Plugin Concept: MT-Pages // Plasticmind Blog

Plugin Concept: MT-Pages

A few weeks ago, during one of our ProNet phone calls when Tim brought up the fact that creating static pages still requires alot of hoop-jumping, I started thinking about a way to implement default page templates that would allow easy management of pages via the MT interface but separate from templates and entries.

The plugin would be called MTPages.

UPDATE: This plugin is actually called Athena and isn't a plugin at all. Single page management will be a core functionality of Movable Type 4.0!

Instead of getting mixed in with Entries, another section called "Pages" would be added to the blog. It would function almost exactly like the Entries section, only it would list all of our static pages. Keeping it separate would accomplish two things: a clear distinction for both types of content in the mind of the user and no hassle with archives when rebuilding. (MT might not allow this type of functionality, so I may be deluded about this...)

In the template section, another Tab would be added for "Page Templates". Multiple page templates could be created and named. A default page template should be supplied by the plugin so the Pages section works immediately upon install.

In the main menu, we now see a section called "Pages".

Clicking on it brings us to our "Page Listing" screen where have a list of all our static pages on the site. Instead of showing the date a page was published, we see the location where each page is published.

Clicking on "New Page" brings us to what is essentially a new entry screen with an additional drop down where we can choose a particular page template from all of our predefined ones.

The only thing I have not yet settled is how to handle publishing. Perhaps it would be a good idea (since these are single instance pages) to provide a field for the user to specify publishing settings (although basename might work). Or maybe it could be tied into the category drop down. Not too sure about that.

posted on 1 March 2007
by Jesse

Comments (9)
in the chapter, "Movable Type"

InterAction:

1 March 20071. smartpill:

I love it. This would help immensely in creating and updating individual pages. Maybe another tab could be added for Widget content so that those who put ads, notes, events and links, etc. in specific page areas could update those items pretty easily too.

Now if only field customization ala ExpressionEngine (kinda like RightFields) and a solid upload manager (like BFU2 but with a file manager and audio/video upload abilities) and a customizable tag manager integrated into the edit entry page this would be a monster that would lead the filed instead of chasing it.

Keep up the good work!

1 March 20072. Simone Carletti:

That's a wonderful news!
Pages is probably one of the most important features that MT doesn't offer, compared with WP.

1 March 20073. Huichieh:

Fantastic! I use MT to power a group blog and have been very impressed by what it offers so far (especially in conjunction with various plugins). But this is definitely an area where MT can improve. Some specific concerns:

1. It would be good if page templates could also be (individually) set to publish dynamically as in the case of the other templates.

2. Definitely a basename (and path?) field on the edit page screen!

3. How about comments for pages (not as crucial but I suspect this might be useful sometimes)?

4. This might be more ambitious but will there be a set of tags for pages as well, akin to the MTEntry__ series?

I'm can't wait to see it happen already!

1 March 20074. Dug:

Hi Guys, Jesse just commented on a post I wrote last year about my version of this thing mt-staticpages.

Jesse I like the look of your approach.

I just wanted to let you guys know that I mt-staticpages exists. It's not 100% packaged up nicely as it was part of a messy commercial project. In any case, I'm happy to share the code with folk if that helps and also Jesse I can sort you out an account on mtengine so you can play around with version 0 of mt-staticpages.

There are lots of things that need finishing. For now, the static page root is set to always be MTBlogURL which means if you want to make a site with no blog content, you make all your static pages using the nice interface and then you need to crack open the index template... oh well...

A big part of my design brief was that editors don't touch templates, only content stuff, so need to work a bit more on that one...

All the best,
Dug

5 March 20075. Skye:

I would pay money for this plugin, honestly. It would save me so much time setting up sites for people who are looking for website + blog, not blog alone.

14 March 20076. Byrne Reese:

I have an even better idea: what if we fold this feature into the core? This is an excellent write up Jesse and I think you will be please with what the MT team has come up with for Athena. Athena will be implementing Pages very similarly to how you have described here.

14 March 20077. Jesse Gardner:

Right on, Byrne, right on.

22 March 20078. Alison:

When is MT 4.0 due for release?

6 May 20079. Pai:

ive been waiting for something like this.. you know how i did my static pages before? i created it under the Index template man.. then the content i grab from a specific hidden categories which i made specially for static pages content. have to use MultiBlog plugin again for that.. hehe!