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alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all

jpea1
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Feb 17, 2007, 1:58 PM

Post #1 of 9 (568 views)
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alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all	Can't Post

Is there a way to present in alphabetical order the sub level category headings for just one top level category? For example, if I were listing professional individuals by specialty, the top level would be "Professional Directory". Then the sub categories would be accountant, appraiser, attorney, financial planner, tax advisor, etc.

Although I have this set of sub categories arranged alphabetically in the AM2 category create/modify/erase menu, when presented in the category index page on the website (not in the nav bar, the center text/body area), they do not appear in alphabetical order. Again, the objective is alphabetizing the uploaded results in these specific sub categories, in only this top level category (Professional Directory) & not all sub categories. And I'm not looking to alphabetize the names of the people or businesses in the dirrectory but just the sub category heading.

It's important because like most directories it's convenient for viewers especially when I'm using the 3 column multiple column layout (which by the way, thanks again to Ross, works absolutely great after some tweaking of the cellpadding and establishing some uniform procedures with regard to photo size & placement, # of lines in the summary text and title length - one of the best and easiest enhancement features available to AM2 users I believe).

Thanks - jpea1

(This post was edited by jpea1 on Feb 18, 2007, 8:08 AM)

ross
Staff / Moderator

Feb 18, 2007, 9:24 AM

Post #2 of 9 (560 views)
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Re: [jpea1] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi jpea

Thanks for posting!

If I am on the right track here, I think what you'll need to do is setup a new publishing rule for that one categories so you can have it sorted alphabetical on the title while leave the other categories as they are.

Does that sound like it would work? Let me know and if you would like some more detail on getting this going Smile

.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Ross Fairbairn - Product Specialist
support@interactivetools.com

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jpea1
User

Feb 19, 2007, 5:24 AM

Post #3 of 9 (546 views)
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Re: [ross] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Ross. I went through and looked to see if there was a way to alphabetize my "Professional Directory" category in any related publishing rule table/menu so the sub categories are displayed alphabetically. (I think what we're talking about is alphabetizing the sub category breadcrumbs for this one top level category, not title, correct?)

Although I made the attempt I did not see anything in any publishing rule menu and haven't a clue as to how and where to place any code...so yes, if you could kindly provide some additional detail on just how to achieve this task it would be great.

Thanks again Ross - jpea1

ross
Staff / Moderator

Feb 19, 2007, 10:51 AM

Post #4 of 9 (541 views)
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Re: [jpea1] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi jpea

Once you have your new publishing rule setup, there will be a section down at the bottom for sorting. Leaving them as they are will have that publish rule just use the default sorting options. You can use this section to change that though. So try setting the first field here to "title" and see if that gets you going.

Does that make sense? Let me know how you make out Smile

.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Ross Fairbairn - Product Specialist
support@interactivetools.com

jpea1
User

Feb 19, 2007, 3:35 PM

Post #5 of 9 (530 views)
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Re: [ross] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Ross and it was a good try. Again focusing in on the Category Index, "Title" in top position sorts the title of the article not the breadcrumb (ie., Professional Directory : Attorney). "Content" appears to sort the amount of content in the summary (2 lines of text, 4 lines, etc.) Applying both isn't the answer. Date is not relevant. CategNum didn't work.

Creating a new publishing rule which alphabetizes the breadcrumb, for just one top level category, seems to be the remaining solution. Any ideas on how to create such a sorting rule for the Category Index?

thanks - jpea1

ross
Staff / Moderator

Feb 20, 2007, 1:24 PM

Post #6 of 9 (518 views)
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Re: [jpea1] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi jpea

I think you have stumped me on this one Smile

. I am pretty sure Article Manager will be able to handle what you are looking for but I just don't think I am quite understanding what you are looking for.

Based on your last post, it sounds like you are trying to sort just the category breadcrumb that appears at the top of each category page. The ones I am thinking about here are the links up top that show you the path back to the main category. It would look like this:

Home -> Professional Directory -> Attorney -> Defense Laywer

Are those the ones you are talking about? If so, that isn't really something you would have in alphabetical order as it's just the trail from your current article back to the home category.

Part of me is still thinking you are just focusing on sorting the list of articles that appears on this page but now, I am really just not sure.

Do you think we could turn this into a support request so I can get right onto your server and see what you are setting up? Or, if you wanted to do a mock up of one of your pages the way it should look so I can compare it to how it looks now and then stick that link into a forum post, that would work too.

Thanks so much for working through all this with me Smile

.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cheers,
Ross Fairbairn - Product Specialist
support@interactivetools.com

jpea1
User

Feb 20, 2007, 2:56 PM

Post #7 of 9 (513 views)
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Re: [ross] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Ross. I think I can drill it down, and if not I'd be glad to set up a support request.

On my Left nav bar I have a top level category named "Professional Directory". All the sub categories under only "Professional Directory" are Attorney, Business Appraiser, Financial Advisor.

That's it. There are no further sub levels or sub categories such as specializations (e.g., defense attorney).

I created five unique titles, summaries and articles for each attorney saved under the "Attorneys" sub category. I created two unique titles, summaries and articles for each business appraiser saved under the "Business Appraiser" sub category. I created three unique titles, summaries and articles for each financial planner saved under the "Financial Planner" sub category.

I have my category index page set to three column layout, reading left to right. When in my website I select "Professional Directory" on the left nav bar. What appears is category index page with the headline/top level category heading "Professonal Directory". Then listed three across are the various people and firms in the Professional Directory. Sample sub category titles are "Professional Directory : Attorney", "Professional Directory : Business Appraiser", "Professional Directory : Financial Planner" and on and on...I do not need to go any further because the name of the person or firm is the Title of the unique "article bio" I created for each person of firm.

The sole issue then is this: because it's a directory of sorts and I must get them (them being the sub category attorney, biz appraiser, etc.) to first appear alphabetically three across, how do I get the 5 attorneys to come first left to right (come first by "attorney" only; I don't care about name or title or specialty). And then following, the next alphabetical sub category being the 2 business appraisers, and the next alphabetical sub category being the 3 financial planners and on and on, alphabetically by only subcategory.

(When the "Read More" under each summary link is pressed naturally it goes to an article page where there is the unique article or bio with contact info, etc. for each person or firm listed in the "Professional Directory".)

So going three across left to right this is what I am after (PD = Profesiional Directory)

PD : Attorney PD: Attorney PD : Attorney

PD Attorney PD : Attorney PD : Biz Appraiser

PD : Biz Appraiser PD : Fin. Planner PD : Fin. Planner

PD : Fin. Planner

Instead, going three across left to right, this is what I getting:

PD : Biz Appraiser PD : Fin. Planner PD : Fin. Planner

PD : Attorney PD : Attorney PD : Biz Appraiser

PD : Fin Planner PD : Attorney PD : Attorney

PD : Attorney

Although the above isn't an exact replication, it depicts that it's not alphabetizing the sub category left to right, three across beginning with "Attorney".

I appreciate your patience and value your expertise Ross. I hope this helps!

jpea1

ChetW
Staff

Feb 21, 2007, 11:18 AM

Post #8 of 9 (505 views)
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Re: [jpea1] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi jpea1,

Thanks for the extra details!

Both Ross and myself have been looking at this for you however we are still a little stumped, I'm thinking that this may be easier to understand if we can see how you have everything set-up. :)

If you could send us a support request with your ftp details and perhaps a few links to examples on your website. Once we have these details and can take a closer look at how everything is set-up we should be able to understand what your wanting to set-up here and help get you all set-up! You can send us a support request here:

https://www.interactivetools.com/support/email_support.cgi

How does this sound jpea1? I look forward to hearing back from you soon!
Cheers,
Chet Woodside - Product Specialist
support@interactivetools.com

jpea1
User

Feb 26, 2007, 12:30 PM

Post #9 of 9 (471 views)
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Re: [ChetW] alphabetizing just one sub level category, not all [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's a follow up to this thread just in case anyone else is interested in achieving this task in the future and doesn't want to be disappointed after expending a lot of time and effort...according to the responses I received, although there may potentially be some indirect and less than optimum ways, evidently directly alphabetizing sub category headings in AM2 is not possible.

jpea1

(This post was edited by jpea1 on Feb 26, 2007, 7:05 PM)

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