[Margaret McCarthy]

I actually have purchased the cMap template, but in the end I don’t know if I’ll use it.

I have a client worried about too many clicks. She would like a profile in the main content area, with a paragraph, a photo or two, and a vcard link if possible, and a list of contacts in the sidebar. She wants the user to be able to look at multiple profiles without having to click back and forth too much.

So my questions are:
1. Can I put a contact list in a sidebar? ANd

2. Can Connections generate a downloadable vcard?

[Steven Zahm]

@ Margaret

In short, the answer is yes and yes.

You’ll need to install a plugin that enables shortcodes to be used in the WordPress Text Widget.

After you install it, you can use the [connections] shortcode in the Text Widget.

I highly suggest using the lock shortcode option like this:
[connections lock='true'] otherwise that shortcode instance will respond to any valid Connections query which is very likely not something you would want.

A caveat, you would have to disable the List Actions and Entry Actions on the Connections : Settings admin page under the Display tab otherwise they’ll display in the widget. Unfortunately this mean they will not be shown for any other instance of the shortcode too. That could be a show stopper.

If you use the Default Card template, there’s is an add to addressbook link, this allows the user to download a vCard. So the shortcode in the widget would look like this:
[connections lock='true' template='card']

Kind of complicated, I know. I do plan on introducing widgets to make this very simple but I do not know when at this time.

Hope that helps!

[Margaret McCarthy]

We’re getting there, Steve, but I guess I wasn’t clear. Ideally I’d like a list of names in the sidebar: clicking a name will bring up the profile of the person.
My client has given me this site as an example (sidebar on right)

http://www.tcva.com/our-people/

Is it doable?

[Steven Zahm]

@ Margaret

Use this:
[connections lock='true' template='names']

This will use the Names templates instead.

[Meg]

Hi, yes, that’s the kind of thing I want, thanks.

Do you have any idea why the names are squeezing into 4 columns in the sidebar?

[Meg]

And another question: Is it possible to use the editor to include more images in a profile?

[Steven Zahm]

@ Meg

The best that can be done is I base this width of the of Names on my guess of what the most popular width is for the main content area in themes. I think my guess is 600px … can’t remember without looking… so, stuffing it in a widget the guessed width of 600px is still being used. What you need to do is add some custom CSS so it fits better. See this QuickTip on how to create template custom CSS files.

You you can use the editor to add additional images. Just use the img tag. Many users use a simple gallery plugin which supports shortcode for output and use that shortcode in the bio and notes fields.

Hope that helps!

[Meg]

So Steve, are you creating those 4 columns with the column-count css property? I can’t find that anywhere. I guess i need to know how you’re creating them and what the selector is before I can do anything with the css.

[Steven Zahm]

@ Meg

Yes that’s how it is being done.

Rather than altering the templates CSS file, I recommend following this method so the changes are update safe.

The actual CSS can be found here:
../wp-content/plugins/connections/templates/names/

[Margaret McCarthy]

I’ve got the names shortcode in my text widget and placed in the shortcode. There’s the list of names, just like I want.

But I’ve set the default template to the default card one, which is supposed to give me a download to addressbook link, and I’m not getting that. Is it because it’s being overriden by the ‘names’ in the sidebar/

Is there a way to have a list in the sidebar and the vCard-type template in the content area?

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