User Display of Content

1. No. All sections are isolated. Section is considered as a separate extension. There is no way in Cobalt to show all articles from differnt sections. That is because every section has it's own list template, different types wit different fields, ...

2. Yes, there is user items menu element

   

   And when you select that you can set default tab here

   

   Use the name of the tab from URL.

   Also turn on Personalization in section parameters where you need user personal home page.

I guess my question would be this. Like Drupal where you can put together different views from any database table. Is there something like that we can do with this.

For example I'm creating a USER home page where we see a users featured Projects (which is one cobalt content type) but then there are image link to their full portfolio (another cobalt content type) - Not listing the portfolio but a link to that users home content type and blog (link to user easyblog).

We are trying to diplays artist work in multiple forms. So we want a artist individual home page that can either display or link to those different content types.

gteigland We are trying to diplays artist work in multiple forms. So we want a artist individual home page that can either display or link to those different content types.

Would you mind to draw a visual layout/mockup of your page? A rough plan with notes/arrows. Similar to the dashboard example found in this topic.

That might help. (At least me an my dumb designer brain ;) )

Please follow suggestion of paperstreet and draw.

And ot me it looks like you need integration with EasySocial. This allows you to create user profile page and show content from different sections in one place. This is also good because it is not limited by cobalt only, you can show other user items across your site in the other extensions.

Thanks for the info. I've attached a mockup from the old drupal site (I'm changing design) that notes what and where the content comes from within Joomla.

I'm already using and integrating Easy Social (ES) and Easy Blog for this site. This image and content would be the User Home page only displaying their content as displayed.

Bascially I'm just trying to create a view that pulls a users data from various sources. Mainly Cobalt Content types and some ES content and then simply links to other content/components.

OK, I see. It is getting more clear now.

Tell me the mockup you show is what, ES user homepage or your custom created page?

Some thoughts...

Easy Social

If ES profile is the central point, I would try to customize the ES profile view. You can use several copies of the Cobalt App/plugin, which allow to list records from different sections/types. AFAIK, there is no parameter to restrict the records to "featured only". (request/idea!)

Apart from regular "apps", you can display modules in your ES profile. There are many pre-defined positions.

The only drawback is your "Featured Slider":
I assume the content is based on Profile owner. So, the Cobalt Records module should recognize this context. AFAIK, this is not implemented yet. I have heared, that it already supports "JSN Easy-Profile"... so, it might be possible to get this feature for ES, too. (request/idea!)

I guess EasyBlog will also integrate with your ES profile much smoother.

Thanks so much for you advice so far. This mockup is intended for Cobalt User Home page. I was hoping this could be the home page (of user) using Cobalt since ES is busy with so many other items.

If not Cobalt is there some other "device" that can pull in elements like Drupal views?

Thanks!

Love your product so far.

gteigland This mockup is intended for Cobalt User Home page

This is not possible. Cobalt has no view that would show items from different sections. There is user homepage only within the scope of a section.

Your another solution might be JSN which is simple profile and Cobalt Records modules configured to show only this user items.

gteigland If not Cobalt is there some other "device" that can pull in elements like Drupal views?

That is the beauty of DRUPAL / VIEWS. Pretty unique in regards of utilizing and displaying data.

JOOMLA is a total different story. Usually extensions work independently and store their data in many different ways. There is no common integration, except for some special solutions provided by the extension developer. The benefit in Joomla is the vast amount of "applications", that fulfill a certain purpose and tasks. But you always have to think twice and try a lot before choosing a solution.

Apart from those pre-made solutions/applications, there are some nice extensions that offer more freedom. You may call them "CCKs" or "Application Builders"... e.g. Cobalt, Seblod, Fabrik ...

PS: You might have a look at Fabrik, which is more DB related. It also allows to view and access other tables etc. However, this feature does not solve any task, because you would get the "raw" data from another extension. You don't get any proper formatting or output out-of-the-box! Hence, some advanced frontend and backend modules need a subscription.

PPS: Cobalt includes much more workflows and other features you would have to build otherwise from scratch. I would call it a "hybrid" between a CCK/Directory/AppBuilder ;) . Although it is not the right choice, if you want to show/alter other DB tables/extensions data.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR RESPONSES!