Turn OFF the new Text Editor - It can be done

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

Most NCs and members are loving the new Text Editor that Ning worked hard to implement for us.  But there are threads on here that indicate that some NCs are not happy with the new Text Editor.  Today I found a way to turn off the new Text Editor and replace it with a plain textarea.  It seems to work well for comments and replies.

 

I worked on this because the new editor affects my Smileys app and my Forum Signature app.  Both are working again on my site.

 

I am not ready to release my methods yet.  I just made this work a little while ago.  I just wanted to let you all know that this can be done.  If anyone wants to see it in action, please visit my site and comment about this issue, here:

http://jqueryhelp.ning.com/forum/topics/our-smiley-app-and-nings-new 



[Cautious]

This is great! I read at your network that you can also make it transparent. That would be wonderful for Themes. I applaud your success!

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

It is now transparent, as you can see on your profile page. http://jqueryhelp.ning.com/profile/AnGella

[AnGella]

So if I am understanding correctly, this is a replacement textarea and the iframe is disabled?

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

TinyMCE adds an iFrame in addition to the textarea which was always there and is still there, but hidden.  My method shuts off tinyMCE and their iFrame gets hidden, and the hidden textarea is no longer hidden.

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

Here is an update on my method of turning off the new Ning Text Editor.

 

1. The textarea I replace the text editor with is Transparent!

 

2. My method of turning off the new text editor causes it to turn into a regular textarea input field, but this happens after the new text editor has loaded. So, if you are editing some content that already exists, the new text editor will do its thing - possibly messing with the HTML in your content - before my method comes along and switches the new editor off.

The way to stop the new text editor from running in the first place is to initialize it but not load it. This can be done by Ning but can not be done by any of us. I believe the new text editor gets loaded by javascript which is in all of our networks but which we can't change. Just view your source and search for "var sources =" and you'll see Ning's javascript loader code. We can't get at that code to make changes.

 

3. My method works on most textboxes with the new text editor.  I did see it doesn't work right when Editing a Discussion.  It still shows up as the new text editor but only works in HTML mode.

 

See this method working, and comment on it, here: http://jqueryhelp.ning.com/forum/topics/our-smiley-app-and-nings-new

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

12/13/10 UPDATE:

I've been researching this new text editor the last few days and I'm just starting to get an idea of what can be done to modify it.  So far, I can:

 

1. Turn it off, but only after it loads for a second.

2. Make it Transparent, again a second after it loads. (Jen, maybe we can do this with CSS?)

3. Inject HTML into the editor window - my Signature app is working again! :-)

 

Coming soon:

1. Fix for the Smileys app so you can click them to get them into the editor when in Visual mode (the default mode).  Now it only works when in HTML mode but you can drag and drop a Smiley in Visual mode.

2. There should be a way to strip HTML tags from editors on certain pages, "Herself" was asking about this.

3. Really, anything can be added, removed, changed in the editor box before it gets saved to Ning's "store" (their database).

[TJ @ jQueryHelp]

Code to try if you want to make your new text editor transparent:

http://jqueryhelp.ning.com/forum/topics/make-the-new-text-editor

 

 

I was able to work with Herself to strip out HTML from the new text editor to prevent members from including pics in certain parts of her network.  Read about that, here:

http://creators.ning.com/forum/topics/urgent-please-read-text