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Help me understand archives, please (read the FAQs)
I’ve read the FAQs and how-do-I’s. I know how to create forms and use tags. I know I can use rss_suparchive. What I can’t figure out is where the tags that create archive links should be placed?
This FAQ page says to create an “archive” section. But there already is an “archive” section and an “archive” page in the default installation. The default archive section shows all the articles I’ve ever posted, except those from sections with “On front page=No”. This will grow quickly and won’t be very useful. Is this what I should use, or should I create a separate section and page for archives? But then there’ll be two archive sections, like “archive” and “archive-list” – I guess I’m confused!
Or should I use the Archive page as a static page with a “sticky” article, and put all the archive-creation tags in that article?
And what is the purpose of the “default” section (the one on top, that cannot be deleted and has only two settings)? You cannot publish to this section, since it’s not available in the drop-down when creating an article. So what is it used for and how is it different from the default Archive section?
Lots of questions, I know, I just couldn’t find any piece of documentation that explains the purpose of all the sections and pages and forms in a default install. I’m probably misunderstanding the purpose of the default Archive section. I also can’t figure out what certain forms are used for, such as lofi or single. Is this documented anywhere, please?
Thanks a lot,
.marek
Well I can get the ‘a’. But how do I put the circle around it?
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#2 2006-04-12 00:24:50
- Mary
- Sock Enthusiast
- Registered: 2004-06-27
- Posts: 6,236
Re: Help me understand archives, please (read the FAQs)
This FAQ page says to create an “archive” section. But there already is an “archive” section and an “archive” page in the default installation.
The sections “article”, archive and “about” are merely pre-defined sections for convenience, to enable Textpattern to work out of the box. Quite a lot of people start out with Txp by deleting those, and then get confused as to why nothing works. If you’ve already got your archive/article section (and whatever you want to label it), then no, you don’t need to create a new one.
And what is the purpose of the “default” section
The “default” section is something altogether different. It is specifically for the front or “default” page. It contains all articles from sections set to display on the front page, and out of the box styles articles in category lists and search results. Hence it cannot be deleted, but exactly how much it shows depends upon the page-type tags you use.
…where the tags that create archive links should be placed?
That’s a question harder to answer. It depends upon what kind of style you’re after. You mention you know forms and tags, and the plugins available to you. I think the easiest way to help you would be to give you an example.
Take the section where you’ve got your articles posted. On it’s page put
<txp:if_individual_article>
<txp:article />
<txp:else />
<!-- put your rss_suparchive tag here -->
</txp:if_individual_article>Note, when you view an individual article (http://mysite.com/archive/my-title), you will see your article displayed (if you specify an article form, it will use that form to display the article. if you don’t, them the “default” article form will be used), but when you visit the section list (http://mysite.com/archive) you see your pretty archive.
Last edited by Mary (2006-04-13 03:01:11)
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Re: Help me understand archives, please (read the FAQs)
There is no “archive” section created in a new TXP install. The “article” section uses the “archive” page template (which I always think is a little confusing, maybe that template should also be called “article”) but the only sections created are “default”, “about” and “article”.
If you don’t want to use the plug-in and prefer to use TXP native tags you could read my 2 articles about archives.
Last edited by thebombsite (2006-04-12 18:01:57)
Stuart
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