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Announce Plugin...will it always be a pain?

Announce Plugin...will it always be a pain?

Robert Provencher

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Jan 18, 2019 - 11:41 am

I use the announce plugin a lot. It's a great way to let my members know what's up, news and events etc etc.

However, it is a pain to use. NOT user friendly.

You would think there'd be easier access to edit other then going to Dashboard/Forum/Plugins/Announce and clicking on the tiny Options line as seen here:

Announce

Deactivate | Uninstall | Options
Getting Started

And then, I have to create whatever I want to post in a wordpress blog (which I save as a draft for easy access) to get the coding, centering, linking, highlighting etc etc etc. Create code, paste code into the announce box....and post.

Half the time something runs amok and the content will be off, so I need to redit, in wp, again, until it gets right. See attached screen shot as sample. Now, I know there is likely an easier way to edit in WP and post into announce, but also, my key point also is: Can this not be smoother, easier access plug...??

There must be an easier, faster, smoother way to create awesome announcements over the forum header....yes no????

thanks

Rob

Phil Gordemer

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Jan 18, 2019 - 2:57 pm

I don't deal that at all. Since the Forum page is just a blank page that the forum display builds on the fly, you can just make your announcement display before the forum and it will show up everywhere.

Robert Provencher

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Jan 18, 2019 - 10:54 pm

good point. I never thought of that...of course the announce plugin, by nature, is supposed to make life easier....:)..But, your idea is brain dead simple. Will test!

Mr Papa

Simi Valley, CA

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Jan 19, 2019 - 2:12 am

yes, we have posted numerous times here that the wp page the forum appears is like any other wp page.. anything added to that page will appear before the forum as @pgordemer points out... the benefit of the announce plugin is that it offers unlimited locations that you could display a message...

You dont have to go to the plugins page to get to the options... the easier path is forum - components - announce... perhaps you will find this more convenient (and standard)...

not sure what your image is showing... the announce allows html and some styling is applied... its very possible that your wp theme is overriding the css since the wp page may take precedence...

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Robert Provencher

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Jan 19, 2019 - 10:43 am

@mrpapa thanks... re: "the easier path is forum – components – announce… perhaps you will find this more convenient (and standard)…"

Did not know that. It's more convenient, yes, but not really groundbreaking.

The ideal would be access, once logged in as admin, to the actual announce section right in that area...a menu, or something similar...

And would be cool to have even more design elements available. Having to create an announcement using html coding etc is also a pain for guys like me who have rudimentary experience (enough to be dangerous...:)..)..with html.

Using the straight up approach suggested by Phil, of adding the content via wp, editing the forum page, works. Would be cool to be able to add some more design elements using this approach as well. Any suggestions on that appreciated.

thanks

Rob

Robert Provencher

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Jan 19, 2019 - 11:05 am

Just playing. Using the page edit in WP, adding news over forum...This may work. Question: Is there a way to tighten everything up? as in, eliminate the space between blocks?