bogorman
asked on
Creating a 3 column layout in a frontpage block
Am working on the design of a drupal site:
http://faithmov.com/drupal
I want to modify the top block in the content area. At present it has an image with two links alongside it. I want to modify so it contains three columns. The first column should contain a single image, the second column manually entered text and the third a set of links. I had thought of using Panels but I can't understand how one can create a panel with regions containing content which is MANUALLY entered as opposed to content which is derived from elements already present in the site (i.e. views, menus, page elements, etc), not, say, a text area where the authorised user can enter text or a text box into which the user can upload an image or another text box where links can be inserted (like the CKEditor).
Perhaps one should not use views for this. The sort of thing I need can be seen on our present site:
http://www.faith.org.uk/
How can I do that so that entry is easy for authorised users?
http://faithmov.com/drupal
I want to modify the top block in the content area. At present it has an image with two links alongside it. I want to modify so it contains three columns. The first column should contain a single image, the second column manually entered text and the third a set of links. I had thought of using Panels but I can't understand how one can create a panel with regions containing content which is MANUALLY entered as opposed to content which is derived from elements already present in the site (i.e. views, menus, page elements, etc), not, say, a text area where the authorised user can enter text or a text box into which the user can upload an image or another text box where links can be inserted (like the CKEditor).
Perhaps one should not use views for this. The sort of thing I need can be seen on our present site:
http://www.faith.org.uk/
How can I do that so that entry is easy for authorised users?
try the panesl module.
You can create a block that is constructed of 3 panels (columns), as required.
You can create a block that is constructed of 3 panels (columns), as required.
ASKER
Hi Ultrus,
Thanks. Yes, you are correct. The problem is when users are not web savvy - including me! I find it difficult simply to create a three column layout with the first column containing (in its edit page) an image upload field, the second column with manually entered text and a third column where one can enter links to nodes manually. I already have installed CKEditor and CKFinder which enable editing in a node edit form and browsing for/inserting images.
I also have installed the Nodes in Block module which enables me to define content types for the module so that they can be inserted in a block. I am wondering if I create a number of nodes with three columns in their body sections and do it that way via Nodes in Block? I could then insert the node(s) in block(s). Have not tried this yet. When it comes to the next issue of the magazine (this content comes from our latest bi-monthly magazine) I would have to overwrite the nodes with new images and content.
That is the only way I can think of doing it. Have you any alternative ideas?
Brian
Thanks. Yes, you are correct. The problem is when users are not web savvy - including me! I find it difficult simply to create a three column layout with the first column containing (in its edit page) an image upload field, the second column with manually entered text and a third column where one can enter links to nodes manually. I already have installed CKEditor and CKFinder which enable editing in a node edit form and browsing for/inserting images.
I also have installed the Nodes in Block module which enables me to define content types for the module so that they can be inserted in a block. I am wondering if I create a number of nodes with three columns in their body sections and do it that way via Nodes in Block? I could then insert the node(s) in block(s). Have not tried this yet. When it comes to the next issue of the magazine (this content comes from our latest bi-monthly magazine) I would have to overwrite the nodes with new images and content.
That is the only way I can think of doing it. Have you any alternative ideas?
Brian
ASKER
Hi HagayMandel,
Yes, I have Panels installed. Do you suggest three panels or a panel with three regions in it?
What I cannot do is to upload an image as content in one of the regions of a panel. Also install links in another region. I have (see above) CKEditor and CKFinder installed but I don't think they are any good when it comes to installing content into the region of a panel.
Brian
Yes, I have Panels installed. Do you suggest three panels or a panel with three regions in it?
What I cannot do is to upload an image as content in one of the regions of a panel. Also install links in another region. I have (see above) CKEditor and CKFinder installed but I don't think they are any good when it comes to installing content into the region of a panel.
Brian
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ASKER
By the way, I use CKEditor Link to enable links to nodes.
ASKER
Have solved the problem myself.
The biggest challenge I see if a website user is maintaining this (that isn't web savvy), is uploading and managing images. If it was a block along with a WYSIWYG editor, uploading images can be rather laborious (if interested though, see WYSIWYG, TinyMCE, read up on input formats, and add WYSIWYG image upload module).
One way I would make this is to create a "section" text field in an "article" content type. That way you could show a table view of articles grouped by section. This would require CCK, file, image, views
You mentioned "MANUALLY" editing though with all caps text. That's fine. In that case I recommend installing WYSIWYG module, an editor library (TinyMCE is my personal favorite, WYSIWYG module will give you instructions once installed). You'll just struggle with images a bit unless you enjoy manually uploading images and referencing them or you install additional modules to assist with that.
Whenever you want to show a list of a something of a certain type, views tends to be the most useful for my needs in most cases.
You have some research to do. However I hope this helps spark inspiration. :)
Best regards,
Chris