THE FOLLOWING IS MY WRITEUP ON THE BLOG MOD FROM VLDCROWD FOR VLDPERSONALS
 
As popular as blogging is, I think this mod is essential for all vldPersonal users. This mod was installed on vldPersonals 2.5.3.
 
The blog mod does a few things to improve vldPersonals blogging features: (1) it enhances comments to make interaction amongst users friendlier, as well as adding RSS to comments to help market your site and (2) it improves formatting of blog entry so users can have better format control when writing a blog.
 
A few images may help explain some of the features.
 
BLOG FORMATTING:
 

 

 
I did not show an image, but the blogging format is the same in the front end for members and back end (CP) for admin to edit blogs.
 
COMMENTS:
 

 

 

 

 

 
HOW TO GET
 
If you are interested in this blog, you have to contact vldCrowd admin (Ramil/radioact) by IM or email.
 
All files and instructions are provided by radioact -- he will even install it for you. Understand this is a paid mod, but radioact will install for free.
 
Once installation is completed, there is very little instructions for getting it to work. It is flexible and can be used in many ways. Here are some basic instructions to give you an idea of how I used the Mod Blog.
 
1. Added the following to header.tpl
 
<!-- IF active_module == "account_blog_edit" -->
<script type="text/javascript" src="{virtual_path}includes/js/nicedit.js"></script>
<!-- ENDIF -->
 
2. Add the appropriate calls to homepage.tpl - account_home.tpl - members_profile.tpl to use the Last Comments on homepage and comments in members profile and account_home
 
3. With Ramil's help, added some CSS coding to format the blog comments in account_home.tpl and members_profile.tpl. The CSS was added to content.css
 
h3.blacktitle{
margin: 0px;
padding: 0px 10px;
height: 35px;
background: url('title_bg2.gif') repeat-x;
font: bold 12px/35px arial, verdana, sans-serif;
color: #ffffff; }
 
4. Also added some CSS coding to content.css to give adequate spacing between an embedded image and text (as a side benefit, this also fixed the same problem with embedding images when admin creates a news item).
 
/* entry */
div#content div.entry {
padding: 5px;
text-align: justify; }
div#content div.entry img {
margin: 0 10px}
 
NOTE: the code in red was added to the above existing code.
 
5. How you format account_home or members_profile templates is up to you. The following is what I used if it helps you get started (see above image for results of coding).
 
ACCOUNT_HOME.TPL
 
<table width="100%" border="0">
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top"><h3 class="blacktitle">Comments to My Blog</h3>
<div class="block comments">
{lb_comments:limit="5",member_id=member_id,cache_time="0"}
</div></td>
<td width="50%" valign="top"><h3 class="blacktitle"> My Status Updates</h3>
<div class="block comments">
{status_changes:limit="5",cache_time="0",member_id=member_id}</div></td>
</tr>
</table>
 
MEMBERS_PROFILE.TPL
 
<table width="100%" border="0">
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top"><h3 class="blacktitle">Comments to {member_username}'s Blog</h3>
<div class="block comments">
{lb_comments:limit="5",member_id=member_id,cache_time="0"}
</div></td>
<td width="50%" valign="top"><h3 class="blacktitle">{member_username}'s Status Updates </h3>
<div class="block comments">
{status_changes:limit="5",cache_time="0",member_id=member_id}</div></td>
</tr>
</table>
 
6. I used the following coding in ext.lib_comments.tpl (this ext is part of the mod blog Ramil will install or send you).
 
<!-- IF ext_lb_comments -->
<div class="typecomments">
<ul class="latest_comments">
<!-- IF active_module == "homepage" --><strong><font color="#666666">Write your own Bog or Comment on other member's Blogs to place a link to your profile so other members can find you. Do not type any contact information in your Comments or Blogs.</font> </strong><a href="{virtual_path}index.php?m=blogs&p=crss">Subscribe to Comments</a><br>
<hr><!-- ENDIF -->
<!-- BEGIN ext_lb_comments -->
<li><a class="commenter" href="{top.virtual_path}{member_profile_link}">{member_username}</a> &rarr; <a class="blog_entry" href="{top.virtual_path}{entry_comments_link}">&quot;{entry_title}&quot; by {author_username}</a> </li>
<!-- END ext_lb_comments -->
</ul>
</div>
<!-- ELSE -->
<div class="typecomments">
<!-- IF active_module == "account_home" -->
<p>Sorry, you need to create a blog for other members to comment</p>
<!-- ELSEIF active_module == "member_profile" -->
<p>Sorry, {member_username} has not created any blogs yet for comments</p>
<!-- ENDIF -->
 
</div>
<!-- ENDIF -->
 
The above coding is what makes the blog mod work when a member has not created a blog. I also added an if statement so instructions for the blog mod only displays on the home page and not in the members_profile and account_home templates. Also, note the RSS link for the mod is added for those who want to subscribe to all global comments.
 
NOTE: for the active module statements to work, Ramil had to update ext.members.php file.
 
If you buy this mod and have any questions about how I formatted it, drop me a line. Also, Ramil said he would add a feature so members can make their blogs private or public. I did not add this feature at this time, but may consider at a later date.
 
I have already had several comments from members saying how much they like the new blogging features.
 
Good Luck
Dan