Need a "article" type feature on website

I have finished creating my website with Modx and now I am at the point of adding a few extra features to it.

I need a feature where admins can login the back-end and create pages that will be displayed as "links" on certain pages.

Here is an example:

View our list of custom VCQ Reports

Click on the category name below to see a list of reports relating to that category.

------------------------------------------
Category Last Added
------------------------------------------

New Features April 23, 3007

Tips June 17, 2007

Sales Order Reports October 31, 2007

------------------------------------------

Etc...


The links "new features", "tips" and "sales order reports" would be "links to the actual "article/page".
The reason I need to have links created automatically is for usability to some admin’s that do not know html and this would make it easier for everyone that is managing the website depending on their role.

Would I be able to have this feature integrate on certain template pages only, maybe?
And have a certain group of "documents/pages" that will automatically show up in that list?

It seems I need something like a "article" list plug-in but I am not sure what is available for Modx.

I appreciate your help in advance.
Thanks!

Quote from: denrou at Jan 31, 2008, 10:56 AM

The links "new features", "tips" and "sales order reports" would be "links to the actual "article/page".
The reason I need to have links created automatically is for usability to some admin’s that do not know html and this would make it easier for everyone that is managing the website depending on their role.

Output like this can very easily be created using Ditto or possibly Wayfinder (Not certain if Wayfinder brings in the pub_date for "Last Added" or not)

Quote from: denrou at Jan 31, 2008, 10:56 AM

Would I be able to have this feature integrate on certain template pages only, maybe?
And have a certain group of "documents/pages" that will automatically show up in that list?

Absolutely! Part of the beauty of the MODx templating system.

Indeed, this sort of thing is exactly what Ditto was written for. It’s not just for blogs or news, it can be used for catalogs and lists of employees and even random client quotes!

Thanks!

I’ll give that a try.

Quote from: denrou at Jan 31, 2008, 12:25 PM

Thanks!

I’ll give that a try.

Here’s a quick example of a Ditto call I used for an Articles section. Just create an "Articles" container (e.g. Category), create some documents inside the container (e.g. each of your categories), then place your snippet call on the container document:



article_tpl Chunk:

<div class="ditto_item" id="ditto_item_[+id+]">
<a class="ditto_pageTitle" href="[~[+id+]~]" title="[+pagetitle+]">[+longtitle+]</a>
<p class="ditto_introText">
[+introtext+]
</p>
</div>

NOTE:
- Play around with the parameters based on what you need.
- Alter your chunk template to include the placeholders you want displayed (e.g. pub_date)
- Look into Ditto’s date formatting options to output the correct date and in your desired format

As for the business process, the admins simply create a new document (category) and the Ditto call will handle the rest!