7.4. Adding Specialized Content Items

Specialized content types a Plone web site contains vary, depending on which add-on software programs are installed.  Explore the products area of plone.org to see many examples in numerous categories.  The number and quality of add-on software choices is growing, so check back occasionally to see new postings. You would have to ask your web site administrator to install such add-on software.

Data entry panels vary for specialized content types, but generally will look like those for the built-in content types.  Consider the following data entry panels for a content type called Location, which is part of an add-on software program called Maps. The Maps software allows Location content items to be added to a Plone web site, and a Google Maps display will automatically result.  Location content items have the usual Title, Description, and Related Item(s) fields, as well as three fields unique to the Location content type:

The location field shows a Google map with a marker.  The marker can be moved to the location desired.  Normal zooming and panning seen in web browsers showing Google maps are available also, making this a very interactive data entry field.  You can type the latitude and longitude in the text box above the map, in lieu of using the map. There is a pull-down menu field for setting the color of the map marker icon, and there is a text box for entering a full description for the location, which may include images. Upon saving the location, it will appear on a Google map on the Plone web site dedicated to showing such locations.

Expect similar unique approaches for other specialized content types.

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