Use of frontend pages by manager users to update custom data tables

Hi,

The subject doesn’t really explain what I’m trying to do ... so I’ll start with a full description.

For my site, there will be a number of custom data tables added to the modx database. For example, the site is for a school and there will be a data table listing staff members. There will be a page in the site that will display the information about staff members with that data table providing the info.

For the appropriate staff member to manage these data tables, I have a section of data administration pages (that are not listed in the menu). Each one will list the info in a specific table and allow the user to add, edit, or delete entries.

What I had hoped to be able to do was to restrict access to those data admin pages to a specific group of manager users.

After much googling / reading forums etc I can clearly see that the distinction between manager users and web users in Evolution (1.0.0) means that I can’t do this. I’ve tried to think of some twisted, convoluted way to achieve ... which I normally manage ... but this time I’m stumped.

I would have thought this was a normal thing to want in a site ... a section of pages that are only visible by the right manager users to update the data that the site presents to the rest of the world. An e-commerce sight would surely have such pages to manage information about the products for sale.

I know I could use a web user group for this ... but then admin staff would need to use a web user to update data and a manager user to update page content which would be confusing - I’m trying to make a site that is easily updated by non technical people.

So, any advice will be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Colin

Revolution might be a solution for you since there’s no distinction there between web and manager users.

There used to be a snippet that simultaneously logged people in as both web and manager users. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what it was called and don’t know if it would work in 1.0.2.

The only other thing I can think of for Evolution is either a module that would do the job in the Manager, or having Manager users "preview" the page (which would not be available in the front end at all). When previewing from the Manager, you’re still logged in as a manager user and a snippet could toss out anyone who wasn’t.

There used to be a snippet that simultaneously logged people in as both web and manager users. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what it was called and don’t know if it would work in 1.0.2.

guess this one "ManagerLogin": http://modxcms.com/extras/package/254

then there is eForm to database Snippet: http://modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,8111.0.html

managing records via module see also this thread: http://modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,44506

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. They gave me some pointers as to ’terminology’ so I could find what I need ... and the answer I’ve gone for is dbEdit (see http://modxcms.com/forums/index.php/topic,32720.60.html). Got it up and running on an existing data table in 15 minutes ... sweet

Was a bit concerned that I’d shot myself in the foot when I came up against this problem - is MODx the right choice? But managing said data tables through a manager module is better design that what I’d done initially ... and I’m now so pleased I’ve gone for MODx ... great community.

Cheers,

Colin

Glad you got it working. Welcome aboard.