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Adding Tab in User Panel?

almas
User

Nov 9, 2006, 1:58 AM

Post #1 of 12 (886 views)
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Adding Tab in User Panel?	Can't Post

Will it be possible to add a tab in the user panel (when he is logged in) like "Home" and "Articles"? When we try to create a new table, it starts over to a new set of tables for "account", "articles", "categories" and "publishrules", there is no option to add a table in addition to these. Is it possible or "no provision made" for it in the program.

Looking forward to your reply.
Best regards.
almas
http://www.st2e.com/

ChetW
Staff

Nov 9, 2006, 4:12 PM

Post #2 of 12 (869 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Almas,

Thanks for the post!

I am not sure that I understand what you are looking to set-up, are you trying to set-up new sections in the Article Manager admin? Or are you looking to add these sections to our live website?

Could you provide me with a few more details on what it is you hoping to set-up? When I have a better understanding of how you would like things to work I will be happy to see how I can help you. :)

I look forward to hearing back from you soon Almas!
Cheers,
Chet Woodside - Product Specialist
support@interactivetools.com

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almas
User

Nov 9, 2006, 11:59 PM

Post #3 of 12 (858 views)
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Re: [ChetW] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chet Woodside,

Yes, I am looking to add a new section in the admin. While using mySQL database, we must have the option to use different tables.

For example, we need to add a table (say db_XYZ) just like the table "db_articles" for different set of publishing content then "articles". A corrsponding tab "XYZ" shall be created for all type of access level if not possible to specify access level for it.

I hope this time more clear!
Looking to see your reply/solution.

Best regards,
almas
http://www.st2e.com/

Damon
Staff / Moderator

Nov 10, 2006, 10:13 AM

Post #4 of 12 (847 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi,

Adding additional tables isn't a current feature but is something we have in mind for a future version.

Would you be able to create the "different set of publishing content then 'articles'" using Publish Rules?

Cheers
Damon Edis
interactivetools.com

almas
User

Nov 10, 2006, 11:16 AM

Post #5 of 12 (844 views)
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Re: [Damon] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Damon,

Quote

Would you be able to create the "different set of publishing content then 'articles'" using Publish Rules?

I have no idea as how? Can you suggest please?
Awaiting your reply.
Best regards.

Theo
Project Manager / Moderator

Nov 10, 2006, 2:56 PM

Post #6 of 12 (832 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Almas,

Thanks for getting back to us. Is it possible you could be a bit more specific about what you're looking to do?

Many users will set up their top level categories to segment their content into major groups with different types of content (such as News and Events). You can limit access to these branches on the user level (rather than the access level..uh, level). If necessary, you could also have a full-set of publishing rules for that "alternative branch".

With some specifics - what these branches are, as well as what makes them different from each other - we can give you some more detailed ideas.

Talk to you soon!

Theo Wiersma
Project Manager

almas
User

Nov 14, 2006, 1:28 AM

Post #7 of 12 (795 views)
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Re: [Theo] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Theo,

Thanks for the reply. I will try to be more specific here.

Firstly, my query is not related to publishing side, rather admin control. It will only make a difference for my job if I can offer two different opening scenarios to login members - for example if a user when logged see the article table fields in his editing screene provided by AM, then a second user may have another xyz table fields (different by their lables and different in numbers). If I can do this, then it can be managed at user levels and access level both.

I think this can only be possible with the option to the admin to create new tables in addition to the four available now?

I have an editor that can only enter "Heading, Summary, and Article" content (news section). I have another user who can enter "statistics, reasons, sources, numbers, comments" say (xyz section)-it has nothing to do with news section. The field labels are different, number of fields is different and types as well. What can I do?

Hope it makes more clear.

almas
User

Nov 15, 2006, 12:32 AM

Post #8 of 12 (776 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Theo!

I thought it was more clear, please let mw know if it needs further explanantion.

Thanks and regards.

Donna
Staff / Moderator

Nov 15, 2006, 10:28 AM

Post #9 of 12 (767 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi there,

Currently, the Create Article page is the same for all users. However, it's something we're looking at for the future. In the meantime, we recommend training your users so that they only enter in content into the fields they need to modify. You can still have all of the extra fields, and you can setup different publish rules to use different templates so the unused fields don't show up on the live site, but the "Create Article" page will need to show all of the fields you currently have available.

Let me know if this answers your questions. :)

Donna

Theo
Project Manager / Moderator

Nov 15, 2006, 12:15 PM

Post #10 of 12 (761 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Almas,

I've come up with a way to hide fields in the Article Editor. I've done it by adding field separators that wrap the section in a hidden table if a user field value isn't matched.

Some things to note:

- Hiding WYSIWYG fields has an annoying side-effect: this strange loop is created somehow that calls the WYSIWYG's blank.gif file repeatedly. So with this system, I'd recommend not hiding WYSIWYGs (switch them to plain textareas) or else put up with the little hourglass that will flicker for a minute on your mouse when you add/edit an article. :)

- Make sure you don't hide any required fields (such as Filename).

Okay, it shouldn't be too hard if you go step-by-step. Here's how it's done:

1. Add User Fields to specify user access to the article fields.

Go to Admin > Database Editor and click "edit table and fields" for User Accounts. Click "Add Field". Set your field values as:
Field Label: News Contributer
Field Name: newsContributer
Field Type: checkbox
Stored as: string
Field Options/Description: The user can see the "News" specific fields.
Then Save.

Next, add another user field:
Field Label: XYZ Contributer
Field Name: xyzContributer
Field Type: checkbox
Stored as: string
Field Options/Description: The user can see the "XYZ" specific fields.
Field Separator: set position to "after field" and the type to "blank line"
Then save again.

In the Table Editor page, set the "order" value for News Contributer to be "101" and for XYZ Contributer set it to "102". Then click the "go" button at the bottom of the page to "Update Field Order". This will put your new fields after the "Notes" box, above the notification fields.

2. Add code to hide the article fields from different users.

Go back to Admin > Database Editor and click "edit table and fields" for Articles. Click "Add Field".

Field Label: Separator for News (begin)
Field Name: beginNewsSeparator
Field Type: none
Field Separator: Select "html" and paste in the following code:


<tr><td colspan="2">
<table style="display: none;">

Then save the field, and "Add Field" once again.
Field Label: Separator for News (end)
Field Name: endNewsSeparator
Field Type: none
Field Separator: Select "html" and paste in the following code:


</table>
</td></tr>

Save your new field.

Then update the Field Order so that your "Begin" separator appears before the first News field, and the "End" separator appears after your last News field.

Repeat to add separator fields for your XYZ Contributors as well (using the $currentUser.xyzContributer$ placeholder in your templateIf).

3. Update your users

Finally, you'll want to update any user accounts so that they can see the fields as appropriate (especially your Admins and Editors). Note that this new field needs to be set in addition to the Category Rights - there's no link between the two.

And that's about it. I hope this helps. I've tested it out, so hopefully this will do the trick for you.

Note that this could be useful in other situations as well. The templateIf could test any field, so instead of our custom fields you could restrict it by accessLevel or even user's name.

Thanks, Almas. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Theo Wiersma
Project Manager

(This post was edited by Theo on Nov 15, 2006, 3:21 PM)

almas
User

Nov 16, 2006, 7:55 AM

Post #11 of 12 (742 views)
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Re: [Theo] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Theo!

Your are the boss, a captain.

It sounds very good and will do the job. I have tried it, although there seems some problem in coding. When I place exactly that code in new article field for a "Begin, End" brackets of a section after setting up "user account fields". That section disappears for all types of users. Will try to look into it again, in the mean time if you can suggest the possibility of error, will appreciate.

I can send you the admin login details if you want to see it your self. I have created a section temporarily for testing it on a domain. Please let me know your email top send the info.

Best regards.

Theo
Project Manager / Moderator

Nov 16, 2006, 9:37 AM

Post #12 of 12 (736 views)
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Re: [almas] Adding Tab in User Panel? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Almas,

I'll take a look for you, just drop an email to theo@interactivetools.com. The first thing I'd double-check that you've gone into your Users and enabled the new field for the appropriate users. If that's set how you expect it, then drop me an email and I'll check it out first-hand.

Talk to you soon! :)

Theo Wiersma
Project Manager

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