Topic: Newbie - Looking for Pointers

[matt2323]

Hi,

I'm new here Im working on a site which I have taken over admin for. We have just upgraded to SMF 2.0.4, with SimplePortal 2.3.5.

Our site revolves around 'departments'. I am hoping to configure the site so that each department contains a mix of articles and blocks.

To this end, I've installed "single Category" mode from here>> http://simpleportal.net/index.php?topic=12347.msg62024#msg62024

As I would like each department's 'front page' to display the smf 'Category'

The single category mod seems to work great, but I am falling at the first hurdle of how to get an smf category to display in a block.

Could any one offer a tip or pointer on where to begin?

My kind thanks for all the great work on Simple Portal.

Matt

[ccbtimewiz]

I'm actually somewhat confused here. Couldn't each department be a board, and then you could use specific blocks in each board?

From the look of it you want the entire frontpage display being different for each department. What you're looking for is like a multi-forum mod where you can have different instances of SMF and probably cross-domain them.

[matt2323]

Thanks, Sorry for the confusion. I was hoping to use SMF categories. But after a bit of playing and your suggestion - I think we will use Smf pages and block to create the department pages. Doing instances might be somthing we look at in the long term...

Thanks!

[AngelinaBelle]

You would like to use simpleportal blocks and articles categories to create department pages?

Yes.  This can be done.  But it could actually be easier to do this using simpleportal pages and the boardnews block.

This is because the articles block, at this moment, displays all articles categories.

If you really need to use articles, you would need a custom articles block.
I have written a simple one, which shows only one articles category.  You are welcome to copy it and change it to suit you.

http://simpleportal.net/index.php?topic=4734.msg28884#msg28884