Exercise 6.7: Configure data field and Event content type

For this exercise, we’ll provide hints - try to configure the event listing content type without looking back on the notes/previous instructions.

First, we’ll look at a simple view to filter out past events, then we’ll make a calendar entry using templates.

Image of Events listing

In this exercise we’re going to prepare the date settings and configure the event content type to get it ready for the next exercise.

Review the Event content type

1. Using experience from the earlier tutorials about content types and fields, go to the Manage Fields page of the Event content type. Review fields available in GovCMS.

2. Move to the Manage form display page and reorder the fields in the Event content type, moving all custom fields (pattern field_[field-name]) except the Components field above the Body field. Leave the Components field below the Body.

3. Go to Content → Add content → Event and test the form, making further adjustments to the field position if required.

4. Check permissions - whenever you create a new content type, you always need to check the permissions. Allow Content Authors to create events. Ensure that site visitors can leave comments (the Comment module must be activated and configured).

Configure the date settings on your site

This once-off step is required to ensure the website date and time is set in the correct way

Note: You can also add custom data formats via the Add format button.

Update the date field

Given events are in the future, we can’t use the date created date to list events. We need to add a date field. Follow instructions from earlier activities to create an event date field with these details:

Label	Event date
Field name	field_event_date
Field type	Date range
Widget	Date and time range

Test and improve

1. Test the form by creating a new event entry. Notice the date field is in the middle of the form, but would be better placed higher up.

2. Change the order of fields, so the Event date is under the title.

Change the URL alias

We’d like to set up the URLs so that all events are in a /events URL path, for example a URL path could be: /events/job-fair

Hint: The Event path pattern is preconfigured in GovCMS, but if you find it different to the required pattern, then follow instructions for editing URL alias patterns. Use a pattern such as: events/[node:title]

Image of Event path pattern

Re-test

To test your changes, create another new event. Now, the date should appear under the event title and when you publish content it will have a unique URL following the /event path.

Image of Event