http://expressionengine.com/downloads/details/tag_module/

I saw that here and I’m unsure if I should purchase it.  I do want to be able to label my posts and have someone click that label and see every post with that label, but it appeared the built in categories function did that just fine.  If I have no interest in allowing users to tag posts, and no interests in a tag cloud, do I need this?  I just want to buy everything I need before I get the site running but I’m not seeing a purpose for this in my world, but I want to make sure I’m not missing any handy advantages that it has over categories.  I can put one item in multiple categories so I’m kind of confused by this optional purchase.

EDIT: By the way I’m going for a site similar to Joystiq or Destructoid.

ShadowXOR - 23 January 2008 03:31 PM

http://expressionengine.com/downloads/details/tag_module/

I saw that here and I’m unsure if I should purchase it.  I do want to be able to label my posts and have someone click that label and see every post with that label, but it appeared the built in categories function did that just fine.  If I have no interest in allowing users to tag posts, and no interests in a tag cloud, do I need this?  I just want to buy everything I need before I get the site running but I’m not seeing a purpose for this in my world, but I want to make sure I’m not missing any handy advantages that it has over categories.  I can put one item in multiple categories so I’m kind of confused by this optional purchase.

EDIT: By the way I’m going for a site similar to Joystiq or Destructoid.

Using the Categories Tags will only show the Categories you’ve assigned to that entry, and yes, clicking that Category link will then show all entries also in that Category.

I guess one of the main differences of Tag (excluding what you’ve already mentioned that you don’t need) is that you can apply ANY label you want to an entry, and depending on how many Tags or Categories you plan to use, using Tag Module in most cases would be MUCH easier to label that entry.
You can also use the Tag Module tab on the Publish page to suggest Tags from your content, etc.
You can also use the Tag Related Entries loop to display for example… 5 related entries beside or under your Main Entry, including sorting them by rank_limit= or rank_method=.

The answer is, it really depends.

If you plan to go simple and use a smaller amount of “Tags/Categories”, go Categories.
If you plan to use several, if not hundreds of Tags with ease, go Tag Module

Pie Man - 24 January 2008 08:30 AM

ShadowXOR - 23 January 2008 03:31 PM

http://expressionengine.com/downloads/details/tag_module/

I saw that here and I’m unsure if I should purchase it.  I do want to be able to label my posts and have someone click that label and see every post with that label, but it appeared the built in categories function did that just fine.  If I have no interest in allowing users to tag posts, and no interests in a tag cloud, do I need this?  I just want to buy everything I need before I get the site running but I’m not seeing a purpose for this in my world, but I want to make sure I’m not missing any handy advantages that it has over categories.  I can put one item in multiple categories so I’m kind of confused by this optional purchase.

EDIT: By the way I’m going for a site similar to Joystiq or Destructoid.

Using the Categories Tags will only show the Categories you’ve assigned to that entry, and yes, clicking that Category link will then show all entries also in that Category.

I guess one of the main differences of Tag (excluding what you’ve already mentioned that you don’t need) is that you can apply ANY label you want to an entry, and depending on how many Tags or Categories you plan to use, using Tag Module in most cases would be MUCH easier to label that entry.
You can also use the Tag Module tab on the Publish page to suggest Tags from your content, etc.
You can also use the Tag Related Entries loop to display for example… 5 related entries beside or under your Main Entry, including sorting them by rank_limit= or rank_method=.

The answer is, it really depends.

If you plan to go simple and use a smaller amount of “Tags/Categories”, go Categories.
If you plan to use several, if not hundreds of Tags with ease, go Tag Module

I like the idea of including five related entries below my main entry, that’s temping.  I’m not sure if I need that feature for $40 though…

And what do you mean that you can apply ANY label I want to an entry, can’t I already apply any category I want?  I’m not sure what feature you’re describing there.  Is there a place I can see a demo of these features?  I would like to install this before making my site live if I end up using it, I don’t want to be modifying all the time after launch.

ShadowXOR - 24 January 2008 01:00 PM

And what do you mean that you can apply ANY label I want to an entry, can’t I already apply any category I want?  I’m not sure what feature you’re describing there.

Well yes, if you want to apply any category you want, yes, you can just select it… but what I’m getting at is, depending on how often you need new “Tags/Categories”, that could be a pain in the butt…
For example… You;ve created a new entry… you want to apply a “Label” to it that already isn’t created (Categories vs Tag Module)

Categories: Now you have to flip screens, 5 clicks later, you’re at the Category Creation option… You now create the category, then flip back to the entry and apply it.
Tag Module: Like you would select Categories, instead you would go to the Tag Tab and enter your tags as you normally would (or use the Suggest feature to automatically look through your Description and plunk the Tags in)… and the new one(s)? Just type it in as another, done.

Hehe, I realize I probably sound like an infomercial at this point… but as I’ve said before, depending on how many “Labels” you plan to use, this could get extremely annoying with Categories… if you only intend to use a few categories, and rarely ad new ones, then ignore me, haha

ShadowXOR - 24 January 2008 01:00 PM

I would like to install this before making my site live if I end up using it, I don’t want to be modifying all the time after launch.

The beauty of this is that if you did decide to go Categories, and switch to Tag Module, it actually isn’t that bad
The Tag Module has a handy Harvest Function. It will off the hop (if desired) convert all your entries’ Category Names and convert them into Tags, and THEN plunk them into the cooresponding Entries.

It can also pull/suggest new tags from a custom field, and automatically plunk them into those entries.

ShadowXOR - 24 January 2008 01:00 PM

not sure if I need that feature for $40 though…

I’ll make you a deal.... for you… $39.95

Pie Man - 24 January 2008 03:16 PM

ShadowXOR - 24 January 2008 01:00 PM

not sure if I need that feature for $40 though…

I’ll make you a deal.... for you… $39.95

Sweet!

Is there somewhere that I can see a demo, or screenshots of the tagging interface, and what a post looks like after it is published?

As far as Front-End… it’s all up to you for styling

As for Control Panel… I’ve prepared a few shots for you.

It looks pretty handy...mainly to make things easier for my site.  I just spent a bunch of money on my site so I’m not sure if I can justify this right now.

However, if I do go with it.  How does it handle importing the categories and their subcategories?  I know you said it imported them but I wasn’t sure how it would handle the subcategories.

It counts each category as a category… so for example, if your structure looked like this:

- Nachos (selected)
----- Pie
----- Pizza (selected)
----- Pickles (selected)
----- Cheese
- Salsa (selected)
----- Tacos
----- Boots (selected)
----- Pants (selected)
----- Cheese
----- Apples (selected)

Your tags applied to that entry would be:
nachos, pizza, pickles, salsa, boots, pants, apples.

Although, you can also set certain tags as “Bad Tags” (say if you didn’t want the Primary Categories to be applied).