Joomla! 1.5 Newsflash Management

Newsflash Modules and Newsflash Categories and Articles

You may wish to first read about Joomla! Modules before playing with Newsflash Modules.

This will help you to better understand the nature of Modules.

Modules are key to controlling when and where Articles appear within your site.

There are two steps to follow when creating content to be presented by Newsflash Modules:

1. Create a Newsflash Article in a Newsflash Category.
2. Create a Newsflash Module to control when and where your Newsflash Article is to be presented within your site.

If all you want to do is present an advertisement in one of your website's sidebars then that is all there is to it!

If however you want to tell your visitors more after they click on a Read More link, read on ...

Dealing with a Presentation Issue

Unfortunately, if you want to offer visitors the opportunity to see more information after selecting a Read More link (or button), you are not done!

Why not?

Unfortunately, when you use the Content Editor's facility to insert a Read More button, the URL address created by the Content Editor will present the Newsflash Article to your visitors when they select the button ... but without any accompanying content in either the LEFT or RIGHT sidebars (which of course includes your Newsflash Article!).

This is disorienting for your visitors, and annoying for you, as instead of seeing your lovely sidebar content, your visitors will see empty space where your sidebars should have been!

There is however a solution, but it requires a little planning ahead.

Presentation Solution

Add a STEP 3 to the two-step process.

After creating the Newsflash Article (in its Newsflash Category), create a related News Article (in a separate News Category).

Here are the revised steps to follow:

1. Create a Newsflash Article in a Newsflash Category.
2. Create a related News Article in a News Category.
3. Create a Newsflash Module to control when and where your Newsflash Article is to be presented within your site.

Now when you create a Newsflash Article, instead of opting to insert the Content Editor's Read More button, insert your own text (or button) link to the related News Article.

How will the resulting presentation be different?

The News Article will present in the Main Body and your visitors will be able to see your sidebar content!

No more disorientation, and your sidebar content remains visible!

A Quick Word about Categories

Newsflash Categories

You should have a different one for each Newsflash Module.

Reason: Newsflash Modules present Articles from one Category chosen by you. They will present just ONE Article if you wish but the link from the Module is to the Category containing the Article, not to the Article. If you opt to present more than one Article then the Articles presented must be in the same Category.

Related News Categories

The News Article you create to link your Newsflash Article to (see above) can be located in any Category you choose.

We recommend however creating a separate Category for one or more such related News Articles.

Reason: If and when you change the name of a Newsflash Article or its content, or you decide to delete the Article, you will need to make changes to its related News Article.

The key to successful Joomla! content management is ORGANISATION!

Editing Articles from the Front End

This is easy using the Notepad icon, visible in every Article after you log into the Front End.

Remember though not to delete your Read More link from the Newsflash Article to its related News Article!

When you have edited your Newsflash Article, publish it and select the Read More link to visit the related News Article (which will also have a visible Notepad icon).

Simples!