By dizzyone on

Hi

I am using Drupal 7.

I don't know if there is such a module, but, I am looking for a module that will list local businesses, shops, doctors, etc. and I would be the only one who could add a listing to the directory.

I found a module called 'Directory' but it looks like it is only compatible with Drupal 6 and below.

I very much like the look of this directory - http://www.catonvillage.org.uk/directory - and if anyone knows where I should start to create something like this then I would love to hear from them. If you could point me in the right direction as to which tutorial I should learn, that would be fantastic.

Thank you for your time to read my posting. Hopefully, someone will help me. I keep going round in circles and don't know where to start!

Kind regards

Pam

⋅ Categories: Drupal 7.x

Comments

socceronly’s picture

socceronly commented

I am just building a directory right now. Drupal offers multiple ways to do this module free. Well at least module free in the module specific sense.

The first, fastest and easiest thing to do is simply set up your categories in Taxonomy, and use Taxonomy menu in a block.

This gets you started immediately. Now since you are categorizing things with Taxonomy, you could later do more sophisticated listings, searches and queries using Views.

No need for a Directory module.

One stumbling block is location based hierarchy. You could use the Address Field which is going to be a great module, but has some trouble with views filtering out locations. It will come...

john_b’s picture

john_b commented

The site you like is some older version Drupal (I cannot see the changelog but it appears to be desperately in need of an update). It does use Directory module, but I see no need for that. Using taxonomy is a good idea.

I did a directory using Location CCK module, and Gmap for mapping results. Your use case is simpler in a sense because for my project each person listed in the directory needs have a listing created which they can edit themself. Just create a content type 'Directory Listing' with the fields you want, and display them with Views, or as socceronly suggests, you could even get the site working without Views if you use taxonomy for each category.

Digit Professionals specialising in Drupal, WordPress & CiviCRM support for publishers in non-profit and related sectors

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Your advice is much appreciated - thanks for the options.

I will use taxonomy for each category and see how that goes. I've not used taxonomy before but will get on with it. If I get confused, I'll try the 'create content type 'Directory Listing' option.

Can't wait to see what happens!

Aw, thanks for your advice. I'd be in deep trouble without you and socceronly!

Thanks a million

Pam

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Onwards and upwards then. I was worried that I had to go it alone!

Ok then. Taxonomy ... bring it on! I will get right on with it.

Thanks for your time and explaining it to me so well.

Pam

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Hi

Although it has been some time since my last post about helping me create a business directory, I'm still trying and feel that I am doomed never to succeed. I have tried to follow the videos on Node one but I feel that I am on information overload!

This is where I am at - I have created my taxonomy (structure/taxonomy/add vocabulary) and have called it 'directory'.
I have a list of terms - eg. Accommodation, Motoring, Beauty.
Under Accommodation, I have Bed & Breakfast, Hotels
Under Beauty, I have Hairdressing, Nails, Massage
Under Motoring, I have garages, car sales

I then created a 'View' but all my list of terms appear in one long list and not in a Parent and Child view ie. I wanted it to look like this :
Accommodation
-- Bed & Breakfast
-- Hotels

This is what I have done so far -

I went into Structure/Views and then into my business directory view that I had created. Now lies the problem,

I just need to know what exactly I should put in each of the following to achieve the above.
Under format - I have put unformatted list.
Under fields - I have put taxonomy term: name.
Under filter criteria - I have put Taxonomy vocabulary: Machine name: (= directory)
Under contextual filter - I have put (Parent) Taxonomy term: Term ID
Under Relationships - I have put Taxonomy term: Parent term

Please could you tell me what to do. I have really, really tried. Where am I going wrong? When I have searched around, it tells me to put something with depth, but I can't see an option for this in my criteria.

Would love some help, if you can spare the time.

Thanks a million.

Pam

john_b’s picture

john_b commented

This is difficult, and too complicated if it is your first Drupal job.

For Views you might read the print book Drupal's Building Blocks, which is co-authored by Earl Miles who wrote Views, but is really good at using plain English.

A view where only field is taxonomy term will output a list of taxonomy terms and nothing else. In an unformatted list, as you have told it to do that.

AFAIK, and I could be wrong, you cannot make a parent and child view like that with a single View. I would seriously think about not using Views but just using taxonomy for your parent and child, and possibly using Panels or Display Suite or even a custom display from Drupal core (i.e. in addition to the Default and Teaser views in each content type under 'Manage Display') in order to control the output for each business listing.

This way you could do the parent with a format other than views and insert the view the children (maybe using Insert view moduld http://drupal.org/project/insert_view).

However, if you are committed to using Views to get both a parent and a child listing on the same page, I think you need to display a View within a View. You could google for that, and look at this module http://drupal.org/project/views_field_view. And this http://drupal.org/project/viewfield. I have never used either.

The Views Field View module page has a warning about the need to use caching with that module, which suggests it is going to do heavy database reads, so you might find you need good hosting, with fast hard disks and set up for good database caching (not just plenty of RAM), to run a site of this kind.

For hierarchical selection in Views see http://drupal.org/project/hierarchical_select

Digit Professionals specialising in Drupal, WordPress & CiviCRM support for publishers in non-profit and related sectors

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Hi John B,

Wow, that was a quick reply. Serious thanks for your advice. I have started to use panels, so will try that. Also, you have given me another option of adding a custom display in Drupal core - didn't know you could do that to control output for each business listing.

I am not really committed to using views at all. I just thought it had to be done that way. Seems I have spent days trying to display my view as parent and child when it was impossible without displaying a view within a view... but, hey ho you've put me right before I 'lost it' completely :)

If I'm not intruding on your time too much, do you think you could enlighten me as to how could I use panels to display parent and child taxonomy? Only if you know how to. Really don't want to ask you to waste more of your time helping me out.

You've been a great help John. You wouldn't know...

Off to try custom display...

Pam
:)

john_b’s picture

john_b commented

Page Manger can respond to contexts so as to display node or page or mini- panels in a path-dependent way. Context module (which I have not used) also displays content depending on the context. Eva attaches a view to a node such the the view responds to node content.

What I had in mind is that one could have more than one context-dependent view on a single page, laid out to your requirements. However, I cannot immediately think of exactly how or why you would want to structure the site using these modules, so I think starting from your current objectives, best forget about these options unless a problem comes up which seems to call for them.

Digit Professionals specialising in Drupal, WordPress & CiviCRM support for publishers in non-profit and related sectors

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Hello again John B,

I'm just staring at your last response with a blank expression - so sorry. You would have to laugh though, I really did try. Anyway, you sound far too clever for me. I was right up there with you in your first reply to me when you explained about not being able to use a layout in views to list my parent and child (I won't waste any more time going down THAT road!). You lost me in your second response to me when you talked about context-dependent view :)

I have started using panels for my site, but I can't see a way to display my taxonomy list in panels as a list of parent and child. I must be missing something - possibly a brain!

Don't know where to go from here.

Feeling rather stumped on this - there doesn't seem to be any help in regard to creating a business listings using Drupal 7. I was originally told to learn views (which I have spent a lot of time doing), but now you say that views isn't the answer. Oh dear! I wish someone would do a step by step lesson on how to create a business listing directory using whichever modules required to do so.

Thanks for trying to help John B, but I need a kind soul who can give me a step by step lesson in how to create a business listing. I'm a good learner, well, given time ;)

Thanks a million.

Pam

john_b’s picture

john_b commented

Ignore my second post, and the reference to panels, which overcomplicated things.

If you do not have too many parent items, create a parent item as a node for each category, and list individual businesses belonging to that parent as a View attached to that node.

If you have numerous, fast-changing parent items and you really need to create and assemble parent items dynamically, try the View within a View method.

Even if you want multiple parent items per page you can use the first option, but it is a little more complex so forget about that unless you do really need multiple parent items on one page.

Digit Professionals specialising in Drupal, WordPress & CiviCRM support for publishers in non-profit and related sectors

dizzyone’s picture

dizzyone commented

Hi John B

Have just returned to my laptop in the hope of a reply :) I will try what you say tomorrow - I'm goosed!

Enjoy your evening and thanks for your help.

Pam
:)