Catalogues and Fields
These FAQs briefly summarise key points on using Composr's catalogues system and the available field types.
For more information, check out these tutorials:
For more information, check out these tutorials:
Question | What are catalogues in Composr? |
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Answer | Catalogues are custom databases you can create within your Composr website. They allow you to define your own records with custom fields and organize them into categories. Think of them as powerful tools for managing various types of content, like a database of books, a directory of businesses, or even a classified ads system. |
Question | Why might I need a programmer for my catalogue? |
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Answer | While Composr catalogues offer great flexibility, they can become complex if you need sophisticated data relationships, efficient searching, high data reliability, or advanced customization. In these cases, a programmer's expertise in database design, normalization, and templating can be invaluable. |
Question | What are the different display types for catalogue entries? |
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Answer | Composr provides four main display types for catalogue entries:
It is possible to create your own templates including ones that are specific to a catalogue. Check out the catalogues tutorial for more information. |
Question | Can I customize the look and feel of my catalogue? |
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Answer | Yes, Composr allows advanced users to customize catalogue appearance through Tempcode programming. This involves using template IF directives to apply specific styles based on the catalogue's name and manipulating template parameters for complex layouts. Alternatively, you can create new template files using the catalogue name in the file to specify complete templates for specific catalogues. Check out the tutorials for more information. |
Question | What is a tree catalogue and how do I create one quickly? |
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Answer | A tree catalogue has a hierarchical category structure (which can contain sub-categories), similar to the download system. Composr offers a special feature for creating tree catalogues by simply typing the desired categories in a specific format (which is explained and available when adding a new catalogue), which automatically generates the tree structure. Alternatively, a non-tree catalogue is simpler and only has top-level categories. |
Question | How are breadcrumbs handled in catalogue views? |
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Answer | Catalogue breadcrumbs can be customized using XML code (Admin Zone > Structure > Configure breadcrumb overrides). By default, they include the list of catalogues. However, Composr provides default breadcrumb XML that removes this, focusing on the current category hierarchy. Tree catalogues omit the index link, while non-tree catalogues include it. |
Question | What are some specialized types of catalogues available in Composr? |
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Answer | Composr supports specialized catalogues, including:
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Question | How can I ensure the privacy of personal information stored in my catalogues? |
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Answer | Composr's privacy system can help manage personal data within catalogues. To leverage it:
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Question | What are some key considerations when choosing field types for my catalogue? |
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Answer | When selecting field types, consider:
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