Creating and Editing Nodes and Comments
Definitions
Before you begin to create and edit nodes and comments, it is necessary
to know a few definitions. For one thing, what is a node? Well, on a
Drupal site, a node is the content on a page. It is the way that Drupal
organizes the information on the site. This will become more clear as
you start working with the system and its components. Content can be
defined as anything you post to a Drupal site. This can include
personal blog entries, stories, forums, pages, book pages, and
collaborative books pages. (link
types of content to other group's expanded definitions) Drupal
displays the comments attached to each node. Depending on the
administrative settings, you will view the comments in either a
threaded, flat, expanded, or collapsed format. A threaded view of the
comments displays both the conversation and the sub-conversations. The
flat view displays comments in a chronological order. Expanded viewing
of comments shows the title and the text attached to a specific
comment. Finally, the collapsed view displays only the title of the
comment. Since no two Drupal sites are the same, there is no standard
view, but it will be one of the four just mentioned. Each comment board
has a control panel to customize the comment view. The administrator
gives comment permissions to users and groups allowing them to edit the
last comment if no others have been posted since. Drupal sites also
have an option that allows users to be emailed when new comments are
posted to a topic that interests them. Other administrative options
allow users to view comments, have total control over comments, have
the option to rate comments, and post comments without approval. The
permissions that you have will vary depending on the Drupal site and
what the administrator chooses to do.
Basic Drupal Interface
The basic Drupal interface is fairly easy to navigate when it comes to
creating and editing nodes and comments. After you login to the site,
you are goto Create Content
which brings you to a page where you can choose what kind of content
node you want to create.
<screenshot
of Create Content page>
After you choose which kind of content node you want to create, there
are a variety of field options for you to fill in (title, body text,
etc.) Before submitting, you also have the option of previewing the
content you have just created.
<screenshots of different types
of Create Content pages>
Create Content
There are generally five different categories of content that a user
could create in Drupal. This option can be accessed by navigating
to the personal user menu on the side from the main Drupal page.
Please refer to these terms for the
following descriptions:
Title - What will be displayed
on the main page corresponding to the content.
Input Format - specifies if it
will be limited HTML or full HTML published.
Body - The information that is presented from the user.
Attach New File - Where an
attachment can be made to the content. A Browse button is provided to
navigate through the user's file directory in order to obtain the
information of the specific file. Once the field is filled in
with the correct location, the Attach button can be clicked to confirm
attachment.
Preview - Will preview what the
post will look like and then the same editing page will be below.
Submit - Sending the request to
post for publication.
Blog entry
The blog entry will add a post to the users personal blog.The fields
that are available with the authenticated user are: Title, Input
format, Testing taxonomy, Body, Attach New File. There are two
buttons on the bottom of the page that are either Submit or
Preview.
Book Page
Book pages are used for collaborative efforts in writing a book.
Many different authors can contribute "book" pages and can post
responses to others. They can also choose what sequence these
pages will be. The fields that are present for a Book Page are:
Title, Input Format, Parent, Testing Taxonomy, Body, Log, and Attach
new file. The Preview and Submit buttons are also available.
The Parent specifies which book this page will be created on. The
Log is an area of where you can describe or make comments to the
material that is presented in the Body.
Forum topic
Enables the user to add to a forum topic by adding to the thread.
Please refer to the terms description above for definition of "thread".
The fields presented are the exact same as the Blog Entry: Title, Input
Format, Testing Taxonomy, Body, and Attach New File. The buttons
available are also the same: Preview and Submit. Please refer to
Blog Entry for a screen shot.
Page
This option enables the user to submit a link and a comment in order
for the rest of the Drupal users to view. The fields that are
present are Title, Input Format, Testing Taxonomy, Body, Link Name,
Link Description, and Attach New File.
The Link Name will enable the page to show up in the navigation
link. The Link Description will show when the mouse is hovering
over the page's link. Both Link Name, and Link Description are
optional.
Story
A story post is a short snippet of information that is given. This can
be comparable to a newspaper article. Other users are able to
rate this post and this information may be published on the front page
of Drupal depending on the reviews. The fields presented are the
exact same as the Blog Entry: Title, Input Format, Testing Taxonomy,
Body, and Attach New File. The buttons available are also the same:
Preview and Submit. Please refer to Blog Entry for a screen shot.
Creating Content and Editing Options
Content and editing options are generally reserved for those logged
into the site under an administrators setting. These options and
their uses may vary with each site using Drupal.
Creating Content Walk Though
- Select the "Create Content" link
- Select the type of content desired to be created
- Example: Drupal.org content options
- Forum Topic
- Issue
- Project
- A title for your content needs to be added in the title box.
- The body is your next step: The content of your entry is
added here.
- After your body is completed there is the option for adding an
attachment.
- Include the file name in the attachment box or browse your
computer to select the file.
- When the file name is selected click the attach button.
- When your entry is completed you have two options:
- Preview: this allows you to preview your entry before
you submit, it also allows for changes to be made.
- The "Preview" page displays how your entry will look on
the opening page.
- Submit: When your entry is satisfactory it may be
submitted.
- Upon submission you will receive conformation that your
entry has been created.
- From here you may choose to view your content or further
edit it.
- Creating content under an administrator setting allows for more
options such as changing format and taxonomy.