Multiple Div columns

Squiz Matrix Support
1

Hi


I am used to working with other CMS and I have developed a reasonably large site for a client who is using Matrix, but I am stuck on one design. There will be lots of instances of this design, one for each employee. It needs to have three columns of information in the main body.



Other CMS I have used would allow me to add three <content blocks> in the design and would then prompt for three contents in the Admin. I can't see how to handle three content blocks in Matrix. Can someone point me in the right direction please.



The site is using 3.18.9



Many thanks

2

Where is the content from the columns coming from? Is it dynamic per user?


And you are wanting to use just this one design file?

3

[quote]
Where is the content from the columns coming from? Is it dynamic per user?



And you are wanting to use just this one design file?

[/quote]



Thanks for responding Nic.



Each employer has three columns of information, unique to them. The previous design for this client had just one block of information but the new design requires it to be published in three columns, so I am trying to work out how to have three content blocks with partial infmoration in each one.

4

[quote]
Each employer has three columns of information, unique to them. The previous design for this client had just one block of information but the new design requires it to be published in three columns, so I am trying to work out how to have three content blocks with partial infmoration in each one.

[/quote]



And will this design be used on one page for each employer, or multiple? Would you be using something like a standard page, or another asset for this?

5

IMHO you are asking about the style. http://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/css-layouts/

6

[quote]
IMHO you are asking about the style. http://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/css-layouts/

[/quote]



Yeah, I wasn't sure if they were asking how to do the actual layout using CSS, or if they were more wondering about how to build those content areas using Matrix.

7

[quote]
Yeah, I wasn't sure if they were asking how to do the actual layout using CSS, or if they were more wondering about how to build those content areas using Matrix.

[/quote]



I was sort of expecting to have one design for all the employees that had <content block 1>, <content block 2> and <content block 1> somewhere in the design which opened up an edit content section for each block for each employee page I create?



I already have the actual design in a static form with three columns using CSS, but I can't work out how to create three content sections for each employee and load the content in the three apporpriate places in the design.



Thanks

8

I would use a paint layout that has metadata keywords in your columns. Then, you apply that paint layout and fill in the metadata for each page that you have created. Then that data populates your columns.


You could add the column HTML in your paint layout, as those are a little easier to work with than a design.

9

[quote]
I would use a paint layout that has metadata keywords in your columns. Then, you apply that paint layout and fill in the metadata for each page that you have created. Then that data populates your columns.



You could add the column HTML in your paint layout, as those are a little easier to work with than a design.

[/quote]



Does that mean I need to create three 'pages' of data for the three columns then? And call each page to populate each column?

10

[quote]
Does that mean I need to create three 'pages' of data for the three columns then? And call each page to populate each column?

[/quote]



No. You would create a paint layout that would be configured for Standard Pages (or whatever asset you are using). Next, create a metadata schema with three text fields. Apply this metadata schema to the part of the site that you are using. Next, edit the type format of your paint layout with something like:


    
    
%asset_metadata_col1%

    
%asset_metadata_col2%

    
%asset_metadata_col3%


Apply that paint layout to the part of your site that you want to use it on.

Then, when you want to fill in the columns, just edit the metadata for that page, and fill in each of the column metadata fields.
11

[quote]
No. You would create a paint layout that would be configured for Standard Pages (or whatever asset you are using). Next, create a metadata schema with three text fields. Apply this metadata schema to the part of the site that you are using. Next, edit the type format of your paint layout with something like:


    
    
%asset_metadata_col1%

    
%asset_metadata_col2%

    
%asset_metadata_col3%


Apply that paint layout to the part of your site that you want to use it on.

Then, when you want to fill in the columns, just edit the metadata for that page, and fill in each of the column metadata fields.
[/quote]

Many thanks

I'll give this a go.
12

[quote]
Many thanks



I'll give this a go.

[/quote]



Lol! I am finding this very frustrating because I am not genrally an idiot!



I have ended up presently just creating a body content and putting my three divs inside it. At least it is displaying correctly.



Please bear with one last stupid question. I can see that the edit content page lets me create divs above and below the content. I have tried putting the three columns content in three different divs on the edit content page and using the div names in the design. All that happened was that one content block was displayed in each div. Why doesn't this work? Or is it just not supposed to work like that? What are the extra divs for?



I have been through the manual and it just isn't clear to me.

13

[quote]
Please bear with one last stupid question. I can see that the edit content page lets me create divs above and below the content. I have tried putting the three columns content in three different divs on the edit content page and using the div names in the design. All that happened was that one content block was displayed in each div. Why doesn't this work? Or is it just not supposed to work like that? What are the extra divs for?

[/quote]



So you are talking about content divs? In my opinion, you really should just ignore what they are called, and do not use them like HTML divs. Just place all your HTML within the editable area and don't mess with the div content settings.



If you would like, I could quickly build you a sample of what I meant, over on the Matrix Community site.

14

[quote]
So you are talking about content divs? In my opinion, you really should just ignore what they are called, and do not use them like HTML divs. Just place all your HTML within the editable area and don't mess with the div content settings.



If you would like, I could quickly build you a sample of what I meant, over on the Matrix Community site.

[/quote]



That would be very kind if you don't mind.



Here is an example of what the page looks like…



http://79.170.44.126/1kbw.co.uk/example.php



You can see what I am trying to do.

15

I assume you want to have 3 separate wysiwyg editors?

16

[quote]
I assume you want to have 3 separate wysiwyg editors?

[/quote]



Yes please!

17

[quote]
Yes please!

[/quote]

Hi,

maybe 3 nested contents like this:

    | first div     | sec div       | third div     |
    | nest_content1 | nest_content2 | nest_content3 |


And you can edit separately any of nested contents.

Regards
Arek
18

[quote]
Yes please!

[/quote]



You can create three metadata fields (WYSIWYG type) to get it work. Please note there are restrictions, for example metadata fields doesn't translate Matrix link(like ./?a=12345) into URLs. Better to fully test with keywords before you start.