During our recent site maintenance where we rolled out a new permissions scheme for the site, there was a critical conflict in the module that we were using to handle Joint Posts.  We were forced to decide between changing the way we did our Joint Posts or compramising site security by allowing people to edit more things than they should, or privacy and allowing people to view Joint Posts.  In the end we decided to change the method in which we handle Joint Posts.

We feel that the change will be intuitive and take very little time to understand, and we've also retained as many of the aspects that you were familiar with before, as we could.  We have taken it upon ourselves to convert all of your OLD JPs.  These instructions are only for the creation of new Joint Posts as we move forward.  Please take a few moments to check you 'My JP' page, and if any of your old JPs are missing, let us know.  It would have been easy for the admins to forget to save the changes that we made on one of them.

What are JPs and When do I use them?

JPs are Joint Posts, it's an alternative way to privately collaborate on a story without needing to utilize an outside source like your email or google docs.  You are welcome to use them whenever you would like, some people even use them for solo 'work in progress' types of pieces.  Anything that you would like to have on the site for convenient editing, but that you would like to keep private until publishing.

Why should I do a JP on the site, instead of via email?

JPs are optional, so there is no pressure to use them if you prefer another method.  However people have found that JPs are convenient because they are almost impossible to miss on the site.  A JP notification will show up on the left hand navigation bar for all contributors when there is an update, and will also show up on a Users My Game page.  It allows privacy and collaborative additions and editing in such a way the all contributors can see what was changed and by who, things that could get overlooked in bouncing an email or google doc back and forth.

How to Create a Joint Post (Short Version for advanced users)

1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Joint Post & this will open your entry screen
3. Fill out the required and optional fields and write or paste your intro bit into the Joint Post.  If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will strip some of the unnecessary code from the document
4. Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game.  You can do this after the JP is completed if you prefer.
5. Save your JP
6. Now that the Joint Post is created you need to go in and assign your collaborators.  Click on the Access Control Tab at the top,
7. Collapse or Ignore the first section labeled 'Role Based Access Control Settings'
8. Scroll Down to 'User Access Control Lists'
9. Fill out the 'Grant View Access' and 'Grant Update Access' sections.  The box will autofill, it is important that you get the handle correct in order for the other contributors to gain access.  You WILL get an error if it doesn't recognize the handle.
10. Very Important.  When you are done granting your view and update access privileges, don't forget to SAVE.  This is an easy thing to forget.

How to Create a Joint Post (Long Version for new users)

1. Locate the Create Content link, in the left hand Navigation Column, under My Tools
2. Click on Joint Post & this will open your entry screen
3. Required:  Title of your fiction piece
4. Click on the Story drop down box and select the game that the piece is for.
5. Unless your piece is adult in nature, you do not need to mess with Rating.
6. Optional: Characters, NPCs & Villains.  Allows you to enter names of important characters in your piece.  It will autoselect if it's already in the database, if it isn't it will auto create.  Check with your GM to see if they have a preference as to whether you fill this out.
7. Author is a required field.  Try to be consistent with the name that you'd like to use across all of your games.  (example: My handles are Chairman and Mayhem, but I use China in the author field.)
8. Body - This is where you write or paste your intro bit into the Joint Post. Feel free to use the text editor for special formatting.  If you are pasting from Word, please use the Pasting from Word button on the text editor, it will strip some of the unnecessary code from the document
9. Book Outline - This is where you assign your fiction piece to the correct game.  You can do this after the JP is completed if you prefer.
10. Click Preview to ensure your post is how you want it. DO NOT FORGET TO HIT SAVE if you preview first.  Common mistake and very easy to forget.
11. Click Save
12. Now that the Joint Post is created you need to go in and assign your collaborators.  Click on the Access Control Tab at the top,
13. Collapse or Ignore the first section labeled 'Role Based Access Control Settings'
14. Scroll Down to 'User Access Control Lists'
15. Select 'Grant View Access'
16. Add User Handles that you would like to allow view access to your Joint Post.  If you begin typing a name it will autofill.  It is important that you get the handle correct in order for the other contributors to gain access.  You WILL get an error if it doesn't recognize the handle.
17. Click the 'Add User Button' after each new viewer.
18. Select 'Grant Update Access' and repeat numbers 16 & 17.
19. Very Important.  When you are done granting your view and update access privileges, don't forget to SAVE.  This is an easy thing to forget.

How do I publish a JP when I'm ready for it to be front paged?

1. Click on the Access Control Tab
2. Under the first section labeled 'Role Based AccessControl Settings', click on the first two items in the very first row. (see screen shot A below)
   
3. Click Save and your Piece will become visible to the Site
4. Click back into the Edit Tab of your piece
5. Scroll down to Authoring Options and change the date and time to the current date and time, OR delete it and it will autoassign. This will make sure that it shows up at the top of the front page where it belongs. (see screen shot B below)
   
6. If you haven't already assigned your JP to the Game's Book Outline, please do so Now. (see screen shot B below)
   
7. Save your changes.

A

B