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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 28, 2006 - 09:07 PM

  As we don't have any docs yet on this one (mostly due to my house move...) I thought i'd take a few minutes to quickly post how to enable categories support for the some of the modules in the value addons package.
  
  At this time (and IIRC!) the modules that are category enabled are Quotes, News, Pages (formally Sections) and FAQ. Directly after you install each of these modules the category drop down will be empty. This is because we have a completely generic category system where you could have a single category setup across the site or, as in .7x, use different categories for each content type.
  
  So there is a need to let each modue know where in your category tree it should look for it's categories. This is achieved via the categories registry (admin->content->categories->edit category registry).
  
  Using the news module as an example. In the first drop down (the module) select 'News'. This will populate a list of tables handled by the module into the second field - select pn_stories (the only table here...). In the third field (the property name) type Main.
  
  Lastly select where in the category tree you want to use as the categories. A sample tree /__SYSTEM__/Modules/Quotes/Default is probably a good place to start. Click submit and now your category drop-downs will contain the categories listed in this part of the category tree. For the next milestone the sample data will be replaced by something a little more generic.
  
  Hopefully this will aid in the testing pending some more detailed documentation.
  
  -Mark
  
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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 12:01 AM

  Dont you think this is extremely over complicated for normal users? Heck, 70% of users cant even figure out the permissions system (i personally think they are easy). I am thinking about this in a content organization way. Even Pagesetter has a decent way of creating unlimited categories.

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 12:22 AM

  Sorry but I don't understand the reference to unlimited categories... This can be done by adding items to the category tree. To add an item to the category tree click new category, select where in the tree (the parent category), add your description (if needed) and click submit.
  
  If you mean the additional fields - these have uses which haven't be explored fully yet.
  
  This post was purely about telling a module where to start in the category tree - which currently involves selecting the module, table (possibly can be avoided) and where in tree you want your categories to start.
  
  On a more generic note could be you please be more specific (and constructive) with your feedback. Saying things don't work or are too complicated doesn't help at all. What specific is too complicated, what would *you* change to make it simpler etc.
  
  -Mark
  
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• cyber_wolf
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 02:10 AM

  Mark,
  
  Is there a way for modules to maintain thier list of categories without having to leave the module, go to the categories module to add new categories, then go back to module they were in to continue adding content?
  
  Thanks,
  cyber_wolf
  
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  cyber_wolf
  www.bkbsolutions.com - My Zikula module development site.

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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 06:08 AM

  markwest

  Sorry but I don't understand the reference to unlimited categories... This can be done by adding items to the category tree. To add an item to the category tree click new category, select where in the tree (the parent category), add your description (if needed) and click submit.
  
  If you mean the additional fields - these have uses which haven't be explored fully yet.
  
  This post was purely about telling a module where to start in the category tree - which currently involves selecting the module, table (possibly can be avoided) and where in tree you want your categories to start.
  
  On a more generic note could be you please be more specific (and constructive) with your feedback. Saying things don't work or are too complicated doesn't help at all. What specific is too complicated, what would *you* change to make it simpler etc.
  
  -Mark

  
  
  
  When i mention unlimited categories, I am more meaning unlimited categories, subcategories, etc. Such as Vehicles -> Sedans -> Honda -> Accorde -> LX -> 2000, etc.
  
  Creating a category, should be as simple as selecting a module or modules from a list, then entering a category or subcategory name and description, maybe even associate/upload an image. should be simple like that IMHO.

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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 06:08 AM

  cyber_wolf

  Mark,
  
  Is there a way for modules to maintain thier list of categories without having to leave the module, go to the categories module to add new categories, then go back to module they were in to continue adding content?
  
  Thanks,
  cyber_wolf

  
  
  I agree with this as well.
  

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 10:53 AM

  MACscr

  When i mention unlimited categories, I am more meaning unlimited categories, subcategories, etc. Such as Vehicles -> Sedans -> Honda -> Accorde -> LX -> 2000, etc.
  
  Creating a category, should be as simple as selecting a module or modules from a list, then entering a category or subcategory name and description, maybe even associate/upload an image. should be simple like that IMHO.

  
  
  Forget modules when defining categories.... A module should have no bearing on your category structure...
  
  For example why should I have a set of categories purely for news articles? IMO the module is not relevant. I'd rather the content was relevant.
  
  -Mark
  
  
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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 10:55 AM

  cyber_wolf

  Mark,
  
  Is there a way for modules to maintain thier list of categories without having to leave the module, go to the categories module to add new categories, then go back to module they were in to continue adding content?
  
  Thanks,
  cyber_wolf

  
  
  Yes and no.... Assuming a module has it's own categories then maintain them via module API's however when looking at categories in the more traditional sense then a module won't have 'it's own' categories.
  
  -Mark
  
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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 11:07 AM

  markwest

  MACscr

  When i mention unlimited categories, I am more meaning unlimited categories, subcategories, etc. Such as Vehicles -> Sedans -> Honda -> Accorde -> LX -> 2000, etc.
  
  Creating a category, should be as simple as selecting a module or modules from a list, then entering a category or subcategory name and description, maybe even associate/upload an image. should be simple like that IMHO.

  
  
  Forget modules when defining categories.... A module should have no bearing on your category structure...
  
  For example why should I have a set of categories purely for news articles? IMO the module is not relevant. I'd rather the content was relevant.
  
  -Mark
  

  
  
  When working on large sites with lots of categories, it can make a huge difference. Again, the categories can be set for all modules, a few modules, or just one. Heck, people think a drop down menu for the user list in admin is sufficient, but its not on extremely large sites. We got to look at the big picture on things.

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 11:14 AM

  MACscr

  When working on large sites with lots of categories, it can make a huge difference. Again, the categories can be set for all modules, a few modules, or just one. Heck, people think a drop down menu for the user list in admin is sufficient, but its not on extremely large sites. We got to look at the big picture on things.

  
  
  What can make a 'huge difference'? I agree categories aren't module dependent. I fail to see your point here.
  
  -Mark
  
  
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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 11:45 AM

  I apologize for being so vague. I meant with how large the selection lists are. Maybe you have a shopping module that has over 100 categories. Obviously you dont want to have to go through that list every time you want to make an article submission. Maybe you do, maybe you dont. Thats why the module option is nice to have.

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• markwest
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 11:52 AM

  Which is why you can point a module at a specific part of the of category tree.....
  
  -Mark
  
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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 12:15 PM

  markwest

  Which is why you can point a module at a specific part of the of category tree.....
  
  -Mark

  
  
  The end user or the developer or both? Just hoping its easy for the end user. So far that i can see, it will not be. I easily could be wrong though.
  
  
  
  
  edited by: MACscr, Sep 29, 2006 - 06:15 PM

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• Simon
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 12:35 PM

  That's the point of the category registry - to define which parts of the tree the module is using. This is entirely configurable by the end user.
  
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• MACscr
  
  

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  Posted: Sep 29, 2006 - 01:06 PM

  HammerHead,
  
  Can you look at the categories module right now and figure out how to quickly make categories and subcategories for the News module? Without documentation of course. If you cant, then its poor UI design.
  
  
  
  edited by: MACscr, Sep 29, 2006 - 07:07 PM

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