Blocks

Blocks are another part of your eFiction site that let you configure the look and feel of your site. A number of blocks are included with eFiction. You can also create your own or add blocks others have created. The included blocks are as follows:

Block name	Block Description
Categories	This block lists the top level categories on your site.
Featured	This block lists one or more of the featured stories of your site (depending on configuration).
Info	This block lists a variety of information about your site including the number of: members, authors, stories, words, reviews, and chapters.
Login	This block displays a login form allowing you to include a login form on the index page or every page should you choose.
Menu	This block builds a menu from the page links in your site. Configurable.
News	This block displays one or more of the news items on your site.
Online	This block displays who is presently online on your site.
Poll	This block lets you query your members using a multiple choice question. Also includes an archive of poll questions and results.
Random	This block displays a random story with each page load.
Recent	This block lists the most recently added/updated stories for your site.
Search	A simple search box for inclusion in your skins.
Shoutbox	A shoutbox for your site. Also includes an archive.
Skinchange	This block displays a drop down that will let visitors who aren't logged in select from the site's skins the one they wish to display.

The first page here lists the blocks available to you. Some will have been pre-installed. The first column lists the name of the block and is not editable. The second column, which you can edit, displays the title of the block as it will be displayed on your site. The third column displays the block's status. There are three possible status options.

• Inactive - The block is completely off.

• Active - The block will load on every page.

• Index Only - The block will load on the index (home) page only.

It is advisable that if the block does not display on every page, you set it to "Index Only" or "Inactive" as this will save on your site's resources. The one exception to this is the Online block. If you use this block, you must set it to "Active" for the block to work properly.

The fourth column, gives you the option to admin the block if there are options to administer.

You may also see the name of a block and the words "Initialize Block" instead of the last three columns. You will see this when a block is available to be installed, but has not been installed yet. The Online, Poll, Search and Shoutbox blocks are not installed by default. Click on "Initialize Block" then change the status of the block to "Active" or "Index Only" to activate it.