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Creating an XML front end for Flash Banner: What should I Use ? Extention, Module or plugin?

January 15, 2010 6:31am

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  • #16 / Jan 20, 2010 1:15pm

    Peter Ripley

    93 posts

    I’m not sure why you need an an extension, module or a plugin for this.


    Couldn’t you just use regular old template in its own weblog?

    What does the module do that a template can’t do?

  • #17 / Jan 20, 2010 2:54pm

    Crowds

    21 posts

    Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

    Thanks CA 😊

    I’m not sure why you need an an extension, module or a plugin for this.


    Couldn’t you just use regular old template in its own weblog?

    What does the module do that a template can’t do?

    I could quite easily write a some php to handle the generation of the XML and store all the relevant info on MySQL and create a seperate backend so the client can edit the content on whim. But it seems logical to want to include that with EE and not have to tell the client that they are going to have to log into a seperate area just to edit the banner.

  • #18 / Jan 20, 2010 4:19pm

    Peter Ripley

    93 posts

    I think we are misunderstanding each other here.

    Why can’t you create the xml feed in straight up EE?

    For instance this SWF:

    http://www.bmi.com/flash/billboard.swf

    Uses XML content generated here:

    http://www.bmi.com/xml/billboard.xml

    (need to view source)

    This is straight out of EE.  We use some plugins in the template to cleanse the data because we are repurposing it from another application, but other than that it’s no modules, extensions or plugins.

  • #19 / Jan 20, 2010 5:28pm

    Crowds

    21 posts

    It’s mainly to keep things simple for the client. I’m trying to keep everything they need to update and/or add content accesable from the EE CP.

    At times they may want to push a product and so add it to the flash banner. Rather than having to call me to edit the xml or to attempt to edit themselves I want to create a form that will have three field for each of the images/videos loaded into the banner.

    I could create this as a template and set to be accesible only by people logged in with certain rights or I could create a stand alone page outside of EE and provide the clients the link to it… but both of these options take it away from the control panel.

    Unless of course (yes a bell just rang!) your saying I could create this page as a template and somehow add it to or embed it into the control panel ?
    In which case I see your point entirely and it would make total sense to do it this way…
    If this is so how do I add said template to the control panel ?

    Cheers
    Crowds

  • #20 / Jan 20, 2010 5:40pm

    Peter Ripley

    93 posts

    Unless of course (yes a bell just rang!) your saying I could create this page as a template and somehow add it to or embed it into the control panel ?
    In which case I see your point entirely and it would make total sense to do it this way…
    If this is so how do I add said template to the control panel ?

    Yes exactly.

    Here’s how I would do it:

    Create a new field group with just the fields needed for this (you said three fields).

    Create a new weblog and associate it with the new field group.

    Create a new template group.

    Create a new template in the new template group.  Set it up as XML.  See documentation for {XML_encode}

    Create one entry in the new weblog for each image in the XML feed.

  • #21 / Jan 20, 2010 5:53pm

    Crowds

    21 posts

    As I said to CA earlier “I Can’t see the wood for the tree’s”

    It’s so obvious I can’t believe I didn’t get what you meant sooner
    To quote Homer..
    Doh!

    Thanks Peter your right, doing things that way negates the need for a module.

    Thanks Again 😊

    Crowds

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