Possibilities: Threaded forum, user reviews, product catalog w/ specs

Friday 12 September 2003 6:56:26 am

Sam, regarding your second point, we have set up a system that uses specs. But you should use 3.2 to do this as the Matrix datatype is the best choice to implement specifications.

I would recommend setting up separate classes within eZ publish for different product types and add a Matrix for the specs that apply to that product. Then every time a product of that class is created, the proper specification fields are presented to the editor to fill in.

Also, you may want to check out the partner area of the ez.no site as they list companies that develop sites using eZ publish. I don't think the forum rules allow solicitation of business.

Alex

Alex
[ bald_technologist on the IRC channel (irc.freenode.net): #eZpublish ]

<i>When in doubt, clear the cache.</i>

Sunday 14 September 2003 11:27:32 am

>1. What features in 3.2 that could be helpful to my
>situation?

Attribute filtering and sorting in the fetch function for content; the user preferences to store whatever is user related;

>2. Doesn't 3.1 have 'matrix datatype?'

No

>3. Can I have 2 or more different classes for each
>product types? The reason I need this is because of
>the popular hybrid devices (ones that have MP3,
>camera, camcorder functions) I need to use different
>sub-set of specs to mix and match different hybrid
>hardware. Here's a similar output of what I want.

>http://reviews.cnet.com/Casio_EXILIM_EX_Z3___digital_camera/4507-6501_7-20796827.html?tag=dir

No, but the can have several classes for the non-common things and add these to your product base class as related or child objects depending on the features of your product.

>3. Could one page contain multiple 'user comment'
>sections? I need one to be 'user reviews' & 'bug fix
>suggestions.' The same page needs to contain the
>specs as well.

Yes, create different classes for a user review and bug fix suggestions. Look in the demo for the basic syntax to list and add comments. Just do it for each of these 2 classes.

hth

-paul

eZ Publish, eZ Find, Solr expert consulting and training
http://twitter.com/paulborgermans

Sunday 14 September 2003 12:11:52 pm

>Is matrix datatype a 'must' in my situation for
>comparing the specs?

Not really, you could do it with tables in xml fields (but difficult to automate with php scripts if you need to feed data from other db's in a later stage)

>If that is the case, would you say what I'm trying to
>do is impossible w/o ezPublish 3.2?

No, but 3.2 is next wednesday (17th)

>Also, would you consider my project to be very
>complex (to someone with ezPublish 3.1
>experience)?

No, it's basically all feasible with templates and content classes. Some small things are missing to do the advanced forum stuff (user statistics for example).

-paul

eZ Publish, eZ Find, Solr expert consulting and training
http://twitter.com/paulborgermans

Sunday 14 September 2003 1:59:42 pm

Just two more questions, is ezPublish 3.1 forum only
>capable of the simple postings? Does it have
>Avatars, private message ... that kind of stuff?

ezp 3 has the building materials for pretty avanced forums, but you need to do some construction work.

Avatars, yes (extend the user class with anything you want.

Private messages: here you need some php coding I guess. I think the collaboration system may be of help.

>Also, say, can one products' forum threads display
>alongside with other products' threads on a new
>page?

No problem, but you need to rework the forum/message classes a bit (see the contribs for a start, also on threaded forums and adapt the design)

-paul

eZ Publish, eZ Find, Solr expert consulting and training
http://twitter.com/paulborgermans