Classified Ads Module

Last modified: June 30, 2009 - 09:40

This module creates a drop-in, plug-and-play textual classified ad node type (ed_classified).

The Drupal Classified Ads module provides a quick and easy way to host textual classified ads on your Drupal 5.x or Drupal 6.x sites. If you run multiple sites, or don't want to be bothered piecing together a classified ads type, this may be just the ticket.

Project page and official releases: http://drupal.org/project/ed_classified

Important - Drupal 5 support is unlikely to continue (there have been no new releases for approx. 2 years), all development efforts are presently directed towards Drupal 6.x.

Classified Ads provides the following features:

  • cron-based automatic expiration (on expiration, the classified ad node is moved to unpublished state, but is not yet deleted/purged so it can be 'renewed') and after an admin-defined 'grace period', previously expired ads are purged (deleted).
  • Expired ad renewal: Users with proper permissions may 'renew' their expired but not yet purged ads during the 'grace period' by checking the 'renew ad' checkbox in the edit form.
  • Simple taxonomy-based browsing similar to that provided by image.module galleries. (I lifted some of the code from image.module, and modified it for use here.)
  • Several useful blocks (latest ads, most popular ads, and stats including total number of unexpired ads and number of new ads in last 24 hours).
  • Per-user classified ads lists (under each user's profile, visible to all users with 'access user profiles' permissions).
  • Administration list of all classified ads, sortable by expiration date, with direct edit link to the ad.
  • Length-limited body text with live, javascript-based counter showing characters used and remaining while user enters the body text - no need to hit submit and wait for an error message.
  • Ad expiration varies by taxonomy term. Now you can control ad duration depending on category selection

Paid classified ads may be implemented by installing the lm_paypal module and limiting ed_classified node creation to paying users. Other schemes may work as well, but the ed_classified module does not handle paid ad creation for you - this is beyond the scope of the module at present, although lm_paypal integration is planned for a future release.

Photo ads may be implemented using image.module, upload_image, and other image modules. I use upload.module, image.module and upload_image combined on my sites, and that combination works pretty well. If you have upload.module, the ed_classified module will allow you to override the attachment form description text on classified nodes, supplying administrator-supplied text - this helps users understand what to do in order to create a photo ad.

 
 

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