Views Demystified

Time slot:

March 9th, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Room:

Sheraton 4 & 5

Track:

Implementation and Config

Experience:

Beginner

Are you wondering why you might use the Views module? If you should use the Views module? Wondering how “Filters” and “Sorting” and “Fields” can be used to easily create the sophisticated content presentation you seek?

This session proposal is targeted for beginners and intermediate users who are still figuring out how to understand the basics of views. We will stick to the views UI, delve into basic strategies for using views, and explore how the simple, non-code based tools within views can be used to create sophisticated results.

Video at archive.org.

Intended audience:

This is intended for individuals who are just getting started with Drupal, and realize that they need Views to take their sites to the next level but aren't comfortable with the UI. Those attending this session are likely to be individuals who have watched a video or two, perhaps have read Using Drupal's Views chapter, perhaps not, and still have a lot of questions.

Questions answered by this session

Question 1:

When do I use a View? (Answers will include dynamic content within blocks, RSS feeds, overriding the home page, views added by modules, etc.)

Question 2:

How can I make use of filters, basic arguments, sorting, row style and fields to make the results exactly what I want them to be without knowing any PHP?

Question 3:

How can I customize the look of my fields and field result displays without getting into the site theme or knowing any PHP?

Question 4:

What are some best practices with setting up Views? (e.g. when to use a User view vs. a Node view, when to use a new Display within a view vs. an entire new view, when to clone a view, how to export and import a view)

Question 5:

What are some simple, easy to use, additional modules that can take my Views to the next level without much effort? (including Views Or, Views Custom Field, Views Rotator, Views Slideshow, etc.) Additionally, what are some key modules that I need to understand in order to make the most of Views? (including CCK, Token and Imagecache)

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