Description: Places a mandatory limit on how long a summary can be. If the summary exceeds the limit, the user is kicked back to the preview screen with the notice that they have to shorten their summary.

Summary length is controlled in your admin settings, under “Submissions.” If a limit is in place, a small notice appears above your summary field on story submissions notifying your users of the limit. If you turn it off, nothing appears.

To turn it on, simply type in a length. (I suggest at least 750 - 1000 characters.) To turn it off, set it to 0.

This was originally a 2.0 mod, but frankly — it’s a much easier, neater, and more sophisticated mod on 3.0.

As usual, my line numbers are only there as a reference to put you in the general ballpark. They will likely change as you progress through the mod.

This always bears repeating: Please be sure to backup your files and database before you begin this or any other mod.

Requirements: eFiction 3.2.1

Difficulty: Easy - Intermediate (Depends on how well you follow my instructions.)

Files Involved:

• admin/settings.php
• includes/storyform.php
• stories.php
• languages/en.php
• languages/en_admin.php
• 1 Database Modification

Modification History:
- 22 March, 2007 — Mod Released

Modification & Support: eFiction.org

Instructions:

Description: I originally had this bright idea to write up a detailed guide to putting php in your TPLs, but my schoolwork is keeping me from doing anything decent.

Please note that I have not had the chance to try this out, but according to the Template Power web site it is possible. The keyword throughout this entire post is “should” — meaning theoretically, it should work.

At any rate, there are two ways you can do this easily. The way you do it depends on how ambitious you’re feeling. This should work in 3.0 and 2.0 but again — don’t quote me on that.

As usual, please be sure to make backups in case I’m wrong. ^^;;

Requirements: eFiction 2.0 or greater, Template Power 3.01 (should already be included)

Difficulty: Easy

Modification History:
May 31, 2006: Released untested instructions for eFiction 2.0
March 21, 2006: Determined that these instructions should also apply to eFiction 3.0

Instructions:

Skin Name: Zenlike

Version: eFiction 3.0

Developer: Sally Anderson (Lazuli)

License: Free to use, so long as the credit in the footer remains intact.

Feel free to edit, modify, or alter this skin in any way. Doing so will not offend, upset, or bother me in any way. All I ask is that you please keep the footer crediting the photographer and brush artist intact unless you completely remove that part of the header graphic.

Description: Zenlike is a slightly oriental themed skin colored white and pale green. This is a very lightweight skin that uses NO custom header graphics. Everything is based on CSS text, font, and background effects.

Note: Since 3.0 isn’t out yet, this skin may not be entirely up-to-date. I will try to have it updated as soon as possible, but with my college schedule, I can’t make any guarantees.

Demo: Demo @ eFiction.org

Download: zenlike.zip (Updated: 3 March 2007)

Description: Displays the last date your users visited your eFiction site.

As always my line numbers are approximate and meant to put you in the general ballpark. They will likely change as you progress through the mod.

Requirements: eFiction 3.2 or later

Difficulty: Easy

Mod History:
- 27 February, 2007, Marohi added mod to Test site, bug checking begins
- 1 March, 2007, Posted to eFiction forums
- 2 March, 2007, Fixed cookie issue, added language to en.php, changed mysql_query to dbquery

Files Involved:

• user/login.php
• user/profile.php
• includes/get_session_vars.php
• languages/en.php
• skins/YOUR SKIN/profile.tpl
• database modification

Modification & Support Link: eFiction.org

Instructions:

Name: 10 Most Popular Categories Panel

Description: Returns the top ten most popular categories on your eFiction site along with a count to show how many stories each category has.

Requirements: eFiction 3.2 or later

Mod History:
- 27 February, 2007 — Converted to eFiction 3.0
- 03 March, 2007 — Released to the public
- 03 March, 2007 — Fixed category links

Demo: http://test.lunaescence.com/toplists.php?list=popularcats

Download Link: popularcat.zip

Description: This will display a “View Profile” link to the account menu in user.php, which will take your users to their author profile page.

Requirements: eFiction 2.0

Difficulty: Easy

Modification History:
June 23, 2006 — Released Modification
November 30, 2006 — Updated, forgot a step

Files Involved:

• user.php
• languages/en.php

Instructions: