Flashblocks Flash CMS Component
(Flash Content Management System)

Hello Sunny,

Here it goes, another idea...

Ok, you posted about the special attributes in wich we can control how the XML editor behaves.


"It has a couple unpublished tricks as well. You can place special attributes in your XML file to control the way the XML Editor functions. For example,
<link __hide="true">home</link> will hide the node contents from the Editor.

__label="text label" use specified text as label
__up="false" no move "Up" option for node
__down="false" no move "Down" option for node
__duplicate="false" no "Copy" option for node
__delete="false" no "Delete" option for node
__hide="true" hide node contents from editor"

And I just got this idea, to add another attribute to the list.

Let me explain. When editing content with the XML editor for a custom module, its not so user friendly to have to write a path to a file, like a path to a picture. One could spell the filename wrong and not see an image displayed on a picture gallery for example. It would be so much effective to browse to the location of the file and update the filename on a XML node.

One doesn't have to worry about a node that displays text but rather paths to files. However the browse method might be, filetree or thumbnail browser...
the idea is to be able to control wich node content can be browsed by enabling it through a special attribute set to true.

Example
<image __browse="true">earth purple.jpg</image>

Then maybe see a "browse" boton next to the node on the XML editor.

I illustrated the idea in the following screenshot


One could make a custom editor for a module, but then again... the XML editor is already so versatile.

That's a great idea! I will look into it.

OK, now you can select and manage files from the XMLeditor. Edit the Quotes XML file on the front page for an example:
http://www.sketchography.com/demoSite/flashblocks_demoSite.php.

I will add this into the next Flashblocks ML 2.0.1.21 update.

Works perfect.

I noticed that that it updates the entire data path like:
"flashblocks/data/xml/quotes.xml".

What if a module has a "data path constant" inside itself and one needs to update just the filename to complete that path? Like in the case of Autoviewer images, the path to the images folder is already set in the Options class at compile time like:

static var imageFolderPath = "flashblocks/data/images/autoviewer/"

If the XML editor updates the path on the node it would be repeating the path to the folder making it incorrect like:
"flashblocks/data/images/autoviewer/flashblocks/data/images/autoviewer/image.jpg"

Is there going to be a way to control how the XML editor updates paths?

Example
Instead of updating the node to "flashblocks/data/images/autoviewer/image.jpg",
update it to just "image.jpg".

Anyway, I can't wait to install that 2.0.1.21 update!

Thanks

Good idea. I'll create __getPath and __getFile tags.

I see you added the "getFile" and "getPath" tags on the demo site.

Do these tags ONLY enable us to set values for attributes?...

Your Example
<test getFile="quotes.xml" __getFile="true" getPath="flashblocks/data/xml/quotes.xml" __getPath="true">


...Or will we be able to update node values too?
(Between opening and closing tags)

Example
<test __getFile="true">quotes.xml</test>

It will work for both. Flashblocks ML 2.0.1.21 should be live by Friday.

Sorry about that I tried to delete your double post but deleted both.
To answer your question, I have updated the XML Editor on the demo site in preparation for the next release. Feel free to try the demo again.

Placing the attribute __getFile="true" or __getPath="true" will now affect all contents of the node. So placing it once will affect all contents and attributes, matter what they are called.

You will also be glad to know that the file manager now shows image thumbnails. This should help with the gallery module that you are creating.

I just downloaded the 2.0.2 update and when i installed it with the Extension Manager says "version 2.0.1". Maybe you forgot to update the version info.

Is it really 2.0.2?

Yes, it's just at typo.
I will update the download.
Thanks.

Hello,
I had to get in on this thread. I have to say that this single update to the xmlEditor just upped the ante. Superb!

So, I just have a question that would make it even more user friendly. I am trying to make it "Grandma Easy".

Would it be possible to have the __label atribute show up as the header text in the node edit screen? Right now, it shows the node name in a bigger white font. In many cases, this would be fine , but in some, it would be much nicer to be able to provide a little instruction. I though that being able to replace the white text would be a great value for Grandma.

For example.....

Code: :

<testFileManager __label="Select Your Image" __getFile="true" getFile="Select File" getPath="Select File">Select File</testFileManager>

Would render as....


Or perhpaps just another attribute that can be added if it is desired to keep the label separate. Perhaps..

__header

Or something similar.

Hope this makes sense.

Banta67