Textpattern CMS

#1 2008-11-06 02:36:34

azw

Member

Registered: 2007-01-29

Posts: 279

[request] A plugin to store and search a list of names and associated attributes

I need a plug-in that would use the database to store a list of names, each associated with a category name. The names and category have nothing to do with the architecture of the TXP site and nothing to do with articles, although the list would be searchable and could be displayed in an article. I think it should be created wtih two tables, one for names and another for the associated categories, because some of the individuals will be associated with more than one category.

I want to add this data to a database so the list will be easy to update and easy for visitors to search.

Would this be fairly easy to do? Anyone interested?

#2 2008-11-14 04:19:52

azw

Member

Registered: 2007-01-29

Posts: 279

Re: [request] A plugin to store and search a list of names and associated attributes

A private message from Steve (Netcarver) made it clear that I need to better clarify the need.

The plug-in I need would allow a librarian to share information about files he has in his archive. He would be able to add new records, edit the data, and search and view this information. All of this would be done in pages of a Textpattern site. So there will be a data entry/editing page. And there will be a page that displays the data. Booth pages would also offer options for searching the data.

We’d also need a way to limit editing privileges to site administrators or editors.

The database would probably contain at least two tables or files. One would be a list of people: their “name” their “organization”, and a field for any “comments” on each person.

There would be a second table listing the the “record location” (where the records on these people are stored). Each person could be listed more than once (in other words, they could have records in several locations).

Because there are only 20 or so organizations and each person is only assigned to one organization (I could be wrong about that, I’ll have to check), we should have another table or file which lists the “organizations”. The “comment” field can be part of the people file/table. The “record location“field would have to be a separate table/file because of possible multiple locations per individual.

The “name”, “organization”, and “record location” fields would be required (can not be NULL). “Comment” would not be required.

A visitor or editor would be able to search on “name”, “organization”, “record location”, or by words in the “comment” field. They could also list the people (“names” and other attributes) in an alphabetical listing. Of course, searches the match multiple records would display a list of people with all their associated attributes.

I hope this detail is helpful. I’m probably forgetting something, but that’s most of it. Please let me know if I need to clarify anything.

#3 2008-11-17 20:15:51

kevinpotts

Member

From: Ghost Coast

Registered: 2004-12-07

Posts: 370

Re: [request] A plugin to store and search a list of names and associated attributes

It sounds to like you’re looking for either a shredded and rebuilt version of Textpattern’s handling of articles, or a completely different CMS. This kind of customized schema goes beyond TXP’s abilities. While a lot can be done with custom fields, they are not inherently searchable, and there is no way to make them required without some additional scripting in the admin section.

I have never actually said this before, but you may want to look into something a little more advanced, like Expression Engine, which does allow the creation of customized schemas.

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Kevin
(graphicpush)

#4 2008-11-17 20:24:40

azw

Member

Registered: 2007-01-29

Posts: 279

Re: [request] A plugin to store and search a list of names and associated attributes

Thanks for you input, Kevin!

I’m not sure my explanation was clear. This will be just one page or article in a TXP site. So, it’s not a huge programming task. Yeah, it is beyond what TXP offers out of the box. I’d rather stick with TXP and realize that I may have to write the script myself.

Last edited by azw (2008-11-17 20:25:37)