The "comment" box as a quick append mechanism can attract the features of "prepend", but that then warrants the desire to insert at a specific position or text marker.
The following code is a first draft modification of the "append" function which can do this.
(In my testing I added a checkbox to the comment form, along with a parameter to comment to switch to the "insert" instead of "append" function when called.)
Code:
security.declareProtected(Permissions.Comment, 'insert')
def insert(self, text='', separator='\n\n', REQUEST=None, log='',
insertpoint='-1',insertmarker='<a name="insertpt" />'):
"""
Inserts some text to an existing zwiki page by calling edit;
may result in mail notifications to subscribers.
"""
text = str(text)
if text:
oldtext = self.read()
# find insertion point
if str(insertpoint).isdigit(): # try with the input param (and has to be positive)
insertpoint = int(str(insertpoint),10)
else:
insertpoint = -1
if insertpoint == -1: # not using (or bad) given insertpoint, look for marker
insertpoint = oldtext.find(insertmarker)
if insertpoint == -1: # marker not found, pre-pend
insertpoint = 0
else:
insertpoint = insertpoint + len(insertmarker) # gather insertion point (after, as insertion is the counter to the "append" function)
# usability hack: scroll to bottom after adding a comment
if REQUEST:
REQUEST.set('redirectURL',REQUEST['URL1']+'#insertpt') # perhaps this should try to snag the "name" or "id" tag in the marker.
# slicing snakes around 'index out of range' errors
self.edit(text=oldtext[:insertpoint]+text+separator+oldtext[insertpoint:],
REQUEST=REQUEST,log=log)
Notes...
I haven't tested the insert by numeric position.
Seperator is a strange issue. Worst case scenario may require a pre,and post seperator parameter (Did I mention I truly appreciate Python's dynamic parameters in this context?) Uses: Page blogs - most recent addition on top, seperating propery change and comments (not recommended!), perhaps changing the issue additions to go in reverse order... , Entry forms (FAQ, list building)...
How to integrate into footer? Primarily leave that to customization, but perhaps highlighting if the page includes the insertion marker or a property.
Default marker probably not compatible with reStructuredText
Marker must exactly match. First marker found is used.
Tangent note: I'm surprised that a blank COMMENT entry (text) actually posts an item to a page. This may be a seperate issue, correctable by expanding on the "if text:" condition. (But then what do you say to the user?)