Hi,
from category manager you can choose only "Post permission".

You can create Album, Topic, ... for each Group (not roles). For example you can create a Private Group, invite your members and create a Topic for this group.

Ok.. So Groups are the way to isolate information to specific people when the group is made private. I've done that with a group, but I'm confused by the fact that it also says Public (see image) under Category. There is no other option under category. So what does that mean??

also, I do not find a way to invite people to this group. ???

i did find the way to invite members.

but i still don't understand that a category of public is the only option when i have created several categories (reference to the image in the 2nd message)

Hi,
you have created probably only Topic categories, but you don't have still created Group Categories.

I'm really trying to wrap my head around the structure here. Is there any clear explanation available for me to read? I've searched through your documentation but I still don't have an understanding of groups and categories.

Hi,
sorry there is not docs about this, Social Network plugin is very simple, for example we does not know how to write docs about categories, because each parameter that you have filled during creation is sufficiently explicit. If you have any doubt you can ask to us and we will be happy to explain.

I am asking about it here! I created a photo album that I want to share with 18 people but it is visible to everyone. I don't want to have to click on 'invite' people every time I share something with this same bunch of people. So I created a category for them and posted pictures. For privacy, I chose 'everyone' because I don't want to share it with 'my friends' (there are many friends not part of this 18) and I don't want privacy to be 'just me.'

So I created a 'group' with the 18 people and made the group type 'private.' But the category says public. So I am confused.

I then uploaded photos within the group area, which seems to restrict it to the group. But the group 'details' say the category is 'public.' This is confusing. What does category 'public' mean? It is obviously different than the privacy level. And how can I change that to minimize confusion in the group? Members of the group won't post information to the group if they think it is public.

I really don't understand how to use 'category' and am asking for help in understanding it.

Hi,

So I created a 'group' with the 18 people and made the group type 'private.' But the category says public. So I am confused.

This is only a category name that you have chosen, during installation the system install one category for each type (Groups,Topics,Albums,...) called "Default Category", probably you have changed the name from "Default Category" to "Public".
You should change category name from "Public" to something else

I would change it to something else if I understood the purpose of categories. But I'm still confused.

What would 'default' category mean? What is it's purpose?

I have created additional categories, but they do not appear as an option in the permissions window.

Group Type makes sense to me. So if I have a public group, category 'default' would mean what? And if I have a private group, category 'default' would mean what?

I'm trying to organize this in my mind in a similar way to Joomla.. which has groups (public, registered, super user, etc). In Social Network, how does category compare to the Joomla structure? If it doesn't, please explain its purpose.

also on the settings window for group categories is 'parent category' which remains blank.. there is nothing to do with it. what is it's purpose?

i don't know if these images will help you understand my confusion..

What is it's purpose?

Like Facebook the categories help the users to find correctly groups, for example, for a thematic area (Art, Music, .... ). Users can search via categories a Group related to own interests.

also on the settings window for group categories is 'parent category' which remains blank.. there is nothing to do with it. what is it's purpose?

To organize your categories you can create Headers and assign a category to an Header, see screenshots

i don't know if these images will help you understand my confusion..

I have just tested and when I click to "All Groups" then I can see 1 group, see screenshot. Maybe the update have fixed also this or probably a cache issue

Does this structure make sense to you?

Yes, this structure make a sense but the categories are not useful for this, topics of private groups are already visible only to group's members. To create a Group's Topic follow these steps:
- Go to Groups
- Go to My Groups (Private Groups are not listed in All Groups)
- In the left menu choose "Topics"
- Create your Topic

If you want to use only Group's Topics then you can think to remove Topics from the top menu:
- Go to Admin Panel
- Go to Plugins Manager
- Click to "Topics"
- Set it to not show in menu (see screenshot)

This was very helpful, everywhere except for 'events.'

I want to use events for a specific group only. I've tried making an event private, but then it disappears from view entirely. I don't want events visible to most members. I want to restrict it to a small group. How do I do that?

Its been 5 days since my last question.. perhaps you didn't see it. Here it is again:

I want to use events for a specific group only. I've tried making an event private, but then it disappears from view entirely. I don't want events visible to most members. I want to restrict it to a small group. How do I do that?