[Web4lib] Using DOM scripting to show/hide Meebo widget based onlogin status

[Kozlowski,Brendon]

Rather than trying to go through the difficult process of detecting when the staff member is offline for off-hours (as that seems to be the concern), why not simply hide it based on your normal operating hours?  Although not as efficient, it would be easier to implement and something you could do "now" while trying to find the actual answer.
 
The problem with detecting the Meebo widget's online/offline state is that it does so via AJAX as it is, so even it won't know until after the page has loaded.  You'd have to detect not only if it's offline, but when it's completed its network status checking for that account, then make changes - depending on how it's done, possibly causing "screen flicker".
 
That being said, I'm sorry to say that I don't know the answer to your question, and as someone else mentioned, I will soon be implementing LibraryH3lp and bypassing the Meebo-for-library's webpages fad altogether.  Good luck!
 
 
 
Brendon Kozlowski
Web Administrator
Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry Street
Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
[518] 584-7860 x217

________________________________

From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Cox, Thomas
Sent: Wed 10/7/2009 9:10 AM
To: University and College Webmasters; web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Web4lib] Using DOM scripting to show/hide Meebo widget based onlogin status



Good morning,



We are considering adding the Meebo widget to the pages of our library
website.  We are concerned, however, about off-hours time when a
librarian is not logged on.  I'd like to perform some DOM scripting such
that if a librarian is not logged on, we hide the widget.  Does anyone
know if the Meebo widget exposes the login status?   Has anyone done
this?



Thank ever so much,

Thom W. Cox
Technical Project Manager
Tisch Library
Tufts University
Medford, MA

"Every technology has a philosophy which is given
expression in how the technology makes people  use their minds,
in how it codifies the world, and in which of our senses it
amplifies..."

    - Neal Postman



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