It is a documentation for the extension Vip Portfolio. In this publication, I describe all steps to make a portfolio, using the component. I also describe how to set the settings and some of their peculiarity. You will find information for upgrading and better management.
Create a category [ The First Step ]
You are able to create categories if you want to arrange your projects. It is not necessary but is sensibly.
Now you have to fill the fields and choose an image for the category.
- Check the box "Published?" if you want to create a category visible.
- Enter the name and alias. The alias is a part of URL which you will see in the browser. It is available only when you turn on the SEF of your Joomla!.
- Choose the category image from your computer.
Send the data by clicking the button "Save".
Add a project [ The second step ]
It is a moment which you will add a project in the list.
You have to fill all information about the current project.
- Check the box "Published?" to save it visible.
- Choose the right category.
- Enter а title.
- Describe the project.
- Enter an URL if available.
- Select a thumbnail from your computer - it is a small image that everyone sees first.
- Select an image too - it is a big image that everyone will see after a click on the thumbnail.
Click on the button "Save" and store the data.
Show the projects on your site [ The third step ]
Now you have to add a new menu item. Choose one of your menus and ....
click on the button "New"
You have to click on "Vip Portfolio" and after that you should choose one of the alternatives - category list or projects.
Enter a title and an alias in the "Menu Item Details" form. You should select other options for the menu item, if you want.
Select the layout style and category from the parameters on the right side.
Save the new menu item.
Settings
Go on the page with the component settings.
The "Global" are the main settings of the extensions.
It is the place where you can load JavaScript libraries, if some of the layouts needs.
Other tabs contain specific options for projects layouts and category layouts.
Check which layout did you select on the menu parameters and set the right options.
If you see the red note like "Dependencies:...." you must load that JavaScript library.
You can load the library from the first tab ( "Global" settings ) by setting the required option. Or you should put own code like this
in the head tag of your template ( e.g. templates/rhuk_milkyway/index.php ).
Upgrade
When I publish a new release, and you decide to upgrade the extension, you should follow next steps:
- Make a backup of your site ( database and files );
- Uninstall old version of the component;
- Install the new version;
- Set the extension settings again;
The script keeps the existing data and everything will be as before.
The versions 1.* and 2.* are unsuited.
If you want to use data from version 1.* execute these queries, and add new database fields.
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `alias` varchar(128) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' AFTER `name`;
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `ordering` tinyint(4) UNSIGNED NOT NULL AFTER `published`;
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_projects` ADD COLUMN `ordering` tinyint(4) UNSIGNED NOT NULL AFTER `published`;
To upgrade from version 2.1 to 2.2 execute these queries.
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `meta_canonical` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' AFTER `ordering`;
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `meta_desc` varchar(300) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' AFTER `ordering`;
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `meta_keywords` varchar(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' AFTER `ordering`;
ALTER TABLE `#__vp_categories` ADD COLUMN `meta_title` varchar(80) NOT NULL DEFAULT '' AFTER `ordering`;
I hope the publication is useful. If there is something that I have missed, please send me a message or write a comment. I would be glad to help you. :)
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