how to include change log data in a profile view?

[minbori]

My requirement is very similar to this post

http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,18922.msg79256.html#msg79256

but that thread doesn't seem to have a resolution, so I'm making a new post......

I need to be able to include a "Last Change by XXX (November 4th, 2014 3:18 PM)" in a frontend profile.  I know that data is available in the Change Log tab in the backend, but I can't figure out how to expose this data in a frontend profile.

I don't think Change Log data is available in any of the Contact Type data so I can't include it in a profile, and I don't see how I can create a custom data date field that automatically updates with the current date whenever a record is updated.

Am I missing something obvious? Or is this a heavy customization?

[Donald Lobo]

you will need to do this as an extension and populate the custom data date field in the extension code

does not seem to be a heavy extension, should be relatively easy

lobo

[minbori]

Thanks so much for the reply Lobo, could you also point me in the right direction as to what sort of extension this would be?  I'm not even sure where I would start. So far I have only customized the SMARTY templates.  Do I need to create an extension to replace the entire profile view?  Or is it a module to retrieve the change log data, that can be inserted into the existing profile?

[Michael McAndrew]

I'm not even sure where I would start. So far I have only customized the SMARTY templates.

Have you done much programming before / are you up for a programming challenge? That is what this will be if you have not done similar stuff before (and probably even if you have)

http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC/Create+an+Extension
and
http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC/Create+a+Module+Extension

are good starting points, and I don't want to put you off,  but there is a learning curve that you should be aware of so I suspect you'll need a few more resources and a bit of help along the way.  All stuff that you should be able to find from this community if you have the time to invest yourself.

The alternative of course, is to commission someone else to do the work, but that way is not as "fun".

To answer your last question, I think it should be

a module to retrieve the change log data, that can be inserted into the existing profile?

Michael

[minbori]

Have you done much programming before / are you up for a programming challenge?

Yes on both counts -- I do now recall that a while back I did implement a custom hook inside a Joomla plugin, so the resources you suggested are sounding familiar. Just have to blow the dust off 

And this

a module to retrieve the change log data, that can be inserted into the existing profile?

Points me exactly in the direction I need to go.  Thanks so much!