drop down lists for custom fields

gerhard · 2007-07-24 18:44:53

Ok guys, I’m back on the ball.

Anoke, would you mind sharing those jQuery tips?

TJ, cheers mate, you’re the man for the documentation then! There will be a beta out soon, no worries : ).

M_i · 2007-07-31 17:24:05

Would your plugin (or perhaps the next one…) also offer some sort of front-end implementation? Using the same drop-down list, radio buttons, check boxes etc on the front-end would be a great way to search for articles.

To use your example: will visitors to your site be able to search for, say, apartments in London with 3 bedrooms?
(imagine a set of (multiple-)selects / radios /.. for type, city, bedroom etc with the same values as you’ve assigned to the custom fields at the backend)

redbot · 2007-08-07 16:24:21

Hi Gerhard,
I know I’m making a very annoying question but I really need an answer if possible.
I’m in the process of developing a site for which I need the same functionality offered by your plugin and – having not too much time – I’m wondering if it would be better to wait for the plugin to be released or to hack txp directly.
Obviously I would prefer the first option but I have just a couple weeks to make a decision.

I absolutely don’t want to bother or urge you. I know you are also working on the textcommerce plugin and probably have a private life. Anyway, if you could answer my question I would highly appreciate it. Thanks for the great work you are doing.

gerhard · 2007-08-07 19:19:55

redbot, Iris, and everyone else watching this, the plugin is happening and it will happen by the end of next week.

There is something big going on under the curtains so please bear with me a few more days. The big thing that is happening is linked with this plugin, I can’t make public one thing without the other. I am hoping to have the big thing cracked by the end of this week and the plugin by mid next week. Fingers crossed ; ).

Last edited by gerhard (2007-08-07 19:20:16)

redbot · 2007-08-08 12:59:21

Great Gerhard!
I’m sure this plugin will be a great enhancement in developing txp sites, giving the designer a lot of extra flexibility in the design phase and assuring a strongly improved usability for the final user.
So thank you very much, I can’t say how much your efforts are appreciated!!

M_i · 2007-08-09 15:19:11

gerhard wrote:

There is something big going on under the curtains so please bear with me a few more days.

ooohhhh… feels like Christmas Eve!

[sits back in nervous anticipation]

ooz · 2007-08-10 16:58:56

Let me support you by sending out some “alpha”-waves (of the same wavelength and focus). Your Plugin might help to solve one of my biggest task, a schedule-manager for a school. (zem-event or jmc-event-manager just need too much hacking to fit my needs, after all, I already have a database filled with events and a home-made cms to admin them).

Although I have it up and running all coded in php using MySQL, (since I’m totally impressed by TXP) of course I want to either integrate or restructure it for the TXP-CMS.

Start- and stop-times for example are handled using custom_fields, but for example locations, teachers and lesson-topics all refer to articles in sections of those names where one can “read more” about a specific teacher or location. Meaning that I need dropdowns for custom_fields containing lists of for example teacher-names (could equal permlinks to articles in section “teachers”).

Weekdays is something different then. At this stage I have a category “weekdays” with subcategories (mon-sun), since one can exclude the parent category in lists. I might switch to using custom_fields also for filtering weekdays though..

And a checkbox for “new class” or a radio-button for “language”, wow, can’t wait to see what you’re up to, the screenshots are pure overkill!!! :)

gerhard · 2007-08-13 12:00:33

Ok guys, I don’t have much time, but I just wanted to let you know that the first alpha is currently being tested on a production website run by my good mate Randy. I already have the first bugs back, they will be dealt with promptly. With a couple more hours on the back-end, the only thing remaining will be the front-end search and the front-end related functions. I have already done this for another private plugin I worked on so they will be straightforward.

I don’t know when I’ll finish the big thing (I doubt it will be this week taking into account the workload), but I really don’t want to release the plugin without it. A handful of people will receive a beta mid this week, the rest when everything is ironed out and the big thing is also finished.

I have thought long and hard about this, and I feel it’s only fair if I’ll ask for a download fee for this plugin. I don’t want to put a ransom on it and keep people waiting until it’s met, anyone that wants unlimited and instant access to all versions of this plugin FOR LIFE would contribute $20. Won’t that be the best $20 spent? : )

progre55 · 2007-08-14 01:23:41

Since Gerhard has so kindly mentioned me a couple of times in his emails on this board I felt it was about time I gave some insight into what I truly believe is one of those “must have” plug ins for Textpattern.

I have been using Textpattern for two plus years. I use it as the foundation for almost all the sites that I build, and like everyone in our community I think it is a tremendous tool. Very early on, one of my struggles with the application was the limit of 10 custom fields. In most, if not all, of my projects I use the custom fields to extend out the functionality and dynamic feel and flavor of my sites.

I first ran across Gerhard, when I located his custom field hack I implemented it right away and was content, at least for a little while.

As anyone who has used this hack knows there are several issues (which I think Gerhard would agree with). The primary ones are:

It is difficult to update the fields (especially when you have a lot of information)
It is nearly impossible to have the clients do any of the updating since you have to go into the TXP files
It is a HACK (need I say more)

But it worked and I was thankful to have it as a solution. :)

Then recently, I was involved with a project that required us to take it up a notch. The result (or at least some of the result) is the soon to be released Custom Field Plug In. I can guarantee that you will not be dissapointed.

The Custom Field Plug In that Gerhard has written, which I have been using and continue to use and test the latest version, solves all of the above issues.

He has designed the Plug In to be access from the Extension tab. From there, you can create several variations of custom fields (text, select, radio, checkbox) You could not have an easier design interface. Once the custom fields are created, they appear in the Write tab, where your custom fields would normally appear, but functioning with the assigned attributes (ie if you mark it as a select field, you now have a select field on the write tab for you and your users to pull values from) You can call the fields just as you would normally do.

There is more to tell, but I will leave that up to Gerhard …

I must now get back to work, but I wanted to let you all know it will definitely be worth the wait.

Randy

renobird · 2007-08-14 22:06:11

Sounds like $20 well spent. : )
Looking forward to seeing it.

—
Tom

ooz · 2007-08-22 06:26:34

I’m virtually postponing progress with ticking fingers logged in to see it happen…
$20 sound fair and could be saved just by cutting a slim slice of a coffee-budget.

lozmatic · 2007-08-24 09:52:06

Quick question… can these custom-custom fields be applied to different templates?

For example, I use the first custom field for a date value in one template and a link in another.

Cheers,

Loz

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#61 2007-07-24 18:44:53

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#62 2007-07-31 17:24:05

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#63 2007-08-07 16:24:21

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#64 2007-08-07 19:19:55

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#65 2007-08-08 12:59:21

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#66 2007-08-09 15:19:11

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#67 2007-08-10 16:58:56

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#68 2007-08-13 12:00:33

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#69 2007-08-14 01:23:41

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#70 2007-08-14 22:06:11

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#71 2007-08-22 06:26:34

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

#72 2007-08-24 09:52:06

Re: drop down lists for custom fields

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