Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

Rimfya · 2008-03-25 02:02:54

Hiya there,

Intermediate TXP user here. Implemented a few TXP sites now, each one getting better as I’m learning more and more about what it can do, and what I can add. I’ve run into a little bit of a wall here so I’d appreciate a little planning help before I start:

(super big thank you to anyone who contributes to this thread, as I know I’m asking for free help here on something that will take a little thinking)

The site will have 3 sections, but more will be added over time.

The site will need 2 kinds of articles:

The first are just normal articles, in their own little sections
The second are “packages”, which will need articles appended to them, from multiple sections, and will appear in any section that these appended articles are from. (Appending those articles could be in the custom field as a comma separated list of ID#‘s.)

That’s where I’m running into trouble. Appending the articles is fine, but making them display in several sections? More difficult. I’ve considered the unlimited_categories plug-in, but I’d much rather do this with sections.

Any help on how to make this happen, will be greatly appreciated!

whaleen · 2008-03-25 21:28:32

I think the solution for me would be in different article forms, and unlimited categories or tags.

If you do decide to use categories you could build an article form for all ‘packages’ articles that would output all related articles in any section. The articles could be related by category. You could consider building those relationships with ‘tags’ if you want to reserve categories for something else. Can you talk about what you want to see in the end because I’m not sure exactly what your trying to accomplish. I see how your setting up but not why.

Rimfya · 2008-03-25 21:56:29

Thanks. Yeah I was considering using the unlimited categories now as my solution. I’ll try to explain better…

Each section is different services that the company does (eg Fruit, Vegies, Bakery)

In each section there would be the normal articles, for everything in that section.
Fruit Section

Apple
Orange
Pear

Those would be displayed in one menu. Then there are the packages, which would be their own articles, but append those normal articles to it, from any section for example:

Article: Package 1

Apple
Orange
Carrots
Bread

Hope that clears it up… I’d rather not have it that a new category has to be made for each package-article. I had considered doing it like this:

Have a section called Packages
Use the unlimited_categories, with exactly the same names as the textpattern sections to define which sections the packages will appear in
Use a custom field to define a comma separated list of the articles that are appended to the package article (eg 1,4,6)

whaleen · 2008-03-25 23:08:02

Have a section called Packages

Use the unlimited_categories, with exactly the same names as the textpattern sections to define which sections the packages will appear in

Use a custom field to define a comma separated list of the articles that are appended to the package article (eg 1,4,6)

You could use the article_custom tag in your page or form template instead of a custom field:

<div><txp:article /></div> (Outputting your Package 1 Article)

<div><txp:article_custom category="package1" form="example" /></div> (Using a custom form you could call experpts from those fruits articles to help produce shorter articles in case you ever have 20 things in a package and don’t want a list running on for miles. Then you could have a ‘more’ button to take you to actual fruit article itself.)

That would simplify the publishing process. You’d just have to select the category (package(s) the apple, or pear articles belong in.

I really can’t think of much else without seeing how you will use forms and page templates . Aside from attempting to write those myself that is. :)

I wonder if the wondertag plugin has anything to offer?

Rimfya · 2008-03-25 23:15:14

Thanks for the ideas.

Yeah, for the packages I was going to have the form display the article for Package 1, then another form below showing excerpts. I guess what I was trying to avoid was have the user create a new category for every package, as they may add or remove them from time to time.

whaleen · 2008-03-25 23:18:25

I had a feeling this was about making it easier on the user. That’s my biggest hurdle most of the time.

Good luck.

Rimfya · 2008-03-25 23:30:02

Haha, yeah I know I know… if it was for me I could handle it.

Textpattern CMS

Textpattern CMS support forum

#1 2008-03-25 02:02:54

Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#2 2008-03-25 21:28:32

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#3 2008-03-25 21:56:29

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#4 2008-03-25 23:08:02

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#5 2008-03-25 23:15:14

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#6 2008-03-25 23:18:25

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

#7 2008-03-25 23:30:02

Re: Please Help me Plan this TXP Site

Board footer