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Basic concept and brain lock

 
 


joelev
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Nov 3, 2006, 9:47 AM

Post #1 of 6 (1686 views)
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Basic concept and brain lock Can't Post
I need a quick shove off the cliff......

Am I following the correct procedure on the following??

A typical AM site has a home page, several top level categories, and potentially many sub-categories under the top level ones.

I am trying to create a site that utlilizes a unique template for the main page, all top level categories, and all sub-categories.

So far, I have used the globalIndex.html file found in the templates/articleLists folder as a basis for a new home page template. It seems to work fine....meaning that all articles are showing on the modified main page.

I have also used the categoryIndex.html file as a basis for the sub-categories and those also seem to be working correctly.

Where I have locked up is on the top level categories. Exactly which file in which folder should I be using to create a new template for each top level category? I have created several different ones, but the sub-category articles do not populate the main index for the top level categiories.

I think I have created the proper publishing rules for each one, but have pretty much gone blank.


elderban
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Nov 3, 2006, 10:09 AM

Post #2 of 6 (1684 views)
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Re: [joelev] Basic concept and brain lock [In reply to] Can't Post
You can have a different template for every part of your site.

You are correct for creating publishing rules for each one, but now you need to create a template for each, then once the template is created, you can select it on the Admin > Publishing screen of the Rule that you want to change the template for.

For example, if you had a new "Article Pages" rule, you would click on "modify" then change the Template to the one you want for that/those category(ies).

Additionally, under Advanced Options, you can select which categories you want it to affect for that particular rule.

Bryan Gilchrist

(This post was edited by elderban on Nov 3, 2006, 10:10 AM)


joelev
User

Nov 3, 2006, 11:44 AM

Post #3 of 6 (1673 views)
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Re: [elderban] Basic concept and brain lock [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for the feedback, but I guess I am seeing this as a two-fold problem.

First, I am trying to use the default files provided in AM to build the new templates from. I guess my question is which file should be used? I was assuming that if I used the categoryIndex.html file for top level category pages, I would be good to go. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Second, I thought I had the publishing rule correct, but I cannot get the top level categories to populate the main category pages with articles from all the sub-categories in that categoryonce I create the new template.

Like I said, I am having a serious brain fart right now.....Smile


Dave
Staff / Moderator


Nov 3, 2006, 5:53 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1663 views)
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Re: [joelev] Basic concept and brain lock [In reply to] Can't Post
What are you trying to do that you need a seperate template for each category? There might be an easier way.

To include subcategory articles in an article list you need to check "Subcategory Articles" for the publish rule that creates that article list and then republish.

Let me know if that does the trick!

Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com
 


joelev
User

Nov 3, 2006, 6:11 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1661 views)
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Re: [Dave] Basic concept and brain lock [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks Dave!

It works just fine now.....I suspected I was overlooking something really simple.

I would be open to suggestion for an easier solution to limiting the number of templates. The issue is that every category and subcategory are virtually the same template.....with the exception of a few elements (graphical and information-wise) in each individual template.

It may be easier to just visit my AM 1 site to see what I mean.

http://www.intotheboards.net


Dave
Staff / Moderator


Nov 3, 2006, 6:26 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1657 views)
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Re: [joelev] Basic concept and brain lock [In reply to] Can't Post
The typical way to do that would be with templateIfs.

You could have it show specific code for specific categories like this:

<!-- templateIf: $category.num$ == "8" -->
Category specific graphics or information here
<!-- /templateIf -->

or you could show specific information for "groups" of categories by creating a new category field (pulldown or checkbox) called "group", setting it for all the categories and then testing what group you are in:

<!-- templateIf: $category.group$ == "west coast" -->
Show west coast graphics and info here
<!-- /templateIf -->

Or you could create category fields for "custom graphic" and "custom description" and output them with placeholders:

$category.customGraphic$
$category.customDescription$

So, there's a few different ways to do it. Hopefully one of those will work well for your site or help give you some ideas to figure out which approach makes the most sense for you.

Dave Edis - Senior Developer
interactivetools.com