EduSpaces news :: Blog

Alpha release information

Elgg isn't quite ready for alpha release; there are a number of features that we want to add before we open our doors to those of you who signed up during October.

We promise that it will be up very shortly, at which point you'll receive emails containing a personalised username and password. In the meantime, feel free to nose around the public form of the system; both Ben and Dave have been added as friends of this account, and you should be able to get a feel for some of the system's features by examining their profiles.

Thank you for all the interest we've received; we're told that the webcast we did with BCCampus in particular has been very popular. (Click here to view if you missed it.) Have a look at ERADC for any further talks and presentations.

Keywords: alpha

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EduSpaces news

The gates are open!

Welcome to all our alpha users. It's great to finally see people using the system!

Functionality coming on Friday or over the weekend includes:

Weblog archiving
The ability to edit metadata for files and folders
XML functionality (RSS and FOAF)

Further functionality coming next week includes:

A search function (for weblog posts, profile items, and so on)
More templates

Keywords: elgg features

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EduSpaces news

Weblog RSS

Although they're currently unlinked, Elgg weblogs now all have RSS 0.91 feeds. (Stephen Downes has a good introduction to RSS.)

You can access them by visiting elgg.net/username/weblog/rss - for example, the Elgg News RSS feed is at http://elgg.net/news/weblog/rss. You can then enter this URL into an RSS aggregator to keep up with news from there. (Of course, these are certified valid.)

Keywords: elgg features, rss, weblogs

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EduSpaces news

Additional features

After looking over the comments and suggestions provided by the test users the following features are to be added to ELGG.

1) The ability to make your groups [and associated artifacts and members] private or public
2) FAF - Find a Friend :: this feature will greatly enhance the ability to create your own communities based on interests you share with others.
3) IAF - Invite a friend :: this will be used to expand the alpha testing group

Keywords: elgg features, keywords

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EduSpaces news

Creating groups and access

We have received a few emails asking how to use groups to create private areas.

Once logged in you then go to your 'groups' page (selecting 'groups' from the menu bar). Here you create a new group. When you do you will notice that the left hand box will be populated with your 'friends' - you can now select who you want to add to your new group. Now that you have created a new group you will notice that when ever you make a weblog post or upload a file the 'Access restrictions' option will contain the name of your new group. Setting 'Access restrictions' to your new group will mean only those people you have added to your group will have access to the file/weblog post etc.

I hope this helps.

Keywords: elgg features, permissions

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EduSpaces news

Inviting others

You can now invite friends and colleagues to join Elgg, for example to give them access to protected files, or just to discuss the system with them.

Click "Invite a friend" on the menu bar; this will ask you for a few minor details, and then sends a message to the user. Should they choose to accept the invitation and open an account, you will find them automatically added to your friends list.

Keywords: elgg features

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