Implemented Home Page Layout Type: Modular Layout (advanced setup required)

[Bob]

NOTE: This is the XF1 version of Showcase

As per title, there is a NEW Home Page Layout Type named "Modular Layout". This is something that I developed for AMS (Article Management System) and I have decided to implement it for Showcase as well.

NOTE: This is NOT the same as the OLD "Modular" sliders layout. That layout has been removed as it was depreciated several versions ago.

NOTE 2: This is an ADVANCED option that requires A LOT of Step by Step setup. Its not a 10 second turn it on and it magically works type feature. It requires editing categories and setting all the modular settings for that category for how it will appear on Showcase Home.

Basically, Modular Layout allows you set which Categories are exposed to Showcase home and how the Showcase Item content in those categories are displayed on showcase home eg, Category 1 you might want to display 10 items in Article View with byline and tags alonge with a 250 character snippet and include its children. Category 10 you might display 6 items in News View II with just the image and title. Category 30 you might want 10 items displayed in List View etc etc etc...

I will be posting MORE details (to include the step by step setup) later on this as it gets closer to release.

Here is a sneak peek at some basic configuration. I have the slider enabled along with 2 categories that have Modular settings enabled.

The first category (Aquariums) is set to fetch 4 items with the sort order 'Most Liked", float image right, show byline, fresh content cutoff set to 7 days, 250 snippet, include child cats and display 1 headline (which is a modified version of Article View) and the rest in News View.

The 2nd category (vehicles) is set to fetch 3 items with the sort order Most Popular, show Author Rating, showcase User Rating, 250 snippet, include child cats, layout type: News View II

 

[Bob]

Will there be something similar for CATEGORY pages?

YES, I will post about that later. You can basically do the same thing at individual category level (altho, its a bit more tricky to setup).

 

[cdub]

The first category (Aquariums) is set to fetch 4 items with the sort order 'Most Liked", float image right, show byline, fresh content cutoff set to 7 days, 250 snippet, include child cats and display 1 headline (which is a modified version of Article View) and the rest in News View.

Is it possible, in this version, or a future version, to have the modular layout fetch 4 items with a certain custom user field for that category? For example, to use my site as an example, my categories are domestic film schools, and international film schools.

Would there be a way to fetch in the block the top 4 schools that teach "cinematography" (which is a custom user field option) for example? (So in category Domestic Film schools fetch 4 items with custom user field "cinematography" and sorted by top reviewed.)

Or to use your demo site as an example...

Fetch 4 items from category "Aquariums" with a "tank size of 120-300 gallons" (custom user field) with a sort order of most liked? That would be a neat feature.

Really great work though! I'll install this beta on my live site (just kidding... my test site) later this week.

 

[Bob]

Is it possible, in this version, or a future version, to have the modular layout fetch 4 items with a certain custom user field for that category? For example, to use my site as an example, my categories are domestic film schools, and international film schools.

Would there be a way to fetch in the block the top 4 schools that teach "cinematography" (which is a custom user field option) for example? (So in category Domestic Film schools fetch 4 items with custom user field "cinematography" and sorted by top reviewed.)

Or to use your demo site as an example...

Fetch 4 items from category "Aquariums" with a "tank size of 120-300 gallons" (custom user field) with a sort order of most liked? That would be a neat feature.

Really great work though! I'll install this beta on my live site (just kidding... my test site) later this week.

Its not something that you could do out of the box with settings, however, I do believe that it could be modified (via personal customization) as I do have fetching code by custom fields (used by custom field search functionality). Don't want to get your hopes up thinking that is could be a EASY customization tho as it would take an pretty skilled developer to take something like this on. I can't even fathom how something like this could be built into the addon tho. IMHO, this is something that would need to be done on a case by case basis and each case would be different.

 

[cdub]

Hmmm I guess I need to think about how my category structure is built so I can do what I have in mind without doing custom coding. Can I move items to a different category? Copy them to a different category?

 

[Bob]

Can I move items to a different category? Copy them to a different category?

Yes, however, you need to make sure (always double check) that the Category's MATCH for certain things (like the RATING system, Prefixes, Custom Fields etc). The Most important thing to make sure are CUSTOM FIELDS. If you have a custom field for Category A and that field is NOT associated with Category B and you move items from Category A into Category B, then that data will be deleted (hard deleted) as part of the move processing. The other thing is making sure Tabs 1-5 MATCH. If Tab 2 in Category A is "Customizations" and Tab 2 in Category B is FAQs, then there is going to be data mis match.

 

[cdub]

Yes, however, you need to make sure (always double check) that the Category's MATCH for certain things (like the RATING system, Prefixes, Custom Fields etc). The Most important thing to make sure are CUSTOM FIELDS. If you have a custom field for Category A and that field is NOT associated with Category B and you move items from Category A into Category B, then that data will be deleted (hard deleted) as part of the move processing. The other thing is making sure Tabs 1-5 MATCH. If Tab 2 in Category A is "Customizations" and Tab 2 in Category B is FAQs, then there is going to be data mis match.

Ok... good to know. And there's no way yet to duplicate categories so all of the customization are copied over to a new category? That'd be a wonderful timesaver. I think this has been mentioned before and you said that you don't plan on doing it... but I just want to put another vote in that it'd be a great tool to have when setting up a site. Especially that I find that after a while of use I find that I want things organized in a different way that I originally designed it as I see how people are using the site.

 

[Bob]

And there's no way yet to duplicate categories so all of the customization are copied over to a new category?

Not currently, no. Its easy to open a category in one tab of the browser and the create in another tab and just tab back and forth to make sure all the settings are the same. I just tried it and it took me less than a minute to create a new one based on an existing one.

I think this has been mentioned before and you said that you don't plan on doing it...

Its not something that had a high priority on, but its not something I've completely turned down either. I have existing suggestions for 3 of my addons that have Categories (AMS, Showcase and Sportsbook). If I do one, I will add the same to the others. Its a higher priority in AMS, so its probably something that will happen (just not sure when).

 

[cdub]

Okay I guess I'm a dolt... but no matter what option I choose in the modular settings in the categories it always seems to show up in list view. I must be doing something wrong.

 

[cdub]

It's also not showing the ratings too or anything I select below:

 

[Bob]

Okay I guess I'm a dolt... but no matter what option I choose in the modular settings in the categories it always seems to show up in list view. I must be doing something wrong.

It's also not showing the ratings too or anything I select below:
View attachment 2726

Modular Layout is an ADVANCED setup that requires some patience and FULL understanding of the STEP by STEP setup process. You need to do the steps in ORDER (very important). This is not something that takes 30 seconds to set up and its not something that is EASY to set up (but its worth the time and effort in the end).

Can you please explain to me STEP by STEP what you've done so far?

 

[cdub]

Modular Layout is an ADVANCED setup that requires some patience and FULL understanding of the STEP by STEP setup process. You need to do the steps in ORDER (very important). This is not something that takes 30 seconds to set up and its not something that is EASY to set up (but its worth the time and effort in the end).

Can you please explain to me STEP by STEP what you've done so far?

I checked the options to the categories options page and then I enabled it on the showcase home options. Is there somewhere where I can read up on the steps and definitions?

 

[Bob]

First of all, make sure you are viewing your site with the default core xenforo styles (because of the merging issues you had with UI.x, there could be a bunch of templates with messed up merged template code, so its best to test against an unaltered style).

For Modular HOME (does not apply to Modular Category Pages which is a different process), its basically a 2 main step process with some secondary steps for each main process)

Main Step 1. Set the GLOBAL options pertaining to Modular HOME
Main Step 2. Set the CATEGORY Modular Layout Options for each Category that you want to have a Modular for on Showcase Home.

Main Step 1.

Step 1. Options >> Showcase Options >> Home Page Tab >> Home Page Layout Type >> Set to Modular Layout (advanced setup required).
Step 2. Options >> Showcase Options >> Home Page Tab >> Home Page Layout Type Options >> IGNORE THESE as these do not apply to Modular Layout as each Modular Layout Category will set its own!

Main Step 2.

You will perform this Main Step 2 for EACH Category that you want to be displayed on Modular Home.

Step 1. Applications >> Showcase >> Showcase Categories >> Edit a Category that you want to display articles from on Modular Home.
Step 2. Applications >> Showcase >> Showcase Categories >> [CATEGORY] >> Modular Layout Options >> SC Home Modular Layout Options (there are SEVERAL options you need to set)

Important Note: Each Option states which Layout the option works for ie (AV, NV, NVII, LV) = Article View, New View, News View II and List View. Grid View = GV (and as you can see, there are no options that apply to Grid View.


Things to IGNORE when you are FIRST LEARNING and setting this up.... IGNORE the HEADLINES option (leave this to ZERO). IGNORE the FRESH CONTENT CUTOFF (leave this to ZERO).

Things that people that are just starting out ALWAYS seem to not set: ITEMS LIMIT (they leave it to ZERO and wonder why no content is fetched).

HINT: Do ONE Category before setting more. Try out the different settings options with the one category so that when you go to setup the rest, you know what stuff does and does not do. Once you get the basics set up, then you can fiddle with the more advanced settings (like Headlines and Fresh Content Cutoff).

 

[Bob]

It's also not showing the ratings too or anything I select below:
View attachment 2726

Each Option states which Layout the option works for ie (AV, NV, NVII, LV) = Article View, New View, News View II and List View. Grid View = GV (and as you can see, there are no options that apply to Grid View.

You have GRID VIEW selected in that image. Grid View is a special Core XF (XFMG) layout that has its OWN controls via Style Properties (Showcase Grid View Block Elements).

 

[cdub]

Thanks for the instructions. I'll try again later.

 

[cdub]

Ok... I think I got it working. Thank you.