[EventCalendar] Big Calendar 5 - Read This

[Matthew Middleton]

The e-mail I just sent contains the fifth version of the big calendar patch.  Unfortunately, Yahoo Mail broke up the message with many linebreaks.  Thus, I have re-pasted my "release notes" e-mail below - this time with Yahoo Mail Beta.

Here are some examples of using the patch's functionality:

ec3_get_calendar("my_calendar",1,'2,3') - displays a big calendar with only events filed under categories 2 and 3.

ec3_get_events(5,'9') - get up to five events from category 9

There is currently no support for filtering by tags; this will come in a future version.


Lastly, here is a .zip version of the plugin with the patch applied, for anyone who doesn't like .tbz2 files:
http://np.zzxc.net/patch5.zip


>From my last e-mail:

First, a quick opinion poll:
*How useful would you find the ability to get an event list in a post.
   (Normally, events and calendars can only be displayed in templates.)
   For example, you might type "[show_events|tags=mozilla,wordpress,linux]"
   on a page called "open source".  Or, [show_calendar|type=big|tags=mozilla].

*If you would find the above useful, what options would you want the tag to support?

*In which ways, if any, would you like to see eventcalendar3 become more flexible?


Changelog:
*Fixed a major regression that prevented changing months in the small calendar.
   *This was caused in Patch #3 by Chris's addition of a <span> to each date. 
*Update to latest SVN revision #282
*Clean up comments (Added Matthew: prefixes)
*Additional general bugfixes; see below for a complete list
  *One of these bugfixes changes a default option; opinions on this requested...
*Other small fixes.


URLs:
Full download of plugin with patch applied: http://np.zzxc.net/patch5.tar.bz2
Link to patch file: (attached to last e-mail)


Features in this patch:
*Big calendar  (see documentation below)
*Category filtering option.  (see documentation below)


General bugfixes; marked with "Matthew: BUGFIX" in code.  It might be beneficial
   to include some of these in the upcoming release:
*Start time is now shown before the event name in the event list display.
   *(Hidden setting's default value changed, opinions requested)
*No longer hide events from category queries (fixes PodPress)
*Display box with event time in excerpt view
*the_content filter moved up in the filter chain.
   *(Avoids bug where content is erased by other filters)
*Don't make the schedule table float: left
*Don't include "@ time" in title.  This is added when needed.
*Sort all events by event start time, not post time.
*Default to display only events in calendar, rather than posts and events.
   ***(Opinions on this change requested)  This fixes the bug that results
   ***in each event showing up twice in the calendar.


Documentation:
***Template tags syntax - SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
*ec3_get_calendar
   Parameters:
   *$calendar_name
    Required.  A name for the calendar, currently not used.

   *$calendarType
    DEFAULT = 0
    Set to 0 for small calendar, 1 for big calendar

   *$filter_categories
    DEFAULT = '' (empty)
    Set to a comma delimited list of category numbers.
    EXAMPLE: '2,3,4' for categories 2, 3 and 4.
    If this is empty, display all categories.

   *$start_month
    DEFAULT: 0 (use current month)
    Set this to a number 1-12 to display the calendar for a given month.

   *$start_year
    DEFAULT: 0 (use current year)
    Set this to a four digit year to display the calendar for that year.



*ec3_get_events
   Parameters:
   $limit
    (unchanged)
   $filter_categories
    A comma-delimited list of categories to filter, same format as listed above
   ALSO: Optional template parameters as documented on wpcal.firetree.net



Future features to implement in this patch:
*Filter by tags.  Identical to the filter by category option, only for tags.
   *This would obviously be WP2.3+.
*Allow multiple calendars on each page.
   *This requires a large javascript overhaul, so it may not happen.
   *Each instance of getElementById needs to be updated to get the element by
   *other means, and javascript functions need to pass the calendar object.
   *How much demand is there for this?
*Make it clear how to turn a post into an event on the 'write post' page.
*Fixes to any bugs people find


Future features that will come in another, seperate plugin for those requring
 this functionality:
*"Post tags" - a feature that will allow you to insert upcoming events in a
   post.  (See my "poll" above)
*Event registration.  A well-integrated way to allow people to "register" for
   calendar events with name/phone number/etc.  You might list a party as an
   ec3 event, and allow users to sign up for the event.  Opinions on this
   feature requested.
*Add an event to the calendar by clicking buttons on the big calendar.