[Michael McHugh]

Hi Steven,

I just bought the Pro Pack recently, and the client is looking for a way to optionally display a directory’s data in list/table format.

We’re basically looking for something like this: http://datatables.net

Are there any Pro or 3rd party templates that provide a simple tabular list layout for Connections Directory data?

Something like “Slim Plus” could work, if there was an option to include a few additional fields of data in the collapsed view.

We’re setting up an intranet site for the client with various directories, separated out to different pages using the shortcakes limited to top-level directories. This has worked out great so far, but the different types of directories require different views — a tabular list view being one.

Ideally, it’d be nice to have the ability to let the user toggle between a “card” view like cMap’s initial view and a table “list” format for more easily scanning entries. Clicking on an entry would take them to the cMap single entry page.

Obviously we could set up a toggle that just goes to a different page using a different tabular list theme as well, but in an ideal scenario, a “list” view option would be available with any “card” type template as just an alternative initial view.

Any pointers or resources (or maybe even a dev referral) on coding a custom list template would be great, but a “List View” extension seems like it would be a great addition to the Connections product offerings.

Thanks,
Michael

[Steven Zahm]

@ Michael

The best way to handle this would be to enhance Connections to make the “view” pluggable. Connections already has the code in place to determine what to show based on the “view”. A simple example is the list (card) view vs. the detail view already in Connections. At first glance, it does not seem to hard to make this change while ensuring it is backward compatible, it would just take time.

With that in place, an extension could be created, that could offer the list view to the user. I’m thinking along the lines how WordPress offers a list view and excerpt view on the Posts admin page (those odd little icons by the pagination control).

Oh, looking at the DataTables Table plug-in. It does look like a way to retrieve entry data via AJAX would be required (it needs to supports pagination, searching and ordering) … trying to render a table and then have this plugin enhance it would be really, really, slow with thousands of entries.

The actual extension would require a settings screen in the admin so the columns (fields) could be selected and arranged in the desired order. The hard part here … since entries can have n-number of addresses, phone, emails and such would be how to handle that. My first thought would be to limit those to the preferred and it a preferred was not set use the first, basically limiting it to only one of each. Or, alternatively, just down all addresses (and such) in single columns with no sorting. Actually I guess both could be done, but might be confusing to have an adresses column and separate columns for city/state/zip.

If you would be interesting in sponsoring the required enhancements, I’d be willing to do the work. Of course I’d toss in the extension. I would need to write something to test the features anyway.

[Michael McHugh]

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the thorough response.

I can certainly check with the client about sponsoring the initial cost of the enhancements. How much do you think that would be?

Ultimately, I’d think a list view this would be a generally useful enhancement for Connections’ user-base, but we can certainly see about helping getting it developed.

While we’re on the subject another enhancement they mentioned is the ability to manually order or rank a list (a list being the items in a category, or subcategory. Perhaps just a simple Order Index field that can be manually entered, or just a way to drag ‘n’ drop order items within a category — i.e. a manual sort or order.

Just something that could be sorted by in the list view, e.g. a “Rank” column.

As you can imagine, this might only useful in smaller list use cases — in this case we’re only talking about short lists (i.e. categories) with less than 100 entries — but I can imagine that this would also be interesting to “stick” certain entries in a certain order to the top of a list, perhaps.

Let me know what you think.

Interestingly, DataTables actually has a paid developer license for an “Editor” that lets data be edited in its DataTable format. Might be interesting for a future enhancement. http://editor.datatables.net/purchase/index

Thanks,
Michael

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Michael McHugh.

[Steven Zahm]

@ Michael

Just got your email, I had a few support issues that took up a quite a bit of my time. These ended up not being a Connections issues and nor were they caused by Connections, any way…

My apologies! I must not have receive my notice that you replied.

When 8.2 is released, I’ll be releasing a new extension, Custom Category Order. More can be read about it here:
http://connections-pro.com/2015/02/05/custom-category-ordering/

Not exactly Custom Entry Ordering but I thought I’d mention it as it sounds like it might be something you would want.

When will 8.2 be released? Actually, besides a few minor bug fixes it is finished. I’m just waiting on feedback/testing results from the user who sponsored it.

I do plan on adding a “sticky”/featured entry status as well as featured within selected categories status. After I have that implemented, I will be creating an extension to allow custom entry ordering. Actually, I already have one that was just recently created for another user to meet their specific requirements. Although it will continue to function just fine into the foreseeable future, the way it is implemented is not the way I want to release an extension for sale. Timeline for this … uncertain, but high priority. It was actually slated for 8.2 but it got bumped.

I’ve already started major development work on 8.3, which is also being sponsored. You can read more here:
http://connections-pro.com/support/topic/map-view/#post-319981

Timeline for this release is mid March, latest. I am on a deadline.

I mention this release because a chunk of the work that I’m doing for 8.3 can be directly utilized for this. Specifically the JSON-LD response for AJAX requests of entry data. Most of everything else I said would still need to be completed.

If you’re interested in sponsoring this enhancement on behalf of your client a very rough ballpark fee is several hundred. We would need to have more specific discussion around scope of work to nail down an exact number. What you would get is the core enhancements required for datatables and a template that would utilize it and support for it. Obviously even at that price, that would not cover cost of development. I would recoup costs, over time, I hope, from reselling the template.

Now, if you’re still interested and I hope your are. You can lock this in for 8.4, but as you see we’re looking at probably a end of March, very early April time frame, at the latest. I’ve found I need at least 2–3 weeks to make such large changes and make the required extensions/templates. Obviously you would get advanced copies to make sure we’re on the right track during course of development and you would in turn have something to show your client.

Hope to hear back!

[Michael McHugh]

Hi Steven,

Sorry for the delayed reply. Yes, we would like to proceed. How do we have that discussion to arrive at a scope and figure?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Michael

[Steven Zahm]

@ Michael

Yes, apologies with my delayed reply. I had a bit of backlog in support. Spike typically occur right after I push out updates. I’ll reply back to your email next.

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