WordPress Plugin: Ask A Question - 0.1b

Update: Ask A Question 0.2

It's time I started giving back to the community that's done so much for me with Ask A Question (0.1b)

I've been developing on WordPress for a few years. It's become my CMS of choice for nearly any project. On MacTips alone I've written over 10 custom plugins, not to mention all the hacking in the template.

Ask A Question - 0.1b

So the first (of many) plugins I'll be releasing is called Ask A Question. What's it do?

It allows your users to ask you questions.

Pretty easy right? Well I wanted my first released plugin to be easy--but not too easy. So I added some AJAX and effects with script.aluco.us.

This was something I needed for MacTips as I started trying to get more user feedback. The site is also being geared towards helping users so this seemed like a good idea to connect with the confused Mac user.

ask-a-question.png

The Features

I wanted my first plugin to be simple, but not crippled. So I've added a few features I think are necessary when adding a form like this to your website.
  • Flood protection: Keep users from asking more than x questions in x seconds
  • Degrade Gracefully: AJAX is nice for things like submitting forms without page-loads. AJAX is not nice for users that don't have Javascript. So the form degrades gracefully so non Javascript users can still submit questions
  • AJAX Backend: AJAX backend for easy managing. This part requires Javascript, sorry--maybe next version.
  • File Size: Some AJAX libraries are huge. I've done my best to use the smallest one I could find and strip out all unnecessary information. I've also removed all unnecessary effects in script.aluco.us.

Download Ask A Question (0.1b)

This entry was published on Feb. 9, 2008 in Web Development

Comments

  1. Ryan Ward May 7, 2009

    Actually,

    I uploaded the plugin and the scriptaculous, but, it doesn't seem to work for me. the blog I have it located on is realestatetestblog.com. If you have a second, I would sure like to see this plugin work.

    Thank you,

  2. Ryan Ward May 7, 2009

    Sorry....got it to work...GREAT plugin! I was wondering if you might go back and add a method by which the admin could be emailed when a question was asked as well as include the question in the email.

  3. oorodi bage May 7, 2009

    Hi the same problem for me also, When i try to activate the plug-in it says

    "Plugin couldn't activated; triggered fatal error'

    Do you have any idea?? Is this because any other plugins which i use or some other problem??

    Thanks Bage

  4. Brad May 7, 2009

    Bruce,

    I don't have an example up yet. When I realease the next version I'll include an example for everyone to see.

  5. Bruce Jones May 7, 2009

    Just wondering if you have a working demo available.

    Thanks

  6. JamieO May 7, 2009

    A demonstration version of it would be useful. Can users see what other questions have been asked? Does it present an opportunity to answer in response - or it generates an idea for me to create new posts for the site? If another plugin has already registered scriptalicious into the header hook, will yours duplicate that call and download for the client?

  7. John May 7, 2009

    Nice

    Simple, works great

    Be nice if it had an option to send the admin an email alert when someone posts something.

    Thanks a lot for the plugin.

  8. anu May 7, 2009

    I uploaded the php file & scriptaculous folder both to wp-content/plugins. When i tried to activate it i got an error msg 'plugin could not be activated; triggered fatal error'. what could be wrong?

  9. Brad May 7, 2009

    Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions.

    JamieO, currently is does not check for another scriptalicious version. This is the biggest change I will be making next version.

    You can see it being used on MacYay: http://macyay.com/ --Just don't spam his form.

    Also, currently users cannot see what other questions have been asked--this is just for the admin users. You are correct, it generates ideas to create new posts.

    John, that's a good idea--I'll add that option for next version.

  10. Ryan Ward May 7, 2009

    Where do you add the sciptaculous folder?

  11. name May 7, 2009

    Hi!,

  12. justin May 7, 2009

    Thank you for the release.

    Attempted to install but encountered fatal error. WP 2.61

    Also, in future releases would you please consider emailing questions to admin option.

    Thanks again!

  13. John D May 7, 2009

    This looks nice, however you may want to include an installation guide.

  14. jan May 7, 2009

    I am having the same problem -- fatal error triggered. Any suggestions/ideas? Thank you.

  15. Stephan June 18, 2009

    Hi! I'm finishing up on my SocialEngine networking community. My members don't want a Forum where you just simply post questions and wait for people to respond to you. They want something similar to an Email List type forum or like you can find on Yahoogroups or Googlegroups. I.e., a user posts a question, the question goes to all members email addresses, the members can respond from their person inboxes ( yahoo, hotmail, etc). Members respond and everyone can see their answers and then you have a discussion going. All of the discussion is at the same time being posted in a file like you see on yahoo groups. Does your plugin in do this? Also, is there a way to allow only a certain amount of questions or tailor this so its not a free for all? This is much better than a Forum with a sticky.

    Best,

    Stephan

  16. Paul Patrick Dale Oct. 24, 2009

    Was looking forward to testing you plugin, but unfortunately it does not work with WP v.2.8.5. I hope to see you update it for use. Good luck! Paul

  17. Alison Oct. 27, 2009

    I also have the fatal error message appearing when I try to activate the plugin.

    Will any instructions be coming out soon as this is a great plugin and I would love to use it

  18. Bhaskar Nov. 3, 2009

    Hello Brad,

    I am having the same fatal error as encoumtered by many.Can u tell me the reason for that.I hope if u have made the plugin u will definitely be having an idea whats wrong going on as only developer can have the idea whats the grey part of their coding.

  19. Jonathan Jan. 27, 2010

    I am having the same fatal error when activating the plugin, could someone please explain what the problem is and how I can fix it. Thanks in advance

  20. Dhinesh April 26, 2010

    Hi,

    I have try to install it but its shows "Plugin could not be activated because it triggered a fatal error." , Can you advice me what to do now?

    Im using 2.9.2 version

  21. Zaid Pirwani May 26, 2010

    Hey, do you have any plans for working on the plugin, is this safe to use on the LATEST wordpress version....

  22. alberta May 28, 2010

    i need to bit customization of your code, i have use this for my need help page, and created another form and table,, but it is not working jquery code gives error.

    can u guide me for customization of your code

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