Shared folders with _h5ai File listing

I have been looking at ways to make the file listings on the BibleBox much better looking than the Apache default.  I found h5ai developed by Lars Jung and like the look of it. It’s built with HTML5 Boilerplate, jQuery + Modernizr and can be implemented with only a few easy steps, and, best of all, the listings can be presented in multiple languages.

I’ve tried it on a website I manage (BibleHub.org) and here’s some screenshots showing a share folder on that site (running with Apache) with h5ai and without so you can see the enhancements that h5ai offers. It’s pretty cool, and the sort of thing I have wanted to incorporate into the BibleBox.  Check out the difference!!

BibleBox h5ai

Default listing without h5ai installed

BibleBox h5ai

Folder list with h5ai – list view, small

BibleBox h5ai

Folder view with h5ai, List view, large

BibleBox h5ai

Folder view with h5ai, Icon view, large

To setup h5ai on your website follow these steps (if hosting is using Apache)

Requires PHP 5.2.1+

  1. Copy folder _h5ai to the document root directory of your web server and visit http://YOUR-DOMAIN.TLD/_h5ai/. The page that loads will give you some hints on your server’s capabilities.
  2. Add /_h5ai/server/php/index.php to the end of your webservers default index-file list. All directories that don’t have a valid index file will get styled by h5ai.

Examples of the second step for Apache web servers:

  • If using Apache httpd 2.2/2.4: in httpd.conf or in any directory’s .htaccess file add the following line:

DirectoryIndex index.html index.php /_h5ai/server/php/index.php

h5ai Configuration:

You can also configure the settings of h5ai by modifying the options.json file in the _h5ai/conf  folder on your webserver.

[~yourwebserveraddress]/_h5ai/conf/options.json

Everything is explained really clearly in the options.json file and Lars has done a great job making it easy to understand.

You can set downloads of multiple files as a zipped file (.zip), show QR codes for files, choose whether or not to show thumbnail files also.

Download h5ai here

BibleBox and e-Learning for Community Development

After having a conversation with Allan Carrington I usually have a mountain of resources and ideas to continue to work through.  I reall love his vision and passion for learning development and the ways that different technologies can support that.

Think outside the boxWe’ve just been talking about the BibleBox and how it could be used to deliver e-Learning packages.  Learning packages could range from a university class, to a school, to an isolated college in Indonesia or Burma.  packages could be educational, biblical, Health or Community Development related – or all of these in one single Moodle install.

One of the ideas Allan has given me is to get a Moodle site running from the BibleBox. Moodle is an eLearning platform (opensource) which is used by thousands of students around the world.  We also talked about Articulate Storyline and Studio 13 packages.  I know these will work as they are webbrowser based objects.

The tricky one will be Moodle.  It looks like it’s possible to install LAMP on OpenWRT – but Cyclone Ita is on its way so we’ll all be chilling out this weekend in Cairns- perfect opportunity to nerd it up.

 

Convert your Librarybox to a BibleBox

BibleBox is based on Piratebox and Librarybox software.  If you already have a standard Librarybox setup you can easily convert it to a BibleBox by following these steps:

  1. Download the following BibleBox files –
    • BibleBox files – alters functionality and rebranding BibleBox – zip file – 600KB
  2. Unzip the files and you will see 3 folders – Config, Content and Shared
  3. Insert the USB from your Librarybox into your computer
  4. Copy the Config and Content folders from BibleBox to your USB drive, replacing the contents on your Librarybox USB – this will overwrite the Librarybox webpages and config files with BibleBox UI and config (more…)

Mobile Device – Thunderbox Ministry

I walked into our living room a couple of nights back and saw the television on with the girls favourite TV show on, but each of my four girls looking into an iPad or iPhone screen.  I couldnt see what each of them was doing unless I peered over their shoulder, each of them was in their own digital world. (more…)

BibleBox hardware finalised

The hardware side of the BibleBox project is now all sorted after the vinyl decals arrived today!  I like the look of it all, it’s come together well.

Specifications of the TP-Link MR3040

  • CPU: AR9331@400MHz
  • RAM: 32 MiB
  • 1 x 10/100 ethernet port
  • 1 x USB 2.0 port
  • 1 x Micro USB charging port
  • Internal Antenna
  • Internal 2000mAh rechargeable battery, 5VDC/1.0A external power adapter
  • Wireless Standards:  IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n 
  • Frequency: 2.4-2.4835GHz 
  • Signal Rate: Up to 150Mbps
  • Weight – 94g (3.3oz)
  • Dimensions – 3.9 x 2.4 x 0.6 in. (100 x 62 x 16 mm)

There’s still some more work to do on the web interface and some trialling to see how useable others find it.   (more…)