I am very new to Drupal and not a programer. With that in mind I have been able to install, add modules, build pages and get a basic site up and running. I am now trying to do something a little more complex and looking for some guidance. I would like to build a database that is displayed on my website, for example a listing of all the hiking trails in my area. The database would have some predefined things like waterfall, picnic area, difficulty that would be lookups or drop downs, some general text about the hike and then a section for comments or reviews. Within the website I would like for users to be able to add, edit and search information that is within the database or by hike. Searching would be a prebuilt wizard to allow users to search by mileage, difficulty, location, sites etc which would all be fields within the database. In addition I would like to be able to adjust and add rows to the database from the web and provide security to users to do the same. I have started with the CCK module but it appears I will need more. If the answer is I need to learn php that would be fine but I am just looking for some guidance so I don't waste to much time going down the wrong path, which is where I am headed now I think with CCK and php to lookup information in a database.
Thanks for any help.
Comments
You can most likely use CCK,
You can most likely use CCK, combined with Views, and maybe contemplate (you don't necessarily need this last one) to do what you want. CCK allows you to build content types that contain all the different types of data you want to display. Views lets you build lists of the data saved in the database, and contemplate allows you to structure the output the way you want.
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Sounds logical but still need a little help
Thanks for your reply. I looked at the three modules working together and makes sense, it will take a little time to prove the it out so do you know of a decent write up that covers the process at a high level? I am sure there will be a number of questions along the way.
Don't forget about taxonomy...
Taxonomy will also give you a lot of flexibility in displaying your content.
CCK and Views is definitely the way to go. Views has a filter setting "exposed" this is how you will set up your drop downs.
I like Taxonomy a little better for something like your site because it builds a better bread crumb trail for the user.
ie. hikes >> beginner >> 2 miles >> picnic areas
It makes it easier to step back and change patterns than a views query.
To get you started... 1.
To get you started...
1. create content type "hiking trail" for example containing all the fields you want. Make sure to install and enable cck option widgets (for dropdowns, checkboxes, etc...), filefield and image modules for ability to upload images or files. create several entries of that content type using create content so you have some data to work with.
2. go to admin/sitebuilding/views and add view called "hiking trails" for example. In the default section, add fields from the content type you created. Add filter type "node" and check published (so you show only hiking trail content that is published) and node type (specifying the content type "hiking trail" so you only see hiking trails in the view.)
3. Still in that view, add display of page type. Everything you specified under defaults will be in the page but if you choose to create different pages, you can override content accordingly. Specify a path for the page of /hiking-trails for example. Add menu link if you want under navigation, primary links, etc... so user can access the custom page.
4. Save view, and simply click on the menu link you created or type in http://yoursitename/hiking-trails in the address bar and you should see the content listed on the page. You can modify the view's style as well if for example you want to see it as a table, grid, etc...
Views can be complex with all the options but that is a very basic idea around it to gain familiarity with how to accomplish what you're after.
As far as allowing users to
As far as allowing users to create hiking trails, specify this under user permissions by role and just test it out. You can add html to the header of the view if you want that creates an "add hiking trail" link and just specify the url path accordingly. You'll just have to play around with the different options within views but I'm no programmer either so you will get it in time. Hope that helps...
Thanks a ton
for the info and step by step. I will work though it over the next week but likes exactly like what I needed.
Lynda.com
I'm pretty new to drupal as well, and I've got to give props to the folks at Lynda.com.
I really learned a lot from their 3 drupal tutorials - in fact I keep going back to review chapters there when I need them.
It really helped me wrap my head around a lot of this stuff.
Hey I love lynda.com also!
Hey I love lynda.com also! And thank you for mentioning cause i just noticed the recently added course for drupal which is exactly what i need.