Links Directory or Dynamics, looking for advice on which one

[nymusclecar]

Hey folks,

Working on a NY area Muscle Car site. Using CMPS on the front-end (thank you guys I love vBa and I have not even started to tweak/customize it!!!).

I'm looking to add a Club Directory for all of the car clubs in the state. Now first thought is you guys have a Link Directory package and it looks killer. I could customize all the fields to what I need and begin putting in the data. But after reading the page on vbDynamics I'm wondering if that is something that will integrate better in the long run since it sounds like a more advanced version of Links.

Am I off-base in thinking that? Or should I just keep it simple and use Links. I don't mind putting in the extra work for a better finished product so that's why I'm asking first.

Thanks,
-Steve

[Brian]

If all of the clubs you'll be listing have a web site and this section of your site is going to be geared towards hosting links, then vBa Links would probably be the better solution. It includes options for finding broken links, preventing invalid links in the first place, reciprocal link checks, a "Link to Us" page, and etc which are not included with vBa Dynamics. Otherwise vBa Dynamics does include a few options that vBa Links does not (attachments, the module system, drafts, private "buddy only" entries, etc).

[nymusclecar]

That's part of the problem. A lot of the clubs that are more old school do not have websites so it would be a Name / Phone / Addy possible / then a block of related Info on the club.

I saw a link to a hack on here that removed the URL check but I can't seem to find it now and wish I bookmarked it last time. So as long as I can disable it, sounds like Links will make more sense.

[HenrikHansen]

Originally Posted by nymusclecar

That's part of the problem. A lot of the clubs that are more old school do not have websites so it would be a Name / Phone / Addy possible / then a block of related Info on the club.

In that case I would use Dynamics. Dynamics has a modul system which I guess you will find useful for your site.
The only drawback I can think of is that Dynamics cannot regularly check the links (for those clubs which have) but I guess that will not be a large problem for you because the clubs will m aintain the their listings.
Using Dynamics the can still upload links to their homepages, either in a custom field or in a module.

[nymusclecar]

Thanks Henrik I appreciate the feedback. I'm starting to lean in that direction now. Looking at my database, and the fields I've been keeping track of it seems like Dynamics is going to provide a more robust solution to the problem. Assuming here, but from looking through the demos I'll be able to add all the fields I need (club name, contact, phone, web if they have, email, description, etc.) and then some if I ever want to expand on the data.

One last question for anyone listening if ya'll don't mind I see in the various demo's that it is always listing the records with the full content. Almost like it's the complete data one after the other down the list. Is there an option to list them more as line items, so you can see more clubs @ once, and then click on the individual item to get the full view? I guess more like a typical threadview style. If it's just template work cool I'll have no problem getting it figured out!

Okay, maybe one other short Q. Can you change ownership of the item once entered? I would like to put in my initial 350 clubs I have in my db, and then allow the members as they join and confirm their identity the ability to be the new record holder and change/update their own records. Is there a way to change the individual ownership of each listing?

Thanks for all the help folks, I really appreciate it. I'm usually the install first and hope for the best type but I've been putting a lot of energy into this site since it is a personal passion/interest and just want to make sure I get my vision done right the first time out

[HenrikHansen]

I forgot, it may in fact be a problem for you to use links because you cannot upload entries in vba links without a links.

Originally Posted by nymusclecar

Is there an option to list them more as line items, so you can see more clubs @ once, and then click on the individual item to get the full view? I guess more like a typical threadview style. If it's just template work cool I'll have no problem getting it figured out!

It works that way by default, no need to do template work.

You can always upload listings as other members, you just type in which
member it is.

[nymusclecar]

Originally Posted by HenrikHansen

I forgot, it may in fact be a problem for you to use links because you cannot upload entries in vba links without a links.

I'm starting to think the same thing. Dynamics while losing minor functionality as a link system, has a much more robust feature set especially for integrating into CMPS, etc.

Originally Posted by HenrikHansen

It works that way by default, no need to do template work.

You can always upload listings as other members, you just type in which
member it is.

Upload as is only good if the member is present. Part of what I'm doing is databasing all of the NY region car clubs, and then inviting them to join up and update their profiles. Thus the need to be able to change a record. I guess worst case scenario I could have new club directors PM/email me to let me know once they've joined, and recreate the record with their username on it once they arrive. It just doubles the work.

Thanks again for the help Henrik, I appreciate it all!!
-Steve

[Brian]

You can see an example of the more condensed "thread like view" for vBa Dynamics in our file sharing demo.
http://www.vbadvanced.com/dynamics2/

Also, there is not an option to change the user an entry belongs to once it's submitted. You can submit the entry as another member when it's first submitted, but there is not an option to change the owner afterward yet.

[nymusclecar]

Bought and installed. Makes more sense to continue this conversation with it setup for my needs and go from there