Document type with dynamic number of content blocks
I would like to create a document type where the content of the page consists of various 'blocks' the end user can simply configure. Each of these blocks could would have one or more fields/properties and a distinct view. For example there could be a 2 column text block and a large image block, etc.
I was wondering what the best approach would be to configure this in Umbraco. I can imagine it would be possible to define a document type for each of the block types. This would indeed allow me to add fields to the block and create a template for each block document type.
But I fear that the management in the backoffice would become horibly ugly. Mostly because each of the blocks would also get an entry in the treeview, just like subpages of the page.
For instance, I would imagine you'd get a tree like this:
-root
-- block 1
-- block 2
-- block 3
-- some sub page
--- block 1 of sub page
--- block 2 or sub page
As you can see this clutters up the tree alot (not to mention all blocks would also get their own URL) so I would really like to be able to do it some other way. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Since you like to create a document type where the content of the page consists of various 'blocks' I thik that it could be an idea for you to take a look at the Mentor Web Blocks package.
With this package users can create blocks in the content tree in the same way as creating normal pages i.e. from pre-defined block/content types. Content editors can also update their content live from the front end of the web site.
Document type with dynamic number of content blocks
I would like to create a document type where the content of the page consists of various 'blocks' the end user can simply configure. Each of these blocks could would have one or more fields/properties and a distinct view. For example there could be a 2 column text block and a large image block, etc.
I was wondering what the best approach would be to configure this in Umbraco. I can imagine it would be possible to define a document type for each of the block types. This would indeed allow me to add fields to the block and create a template for each block document type.
But I fear that the management in the backoffice would become horibly ugly. Mostly because each of the blocks would also get an entry in the treeview, just like subpages of the page.
For instance, I would imagine you'd get a tree like this:
-root
-- block 1
-- block 2
-- block 3
-- some sub page
--- block 1 of sub page
--- block 2 or sub page
As you can see this clutters up the tree alot (not to mention all blocks would also get their own URL) so I would really like to be able to do it some other way. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Hi Robert,
Since you like to create a document type where the content of the page consists of various 'blocks' I thik that it could be an idea for you to take a look at the Mentor Web Blocks package.
With this package users can create blocks in the content tree in the same way as creating normal pages i.e. from pre-defined block/content types. Content editors can also update their content live from the front end of the web site.
You can see more of the Mentor Web Blocks package on thir webpage: http://www.mentorwebblocks.com/ or on their umbraco package space: http://our.umbraco.org/projects/backoffice-extensions/mentor-web-blocks-mvc
There is also a starter kit for available: coderamblings.co.uk/webblocks3_runway_site.zip
I hope that this could be a way to achieve the desired.
/Dennis
Ha! I was just looking at that package and just seconds ago finished my email to them asking if their product is compatible with Umbraco 7.
You wouldn't happen to know if this is the case, would you?
is working on a reply...