Modules in BigTree are a simple way to manage complex content like blog posts, formatted news releases, calendar events, frequently asked questions, and homepage features. They are custom-made tools developed specifically for your website that allow you to add, edit, and customize content easily, while keeping the front-end display looking consistent.

BigTree modules present content that contains many different types of data in a simple, consistent way on the front-end of your website. For example, you could create a module for an events calendar, which pulls in descriptions of each event, the date, the location, and an optional image. With BigTree modules at work, all events will display each piece of content with the same formatting. The dates, title, and body copy would be treated visually the same way in each entry. You can easily sort and search module-driven content by type; for instance, calendar events can be sorted by event type or by date. BigTree also makes it extremely easy to designate specific module content as "featured" so that it can be used in special promotional areas of your website.

Depending on your site's needs, you may have many different types of custom-built modules. If you click to edit a page's content and don't see a WYSIWYG editor, that page's content is most likely editable through the Modules tab. This is probably the case for any group of content that is presented in a similarly repetitive way.

Working With Module Entries

Adding and Editing

  1. Click on the Modules tab at the top of your BigTree Admin.
  2. Find the name of the module in which you wish to add or edit an entry. By default, modules are ungrouped but for your convenience modules can be grouped with similar modules.
  3. Click on the green plus icon to add a new entry, or click on the title of the module to view a list of previously added module entries (you can click on a previously entered entry's edit icon, the pencil and paper, to edit it from there).
  4. Fill out the module entry's form. Module entry forms consist of many types of content, including but not limited to: one-line text fields, multi-line text fields, checkboxes, file upload fields, date pickers, etc.
  5. Finally, click Save to complete your edit or addition.

Approving

Certain module entries must be approved before the entries will display on the front-end.

If a module entry has a check mark in the Approve column related to its title, it needs to be approved for it to display on the live site. If the check mark is green, it is marked as approved. If the check mark is a faded gray, it must be clicked by a user with Publisher permissions for the entry to be approved. A user with Publisher permissions can also undo approval by clicking on the check mark again.

Featuring

Some BigTree modules allow you to feature or promote specific entries. Featuring an entry will give it priority over other non-featured items and in most cases will pull the entry into a feature area or give it a special graphic treatment with more visual weight.

This capability is not built into all BigTree modules; it is a feature that may or may not be utilized by the creator of your website. If a module entry has a yellow or gray star in the Feature column, it can be featured. If the star is yellow, it is currently being featured. If the star is a faded gray, it is not being promoted in any special way. You can easily toggle between featured and non-featured by clicking on the star.

Archiving

Certain module entries can be archived so that they do not display on the front end.

If a module entry has a blue folder on its right side, it can be archived. Simply click on the folder icon to archive the entry. You can also undo archiving by clicking on the arrow icon that appears once an entry is archived.

Reordering

Certain module entries can be reordered with drag-and-drop functionality. Module entries with a blue up and down arrow on the far left of the entries' rows can be reordered manually.

  1. Click and hold the blue arrow icon.
  2. Drag the entry up or down the list.
  3. Let go when the entry is in the desired position.

Deleting

Deleting a module item is as simple as clicking the red X next to the unwanted entry. A confirmation dialog will then appear. Click the OK button to permanently delete the module entry. Click Cancel if you have changed your mind or are not sure.