Views Demystified

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.

This session will be an improved repeat of the session given during DrupalCampLA 2009 and DrupalConSF:

http://2010.drupalcampla.com/sessions/views-demystified
Video of presentation from DrupalCampLA 2009
http://sf2010.drupal.org/conference/sessions/views-demystified-part-1

Specific Goals

• Using filters, fields and basic settings to get specific content displayed the way you want it
• When to use a User view vs. a Node view (time/interest permitting we may go into the other view types)
• Working with taxonomy terms to specify where content appears
• How to take advantage of Block, Feed and Attachment views to deliver specific content
• Blocks controls to set user and page rules
• If time: basic arguments for summary listing and “menu” style views

Modules That Will Come Into Play

The following modules play an important role in the techniques that will be discussed above.

• Views (obviously :)
• CCK – won’t go into depth on this one, but basically essential to truly harnessing the full coolness of Views
• Taxonomy (part of core) – won’t go into depth on this one either, but will need to take a quick look in order to harness more Views coolness
• Token
• If time: Views Slideshow, Views Rotator, Views Accordion and Views Or

Additional

If there is time and interest near the end of the session, we’ll take a look at some core css theming tactics to use when theming views. In order to focus this effort, we’ll stick to the following tools for this examination:

• Using Firebug to identify relevant class tags
• Using a Zen Sub-theme stylesheet
• Using “Re-write output” in views to add inline CSS when necessary