Fay.Cross at nottingham.ac.uk]
> Sent: 31 October 2012 10:14
> To: For Xerte technical developers
> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
>
> No I don't mind
>
> (adds another thing to never ending to do list...)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk [mailto:
> xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Pat Lockley
> Sent: 31 October 2012 10:13
> To: For Xerte technical developers
> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
>
> not to nag, happy to help - it's just a nice standard to adopt so in
> theory stuff doesn't break.
>
> Of course all of the code I wrote in XOT is class based *disappears*
>
> On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 10:10 AM, Fay Cross <Fay.Cross at nottingham.ac.uk>
> wrote:
> > Yes, I realised as soon as I sent it I misread it.
> >
> > It's not all like that (probably should have done so).  Any functions in
> them are (e.g. every page has a pageChanged function that's called when the
> page is moved back to e.g. accNav.pageChanged()) but the code run when
> first set up isn't.
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> > [mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Pat
> > Lockley
> > Sent: 31 October 2012 10:04
> > To: For Xerte technical developers
> > Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >
> > cross wires (maybe)
> >
> > With firefox plugins they force all javascript functions to be inside
> > a JS object so
> >
> > var model = new Object{
> >
> > modelload:function(){
> >
> > dostuff();
> >
> > }
> >
> > }
> >
> > so there are no scope conflicts?
> >
> > On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 10:01 AM, Fay Cross <Fay.Cross at nottingham.ac.uk>
> wrote:
> >> Yes, there's a model folder like in the flash version
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >> [mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Pat
> >> Lockley
> >> Sent: 31 October 2012 10:01
> >> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >>
> >> is each page model js within it's own object?
> >>
> >> On Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Fay Cross <Fay.Cross at nottingham.ac.uk>
> wrote:
> >>> Hi John
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for sending these.  I'll get them on my test version and try
> them out.
> >>>
> >>> Apologies if me changing some of the way the main files work last week
> has messed you about at all.  I changed it so that all the main elements,
> variables, functions etc. that we don't want to be messed around with on
> accident by naming something the same in a page model now begin with 'x_'.
>  It looks like you've used this version in making these models so hopefully
> it didn't affect you too much.  I wouldn't have thought there'd be anything
> else big changing in the xenith.js file now that would mean changing all
> the model pages.
> >>>
> >>> You mentioned that you might look at the connector pages at some
> point.  From talking to Johnathan who wrote the original Flash versions
> they all have some common functions in them (e.g. functions that find the
> page with the correct page id).  As the same code will be used in several
> page models then the best place for this is probably the xenith.js file so
> we're not repeating the same code in multiple page model files.  I'm happy
> for you to add anything in there that's needed.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks again for the work you've done so far - I certainly didn't
> expect that a couple of weeks after the AGM someone who hadn't contributed
> anything before would have got involved so quickly!
> >>>
> >>> Fay
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> [mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of
> >>> Smith, John
> >>> Sent: 30 October 2012 19:44
> >>> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >>> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >>>
> >>> Hi Fay,
> >>>
> >>> That makes sense now. I've attached the delicious.html and the
> youtuberss.html models for now while I work on the textDrawing.html and
> youtube.html ones, I hope they get your approval, given the quality of the
> rest of your code...
> >>>
> >>> A caveat is that the delicious.html one doesn't actually work but
> that's because the JSON API tag feed appears to be broken. According to
> their dev pages here (http://delicious.com/developers#title1), this url
> should return a JSONP object of the first 10 search results for 'cuillin',
> wrapped in test():
> >>>
> >>> http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/json/tag/cuillin?callback=test&count=1
> >>> 0
> >>>
> >>> Now it was working yesterday but just died today and now only returns:
> test([]) for any tag... strange. Have tried contacting them but still no
> reply. Commit it anyway and when it starts working again I'll fix any
> errors that crop up. I've still not checked out any of the other options
> although i've included an equivalent if else statement to that in the
> equivalent rlm. Will test these also when I get access to a more
> comprehensive data.xml file...
> >>>
> >>> Regards,
> >>>
> >>> John Smith | Learning Technologist
> >>> Room A251, Govan Mbeki Building | School of Health & Life Sciences |
> >>> Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens Road | Glasgow | G4 0BA
> >>> ________________________________________
> >>> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> [xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Fay Cross
> >>> [Fay.Cross at nottingham.ac.uk]
> >>> Sent: 30 October 2012 09:48
> >>> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >>> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >>>
> >>> You're right, the Html5 stuff really needs to be in the other svn. I
> think I was just reluctant to do this before as I didn't want a new
> Toolkits zip to be made which included it until there was a way to properly
> access the html5 versions of projects.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for looking at some of the outstanding pages that need doing,
> that's really useful, could you send them to me please if you can't commit
> them.
> >>> ________________________________________
> >>> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> [xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Smith, John
> >>> [J.J.Smith at gcu.ac.uk]
> >>> Sent: 29 October 2012 16:49
> >>> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >>> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >>>
> >>> Hi,
> >>>
> >>> I know I'm new here but personally I think that JSON export would at
> >>> least be as useful if not more useful as XML, especially when
> >>> working in a JavaScript environment like the HTML5 engine. (see next
> >>> part)
> >>>
> >>> Incidentally, not sure if I only have commit access to XOT since XERTE
> desktop is being treated as almost dead in the water but the Xenith code
> i'm working on is part of the XERTE trunk, not XOT. My interest is just now
> is getting the HTML5 engine mature enough to use in anger. Over the weekend
> i've done the following HTML5 engine models:
> >>>
> >>>      delicious (95% ready) - had to use JSONP request because of same
> origin policy
> >>>      youtuberss (95% ready) - have use new JSONC request
> >>>      textDrawing (<50%) - don't have a sufficient test file for this
> model and the XOT Jisc site won't save the image or let me add pictures
> just now... need to get XOT installed locally or use usb version
> temporarily (anyone help out with a test XML stub for this model??) Oh and
> the screenshot shows the freehand done using pixel <divs> for non canvas
> compatibility
> >>>      youtube (~80% ready) - just a guess as only a few sizing issues
> >>>
> >>> Attached some screenshots for those who want to see.
> >>>
> >>> I'ml definitely interested in working on the connector pages soon
> though and tying this altogether as we want a "mobile" compatible (read
> iPad) RLO repository of some fashion by the end of the academic year.
> >>>
> >>> Regards,
> >>>
> >>> John Smith | Learning Technologist
> >>> Room A251, Govan Mbeki Building | School of Health & Life Sciences |
> >>> Glasgow Caledonian University Cowcaddens Road | Glasgow | G4 0BA
> >>> ________________________________________
> >>> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> [xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Pat Lockley
> >>> [patrick.lockley at googlemail.com]
> >>> Sent: 29 October 2012 13:25
> >>> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >>> Subject: [Xerte-dev] Re: 1.9 properties
> >>>
> >>> Also, would JSON export be more useful / as useful as XML export?
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 1:24 PM, Pat Lockley <
> patrick.lockley at googlemail.com> wrote:
> >>>> WordPress has a theme supports function, so I am thinking of having
> >>>> a list to indicate the tabs per template, or something similar
> >>>>
> >>>> On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 1:15 PM, Ron Mitchell <
> ronm at mitchellmedia.co.uk> wrote:
> >>>>> 1, 2 & 3
> >>>>> Personally I don't think it's a necessity that the same tabs exist
> >>>>> for all templates but I suspect it's easier to just display a
> >>>>> message like 'This property is not relevant to this template' than
> >>>>> it is to change the code to dynamically change tabs based on the
> template in use.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 4
> >>>>> Increase the properties window size and display 'This property is
> >>>>> not relevant to this template' for Xerte templates?
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Just my quick thoughts...
> >>>>> Ron
> >>>>>
> >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>> From: xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>>>> [mailto:xerte-dev-bounces at lists.nottingham.ac.uk] On Behalf Of Pat
> >>>>> Lockley
> >>>>> Sent: 29 October 2012 12:48
> >>>>> To: For Xerte technical developers
> >>>>> Subject: [Xerte-dev] 1.9 properties
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Hello,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On the properties panel there are several options which are sort
> >>>>> of xerte specific - XML and media and quota for example.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Some of the new templates aren't XML, so XML makes no sense - and
> >>>>> the media and quota code is very xerte specific.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Would people think
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 1) all off these options should exist for all templates?
> >>>>> 2) should tabs exist even if the functionality doesn't?
> >>>>> 3) what sort of message should it say
> >>>>> 4) what if I have scope for an extra tab?
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >>>>> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>>>> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>>>>
> >>>>> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the
> >>>>> addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have
> received this message in
> >>>>> error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it.
> Please do not
> >>>>> use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or
> >>>>> in any attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the author
> >>>>> of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University
> of Nottingham.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
> >>>>> attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage
> your computer system:
> >>>>> you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications
> >>>>> with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by
> UK legislation.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >>>>> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>>>> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >>> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>>
> >>> Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity,
> >>> number
> >>> SC021474
> >>>
> >>> Winner: Times Higher Education's Widening Participation Initiative of
> the Year 2009 and Herald Society's Education Initiative of the Year 2009.
> >>> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name
> >>> ,
> >>> 6
> >>> 219,en.html
> >>>
> >>> Winner: Times Higher Education's Outstanding Support for Early Career
> Researchers of the Year 2010, GCU as a lead with Universities Scotland
> partners.
> >>> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name
> >>> ,
> >>> 1
> >>> 5691,en.html
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >>> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>>
> >>> Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity,
> >>> number
> >>> SC021474
> >>>
> >>> Winner: Times Higher Education's Widening Participation Initiative of
> the Year 2009 and Herald Society's Education Initiative of the Year 2009.
> >>> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name
> >>> ,
> >>> 6
> >>> 219,en.html
> >>>
> >>> Winner: Times Higher Education's Outstanding Support for Early Career
> Researchers of the Year 2010, GCU as a lead with Universities Scotland
> partners.
> >>> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name
> >>> ,
> >>> 1
> >>> 5691,en.html
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >>> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >>> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Xerte-dev mailing list
> >> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> >> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Xerte-dev mailing list
> > Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> > http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Xerte-dev mailing list
> > Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> > http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xerte-dev mailing list
> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xerte-dev mailing list
> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
>
> Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity, number
> SC021474
>
> Winner: Times Higher Education’s Widening Participation Initiative of the
> Year 2009 and Herald Society’s Education Initiative of the Year 2009.
>
> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name,6219,en.html
>
> Winner: Times Higher Education’s Outstanding Support for Early Career
> Researchers of the Year 2010, GCU as a lead with Universities Scotland
> partners.
>
> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name,15691,en.html
> _______________________________________________
> Xerte-dev mailing list
> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and
> may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in
> error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. Please do not
> use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any
> attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do
> not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham. ****
>
> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an
> attachment may still contain software viruses which could damage your
> computer system: you are advised to perform your own checks. Email
> communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as
> permitted by UK legislation. ****
>
>
> Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity, number
> SC021474
>
> Winner: Times Higher Education’s Widening Participation Initiative of the
> Year 2009 and Herald Society’s Education Initiative of the Year 2009.
>
> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name,6219,en.html
>
> Winner: Times Higher Education’s Outstanding Support for Early Career
> Researchers of the Year 2010, GCU as a lead with Universities Scotland
> partners.
>
> http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/bycategory/theuniversity/1/name,15691,en.html
> ****
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xerte-dev mailing list
> Xerte-dev at lists.nottingham.ac.uk
> http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/xerte-dev
>
> This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and
> may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in
> error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it.   Please do
> not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in
> any attachment.  Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this
> email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham.
>
> This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment
> may still contain software viruses which could damage your computer system:
> you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the
> University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.
>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.nottingham.ac.uk/pipermail/xerte-dev/attachments/20121102/73f1575c/attachment-0001.html>