eZ Flow is a complex datatype that allows managing layouts, zones, and blocks to create flexible page designs. It can be used to create front pages, landing pages, and zone layouts like sidebars. Blocks can be customized through override files to select content and display it in different views. Caching, class restrictions, and new attribute datatypes can be issues that may require solutions through extensions. The main benefit of eZ Flow is that it allows building sites through reusable blocks rather than custom content classes.

1. eZ Flow advanced usage Gilles Guirand @gandbox http://www.gandbox.fr Technical Director at Kaliop eZ Publish Community project board member eZ Conference 2011 June 16th - London

2. eZ Flow advanced usage What is eZ FLOW ??? A package extension with a full features design , on top of ezwebin (ready to be installed at the end of the setup process) ? TRUE but that’s not the point… A sexy timeline demo tool to sale eZ Publish ?

3. eZ Flow advanced usage eZ Flow is … a complex datatype to manage layouts, zones and blocks Layout Zone Block

4. eZ Flow advanced usage Useful to manage a frontpage , a landing page, but also a right column or a bottom article zone … Layout

5. eZ Flow advanced usage Online exemples : http://www.touraineloirevalley.com/ Block Block Block Block Frontpage Carousel with node selection node selection node selection Last news Zone Zone Zone

6. eZ Flow advanced usage Article Zone Block Child nodes list of current node

7. eZ Flow advanced usage Article Block Block Folder selection Folder selection Zone

8. eZ Flow advanced usage Article Block 1 Node selection, XML block Block Folder selection, list & pagination Block Folder selection, list & pagination Zone Block Folder selection, google maps Zone

9. eZ Flow advanced usage Backend usage : Select a layout

10. eZ Flow advanced usage Frontpage Select zone Add a block to the current zone Current blocks Expand to edit the block Backend usage : Select a zone / add blocks

11. eZ Flow advanced usage Layouts / zones settings Layouts list Override : zone.ini.append.php Layout template : \ myextension \design\ mydesign \templates\zone\ 2zoneslayout1.tpl Available for classes… Zones list More details on a coming tuto…

12. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : the blocks list Override : block.ini.append.php

13. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : nb of valid / archived items Override : block.ini.append.php No limitation for queued items

14. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : manual adding items Override : block.ini.append.php Browse and add multiple nodes, limited to the article and the folder classes

15. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : Items proposal (custom fetch) Override : block.ini.append.php /classes/fetches/ ezflowmcfetch.php Custom parameter PHP Fetch results

16. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : Items proposal (custom fetch) Override : block.ini.append.php FULL exemples : ezflow/classes/fetches/…

17. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : custom attributes Override : block.ini.append.php Browse and add one unique node (for instance a parent node id) Integer String Collected values are available inside your templates !

18. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : views list Override : block.ini.append.php Advice : Factorize your block list « how to select items, and input values » (1 block if similar), « how to display the selection ? » (X views) For instance : Display an image selection with X views (diaporama, list, carousel, sliders…)

19. eZ Flow advanced usage Blocks settings : block templates Override : block.ini.append.php override.ini.append.php

20. eZ Flow advanced usage Common issues : view cache expiry (from reverse related items) Not possible (by default), only a TTL (expiration time) Solution : http://issues.ez.no/IssueView.php?Id=17324&activeItem=1 kernel hack : kernel/classes/ezcontentcachemanager.php [ViewCacheSettings] SmartCacheClear=enabled ClearRelationTypes[] ClearRelationTypes[]=common ClearRelationTypes[]=reverse_common ClearRelationTypes[]=reverse_embedded ClearRelationTypes[]=reverse_attribute ClearRelationTypes[]=attribute ClearRelationTypes[]=reverse_ezflow

21. eZ Flow advanced usage Common issues : limit the block list for each classes / zones Not possible (by default), same block list for all classes / zones Solution : http://projects.ez.no/ca_ezflow_enhanced Owner : Matthieu Sévère [myblock] … AvailableForClasses[] AvailableForClasses[]=global_layout AvailableForClasses[]=frontpage AvailableForZones[] AvailableForZones[]=frontpage|main AvailableForZones[]=frontpage|right AvailableForZones[]=global_layout|left

22. eZ Flow advanced usage Common issues : add new custom attributes datatypes Not possible (by default), only « integer », « string », « browse » override : /design/standard/templates/block/edit/edit.tpl Exemple with a « selectbox »: http://projects.ez.no/ca_ezflow_enhanced Owner : Matthieu Sévère

23. eZ Flow advanced usage Common issues : cache-block optimisation / article right column & default right column ARTICLE_FULL.TPL Article_full.tpl : Store your article right column with ezpagedata With ezpagedata , get back your right column inside your pagelayout.tpl Fetch the default right column , and display it if the article right column is empty Set a cache-block around ezpagedata ezpagedata

24. eZ Flow advanced usage So… what’s the main benefits to use eZ Flow ? Less classes, more blocks… easier to deployed & maintain (manage settings files & template only) Build your block collection, and share it for all your projects You could ( but please don’t ! ) build a website with an unique « article » content class, and… Blocks

25. eZ Flow advanced usage More about eZ Flow ??? Coming soon… on http://share.ez.no/learn/ & http://www.gandbox.fr Code exemple / timeline / …