Different layouts for Downloads and Categories

[romagromov]

Hi!
I have a brilliant idea!
Downloads and categories should have option to choose layout (Like in K2 component)





and same with categories.

It will solve a lot of problems!

[ColinM]

Hi
The activated categories layout details the way Categories will be shown out, and the Activated files layout controls the way the individual downloads will be shown.

I admire your enthusiasm but there are other people!! To add capability to have each and every Category and Download specify its own layout would mean major changes in the database and a lot of re-coding.  Now most people like having a uniform layout to create the same style.. I can see that if such a capability ever existed then if the 'layout' field were left 'empty' then it would mean using the current activated layout as appropriate.  Note also this could have a serious pageoading time effect.

Arno is implementing the featured download capability and we think, but are not yet certain, that there will be a means of using different css classes for featured and non featured downloads.  If this scheme works then it may be possible to extend it in a generalised fashion at some future date.  The details will be documented
Colin

[romagromov]

ok, I understand. But what sense in ability to create several layouts?



To manually switch between them?

Ability to set specific layout for each download - is awesome option to make Download Details pages more flexible.
For example, some Downloads have Adsense blocks, some Downloads does not have Adsense blocks.

More over, if we create new placeholder {direct_url_download} we can build different Description Pages:

1 Layout: Adsense, Thubmnails, Description, Link to Summary Page
2 Layout: Thubmnails, Description, Changelog, Direct Link

I'm ready to donate for this option.

And I really need this option and I beleive - JDownloads will be even better. 

[Arno]

But what sense in ability to create several layouts?

- the user has the choice which layout he use - so not all jD installation use the same layout
- user can self create own layouts
- some functions requires layouts with different content
and much more.

Ability to set specific layout for each download - is awesome option to make Download Details pages more flexible.
For example, some Downloads have Adsense blocks, some Downloads does not have Adsense blocks.

More over, if we create new placeholder {direct_url_download} we can build different Description Pages:

1 Layout: Adsense, Thubmnails, Description, Link to Summary Page
2 Layout: Thubmnails, Description, Changelog, Direct Link

I'm ready to donate for this option.

And I really need this option and I beleive - JDownloads will be even better.

Please understand, that we can not rework jDownloads to fulfil all your wishes. But we will check next year what is possible and useful for all users.

[romagromov]

I just want to note, that the vast majority of components including native joomla components have ability to use different templates for items, categories and modules. 

So, it's not only my wish - this is a normal modern practice.

[ColinM]

Hi
Within jD the layouts have two separate capabilities:

   
• the selection of physical layout of what information is to be shown;
• the actual visual appearance.

Presently the physical layouts are 'table' style but that will be revised in the near time scale to use 'div' style to make them even more responsive. In the upcoming release a vital step in that process is the ability to import and export layouts.  The visual appearance is controlled through either inline style in the elements and the use of jd specific classes in the css files

There are already different Layouts for Categories, Downloads(files), Download Details and Summary pages. Each can be styled as you like.
Also you can have a different layout for Content items.  With Content items it is also possible to select which layout you would like to use.
The about to be released Featured Downloads also adds the possibility of a different styling.

I do not think people would want to choose a different layout for different Categories or for different Downloads.  Rather my experiences suggest they want a layout that matches their website, and that is why I would suggest that modules and so on also have styling abilities that change the visual appearance but rarely, with the notable exception of form design extensions, have the ability to physically change the position of individual parts.

Early in the new year we fully expect to ask users to help test the new generation of <div> based layouts. I hope you will be able to help. Maybe some time downstream a good case can be made to associate layouts in a different manner.

Colin

[romagromov]

Of course I will help you with testing.
But I'm sure - many people use different templates for different items.
Otherwise, why this options are present, in the majority of the components? 



In same way I can choose any template for any module.

Recent Joomla releases starting with 1.7 are builded on these major options - templates overrides and multiple templates for any views.

The best example - K2 component.

I can have hundreds categories each with unique template.

How it can be used in Jdownloads?

There is hundreds ways 

[Arno]

Okay, we will rethink it. Maybe can we do here more.
But first next year. 

Colin has tells that we will start in January with work on new layouts for jDownloads.

[romagromov]