Yet another category plugin...
Development and Programming
This is like the fourth category plugin in two weeks! But as I was dinking around with the code, I finally figured out how to make the {exp:weblog:categories} tag dynamic- meaning the subcats only show when on a category page for a category that’s in the same tree. Um- here’s an example. Click a link, you’ll see what I mean. I’m using it now- so the bits I’m personally concerned with work. It replaces a seriously ugly hack I had going before.
This may or may not be useful- I haven’t looked at the other new cat plugins enough to figure out if they do exactly what I want or not. If it’s useful, let me know. If it works for folks who use category names in the url, let me know (untested- but the code is there). If it works for folks with auto_assign_parent_cats off, let me know (also an untested environment).
Needs a bit of tweaking- I’m pretty sure I’m going to remove one query. But until any debugging is finished, I’m leaving it in. I may make this thing work on individual entry pages as well- the more I think about it, the more I think it would be handy. Um- I did add parent_id as a variable, but not a conditional one. I’m debating on that- not sure I see much use in it.
Anyway- the code should be maintained, as I’m using it on my site. Whether or not I actually submit it to the plugin list depends on whether it ends up seeming redundant.
pi.dyno_cat.zip - read the plugin docs, there’s sample code. It works just like the {exp:weblog:categories}, just with a few additional parameters and variables.
Wow! Excellent work Robin. I think I may have a use for that immediately. It could replace something I have done where I’m using categories for primary navigation. It was also looking a bit ugly. We are spoilt for choice in category plugins now. I think each one brings something slightly different to the table so all could potentially be useful depending on the project..
Way cool - thanks tons for posting this.
I haven’t explored the other options in detail either, but in browsing quickly through the examples I didn’t see anything that allowed a more graceful way to use cats and sub-cats for navigation as this does, which I often have a need for in using EE to drive more traditional (non-blog) websites.
Thanks again!
This is a great plugin and is exactly what I was looking for, thanks for making it available. I’ve run into a little bug - the very last subcategory doesn’t display. I have the category group in custom order, and if I switch the order of the last two categories, whichever is last disappears.
Hm- oddness. I’ve got a hard copy I’ve been going over, trying to tighten things up- cause it’s a mess- and add support for single entry pages being ‘open’ for the cats the entry is in- because I really want that. I also suspect there are problems when cat names are used in the url, and am playing with that.
In short, hopefully I’ll have a tighter version up tomorrow and you can check if it clears up the problem.
I’m getting the same thing as cgsweb…last category’s subCats won’t display. Have you managed to update the plugin yet? I downloaded from the first link.
Heh- I’ve updated that part, it was a matter of defining an array earlier in the process. But I’m wanting to get it working on single entry pages before I upload a new one. That’s mainly because I want to use it on single entry pages.
MEMEMEMEME! It’s all about ME! 😉 But if I’d stop messing around here I could have a new one up soon. Maybe tonight if I don’t go out- Sat. otherwise.
No problem, was just curious since I’m intensely playing with categories and plugins 😊
this is the plugin lisa meant ! aawww fingers crossed as i build it now 😊
Does it works with EE 1.2.X?
Regards.
Does it works with EE 1.2.X? Regards.
Don’t know. Why don’t you test it and see?
Doesn’t look like it wouldn’t work.
I’ve converted 99% of my sites to 1.3.2, so I don’t have a test domain using 1.2.1.
Is there a reason you haven’t upgraded to 1.3.2?
@rob1: i’m just curious & wanted to know, if there is any new version of the dyno-cat-plugin?
BTW: great plugin!
Good timing, iteria! I just uploaded a new version. (I think it should work ok with older versions of EE, though I haven’t tested it. I do recall some changes in the globals, though. So it’s possible it’s not backwards compatible. Only way to know is to test it out.)
The newer version is still a work in progress, but I did clean up an odd bug or two that could cause categories not to show when they should. I also more fully tested on an EE install using category names in the url and auto-assign cats ‘off’. This thing is a pain to test due to all of the possible permutations. However, I think I’ve covered the biggies.
A couple of new parameters were added:
-weblog_id - if you want to restrict display so that empty categories aren’t displayed AND more than one weblog uses the same category group, you can specify a specific weblog or weblogs (“1|3|4”) to base your ‘show_empty’ on.
-disable - if you aren’t using the {count} variable, you should include disable=”count” and save yourself a query.
-active_id - still experimental, it currently takes one parameter- active_id=”current”. If this parameter is set, then when on a category page, the <li> for that category will be given a css id=”active”.
-single_tree - still experimental, it currently takes one parameter- single_tree=”all”. If this parameter is set, then when on a category page ONLY the categories in that hierarchy will show (the other parent cats won’t).
The last two were added after talking to Randy about being able to show just a single hierarchy. I know he’d like to be able to not show the parent either- but that was more complicated than I initially thought it would be. Anyway, it is something I’m playing around with.
For the future, I’d still like to get this working on the single entry pages- so it can show the full hierarchy open for any cats the entry is in and only the top level cats otherwise.
I’d also like to change the way caching works- right now, it will take the regular cache parameter, as will most EE tags. However, it caches on a per page basis. Now, if you’re not using cat names in your urls, there’s no reason to do a separate query for when you’re on C1 vs C5- but right now, that’s how the cache works. I’d like to figure out a way around that.
Also- need to dink around more with giving id’s or classes to the li/ul’s. Also, the code looks like it was written by monkeys on speed and I’ve probably got more loops in there than I should. So- needs more cleaning.
If anyone spots problems or has requests/ideas, just let me know. Download replaces the one in the original post - pi.dyno_cat.zip.
Thanks Robbin! The weblog_id is a savior. The way the normal EE category function works where it shows all from every weblog is a real deal killer. Having to show the parent is problematic for me in this instance. But, thanks to you (and a couple other query kings/queens), I’ve managed to construct some queries, combine those with some {if} statements (on segments) to make it all work, and it even highlights the section/subsection/subSubsection that one is browsing without using CSS-IDs. I wouldn’t want to have to explain how I did it though :-)
Thanks Robbin! I wouldn’t want to have to explain how I did it though 😊
ohhh, pleeeeaaasssseee 😉