CMS Composer - Description
CMS Composer is a tool that allows non-technical website administrators to build their own Content Management System (CMS) - one data entry program at a time - for each table in a website's backend database. Table data items are called columns, and each one has many different attributes which can be controlled to determine the functionality of the generated data entry application program. CMS Composer lets you define the structure of each table using a dynamic interface that allows you to refine the list of columns in your tables by adding, moving and deleting each item.
Once all of the columns for the table are defined, the data entry application can be generated (or regenerated). This process automatically creates (and installs) all of the computer code for a fully-functional data entry web application. This includes actually creating the table in the database if it doesn't exist, or altering the table, if it does. If the table is being altered, and it already contains live data, you are warned of all possible data destruction risks before regenerating the code and altering the table.
The interface that enables you to composer your CMS tables contains the following entries and features:
- Column Name - the name of the column in the database table
- Data Types - These are made up of two kinds:
- Regular Data Types:
- Int - Allows the entry of an integer from -2147483648 to 2147483647 (depending on system)
- Bigint (long) - Allows the entry of an integer from -9,223,372,036,854,775,80 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807
- Float - Allows entry of a decimal value(depending on platform) from -1.175 to the -38th power to 1.175 to the 38th power
- Double - Allows entry of a decimal value(depending on platform) from -2.225 to the -308th power to 2.225 to the 388th power
- Varchar - Allow entry of relatively short strings of text. The character width of this data item is displayed and editable.
- Text - Allow entry of very long strings of text
- Date - Allow entry of a calendar date
- Time - Allow entry of a time of day
- Datetime - Allow entry of a specific time of a specific day - also used for 'timestamps'
- Extended Data Types - these are higher level data types that allow additional functionality on top of Regular data types:
- Credtime - Handles a dedicated column 'type' for 'record created timestamp'. Automatically captures the timestamp the first time a record is added (inserted) and stores it in the column variable with this type if it exists
- Moddtime - Handles a dedicated column 'type' for the 'record last modified timestamp'. Automatically captures the timestamp each to,e a record is modified (updated) and stores it in the column variable with this type if it exists
- Checkbox - Converts an integer datatype into a checkbox interface (0=false, 1=true)
- Select - Provides dynamic entry (Add, Delete) of Labels and Values for a static drop down select menu
- Lookup - Creates a drop down select menu which lists a user-defined column from a user-defined external table in a user-defined order. It is used as a 'foreign key' for relating (joining) two tables.
- Calc - Automatically initializes a target column each time this 'Calc' extended data type column is changed using a user-defined formula. For example, a 'Quantity' column and a 'Cost' column could both be defined with th 'Calc' extended data type and the formula 'Quantity * Cost = Total' so that when either is changed, they automatically update the 'Total' column.
- Dispval - Creates a pseudo-column (which doesn't exist in the table) that displays (read only) the value result of a user-defined function based on any of the other columns within the table
- Dispimg - Automatically displays a modal window containing an image using this column's value as a key and a user-defined directory 'path' pointing to an existing graphic file (e.g. JPEG) stored in an accessable directory folder.
- Title - the name of the Label that heads the column entry area.
- Column Display Width - The width (in pixels) of the entry area for the column.
- Entry Required - The level to which entry of the item is required.
- Req (Required) - Entry is strickly required - a list of unentered required (and warning level) items will appear - the record will not save until all required entries contain a valid value
- Warn (Warning) - Entry is not strickly required - a list of unentered required (and warning level) items will appear - the record can, however, be saved with unentered warning level items as long as all required items are entered
- Opt (Optional) - Entry is not required and the item will not appear in the list of Required or Warning level items - the record will be saved
- Display in List - The generated data entry applications has two display modes. Checking the 'List?' box instructs the display in List mode to display the data item in each list line
- Del - The Delete button allows the data item to be deleted
- Move arrows - The up and down move arrows allow the column to be moved up or down in the table list. The top column can only be moved down and the bottom item can only be moved up
Please contact us for questions or more information about our custom data entry web apps.