Dynamic Info Blocks

Directories

Make faculty/staff listings, resources, and other types of content that can have many ways to describe it.  Directories use the power of detail fields to help keep an interface that is consistent in formatting / layout so users can sort through lots of data quickly.

About Directories

This page will run through the way directories are created, setup options, and data entry.  Below you will learn the various fields that are available as well as way to go beyond the default labels to craft something that is best suited to the needs of a particular use case.

Directory Styles & Formatting

To learn more about transforming an exisiting directory into another format, layout, or modifiers check out our styles guide for directories.  It has the style classes and modifiers that are used on the page where the directory is hosted.

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Info Block Type: Dynamic Content

To start you'll need to set the info block type to dynamic.  If the info block wasn't set as dynamic it can be changed in the page properties.  

In the custom settings you can set the Used As dropdown to Dynamic Content.

Depending on your needs you can also choose to increase the amount of content blocks that you have available in the edit mode.

When you're ready save the settings and return to the edit screen.

 

Interface Setup

Once the content type is set to dynamic you can go ahead and set the dynamic type.  This will help change the editing screen so you get the best experience for your block type.

 

In the left menu will be two buttons next to the content layout editor.  The top button is used for the presentation and below that is the button for snapshots.

To edit your info block interface setup use the presentation button.  This will open the interface overlay panel where you can make further choices.

 

Dynamic Content Interface Options

The interface options will overlay the info block editing area, don't worry you can always press the presentation button to remove it. 

The interface is split up into three major areas: the copy, the content setup, and the preview panels.  When using directory info blocks the preview panel will not be used.

The Copy Panel and Editor Options

The first option in the copy panel is Content Layout.  As you work through your setup it will update the Content Layout textarea.  This code is auto generated and used to help structure the info block interface when put on content pages. 

Editable Section Layout Options

Below the content layout is are the controls for Editable Section Layout Options.  The first option would allow you to change the way each info block is set.  Leave it as rows with number of columns set to auto.

The always show options check box will allow you to have the css, categories, tags, and details editor boxes show up.  For directories you do not need to check this box, the interface will know to always show those editors.

Extra wide editing is the next check box and can help if your directory is being used for something like a faculty / staff directory.  If you need to write significant content inside the block's content editor then it may be helpful to have the maximum space to mange that data.

Display Type

Make sure that the option for Directory is marked.

There are two additional options for the dynamic content regardless of your data type.

Snapshot Grouping is used when you have multiple files that are going to be pulled into the page where you use it.  You can choose to use them or not by checking the box.

Automate Deep links provides an optional button that will allow users to deep link to the page where the content is used and preselect the info block content they want.  This is an easy way to cross link from any page directly into a specific item without needing the user to perform any other selection.  It also opens up the ability to reuse your info block content across more pages.

Interface Setup

The interface setup will change based on the info block display type.  You can change an info block display type at any time, just remember to review the interface setup to confirm how it will be displayed on the pages where its used.

These configuration choices are going to be used with the directory on every page that it is placed.  Make sure that you set these controls using the most relavant choices.  Directory style options will help to configure the end user interface; however, they can not add filter items or reset sorting choices.  

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The Collection Name is useful when combining multiple files into a single page section.  The check box for use name as header will keep collections separated and under the header provided in the Collection Name field.  Collection name is optional.

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Layout Options help set the default display on the page where it is used.  Directories have both a grid and list view. 

Grid is useful to put multiple items on the same row in columns and can help reduce the scrolling needed. The item block content will be hidden until the item is selected for viewing.

List view opens each item 100% and shows all data with each item being on its own row.  This option requires more scrolling but may serve better if you have only a few things to show. 

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Directories have the top of each item with an image to represent either a person, product, or some relatable concept. 

Most Images helps by creating a layout that is better suited to something like a people directory vs a places or wide format image.  Portait expects that most items are vertical and Landscape is for images that are horizontal.  

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Data sorting will allow you to choose how the data is orgnaized when displayed for an end user.  There is no reason to worry if you need to delete old content, or if new content is required just put it in the next free info block section.  The data sorting will help keep the end user display looking as you intend.

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Directory Filter Features provides a huge list of options that will generate a filter for on the end user side.  Do you want to have content filtered by everything or just a few items.  Directories have the most options for filtering avaliable, but to make it more user friendly you need to have those fields filled out consistently.

The first option Do not use a filter will disable the filter option if its not needed.  Likewise there are style options to remove the filter on a per page basis.

Field Mapping

The last option within the Dynamic Content Setup is the field mapping options.  If you'd like to learn more about it we have a field mapping guide that will explain the process in greater detail.

Save the interface setup

As you make different choices during the setup process that the Content Layout code within this textarea has updated. 

• When you finish with the dynamic content setup, copy the C ontent Layout textarea code.  
• On the left side of the editing screen click the standard editing button for Content Layout. 
• Paste in the value you copied and save your work. 

The page will automatically reload with the updated settings.  If you need to update the interface settings just click on the presentation button.  The current layout options will be automatically updated and you can make any changes needed. 

Remember that after your changes you will need to copy/paste the updates to the Content Layout editing section on the left side.

Detail Styles (Field Names)

Depending on how the directory is going to be used can have an impact on which fields you fill out.  While we try to account for every bit of data entered, there are some layouts that will not use all fields due to their intended purpose.  Likewise you are not required to fill out all fields for every item, its up to the content editors what needs to be used.

The styles are broken down into three sections: Item Info, User Info, and Content Info.  This was to help provide some context, but if you are working on a directory or resource centers, you can always treat each center as a user. 

Additionally this is where it is important to know if field mapping has been used.  There is no way to know from the dropdown styles if this particular directory is replacing the field name, check with content editors for clarification.

Item Info

• Active (Y/N) - this allows us to hide items without deleting them
• Item Title - provide context as to what is the item name
• Description Text - depending on the interface this may show up in the default display or show on the larger full item view
• Location - where the item is found, office building, relevant place
• Header Image - an image which will either show up in the full view, or across the top of the info block.  Style will have a direct impact on where / when this displays
• Preview image - mostly used for blogs, this will show up in full view on some interfaces alongside the description text
• Sort Rank - usually a value like a number or letter, this is used for sorting based on editor choice and not something like a name.  Useful if you have a specific order that needs to be maintained - also be aware this values is manually updated
• Set Published Date - the info block will track the original published date of each item.  If old content needs to be backdated or changed this will allow editors to overwrite with a new date

User Info

• First Name - first name of user or item, this is important if you want to sort last name first, first name last
• Last Name - last name of user or item
• Pronouns - provides space to indicate user chosen pronouns (he/she/they) 
• User/Item Image - image that is used by default for directory items
• Department - most relevant department name
• Unit - if user/item is within a department in a section or other area that is important
• Role - could be speicifc duty, or function that is important to this item
• Status - provides current information about item
• Position - user hired as, or item placement / usage 
• Degree - on a directory this will be placed after user firstname lastname with a comma
• Phone - phone number where they can be contacted
• Email - email address as text, or as a mailto link
• Office - office number, building, etc
• Hours - plain text version of office hours
• User Website - plain text url, or hyperlink to website *do not use URL as hyperlink text
• Lifespan - meant to be used for image galleries when looking at artist information, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style

Content Info

• Medium - in art exhibits used to describe materials, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style
• Subject - item subject matter, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style
• Item Website - plain text url, or hyperlink to website *do not use URL as hyperlink text