[howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

merz1 · 2006-06-01 14:12:08

I had a feature request and found the solution myself by research in the forum. Here is my solution:

Original feature request for a meta description plug-in

I am looking for a plug-in which only generates a meta-description tag. Somehow a meta-description generator with the following features is not available.

Features:

Some pre-defined leading text
if article – The standard TXP keywords for that article (optional: custom field)
if article list – some pre-defined keywords
if search result – some pre-defined keywords
Some pre-defined trailing text
An option to cut the meta-description tag to a maximum length

The workaround solution. Not covering all points from the feature request but already satisfying (myself).

Create form ‘meta_articletitle’. Content:

<meta name="description" content="Some pre-defined leading text: <txp:title /> - <txp:keywords /> - Some pre-defined trailing text" />

Create form ‘meta_description’. Content:

<txp:if_individual_article>
<txp:article form="meta_articletitle" />
</txp:if_individual_article>
<txp:if_article_list>
<meta name="description" content="Some pre-defined leading text: <txp:sitename /> - Some pre-defined trailing text" />
</txp:if_article_list>

Call form ‘meta_description’ in page header:

<txp:output_form form="meta_description" />

Of course you can play around with the used tags in the forms ‘meta_articletitle’ and in ‘meta_description’ as you like. In form ‘meta_description’ you must make sure to only use tags which are allowed in the header context!

Edit: Fast add-on tip for lists (beside all the if/else conditions you may want to add): Add page number <txp:page_url type="pg" /> to cover multiple page lists.

You can see the results on my German page sankt-georg.info.

Coments and refinements welcome!

Last edited by merz1 (2010-10-28 12:26:20)

els · 2006-06-01 21:44:20

I moved this to How-tos and Examples. There is btw a similar post about customizing page titles.

Bastian · 2006-06-01 22:39:21

Propaply a little plugin will do this job better.

I didn’t test it, but something like should work

<pre><code> function my_meta($atts,$thing){ global $pretext; if(emty($pretext[‘id’])){ //if empty, we handle a list return ‘<meta description=“standard text” /> ‘; } else{ //we have to fetch the custom-field, //because $thisarticle is not defined $customMeta = fetch(‘custom_x’,‘textpattern’,‘ID’,$pretext[‘id’};); return “<meta description=’$customMeta’ />”; } } </code></pre>

Place <my_meta /> into the head of your page.

This should be a little faster, beauce there is only one db-query.
If you call <article /> there are some more and you don’t need to call conditional tags

els · 2006-06-02 17:17:30

I would like to try this, Bastian, but does it mean that I have to enter my “standard text” in the plugin code? And replace ‘x’ in custom_x with the number of the customfield I suppose? Or should that be the name of the custom field?

swf · 2006-06-02 17:57:17

you could include a $default attribute to the code of the plugin so people can set that without altering the plugin, same with setting the custom field to query.

Bastian · 2006-06-02 18:42:30

If someone wants such a plugin, let me know.
I use a plugin like this to deliver JS and CSS by section or atricle. So i could change thatone.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-06-02 18:50:25

Bastian wrote:

If someone wants such a plugin, let me know.
I use a plugin like this to deliver JS and CSS by section or atricle. So i could change thatone.

This sounds very interesting indeed. I am looking for a solution to dynamically switch css for different sections. Would such a plugin be difficult to write?

els · 2006-06-02 18:52:10

You don’t need a plugin for that?! What about setting it in Presentation > sections? Or do I completely misunderstand you?

Bastian · 2006-06-02 18:56:41

I am looking for a solution to dynamically switch css for different sections. Would such a plugin be difficult to write?

Switching by sections isn’t difficult, because it is build-in in txp :)
You can define a css for each section

Adding CSS or JS for each article is a little more difficult.
But not much.

I have a custom-field wich contains CSS or JS files, if a article needs them.

For example this one contains CSS and JS fiels wich are not included by the parent section.

A plugin reads only the custom-field (like mentioned above) and includes the needed files into the head.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-06-02 19:05:48

Yah..I misworded my post. I would like to assign css to sections and certain articles as well.

I just discovered the joy of custom fields today…never occured to me to use them to assign css on the fly. Probably because I dont have this plugin of yours ;)

Bastian · 2006-06-02 19:23:42

This is the plugin i use at my site.

I renamed one custom-field to “CSS & JS” and stored there the files i need to display the articles proper.
The plugin regognize this pattern in custom-field:
CSS:a-css;JS:a-js

Place <txp:bas_css /> and/or <txp:bas_js /> into you head and it will output:
<script src="/javascript/per-article/a-js.js" type="text/javascript"></script> and/or
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/stylesheets/per-article/a-css.css" type="text/css" />

Note: I wrote this one for my personal use. Every pathes are hardcoded and have to be adjusted to fit to your site.

This “ if($is_article_list == true){ “-part i had included, because sometimes i use only JS and script must be in page’s head If you use css within article you will recive invalid xhtml.

Ace of Dubs · 2006-06-02 20:17:38

Thanks Bas!

About to head out for a beer. I will give this a try tomorrow afternoon.

Bastian · 2006-06-02 20:40:29

Yes! Friday evening and i will leave now for some beer, too.
Trink one for me and i will trink one for you

:)

Ace of Dubs · 2006-06-03 17:30:27

Ohhhhhhh…my head! No more beer..never again (or at least until next Friday)

The good news is that your little plugin works as promised. Thanks a lot.. Sie sind ein Genie

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#1 2006-06-01 14:12:08

[howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#2 2006-06-01 21:44:20

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#3 2006-06-01 22:39:21

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#4 2006-06-02 17:17:30

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#5 2006-06-02 17:57:17

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#6 2006-06-02 18:42:30

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#7 2006-06-02 18:50:25

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#8 2006-06-02 18:52:10

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#9 2006-06-02 18:56:41

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#10 2006-06-02 19:05:48

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#11 2006-06-02 19:23:42

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#12 2006-06-02 20:17:38

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#13 2006-06-02 20:40:29

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

#14 2006-06-03 17:30:27

Re: [howto] Article dependent meta description in page header

Board footer